More than 5,000 Thanet youngsters will be learning a new lesson aboutwater safety over the next couple of weeks. (Monday 28 February - Friday11 March).

The “Water Safety in Thanet” school sessions are run this year by apartnership of organisations and are coordinated by the Thanet CoastProject, with support from the Big Lottery Fund Children’s Playprogramme. The talks focus on the dangers around the Thanet coastline,how to stay safe, have fun on the beaches and look after theenvironment. The talks include sessions with representatives from thelifeguards (Neil Morgan, Thanet Leisureforce), RNLI (Dave Melmoth, RNLIand Joss Bay Surf School) and Thanet Coast Project (Suzie Hooper andNora Aldous).

Cllr. Martin Wise, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said:“These immensely popular school sessions are a vitally importantpart of promoting the message about water safety with local children, asthe coastline plays such a huge part in all our lives. I’m delightedthat the Thanet Coast Project is working in partnership with thecoastguards, lifeguards and lifeboats to run them. The coastline is ourlargest open space, and children spend much of their holidays having funand enjoying our beautiful beaches and we want to ensure that they knowhow to stay safe.”

Tony Child, Thanet Coast Project Manager, said “The School WaterSafety Sessions will be held at 20 schools over two weeks and will help5,600 school children to be more aware of the potential dangers of ourcoastal environment. I’m extremely grateful to our partners for helpin running these sessions, and to the support of the Big Lottery Fundunder the Children’s Play programme in Thanet. The programme has beenextremely successful in helping us to run children’s activities aroundThanet over the last three years - including on our beaches - and wegratefully acknowledge this extremely worthwhile support.”

Further information about Water Safety in Thanet and future events runby the Thanet Coast Project can be viewed at www.thanetcoast.org.uk

Pierremont Park, Thanet's Tahrir Square?

DEMO TO BE HELD AGAINST COUNCIL SPENDING IN A TIME OF CUTS

A demonstration against the proposed new community centre and the cutting down of trees in a Broadstairs park has been organised for Sunday 6th March.

Broadstairs Town Council, Thanet District Council and Kent County Council are all preparing to put their hands in their pockets to fund a controversial new £2 million community centre in Broadstair’s historic Pierremont Park.

Norman Thomas of pressure group, the Thanet Action Group, said that local people are furious at the proposal.

He said: “We’re hearing about massive cuts in services from the council, we may lose our libraries, people are losing their jobs at TDC, Thanet College is planning redundancies - and then they give the go-ahead to £2million expenditure. It doesn’t make sense.”

“This is a Thanet wide issue not just an issue for Broadstairs,” Mr Thomas added. “We’re all being asked to tighten our belts so how can we justify spending so much on just one project - that has been opposed for five years?”

“But it’s not just the waste of public money. We’re losing precious parkland. Twenty mature trees are to be felled in our tiny park.”

“This is being funded by our own councils – Broadstairs Town Council, Thanet District Council and Kent County Council – all putting our money into building what I can only see as a trophy project.

“Of course a new community centre in Broadstairs would be wonderful – who wouldn’t want that? But not in the park, and not at the expense of vital services all over Thanet.

“I wonder what people would rather see done with our money.”

Anger over the new proposal has led to the revival of the Thanet Action Group, first set up to oppose the Westwood Cross shopping centre, of which Mr Thomas was one of the founding members.

The demonstration will take place at 11am on Sunday 6th March, with people meeting in the wooden shelter in the park.

Mr Thomas said: “If possible, people should bring placards and ribbons to put round the trees, but above all anyone who wants to protest about Thanet Council decisions should just come to make their voices heard.”

NEW COUNCIL HOUSING MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS APPROVED

Plans that will see a new organisation take over the management of council housing in Thanet, with the aim of improving the service to tenants and leaseholders, has been given the final go-ahead.

The proposals were agreed last night (Thursday 24 February) at a meeting of full council, which agreed to set up what’s known as an “arms length management organisation” (ALMO) called East Kent Housing. It will be managed jointly with three other East Kent councils, Canterbury, Dover and Shepway.

Tenants and leaseholders across East Kent gave the idea their broad support following an extensive consultation during summer 2010 and the proposals were also approved by the Tenant Services Authority earlier this year.

Thanet District Council will remain the owner and legal landlord of the council housing stock in Thanet and tenants and leaseholders’ rights and responsibilities will be unchanged. East Kent Housing will manage and maintain council homes across the four council areas and will have to achieve standards set by each council. The key aims are to involve tenants and leaseholders in the planned improvements for their housing service. East Kent Housing will be responsible for:

looking after council estates, including managing grass cutting, gardening contracts, cleaning and maintenance of communal areas
managing improvements to tenants’ homes
collecting rent and helping tenants who are having difficulty in paying
making sure that tenants stick to their tenancy agreements
involving and communicating with tenants, including producing newsletters, leaflets and supporting community groups and activities
working with the police, the council and other agencies to reduce anti-social behaviour
re-letting empty properties, approving mutual exchanges and changes to tenancies
running sheltered housing schemes and organising adaptations to homes of tenants with disabilities

East Kent Housing will be run by a Board of people, made up of four tenants or leaseholders, four councillors who represent the four council areas and four local independent people. They will oversee the day to day running and management of the organisation. The council’s current housing staff will transfer to East Kent Housing and the usual contact details for them and repair contractors will remain the same in the new organisation.

Cllr. Chris Wells, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “I’m really pleased that this has been approved because of what it will mean to our tenants and leaseholders. A huge amount of work has gone into creating East Kent Housing and we’ve done that because we genuinely believe that its introduction will mean a better service for tenants and leaseholders.

“By bringing our services together with neighbouring councils, we can bring together all the best bits of council housing services, as well as make savings that can then be reinvested back into our housing stock. This will be a dedicated housing service, led by the needs of our tenants and leaseholders and we want their help in shaping the housing services that East Kent will deliver in the future.”

The creation of East Kent Housing is part of an ongoing project to share services in East Kent to provide the best value for money to the taxpayer and make the best possible use of the councils’ resources and staff expertise.

