Saturday, 28 March 2015
Railway Tavern 1970s
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| Photo from Folkestone Herald |
Folkestone Herald 16-6-1973
Local News
Residents in an east Folkestone shopping area can sleep a
little easier in their beds. Something is, at last, being done about the blot
on their environment – 115-119, Dover Road.
The site includes the old Railway Tavern which closed two
years ago and has since fallen into disrepair. Broken windows and open doors
act as welcome signs for adventurous children and shelter-seeking vagrants.
Until Thursday shop owners and nearby residents had no idea how long they would
have to put up with the nuisance. The Herald was asked to investigate, and a
reporter found people living near the site both angry and frightened. Within
seven hours he was able to assure them that positive steps were being taken to
remove the eyesore. The property had been acquired by local builders, J. Hyham
and Sons, who have detailed planning permission to erect seven two-bedroom
flats. A spokesman for the firm said work was expected to start inside six
months.
It cannot begin soon enough for people like Mr. Fred
Groom, the shoe repairer whose shop stands next to the tavern. “We have had all
sorts of trouble there”, he said, “with tramps using it as a doss-house and
kids endangering themselves by playing there”.
Mr. Harry Thatcher, who runs Jackson`s hardware and gift
shop, has forbidden his two sons to go anywhere near the site. He said “It is
not only a terrible eyesore, but it is no exaggeration to call it a death
trap”. Told there were ashes in what was once the public bar fireplace, Mr.
Thatcher said “I am not surprised. We all know that tramps have been living
there”.
This was one of the biggest bones of contention put
forward by newsagent Mr. Alan Stephenson, who said “The place is an obvious
fire risk. If ever the tramps, or anybody else, set it alight, the whole
terraced block would go up, and seven shops would be in danger. Apart from the
fire hazard, there must be a danger to health”.
Photographer Mike Scott, who said he found a child on the
pub roof only last week, said the building should be boarded up to prevent
anyone entering.
When a Herald reporter put this point to the spokesman
for J. Hyham and Sons, he said “We shall take steps to fence off the area
properly and to board up the windows of the pub”.
Folkestone Herald 23-6-1973
Local News
Demolition of the old Railway Tavern in Dover Road,
Folkestone, was ordered this week.
On Saturday, the Herald reported that residents and traders
in the area were angry at the derelict condition of the building, which closed
two years ago. They claimed it was an eyesore and a danger.
Mr. Jim Hyham, the boss of a local building firm that
acquired the property only two weeks ago, returned from holiday on Monday – and
almost immediately asked a demolition company to start work on the site. He was
expecting scaffolding to go up on Thursday. Said Mr. Hyham, “The property
became our responsibility only two weeks ago when we obtained planning permission.
We have boarded up the premises several times”. He added that when the
demolition work was completed, materials would be moved away and the site kept
tidy until such time as redevelopment starts. Seven two-bedroom flats will go
up there.
One of the traders, who claimed that the site was a fire
risk, was newsagent Mr. Alan Stephenson. He said on Thursday “This is very good news. Obviously
everyone in this area will be delighted. We hope now for an early start on
redevelopment. It will be the first time people have lived on the site for
about 10 years”.
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