BIG YEAR FOR THANET EVENTS

Thanet is gearing up for a spectacular year of events, centred around the arrival of the Olympic Torch and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

This year, the country will be celebrating the four day Diamond Jubilee weekend over Saturday 2 June until Tuesday 5 June, with Olympics fever starting in Thanet a few weeks later on Thursday 19 July, when the Olympic Torch relay arrives in the area.

Margate’s Big Event, which was successfully held along Margate seafront in 2011, will not take place this year due to the coastal defence works. The council has made the decision to reallocate the £50,000 used to fund Margate’s Big Event to the wider Olympic celebrations.

Cllr. Iris Johnston, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “2012 is going to be a massive year for the whole country and Thanet’s events schedule will be just as jam packed as in previous years. I have already attended meetings with the many excellent event organisers in Ramsgate and Broadstairs and I am working closely with the Margate Town Partnership, who are pulling together the town’s events.

“Organisers are being very helpful in putting in their applications for land hire within the 18 weeks timeframe announced last November. I am hoping I will have agreement from my Cabinet colleagues on Thursday (29 March) to allocate funds to the three main towns and to have a cross-party panel deciding on the allocation of the remainder of the money to the villages and other areas. The council will continue to work closely with the police and other organisations to ensure we have a safe and fun filled year.”