Tenants and leaseholders will be informed about how the new organisation will work through a dedicated local magazine which will be sent out at the end of March and through a new website. In the meantime, the latest information can be found at www.thanet.gov.uk/sharedhousing

THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL BUDGET 2011/12

Thanet District Council’s budget for 2011/12 has been approved, with a freeze on Council Tax and savings of more than £1.6 million agreed.

The budget was approved last night (Thursday 24 February) at a full Council meeting, with members told that the authority’s grant from central government will reduce by 5.3% in the next financial year. Despite this, the council is also facing increases in its spending and reductions in its income.

As a result, the council needs to find savings of £1,640,300 during 2011/12, made up from:

£1,000,000 from a new staffing structure, agreed in January 2011.

£ 400,000 from entering into sharing services with Canterbury City and Dover District Councils.
£ 313,800 from savings suggestions put forward by staff as part of the new Star Chamber process, which looked at ways to reduce expenditure on services which were not a priority or achieve additional efficiencies.

£ 113,300 from staffing restructures, which have already been put in place.
These proposed savings will meet the council's £1.64 million saving target for 2011/12, with some of the savings coming into effect in time for 2012/13.

The council will also be freezing its part of the Council Tax for 2011/12 as part of the budget.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “We realised at a very early stage the extent of the savings that we would need to make for the year ahead. Since then, we’ve been working hard with our finance team to identify reductions in our budget that will have a minimal effect on front line services. Having to save more than £1.6 million is a tall order, but we’ve achieved it by some radical and creative thinking. This is a budget that offers exceptional value for money to council taxpayers in Thanet.

“It’s required some innovative work on our part. Entering into shared services with Dover and Canterbury and the proposals for managing our housing stock through an arms length management organisation with other councils in East Kent are examples of that. This work is being looked at by other councils, as we progress with it. We’ve also undertaken a radical shake-up of our management team and staffing structure to ensure that we deliver the savings we need and provide a council that’s fit to deliver the challenges of the future.”

He added: “Budget managers across the council have stepped up to the mark, coming up with innovative ideas of how the council can save money. It’s the first time we’d tried the Star Chamber approach and it’s really worked. Developing this budget has been a difficult process over many months and it would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our finance team, under the guidance of Sue McGonigal, our Chief Executive Designate.”

VIEWS WANTED ON GREEN SPACES

Your views are wanted on new designs for the green spaces at Cobbs Place and Queens Arms Yard in Margate. This is all part of the improvement work to ensure the town looks its best in 2011 to support the opening of the Turner Contemporary Gallery.

The designs, which have been created by Groundwork following a public consultation in December 2010, are now on display in the Media Centre Margate for the next two weeks for local people to view and to provide their comments on.

As part of the initial consultation local people’s views were captured to help come up with some creative temporary solutions for these green spaces, as the land has been earmarked for development in the future. Using this feedback, Groundwork has now created some draft designs and we want to know what you think before they create the final design.

To view the designs and to make your comments, local people are invited to drop in to the Margate Media Centre, King Street, Margate anytime between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The designs are also available to view online by visiting www.thisismargate.co.uk where you can also submit your comments or you can write to Thanet District Council, Po Box 9, Margate CT9 1XZ.

Director of the Margate Renewal Partnership, Derek Harding, said: “This is a great opportunity for local people to get involved in the future of Margate, with the projects at Cobbs place and Queens Arms Yard forming part of the wider improvement to the town. Almost 100 people took part in the initial consultation to come up with the concept of what they wanted to see there. It would be great to see just as many people commenting on how their views have been used and helping to shape the final design. This is an exciting time for Margate so I hope people take this opportunity to get involved”.

All comments must be submitted by Friday 11 March 2011. The final design will be created based on feedback from the consultation and is set to be implemented in both green spaces by June 2011.

ELDERLY AND DISABLED HIT BY CLOSURE

The Walpole Bay lift in Cliftonville is to close as part of the Tory council’s cuts to local resident services announced at Thursday evenings TDC Budget council meeting.

Cliftonville West ward councillors Linda Aldred, Doug Clark and Clive Hart argue that the lift provides access to the lower beach level promenade for many elderly & disabled residents living in the hundreds of new flats in & around Eastern Esplanade, and for visitors to the remaining local Cliftonville hotels.

Cllr Linda Aldred said "The lift provided disabled access to the lower beach level prom and it will be missed by many residents and visitors, especially those in wheel chairs".

Cllr Doug Clark said "The beach has lost its Blue Flag status & the Conservative administration at TDC appears to be abandoning any hope for Cliftonville to re-establish itself as a seaside resort in the future".

Cllr Clive Hart said "I find it incredible that a Conservative administration at TDC proposes painting a building like the lighthouse in Margate that quite clearly does not need painting at all, but then can't find the money to maintain a very useful existing TDC facility".

PICTURES ATTACHED - 1) THE CLOSED LIFT 2) ACCESS TO LOWER PROM.

Published by Cllrs Aldred, Clark & Hart. 44 Norrthdown Road, Cliftonville, CT9 2RW.

IMPORTANT DEBATE CUT SHORT

IMPORTANT DEBATE CUT SHORT, AMENDMENT REFUSED

& TORY LEADER ORDERS HIS GROUP NOT TO TAKE PART

Debate at Thursday's council meeting held to discuss the proposed TDC budget was cut short, amendments were refused and at one point the Conservative TDC Leader ordered his group not to take part in discussions, when Labour members suggested capping leading officers pay at a time when other council workers were to lose their jobs.

A Labour amendment simply called for officers to produce a report examining the proposal that 'No senior member of staff should have an increase to their salaries whilst other members of staff are being made redundant. And that the money saved from this should go to protect the priority services identified during the public consultation'.

At this point Council Leader (Cllr Bayford) ordered his Conservative group not to take part in the debate and shortly afterwards his own Conservative members voted to curtail all debate and end any further discussion.

Labour Leader Cllr Clive Hart was furious at Cllr Bayfords order to his members not to take part in the debate and explained to council members that it was exactly that kind of attitude which allowed leading officers pay to run out of control. He said it was a perfectly reasonable and understandable proposal and that the Conservative Leaders response showed exactly why the Tory Leadership were not fit to run the council.

