Copy of the article in Friday’s edition of the Medway Messenger 17/02/2012
Buckmore Park, the troubled Scouting and leisure complex may soon be back in public use.
Sources close to the situation have confirmed to the Medway Messenger that a deal is close that would see the rundown leisure centre, shut since two Scout companies went bust eight years ago, restored and reopened to the public.
Under a complex deal, the Scouts would gain the freehold to 120 acres for camping and other activities, as well as relief from a six figures debt; Buckmore Park Karting – currently a tenant – would keep its site and expand, and another organisation would rent 18 acres, including the leisure centre.
It is understood that a Medway based church group is interested in restoring the centre and opening it for leisure activities, conferences and services.
The Chatham site, formerly owned by Rochester Bridge Trust, was developed as a multi-million pound leisure complex by the Scouts from grants from the Channel Tunnel rail Link and Sport England. But the scheme was too ambitious, turning into a “white elephant” and leading to two Scout-run management companies going bust.
Much of the site, but not a critical access road, was bought by a subsidiary of a local firm, but it collapsed into administration.
Administrators at KPMG have been trying to make a deal for years. Proposals for a hotel, Olympic camp, and housing have come to nothing.
Kelvin Holford, the Scout’s former county commissioner, is a trustee of a new Buckmore Park charity. He said: “We’ve spent nine years trying to make sure Scouting and young people don’t lose this site. We wanted a win-win situation for everyone and I think we’ve finally got there.”
Developer Toby Atkinson, owner of a critical site access road, has been trying to broker a deal for years. He said: “The freeholder and the leaseholder have agreed to move the site forward. KPMG has agreed to terms, which will enable the site to be regenerated.”
But a final go-ahead still depends on a traffic assessment and planning permission from Tonbridge and Malling council.