![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/speakquit-640x381.jpg\" "\\"speakquit\\"\/")
SpeakUpCIC volunteers and leaders Maggie Gallant (right) and Kay Byatt (second from right)<\/p>\nSpeakUpCIC volunteers and leaders Maggie Gallant (right) and Kay Byatt (second from right)<\/p>\n
Leaders of SpeakUpCIC mental health support group say they are distressed at how they have been treated after receiving notice to quit their Margate Media Centre base due to the building being deemed \u2018inhabitable.\u2019<\/p>\n
SpeakUpCic is among four users of the building \u2013 the others being Looking Ahead service for adults with learning disabilities and King Street gallery and Margate Charter Trustees.<\/p>\n
Notice to vacate was served by Thanet council last month after \u201csignificant safety failings were identified following inspections carried out within the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
SpeakUpCIC has a new home at Margate Baptist Church from mid-January but group leaders Maggie Gallant and Kay Byatt say they were upset to find the locks had been changed today (December 23) before they have had time to finish packing and moving.<\/p>\n
They say they had explained they needed to keep routine and hold the final sessions up to Christmas, until December 19th, \u00a0as part of their work to prevent people \u2018reaching crisis point.\u2019<\/p>\n
Maggie says she had written to the council\u2019s chief executive but did not receive a response.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/speakmove.jpg\")
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Service manager Kay said: \u201cWe had the last of our groups on the 19th and then came (today) to finish packing but the council had come and changed the locks. (An officer) came at 9am and said we could go in but we only had until 10.30am.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just wanted to get the stuff out and ready for removal but feel we are being treated like criminals. It\u2019s appalling.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen TDC took back the building last month we were told there would be new contracts for rent but they needed to check the building first. Then in late November we were told the building is unsafe even though it is no different to how it has been for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had already started packing up but they didn\u2019t even tell us they were changing the locks. We have to keep our members safe and had to tell them we are moving so had to do a lot of reassurance as this is the place they feel safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe deal with very complex needs people with some experiencing suicide idealisation, We have been here 15 years, long term tenants, supporting some 150 people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s brutal. I\u2019m gobsmacked that we are being treated like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/maggiegallant.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Maggie added: \u201cI have been at the Media Centre for 15 years, since SpeakUp first started. We felt like criminals today, being locked out of the building on a very cold morning. We were not told they were going to change the locks and we feel victimised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Third party\u2019<\/p>\n
Thanet council says building tenants were notified last month that the premises needed to be vacated by December 19th but SpeakUpCIC can still have access to remove belongings on a supervised basis for safety reasons.<\/p>\n
The council says although it owns the building, it had been operated by a third party and had fallen into \u2018significant disrepair.\u2019<\/p>\n
The third party operator, Margate Media Community Project, says it was unable to do the necessary repairs due to a lease not being issued to it for the last seven years.<\/p>\n
Director Claire Brown said: \u201cThe Margate Media Community Project had managed the building for 14 years. However, we were without a lease for seven years, despite numerous promises to secure one from the council. This year, the situation reached a critical point when necessary repairs were needed, but without a lease there was no financial stability, and we gave the council an ultimatum to give us a lease or take the building back and they decided to take the building back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe council conducted a report five months prior and was fully aware of the issues at hand. They reassured us and the tenants through written and verbal communications that all tenants were safe, aside from rent reviews.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree weeks after returning the property, I encountered distressed tenants who received only a month\u2019s notice. The council has disregarded the fact that the tenants possessed existing, lawful leases and seemingly failed to serve any official notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike the council, we offered them alternative premises, but locking them out three days before Christmas feels like something out of a twisted Christmas carol.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Safety failings\u2019<\/p>\n
A Thanet council spokesperson said support has been offered but safety is the main priority.<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cThe directors of SpeakUpCIC, and three other users of the Margate Media Centre (at 11-13 King Street, Margate), were notified in writing by Thursday 27 November that they would be required to vacate and find alternative premises.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was on the basis that significant safety failings were identified following inspections carried out within the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cA deadline of Friday 19 December was set as the date for SpeakUpCIC to leave. This was to provide reasonable time to remove any items and identify an alternative location, whilst not placing those within the building at an unacceptable level of risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeakUpCIC has been informed that it is still able to coordinate access to the building for the removal of any remaining items, but that this has to be carried out on a supervised basis for safety reasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Media Centre was previously a Lloyds bank, converted by the council to provide employment space approximately 20 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the building is owned by the council, it was managed and operated by a third party. Under the previous occupation, the building had fallen into significant disrepair. As such, the council took back control for management of the building on 1 November 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cSubsequent building inspections revealed a significant number of issues relating to health and safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe council has offered to support all occupants to find alternative accommodation. Space has been made available for the Margate Charter Trustees at the council offices in Cecil Street, on an interim basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafety remains our priority in this matter. We cannot allow any organisation to operate out of a building that presents a danger to its occupants.\u201d<\/p>\n
New home<\/p>\n
SpeakUpCIC will move to Margate Baptist Church in mid-January. Kay said: \u201cWe need a safe space for our members and I think we will be safe there, they have been very understanding. If it was not for them I don\u2019t know what we would have done, they are wonderful.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I do think for the council to treat people in this way is just despicable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maggie says arrangements have this evening been made to return to the building on Tuesday 6th January to resume the packing the team had hoped to have done today.<\/p>\n
It is understood Looking Ahead has found new premises but not yet signed contracts.<\/p>\n
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