Following Thursday's meeting Labour Leader Cllr Clive Hart said "tonight's debate clearly exposed the Tory administrations attitude towards frontline staff. Leading officers will be allowed increases whilst others will lose their jobs. A year ago the Labour Deputy Leader Cllr Poole and I met with Cllr Bayford and Cllr Wise - then the cabinet member for finance. In front of the Chief Executive we told them in no uncertain terms that leading officers pay was spiraling out of control and completely unacceptable. They wouldn't listen then and they didn't listen tonight'.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office, 44 Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 2RW.

TDC BUDGET COMMENTSPEECH TO COUNCIL - THURSDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2011. Cllr Clive Hart - Leader of the Opposition TDC & Labour Member for Finance. In

SPEECH TO COUNCIL - THURSDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2011.

Cllr Clive Hart - Leader of the Opposition TDC & Labour Member for Finance.

In the TDC budget report council financial officers complained that the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010 highlighted cuts of £83billion but provided insufficient detail to determine the impact of these cuts at Thanet District level. The coalition government was once again acting over zealously and long before they had actually thought things through. It was January 31st this year before Eric Pickles outlined that detail, and the final result was and still is a shocking 5.3% cut in this years settlement and an 'atomic bomb' 16.9% cut next year.

And none of these cuts in government funding allow for inflation that is being allowed to run out of control by the Tory-led coalition government.

With 'smoke and mirrors' Mr Pickles will then provide taxpayers own money to keep Thanet rate payers bills artificially at 0%, thereby getting local Tories past our forthcoming local elections, but at the same time creating an inevitable funding gap for some dark point in the future.

Despite spurious claims that the settlement 'tries to insulate the poorest and most vulnerable in society' Thanet's usual area based grants to tackle community cohesion, citizenship, social inclusion, safer and stronger communities, climate change, and working neighbourhoods funding to help those on welfare back into work, are all ended completely. We will also have a total of £100,000 cut from neighbourhood crime prevention and victim support projects. Thanet residents safety and security is being put at risk by these cuts and neither the Tory administration at TDC or the Tory-led coalition government appear to have any conceivable understanding of the huge social problems we face here in Thanet.

Many relatively hidden fees and charges for local residents will increase by around 4%, museum entrance fees will go up between 5% and 12% and crematoria fees will rise by an inflation busting 13%. Short sighted bulky goods collection increases of up to 25% will undoubtedly lead to more fly tipping and dumping that will affect all our lives and could further impact financially on street cleaning and enforcement service costs. But guess what? Car parking fees, the fees that almost all residents notice, will remain unchanged for this election year!

The Conservative administration is desperately clinging to their Shared Services experiments with Canterbury and Dover council's to 'save the day' but with just one of a prospective stream of services within the scheme at present, TDC is already £30,000 short of the Tories promised savings, and indeed, the TDC financial risk assessment states Shared Services are probably the largest risk facing the council to date.

Even the TDC General Reserves are beginning to run down below the recommended level under the current administration and a desperate and probably unrealistic hope in this budget is to reinstate them if at all possible - well, we'll see!

Four Conservative Councils in East Kent have spent a considerable amount of tax payers money over the last three years working towards amalgamating all of our publicly owned Council housing under a one 'Arms Length Management Organisation'. The promise was that this particular 'shared service ' will save money and be better for tenants is not borne out even by TDC's own estimates. Despite less than 31% of tenants showing support for the amalgamation the Conservative's want to finally push this through. It is clear that the first year of operation will be given over to 'organisational' matters and tenants may not see any real improvement in service. Based on TDC's own figures any actual savings may not be realized until year six. TDC staff will also expect to be on the same salary scale as the highest paying authority, how will that keep costs down?

Labour members have serious concerns regarding the poor funding made available for Disabled Facilities Grants in the budget.

The Conservative leadership has consistently complained that Labour ward councillors have been wrong to support local residents in protecting green spaces and much-loved community assets even though the budget papers clearly point to these matters as being district priorities. The capital budget proves our (Labour) stance to be absolutely correct. Indeed, officers have subsequently been forced to be creative and funding has eventually been found for a new Ramsgate swimming pool through other means than asset disposal.

Residents should not however, be complacent. The Tory budget states quite clearly 'many of the proposed disposals are being held back until more realistic sale prices can be guaranteed.

Unfortunately I fear this budget is simply a tool to get the currently shell shocked Conservative administration through the May elections, after which many in-year alterations will have to be made as the hopes and wishes for savings and efficiencies are slowly dashed. That situation will be bad enough, but then the 'atom bomb' cuts of 2012/13 will hit TDC with a force so far unseen across our island and anything like normal local authority service will become very difficult indeed!

Cllr Clive Hart - Leader of the Opposition TDC & Labour Member for Finance.

DEMO TO BE HELD AGAINST TREE MASSACRE

A demonstration against the cutting down of trees in a Broadstairs park has been organised for Sunday 6th March.

Twenty trees in Broadstairs’ Pierremont Park are threatened with the axe in order to make way for a controversial new £2 million community centre in Broadstair’s historic Pierremont Park.

Norman Thomas of pressure group, the Thanet Action Group, said there is huge anger among local people at the proposal.

He said: “People are outraged by the whole idea. Pierremont is an incredibly small park – losing twenty trees will scalp the place.”

The Trust who recently won planning permission to build the new centre have stated that they will replace the trees by planting semi-mature ones – but Mr Thomas denied this will be any compensation for the destruction proposed.

“The only places the new plantings can take place will be in open ground used for games. They won’t last five minutes. The council has given the go-ahead to nothing less than a desecration of one of Broadstairs’ few remaining green public spaces.”

“This isn’t just an issue for Broadstairs,” Mr Thomas added. “Thanet as a whole has lost vast numbers of trees and green spaces in recent years, mostly to private development.

“But this is being funded by our own councils – Broadstairs Town Council, Thanet District Council and Kent County Council – all putting our money into the destruction of a piece of much loved public space.”

“This is environmental vandalism of the worse kind – committed by our elected representatives, with our money.”

Anger over the new proposal has led to the revival of the Thanet Action Group, first set up to oppose the Westwood Cross shopping centre, of which Mr Thomas was one of the founding members.

The demonstration will take place at 11am on Sunday 6th March, with people meeting in the wooden shelter in the park.

Mr Thomas said: “If possible, people should bring placards and ribbons to put round the trees, but above all anyone who wants to save our park should just come to make their voices heard.”

