Update

[Margate Football Club]

The following letter was delivered to Thanet District Council by both fax and e-mail prior to their offices closing at 3pm today. The letter has been issued by specialist solicitors acting on behalf of the Development Team of which MFC is a member and we must now await a response.

 

Ms Jennifer Seeley

Strategic Director (Finance)

Thanet District Council

PO Box 9

Cecil Street

Margate

Kent CT9 1XZ

 

 

Dear Madam

 

Re: Margate Football Club – Hartsdown Road Site

 

We act for Mr Gary Lever, Channel Hotels and Properties Limited and CNC Properties Limited. Mr Lever has passed to us a copy of your letter to Margate Football Club Limited dated 23 December 2004. In that letter you state that whilst our clients submitted their documentation to you within the 30 day deadline set by you you are not satisfied with the submissions you received and would therefore be seeking alternative options on 4 January 2005. You are aware that Mr Lever is currently abroad and will not be returning to this country until 8 January and that most professional firms are closed between Christmas Eve and 05 January 2005. It would therefore appear that on this basis alone the District Council is not acting in good faith as it knows full well that there is no realistic prospect of further submissions being made by 4 January 2005.

 

We have been informed that our clients have already incurred fees and costs in the region of £90,000 on the assurance given to them that the District Council would act in good faith with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable proposal with regard to the Hartsdown Road site. By reason of your conduct it is now apparent to our client that the District Council has not acted in good faith and even if our clients were to incur further substantial professional fees there is no certainty that a satisfactory conclusion will be achieved. Consequently, whilst our clients are prepared to deal with all of your further concerns there must be some degree of certainty that the District Council will grant a lease if certain conditions precedent are satisfied.

 

Our clients have already been encouraged to expend very substantial sums on the basis that you would be acting in good faith and consequently if the District Council proceeds as set out in your letter dated 23 December we shall advise our clients to take the appropriate action against the District Council including but not limited to issuing proceedings for the recovery of monies already expended, an application for judicial review and/or a complaint to the Ombudsman.

 

We are also instructed that a threat has been made to forfeit the existing Lease because of alleged breaches. However, we understand that the rent has been accepted since the alleged breaches came to your notice and we are instructed that any arrears of rent will be paid. Consequently, should any attempt be made to forfeit the existing Lease application will be made for relief.

 

Would you please confirm by return fax that no further action will be taken as you have suggested in your letter dated 23 December until such time as our client has been given a reasonable opportunity to respond to it and that in order to demonstrate your good faith the Council will enter into an agreement for a Lease before our clients are obliged to incur further expense. If we do not receive confirmation from you by return our clients will take such action as they may be advised.

 

Yours faithfully

 

DAVIS HANSON

[ooh!!bodyform]

come on margate keep fighting, this is long overdue and all credit goes to all at MFC and Mr Lever now lets see who's in the wrong. Good luck we are all behind you and i take my hat off to Mr Lever

 

 

LONG LIVE HARTSDOWN PARK

[knighty101]

Thanks to MFC and Gary at CnC who ordred this letter to be wrote at short notice on xmas eve at lord knows what cost..

 

there is stil a fight and it can be won!!!

 

MerryChristmas. im off for a beer now!

[MargateFan]

Good to see the club are fighting back at what seems to me a conspiracy at the highest level to make it impossible for the club to continue.

MFC and CNC have my utmost support and respect and my very best wishes for the Christmas Season and beyond.

[hartgeman]

many people who i have talked to who do not follow the club can not belive that the council have not given the club the go ahead when they have said yes to plesuararma, westwood cross and dare i say it the turner centre. i belive they have lost of votes for the next local election(including most of my family who are all concervatives) as now we no real party who is lookig out for margate(or thanet) the last two local councils have done no realy great things for this area(one concervative and one labour)

[Cookie]

Just turned on the computer and seen that statement from the solicitors to the council and I say this is well overdue. It was a while back that I suggested bringing in the ombudsman as others did and this too has been long overdue. We all know by now including the electorate of thanet that things have got to a stage now where the council are plainly holding things up wherever and however they can for their own gains and this news is the best we have heard for ages. Now lets hope the council see sense and stop pussy footing around and concede that whatever their plans were should not and will not be attainable. This club and moreover the officials and parties acting on their behalf have gone too far to turn around now and now maybe the council will think again and just give up on their plans and allow the club to progress at last. If the council really are playing dirty as it looks like they are then this will show them up in their true light. Well done to all those in the club who are now really fighting back. Its about time. The council have played too many hands now,in fact so many that they can now be seen to be untrustworthy. With an outcome which will surely have the council at fault the future of this council and its officials must indeed be brought to rites and even a disbandment of the council could result.

Keep that fight up margate f.c. and whilst moneterally we cannot help too much be assured that the fans of the club and now the people of thanet are right behind you.

[Guest]

this council is corrupt and they will pay