A HUGE new £1.1million attraction is set to transform one of the world’s trendiest neighbourhoods – which is in the UK.
Margate’s Cliftonville was named the coolest street in the UK by Time Out last year.
And an abandoned area on the seafront is set to be transformed into a free-to-use skatepark,
Set to cost around £1.1million, it is being designed by Betongpark Limited who are behind a number of skateparks in the UK, including the converted Victorian bathhouse Manor Place.
Opening on Ethelbert Crescent, it will be free for all skill levels, with plans for workshops and events as well.
Along with the skating area, there will be new seating areas, a kiosk with toilets.
It had hoped to open by this summer, although this hasn’t been confirmed.
Daryl Nobbs, Director of Betongpark, said: “As a team of lifelong skaters, we’re pleased to be building the new park on the site of the former DIY skatepark, working closely alongside a strong local scene.
“Once built, the new concrete skatepark will be one of the UK’s best, set in a beautiful location overlooking the waterfront.
“The concept design includes a range of street and transition-focused elements across a vast site, to provide something for everyone.”
The project is part of the £22.2million Margate Town Deal.
Other plans include improving Walpole Bay, home to one of the UK’s biggest tidal pools.
A new cafe, shower and toilet block and community spaces are part of the improvement plans.
Both Theatre Royal Margate and the Winter Gardens also hope to reopen.
I lived in Cliftonville for a few years after leaving London, and saw how quickly it was changing for the better.
New locally run restaurants and bars were opening, including wine bar Sete as well as the new pub The Local Light.
Margate House is one of the coolest new hotels with its new Willy’s restaurant serving ‘comfort food dishes’.
It still has a way to go – there are ongoing problems with fly tipping in the area and some of the high street still has shops that have been boarded up for years.
But the community is what makes it, from the weekend farmers markets to the huge number of pop up events.
In the mean time, here is everything new coming to Folkestone this year as part of a £20million expansion.
And we’ve rounded up our favourite places in Kent.