Ambulance station site plans under wraps as sale continues

The sale of the former Canterbury ambulance station site is nearing completion but its future use remains unclear.

A ‘sold’ sign has gone up at the Military Road plot, which was deemed surplus to requirements by the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A number of stations, including Canterbury and Herne Bay, were closed last year and crews relocated to ‘response posts’.

Two were set up in Canterbury, identified by using statistics to find where medics were most likely to be needed, in a move SECamb said would improve response times.

The sale of the Military Road station is being overseen by RPC Land, which marketed the plot as a development opportunity, either commercial or residential, the latter being the most likely outcome.

Its director, Mark Presland, said: “We have agreed a deal, subject to contract. Until that contract has been gone through and checked, I cannot release any information about it.”

Mr Presland was able to con- firm the sale would go through only if planning consent was granted by Canterbury City Council, but could not reveal the nature of any plans.

RPC Land invited potential buyers to bid for the site. “We had about 10 offers for it in the end,” Mr Presland added. “We’ve been waiting for the NHS trust to decide who they would prefer to move forward with.

“We had people who wanted to use it for warehousing to people who want to develop it for residential or other uses.”

City council spokesman Rob Davies says the authority’s planners have been contacted but a planning application has yet to be submitted.

“We have given some preplanning advice for the site, but this is confidential so we can’t give any details until a formal application is submitted,” he said.

SECamb spokesman Rich Airey said: “We are in the process of selling the former Canterbury ambulance station as we now respond from more suitably located response posts in the town.

“We will ensure the sale represents good value to the Trust. A contract for the sale is not yet with solicitors.

“We’re unable to comment further until a preferred bidder is given approval by the Trust Board at the end of this month.”

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup. co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE

The former Canterbury Ambulance Station site