HMO PLANNING PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD

Changes to planning rules are being put forward, meaning planning permission would be needed to convert properties into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

The proposals, from the council, would come into effect from 4 February 2012, as the council has to give a year’s notice of its intentions or it could face compensation claims from property owners. It comes after the government introduced new legislation in late 2010, which means that homes can be turned into HMOs for up to six unrelated people without seeking planning permission.

However, the council can use a planning power, called an Article 4 Direction, to ensure that anyone who wants to convert their home into an HMO has to submit a planning application. Under the council’s proposals, this planning power would apply to the whole of the Thanet District.

Cllr. Simon Moores, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Regulatory Services, said: “The council is already concerned about the number of HMOs we already have in Thanet. All too often, they’re in a poor condition and, because of that, rents tend to be low. That attracts vulnerable people from outside of Thanet into the area, draining public resources and putting them in potentially dangerous accommodation. As many people will no doubt know, many of the HMOs we have are centred in the Cliftonville West area, adding to the deprivation problems there. It’s an issue the council is determined to tackle and this is why we’re looking at using our planning powers to keep control over how many HMOs are created in our area.”

Introducing these powers would not mean a blanket ban on HMOs in Thanet, but it would mean that, before any property is converted into an HMO, planning permission would first be required. There would be no fee for this type of application.

A number of other councils are also going through the same process, including Sheffield, Bristol and Portsmouth.

Local people can give their views on the proposals until Friday 25 March, either by e-mailing planning.services@thanet.gov.uk or by writing to the Director of Regeneration Services, Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ. The council will then consider these views when deciding whether to go ahead with the changes.

These proposals do not affect the licensing of HMOs. Landlords owning a house in multiple occupation will still have to apply for a licence from the council’s private sector housing team. More details can be found at http://www.thanet.gov.uk/housing/multiple_occupancy_homes/applying_for_a_licence.aspx

NEW APPLICATION DETAILS WESTWOOD HOMES PLANS

A new planning application has been submitted, with details about the first planned houses for Westwood Cross.

The plans give details of the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping of the first 74 homes on the site. The properties, a total of 56 houses and 18 flats, would be built on a triangle of land between Manston Court Road, Star Lane and the new Star Lane Link Road.

The application also includes details of the new Star Lane Link Road, which has to be provided before any homes can be occupied on the site. As part of the plans, Manston Court Road would be closed to through vehicles.

These new applications set out the detail of what will be built at Westwood. The council granted outline planning permission for 1,020 homes, along with community facilities and the new link road in 2008.

Details of the application are available on the council's website using UK Planning under reference number 11/0094. The plans can also be viewed by visiting Thanet's Gateway Plus in Cecil Street, Margate from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with extended opening until 8pm on Thursdays. Thanet's Gateway Plus is also open from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

The deadline for comments to be received is Friday 11 March. Comments should be sent to planning.services@thanet.gov.uk The application will be considered by the council’s Planning Committee and is expected to be discussed at their meeting in April 2011.

FIND OUT ABOUT EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS AT THANET’S GATEWAY PLUS

New educational and employment opportunities will be offer at Thanet’s Gateway Plus, as part of their New Year, New You campaign.

Originally launched at the start of 2011, the aim of New Year, New You is to help people who want to make a change to their lives. The latest stage will see an Education and Employment Fair being held on Tuesday 1 March from 10.00am to 4.00pm in Thanet’s Gateway Plus in Cecil Street, Margate.

Amongst the organisations taking part are Kent Adult Education, the Army, the Channel Chamber of Commerce, Thanet College, the Open University, TNG, who help individuals get back to work or set up and run a business, and Next Step, which offers support on getting a job and planning your career. You can also find out more about volunteering and the benefits this can bring, with groups such as the Sport Matters Volunteering Programme and VAWK (Voluntary Action Within Kent) also on hand.

Gateway Manager, Stephen Meades, said: “Our New Year, New You campaign has got off to a really successful start and now we’re aiming to follow up on that with our latest event. In the current climate, so many people are looking for education and employment opportunities and we want to do what we can to help them. There are a lot of different organisations in Thanet to help local people and this is your chance to come along and meet them and see what they can do for you.”

More details about the Education and Employment Fair can be found at www.thanet.gov.uk/gateway

GO-AHEAD GIVEN FOR TREE MASSACRE

Thanet Council has given the go-ahead for a tree massacre in a Broadstairs park, objectors claim. Twenty mature trees are for the chop, it was revealed at a meeting of the council's planning committee on Wednesday evening, in order to make way for a controversial new £2 million community centre in Broadstair's historic Pierremont Park.

Norman Thomas, who spoke as a public objector against the new community centre, said he was amazed and horrified at the revelation. "We knew they were proposing to cut down some trees, but twenty mature ones - this is going to be a massive blot on the park. It's an incredibly small park anyway - to lose twenty trees will scalp the place."

The Trust who won permission to build the new centre have stated that they will replace the trees by planting semi-mature ones - but Mr Thomas denied this will be any compensation for the destruction proposed. "The only places the new plantings can take place will be in open ground used for games. They won't last five minutes.

The council has given the go-ahead to nothing less than a desecration of one of Broadstairs' few remaining green public spaces. "People in the community should get out and halt this mad proposal in its tracks. If the national government can change its mind about selling off forests surely TDC should change its mind about axing trees in one of our most treasured parks."

Objectors to the proposed new centre held a silent protest during the planning meeting on Wednesday, holding placards saying "Don't build in the Park" and "Vote NO! More protests are planned. Anger over the new proposal has led to the revival of the Thanet Action Group, first set up to oppose the Westwood Cross shopping centre, of which Mr Thomas was one of the founding members. Mr Thomas said: "Anyone interested in opposing the plan to chopping down of our trees should ring me on 01843 604 253 or email us on inmeds@yahoo.co.uk

COMMUNITY CENTRE PLANS DECIDED

Plans for a new community centre in Pierremont Park, Broadstairs have been given the go ahead, subject to an existing building on the site being removed.

The council’s Planning Committee last night (Wednesday 16 February) agreed the application for the community centre, but asked officers to add a new condition in. This would lead to the demolition of the former Age Concern building.

