THANET GETS ITS OWN "PRIVATE EYE"

 New Magazine Aims To Be Scourge Of Local Corruption

A brand new investigative magazine is to be launched in the Isle of Thanet,
East Kent.

With its first issue out on March 1st, Thanet Watch is a new monthly
magazine which promises to search out corruption and incompetence in the
locality.

 Editor Norman Thomas said: "Stories of dodgy goings-on and underhand deals

are legion in Thanet, but hard evidence is too often thin on the ground. I
hope Thanet Watch is going to change all that."

The magazine's slogan is "keeping an eye on the Isle" - and Mr Thomas says
it will be untiring in its exploration of the shadier side of life in
Thanet,

"Buildings which mysteriously burn down, money meant for regeneration being
used for private gain, scams, bribes and cover-ups - these are the stories
people are going to find in our pages," Mr Thomas said.

The first issue has stories of gangsters in Thanet, mysterious goings on in
Ramsgate harbour and a councillor calling for an end of a "culture of
secrecy" in local government.

But, Mr Thomas said, the magazine won't confine itself to exposes.

"For example, in this issue we have one architect's alternative vision for
Margate seafront. It's the kind of thing which I think will make people stop
and think about what's happening in this area and how things might be
different."

"Also, alone in Kent we have an Occupy camp here, an extremely exciting
development and we have a major piece on what that's all about."

Mr Thomas has been a journalist for over 25 years, working on newspapers,
magazine and documentary films.  "The first ever magazine I edited was a
weekly paper in Cardiff and we uncovered many stories of corruption there.
But the sort of stuff we've been digging up in Thanet really makes all that
look like kids' stuff."

The magazine will also contain a what's on listing, giving what Mr Thomas
claims is a "unique guide to all the events, arts and entertainments" of the
area. "There's lot going on in Thanet, more than in most localities, and it
really isn't covered adequately at the moment. Thanet Watch is going to help
its readers make sure they don't miss out."