Immediate feedback is called for from people in Broadstairs as the creation of a new £1.4 million community centre in Pierremont Park is again put in the development spotlight.

An application by Broadstairs and St Peter’s Community Trust is due for consideration by planners on February 16.

Controversy has shadowed the project since it was put forward in 2005.

The latest plans are for an oblong building south of Pierremont Hall, near the music room incorporating the Citizen’s Advice Bureau office. The Age Concern building will remain.

They include a hall for 200 people and stage, store rooms, a kitchen and meeting rooms.

The trust hope that benefits of the project will outweigh possible objections, including earlier ones like the loss of trees and lack of parking issues.

Trust chairman Ian Dale said English Heritage had to approve the project due to its siting next to a listed building. They were especially particular about its outside appearance.

Mr Dale said the centre should "enhance the park considerably". It would have an important role as a civic amenity and provide a meeting place for organisations that currently use Retort House in the Albion Street car park and Park Hall, both beyond economical repair with the former due to be pulled down.

There was an agreement with Broadstairs Town and Thanet councils that the centre is built in two phases.

The current application had been approved, subject to conditions, in January 2006. Renewed consent was needed because of the time that had elapsed since.

Mr Dale said: "There is a lot of interest from a lot of people in the centre. We will keep the prices down for hiring it out, as a limited company and charitable trust we are non-profit making.

"Since we first went to public consultation in 2005 we have changed quite a lot to satisfy genuine public objections."

The scheme had been redesigned to save some of the most important trees, but about seven trees would be affected. Arboricultalists had said trees in the park needed thinning out.

"We have said that we will replace any mature trees with semi-mature specimens in areas of the park as advised by an arboriculturalist."

If the scheme is approved he expected it to be referred to officials who would impose conditions. He was hopeful that with approval work would be able to start soon on Phase One with £590,000 available. This included £42,000 from Thanet Council, £60,000 from Kent County Council and the lions’ share from Broadstairs Town Council.

Comments about the application should be emailed to planning.services@thanet.gov.uk. The application can be viewed via Thanet Council’s website via the UK Planning portal, under F/TH/05/1175