The application will also see the demolition of Park Hall, which will be replaced by a much larger two-storey community centre. This would have a main hall with a stage, which can also be used as a badminton court. Other facilities provided would be four meeting rooms, a kitchen and snack bar and toilets.

The council’s Planning Committee first considered this application in 2006 and resolved to approve it. Because of the time that had elapsed since the first decision was made, the application went back to the Planning Committee to decide if anything had changed in the meantime.

Cllr. Ken Gregory, Chairman of the Planning Committee said: “It’s probably fair to say that when this application was first submitted six years ago, there was a great deal of controversy about it. People were concerned about a number of things, but particularly the loss of parkland and trees. These issues were carefully considered at the time and at last night’s meeting, we were satisfied that things hadn’t changed since the initial decision we made in 2006. Having listened to all the views at the meeting, it’s clear that the community centre would be a valuable resource for Broadstairs residents and therefore the benefits would outweigh the concerns that we heard people raise.”

HOMES APPROVED FOR SCHOOL SITE

The principle of building 150 homes on the site of an existing school in Broadstairs has been given the go ahead, subject to the approval of a legal agreement.

The proposals for the Ellington and Hereson School in Ramsgate Road went before Thanet District Council’s Planning Committee last night (Wednesday 16 February). They would see the existing school being demolished and replaced with 150 houses, including terraced, semi-detached and detached, and ranging from two-bedroom to five-bedroom in size. A new access for vehicles into the site would be created as part of the plans.

The application follows a previous one in autumn 2010, which was rejected by the Committee because of concerns about the access into the site. Following this, changes were made to the application.

Members approved the plans, but subject to a legal agreement, which will set out the contribution the developers need to make to community facilities in the town and the level of affordable housing that will be required at the site.

After hearing people’s views on the application, the Committee also decided to add in a condition, which means that no windows will be allowed above the ground floor level in homes built along the boundary of the site with Dumpton Park Drive. This will help to stop neighbouring properties being overlooked.

When the detailed planning application comes in for the site, which will include the layout and design of the houses, this will now also go before the Planning Committee for final decision.

HALF TERM FUN FROM SPORT 4 NRG

Young people in Thanet can go rock climbing or take part in their own football tournament this February half term.

Thanet District Council’s Sport 4 NRG team have a range of activities coming up during the week of Monday 21 February. All the sessions are free and run by professional coaches in a safe and friendly environment.

The week kicks off with a football tournament on the five-a-side pitches at Hartsdown, running from 11am to 2pm on Monday 21 February. Later that day, Hartsdown plays host to the regular street dance session, from 3pm to 4pm.

On Tuesday 22 February, you can enjoy badminton at the Ramsgate Sports Centre between 11am and midday, with bowling at Bugsy’s Bowling between 2pm and 4pm.

Later in the week, on Thursday 24 February, there’s the chance to go rock climbing at the Revolution Climbing Centre. The week finishes off with NRG Golf at Stonelees on Friday 25 February. For both these activities, there are only limited spaces available, so you must book in advance for each of these sessions.
Sport 4 NRG programmes are available from Thanet’s Gateway Plus in Margate, with details also online at www.thanet.gov.uk/sport To book for the rock climbing and golf sessions, call 01843 577032.

New planning applications

The TDC planning website is one of the most bizarre websites I have ever come across in as much as the web addresses of the pages on it change after a few hours so you can’t publish links to them. If you want to look at any of the applications you need to go to the site and enter the application reference in the search box, this link takes you to the site http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet
11 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0024
NORTHDOWN HOUSE NORTHDOWN PARK MARGATE
current
11 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0069
THE CHEVIOTS MANSTON ROAD MANSTON RAMSGATE CT125BE
current
11 Feb 2011
NM/TH/10/1088
MARGATE FOOTBALL CLUB LTD HARTSDOWN ROAD MARGATE CT95QZ
decided
11 Feb 2011
R/TH/11/0094
LAND NORTH OF HAINE ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, & WEST OF, NASH ROAD, MARGATE
current
10 Feb 2011
A/TH/11/0087
LAND AT JUNCTION OF HAINE ROAD AND MANSTON COURT MARGATE
current
10 Feb 2011
A/TH/11/0090
HOARDINGS ADJACENT TO 21 WESTCROSS CROSS MARGATE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102BF
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0033
71 FITZROY AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT103LT
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0063
LAND ADJACENT 25 COXES AVENUE RAMSGATE CT126SD
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0065
MORTIMER HOUSE 24 HARTSDOWN ROAD MARGATE CT95QT
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0075
95 HIGH STREET MARGATE CT91JT
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0081
38 FOADS HILL CLIFFSEND RAMSGATE CT125EN
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0084
34 GRENVILLE WAY BROADSTAIRS CT102JR
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0085
40 HIGH STREET MARGATE CT91DS
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0091
5 LANTHORNE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT103NH
current
10 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0095
18 FREDA CLOSE BROADSTAIRS CT102ED
current
09 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0074
52 ST. GEORGES ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT101NS
current
09 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0078
17 SAXON ROAD WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88RS
current
07 Feb 2011
F/TH/10/1077
44 DEVONSHIRE GARDENS, MARGATE, CT9 3AD
current
04 Feb 2011
F/TH/10/1090
19 OSBORNE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102AE
current
04 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0066
24 ST. AUGUSTINES PARK RAMSGATE CT110DE
current
04 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0080
22 CLEMENTS ROAD RAMSGATE CT126UJ
current
04 Feb 2011
L/TH/11/0077
3 GRANVILLE MARINA RAMSGATE CT118NA
current
04 Feb 2011
L/TH/11/0083
AMBRY COURT SHUART LANE ST. NICHOLAS AT WADE BIRCHINGTON CT70NG
current
03 Feb 2011
A/TH/11/0072
MARKS & SPENCER, 1 WESTWOOD CROSS MARGATE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102BF
current
03 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0020
18 OCEAN CLOSE BIRCHINGTON CT79HX
current
03 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0059
FLAT 1, 1 BERKELEY ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79JN
current
03 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0073
MARKS & SPENCER, 1 WESTWOOD CROSS MARGATE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102BF
current
03 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0042
97 RAMSGATE ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 4BL
current
01 Feb 2011
F/TH/10/1081
ST.NICHOLAS CAMPSITE COURT ROAD ST. NICHOLAS AT WADE BIRCHINGTON
current
01 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0017
66 ROYAL ESPLANADE MARGATE CT95ET
current
01 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0019
18 KINGSGATE CASTLE JOSS GAP ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT103PH
current
01 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0028
1 THE RETREAT BIRCHINGTON CT79HS
current
01 Feb 2011
F/TH/11/0044
19-25 EDGAR ROAD MARGATE CT92EG
current
31 Jan 2011
C/TH/11/0054
OLD SCHOOL LODGE, NEW CROSS STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1EH
current
31 Jan 2011
C/TH/11/0056
OLD SCHOOL LODGE, NEW CROSS STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1EH
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0018
22 WESTCLIFF GARDENS, MARGATE, CT9 5DT
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0022
10A THE BROADWAY, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2AD
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0025
THE FLAG AND WHISTLE, 19 STATION ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 5AF
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0029
EBBSFLEET FARM, EBBSFLEET LANE, RAMSGATE, CT12 5DL
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0047
LAND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, MARINE TERRACE, MARGATE
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0052
20 EARLSMEAD CRESCENT, RAMSGATE, CT12 5LQ
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0053
OLD SCHOOL LODGE, NEW CROSS STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1EH
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0055
OLD SCHOOL LODGE, NEW CROSS STREET, MARGATE, CT9 1EH
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/11/0058
COMPLETE CAR SALES, WILLSONS ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 9LZ
current
31 Jan 2011
F/TH/10/1061
ARLINGTON HOUSE & 1-50 ARLINGTON SQUARE, MARGATE CT9 1XP
current

