A big step towards north Deal having its own community centre and GP surgery, after years of battling, has finally been achieved.

The district council’s planning committee has approved the proposal, which also includes 28 flats and 41 houses on the former gas works site off Cannon Street and Golf Road.

Cllr Mark Furnival said: “I joined the council in 1994 and this was one of the major issues within north Deal then. This scheme is vital.”

He paid tribute to everyone involved in the project including the North Deal Community Partnership, a group of organisations and individuals committed to regenerating the area.

Cllr Nick Kenton said: “This site has been a blot on the landscape for sometime and we all welcome this development which will bring lots of benefit to the community.”

Agreement also came from Cllr John Smith, who said it was marvellous the plans had been approved for the land which he described as a carbuncle since the gas works closed in 1957. The site has also been used as a builders merchants and timber yard.

* For full story see this week's East Kent Mercury, on sale on Wednesday.