By Hayley Robinson

There are fresh hopes that the landmark Coniston Hotel could reopen in a matter of weeks.

The London Road complex underwent a £4m makeover but just two weeks before it was due to open in June, the administrators were called in.

Almost 60 people, who had been working to get the four-star hotel ready for its grand opening, lost their jobs.

Swale council chief executive Abdool Kara says there has been significant interest in the building and that it is a key part in the regeneration of the town.

Cllr Ghlin Whelan (Lab, Chalkwell) quizzed the council about what efforts were being made to avoid the hotel becoming a "permanently vacant white elephant".

Cllr John Wright, executive member for regeneration, revealed during last Wednesday's full council meeting that senior officers had met the administrators BDO.

Both sides were hopeful it would be open in time for the Christmas season.

Mr Kara spoke to the Sittingbourne Messenger following the meeting.

He said: "They've got a fair number of legitimate parties who want to buy it and run it and their aim is to have it open for the Christmas season because that would be the busiest time of year.

"The building work had not been quite finished so they're doing some work to secure electrics and that sort of thing.

"When planning permission was given for the hotel, there were a number of conditions, meaning it couldn't open until X, Y and Z had been done, so negotiations have been going on between the administrators and us to see if there any planning procedures we can relax so they can proceed with a quick sale.

"It's the highest quality hotel you could have really - it's top end and chains and smaller groups are interested in it, but because there's debt on it the new owner will effectively be buying that debt.

"Sittingbourne is our highest regeneration priority and having a high class hotel for us is a key part of the jigsaw.

"So not only are we keen for it to open, anything we can do, legitimately in our powers and work with the administrators and new owners, we will do."

A spokesman for the administrators said: "The sale process for the Coniston Hotel is ongoing. The administrators are continuing to negotiate with all interested parties."