New documents published by Thanet District Council

16/02/2011 - Meeting scheduled: Feb 16 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee

16/02/2011 - Issue Published: Proposed Development of Hartsdown Park, Margate, Kent. (Margate Football Club/Hartsdown Development

16/02/2011 - Issue Published: We are asking Thanet Council to stop any further development of Westwood Cross until the Turner Cont

16/02/2011 - Issue Published: To show your support for the continuing trading of J.Prentis Greengrocer

16/02/2011 - Issue Published: Petition to move CCTV to cover At Augustine’s Road and Royal Road and Spencer Square

15/02/2011 - Agenda supplement published - No. 1 : No. 1: Meeting of Feb 24 2011 7:00PM, Council

15/02/2011 - Meeting held: Feb 15 2011 10:00AM, Licensing Sub Committee

14/02/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Feb 10 2011 7:00PM, Cabinet

14/02/2011 - Publication of plan: Forward Plan for period from 1 March 2011 to 1 September 2011; Cabinet

14/02/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Feb 8 2011 6:00PM, Standards Committee

14/02/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Feb 22 2011 10:00AM, Licensing Board

14/02/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Feb 24 2011 7:00PM, Council

11/02/2011 - Issue Published: Business Continuity Management Strategy and Policy

11/02/2011 - Decision Published: Business Continuity Management Strategy and Policy

10/02/2011 - Meeting held: Feb 10 2011 7:00PM, Cabinet

08/02/2011 - Meeting held: Feb 8 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel

08/02/2011 - Meeting held: Feb 8 2011 6:00PM, Standards Committee

07/02/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Jan 20 2011 7:00PM, Council

07/02/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Jan 26 2011 10:00AM, Constitutional Review Working Party

04/02/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Feb 16 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee

04/02/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Feb 15 2011 10:00AM, Licensing Sub Committee

02/02/2011 - Issue Published: District Wide Article 4 Direction removing Permitted Development rights for a change of use from single dwelling-house to a House in Multiple Occupation

02/02/2011 - Decision Published: District Wide Article 4 Direction removing Permitted Development rights for a change of use from single dwelling-house to a House in Multiple OccupationCabinet Member for Customer Services & Business Transformation and Regulatory Services

31/01/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Jan 26 2011 10:00AM, East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee

31/01/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Feb 8 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel

31/01/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Jan 11 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel
28/01/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Jan 19 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee

IS FEELING SAFE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Local people are being urged not to be left in the dark, if feeling safe is important to them.

A series of special Community Forum events have been organised by the Thanet Community Safety Partnership over the next few weeks.

These are different to residents’ or PACT meetings, as senior police and council officers will be present to hear people’s views on the community safety issues that matter to them and work with communities to help set priorities for the coming year.

Cllr. Chris Wells, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “This is your chance to come along and find out the truth about crime in the area you live in and tell us what matters to you. We’ll have details of the crime statistics for your area and you can help us set the priorities for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour over the next year. You can also play your part, by helping us to get new projects off the ground to improve the level of safety in your town.”

The forums will be taking place at the following locations on the following dates:
The Centre, Alpha Road, Birchington on Monday 21 February
Comfort Inn, Victoria Parade, Ramsgate on Tuesday 22 February
Canterbury Christ Church University, Northwood Road, the Broadstairs campus on Monday 28 February
Media Centre, King Street, Margate on Tuesday 1 March

All sessions are from 6.30pm to 8.00pm with light refreshments. Residents’ meetings will still be running as normal, but will not have senior officers attending.

Employees and Contractors from Pfizer

Yesterday all the local MPs Roger Gale, Charlie Elphicke, Julian Brazier and myself met with staff and contractors in Sandwich. This was an extremely useful meeting, very good to be able to discuss with employees and contractors the issues that they face and to be able to update them on the work that is being done to secure their jobs into the future.

We will be holding a similar event in the next few weeks to ensure that staff and contractors know what is happening and can raise concerns that they have for their personal future or for the community as a whole. Please do pass this to anyone who is a Pfizer employee or who works on the site so that they can be in touch with us by email – laura.sandys.mp@parliament.uk or see notices on www.telllaura.org.uk

What is crucial is that we have a united team working together to find a secure and sustainable future for the site and to retain this important employment in East Kent and with the determination of the local East Kent MPs and the support from government we are already taking some important steps to address these challenges.

