TOWN councillors heard this evening (Monday, 26 April) that a proposal to turn a shelter at the Prom into a kiosk was put forward because Maldon District Council officers had said it was due for demolition.

Speaking at Maldon Town Council's Planning Committee, applicant Mark Salisbury said the original plan had been to build a new kiosk to house a permanent base for Mrs Salisbury's tearooms at the park.

However, Mr Salisbury told the meeting that council officials told him and his wife that they had quotes for the demolition of the four-sided shelter.

"The shelter was going to be demolished. We thought we could save it," Mr Salisbury said, "so discussions progressed and we said we would finance the whole project."

He added: "We thought we could serve visitors to Promenade Park with the kind of service they deserve - and as you all know, we have been serving the people of Maldon during the pandemic."

The meeting had already heard objections from other councillors and members of the public, including The Maldon Society and Sue Smith, representing Maldon Parkrun, who told the meeting that members use the shelter during meetings. She also expressed concerns that if Mrs Salisbury's is using both the bandstand balcony for seating and the converted shelter on the opposite side of the path, then there could be safety issues with customers crossing the path while runners are coming through.

However, Mr Salisbury said that he was prepared to build a new shelter.

After hearing that the shelter was earmarked for removal by the district council, Councillor Martin Harvey said: "Mr Salisbury is trying to save an asset. To my mind, this would really be more in keeping with the park.

"There is nothing more quintessentially English than afternoon tea in Promenade Park."

Councillors voted to recommend approval of the plans, with three for, two against and two abstentions, with the conditions that the applicant should build a new shelter and that Mrs Salisbury's current van should leave the site once the kiosk is complete.

However, the final decision on the application will now be made by Maldon District Council on a date yet to be set.