More on KentOnline
Plans for an indoor trampoline park which would create 45 jobs, could be refused despite strong support for the idea.
TBH Real Estate Investments has applied to open the activity centre, called Soar, in an empty warehouse in Courteney Road, Gillingham.
However, council officers have said the application should be refused because it would result in the loss of “important industrial floorspace”.
The council has received four letters of objection but 12 letters supporting the proposal.
Those who object have raised concerns about noise and parking.
Other letters object because of the loss of industrial space and because there is already a trampoline centre at Medway Park.
Those who support the idea point out that it would be a great opportunity for families and children, it would create 45 jobs and it will increase fitness.
Others argue that 65 spaces is adequate and there are plenty of other vacant industrial buildings nearby.
The applicants have pointed out that the centre will generate more jobs than the building did when it was used for industrial purposes.
The planning statement said: “The use [as a trampoline centre] will create 20 full-time and 25 part-time jobs, significantly more compared to the eight jobs in the previous warehouse (B8) use of the site.
“This B8 use ceased when the tenant vacated Units 5 and 6 in September 2014.
“Despite continuous marketing by the applicant since July 2014 by both local and national agents, the very limited initial inquiries about the premises has not translated into a firm offer prior to the approach to the applicants from Soar.”
The blueprints show the facility would be similar to Gravity in Maidstone, with about 100 interconnected wall-to-wall trampolines.
The centre would offer general bounce sessions, fitness classes, tutoring, children’s parties, corporate team building, parent-and- toddler sessions and disco nights.
The people behind it have already set up a website, which advertises it is opening in May, and attracted interest from almost 400 people on its Facebook page.
The application will be discussed by Medway Council’s planning committee at a meeting tonight at Gun Wharf, starting at 6.30pm.