We have been given the resources of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills with the personal attention of the Minister David Willetts and the Secretary of State Vince Cable, who have established a taskforce, chaired by Paul Carter, to secure investment for the site and stabilise local jobs and skills. As part of that Taskforce I am totally focused on ensuing that the jobs stay in East Kent, that the world class site is used to its potential and that other parts of the site are regenerated to ensure a long term future for research and other activities in East Kent.

Earlier in the week, the Minister for Science joined me for a meeting with Pfizer. The company knows that they have an important commitment to the community, to their staff and to the future of the site. But it is ultimately the quality of the staff that matter, the skills that we are so proud of, the role that each of our constituents play in the wider community and their families who attend our schools and use our high streets. I urge existing Pfizer staff to wait for some of these exciting new developments to come to fruition before dusting off their CVs. These last few long days have shown me that our staff and the site are of importance to more than just the local community – we have a national asset.

MORE CARS CLEARED THROUGH CUBIT

Abandoned and untaxed vehicles in Thanet have been targeted in the latest Operation Cubit.

During the week long operation, which ran from Monday 31 January, a total of 46 vehicles were removed from around the area.

The biggest number, 15, were taken from Ramsgate, while Margate was close behind, with 13 vehicles removed from there. Eight were taken from Cliftonville, and six from Broadstairs, with two each taken from the Westgate and Birchington area and Minster.

Operation Cubit is led by Thanet District Council, with help from Kent Police, Kent County Council, the DVLA and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Once a vehicle is removed, owners have to pay £260, plus storage costs, to reclaim their vehicles. If they tax their vehicle within two weeks, then £160 of this is refundable.

If they fail to either tax the vehicles or declare that they are off the road, then a follow-up visit is made to see if the vehicle is still being driven illegally and, if it is, it will be removed. If owners do not claim and pay for their vehicles, then they will either be crushed or sold.

Abandoned vehicles can be reported by calling 01843 577066.

NO INCREASE TO COUNCIL TAX FROM THANET COUNCIL

Thanet residents should see no increase in Thanet District Council’s share of the Council Tax, following proposals put forward by the council.

Cabinet Members agreed the proposals at their meeting last night (Thursday 10 February), as part of the overall budget plans for 2011/12.

They were told that the council’s grant from central government has been confirmed at £11.6 million for the next financial year, a reduction of 5.29%.

By deciding to freeze the District Council element of the Council Tax for 2011/12, the council will receive a grant from the government, which is equivalent to a 2.5% increase on the level of Council Tax. A zero increase is also proposed for 2012/13, followed by plans for an increase of just 2.5% for the following two years. This means that a Band D property in Thanet will pay just over £4 a week for the District Council’s share of the Council Tax.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “This has been the toughest budget in many years, with the council, along with the rest of the public sector, facing funding cuts of a level never seen before. With the additional funding the government is offering councils who freeze Council Tax, we are proposing no increase in our element of the tax. That’s been an incredible achievement, given what we have had to work with and something that I’m sure residents will warmly welcome.”

The budget proposals will now go forward to a meeting of the full council on Thursday 24 February, when a final decision will be made.

KEITH SEES HIMSELF ON FILM - 40 YEARS AGO!

Keith Garrison got the shock of his life when he went to the Carlton Cinema in Westgate the other night. For the first time ever he saw his film debut -- 40 years ago.

Birchington resident Keith, 64, went to see “Thanet On Film”, a compilation of footage about Thanet from the 1920s to the present day, totally unaware of what he was about to see.

Keith was watching a section of the film about Margate shot in 1970, when he heard a song which sounded familiar. “Then I realised – I’d written it,” said Keith, “And there I was playing it.”

“I was amazed and surprised – as was the person sitting next to me, when I shouted ‘That’s me!’ ”

Keith is shown in the film playing and singing to a group of dancing mini-skirted girls in the old Grosvenor Court hotel in Cliftonville, which is now a retirement home.

Keith, who used to write for a local drama club in Birchington in the 1960s, said: “I’d forgotten all about taking part in this film. All I knew was it was a publicity film for Margate and Michael Aspel was in it. I was singing one of my own songs called Another Wonderful Day.”

“And I never saw the film or myself in it until the other night in the Carlton Cinema. I got the shock of my life!” He added: “I had hair in those days!”

The public will have their last chance to see the phenomenally popular “Thanet On Film” this weekend when it get its final screenings at the Granville Theatre in Ramsgate.

The 78 minute film includes vintage footage of Thanet from the 1920s to the 1970s and explores the impact of the decline in seaside holidays on the area. It also explores the future for Thanet and hopes for the regeneration of the area through initiatives such as the new Turner Contemporary Gallery.
The film’s producer Christine Tongue said: “It was great Keith saw his film debut after all these years. If anyone else sees themselves in the film this weekend, we really want to hear from them. Maybe we’ll interview them for the next film we make about Thanet.”

“Thanet On Film” will be shown in the Granville Cinema, Ramsgate on Friday February 11th and Saturday 12th at 7.30pm. There will also be a special matinee screening in Ramsgate on Saturday 12th at 2.30pm. Bookings are advisable, telephone 01843 591750.

RESIDENTS’ VIEWS MATTER ON HARTSDOWN

Local people will have their opportunity to have their say on future development at Hartsdown by Margate Football Club.

That’s the message, following a meeting of the council’s Cabinet last night (Thursday 10 February), which considered a petition from more than 500 people about proposed development at the Hartsdown site. It stated that those who had signed the petition “wholly and irrevocably object to the development of Hartsdown Park for the purposes of constructing an artificial football pitch, causing the natural environment to be changed.” It also called on the council to “revoke the authority granted to develop this park land, which is protected under legal agreement.”

In 2005, Margate Football Club was granted planning permission to develop a new stadium, together with an artificial pitch and a 5-a-side pitch complex, with associated parking. Some of this permission has since been implemented, with the 5-a-side pitches and parking introduced. Fresh applications have been permitted to relocate the artificial pitch and to redesign one of the stands.

The club has now come forward with proposals for a Travelodge on the same site that was granted approval in 2005. However, it is a different design to the original proposals and therefore the club needs to submit a fresh application for this. This would require full public consultation through the planning process.

The club has also stated that, if they were to proceed with the hotel development, which would require a new planning application, they would require a long lease of more than 25 years. Cabinet Members were told last night that no lease of more than 25 years would be granted without full public consultation. Cabinet would then decide on granting the lease, once this had been completed.

Cllr. Simon Moores, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Regulatory Services, said: “The message is clear from the council. There will be no approval for any new plans for the Hartsdown site or a long lease for the football club, without full public consultation first. The council will not be deciding on either issue before we have carefully considered the views of local people. We’ve listened to what people had to say who signed the petition and we hope that this helps to set their minds at rest on this issue.”

Pfizer Closure – Next Steps

It is a very difficult period for all of us in East Kent not least those who are directly employed by Pfizer and the many contractors who work on the site.

As you may have heard in response to a question that I asked in Parliament, David Cameron has committed to put all his and the Government’s efforts into securing the future for the site and those who work there. The Secretary of State for Business and the Minister of State for Science are fully engaged in working on solutions and your local MPs are at the forefront of these efforts.

Starting tomorrow with the visit of David Willetts Minister of State for Science to the Pfizer site, there will be a series of meetings both in Sandwich and in London this week to take forward the several options that exist, and we will all be working with Pfizer, the staff and the local communities to ensure that all ideas and possibilities are examined.

Your local MPs - Roger Gale (North Thanet), Charlie Elphicke (Dover and Deal) and myself will be holding a meeting for employees and contractors on Saturday to discuss the issues that we all face. Please do email me if you are an employee or contractor on the site for further details – or pass this onto anyone you know who works at Pfizer.

While this has been a devastating blow to East Kent I have never seen such political commitment from the Prime Minister and throughout all parts of Government to address a company closure.

For my part as the Local Member of Parliament there is not a waking hour that I am not spending focused on securing a long term future for the thousands of local people who are reliant on the site.

COMMENT - TURNER - OBSERVER ARTICLE

From today's national Observer article on David Chipperfield - architect.

Referring to KCC the article says:

"The client was shell-shocked, literally," says Chipperfield, "and had less money than they'd started with," so he has responded with "a very secure and wholesome building". It is simple, studio-like, almost shed-like, but still with a robust presence on the waterfront. Most of the designers' energy went into capturing the exceptional daylight on the Kent coast, which Turner described as "the loveliest in all Europe," and taking it indoors. "The light inside is fantastic" says Chipperfield, "it is the best we've done and the best I've seen anywhere for a long time."

"This is exactly what I have said from the very first day I saw Mr Chipperfield's plans at the Winter Gardens. The interior will be great, not so sure about the exterior, and so much time, money and energy was wasted on that first design by the administration at Kent County Council.

The people of Thanet, and paricularly the residents of Margate and Cliftonville, have the Tory administration at County Hall to blame for any shortcomings in the design of the exterior that they will have to live with.

Mr Chipperfield did the very best he could with the funding made available after the collapse of the first project and in that respect he really has done a brilliant job. But Margate has paid a very heavy price through the lack of regeneration over several wasted years, whilst waiting for local Tory administrations to finally got their act together".

Cllr Clive Hart - Leader of the Opposition TDC.

Thanet College Squeezed.

05/02/2011
Cllr R Nicholson
TDC Shadow Cabinet member Economic Development and Regeneration

Thanet College Squeezed.
For days now we have listened to the crocodile tears and hand wringing from Tories about the closure of Pfizer with the terrible loss of jobs. And yes this will have major negative effects to Thanet and East Kent but elsewhere even more cruel and destructive actions are taking place which will negatively impact the life chances of Thanet and East Kent residents, especially the younger generation.
Over the next four years, due to Tory government spending cuts, Thanet College will have to impose savings of £1.9 million with Just over £1 million in the coming year alone.
Why… because funding has been cut for young people, funding for apprenticeships is being cut, despite the rhetoric from our millionaire Prime Minister. National funding rates frozen at current levels, so effectively a near 5% cut.
Most important is of course the removal of the educational maintenance allowance which currently 80% of Thanet College students receive, money for book, travel and other needs.
For adults, national funding for skills provision is being cut by 4.3%.
Fee remission rules changes so only many more will have to pay, or give up in many cases, full fees.
Ring fenced funding for help programmes for the unemployed to get back to work to cease from end of March this year.

Solar Park

Plans have been submitted for a Solar Park at Ebbsfleet.

The council has received an application for the use of approximately 12 hectares of land at Ebbsfleet for a Solar Park. The application involves the installation of approximately 60 rows of solar panels, with each being 3 metres in height, on a triangle of land between the Richborough Power station, the Southern Water Waste Treatment Works and the new East Kent Access road. The proposal also includes associated equipment cabinets, and a 2.5 metre high fence would be erected around the perimeter of the site.

The applicant has stated that the panels would produce an average of 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity per year, which would be fed into the national grid via a substation.

The application is accompanied by a habitat survey and assessment of the development on the designated nature conservation sites in the surrounding area. This applicant states the proposal will provide enhancements to bio-diversity, by providing wildlife corridors along the Minster Stream, which runs through the site, and along the south-west boundary.

Details of the application are available on the council's website using UK Planning under reference 11/0029. The plans can also be viewed by visiting Thanet's Gateway Plus in Cecil Street, Margate from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with extended opening until 8pm on Thursdays. Thanet's Gateway Plus is also open from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

The deadline for comments to be received is Friday 25 February 2011. Comments should be sent to planning.services@thanet.gov.uk The application will be considered by the council’s Planning Committee in Spring 2011.

PLANS IN FOR NEW SUPERSTORE IN MARGATE

Plans have been submitted for a new retail superstore next to Arlington House in Margate.

The application is for a superstore, which would be built on the existing car park. A total of 409 new parking spaces would be provided at the ground floor level, with the store located above. Because the shopping area is at the first floor level, the building includes a large front lobby to enable customers to get to the store, and a raised platform for lorry deliveries. Neither of these are usually required with ground floor stores.

The shopping area of the store is similar in size to the existing Tesco at Manston Road, Ramsgate. In total, including delivery areas and the entrance lobby, the store would be 7,565 square metres.

The store is expected to bring 300 jobs to the area, according to information submitted as part of the application.

The application also includes improvements to Arlington House, including new windows, repairing and treating the concrete panels, new lighting and a roof canopy on top of the building. The existing retail units in Arlington Square would be demolished and replaced with new shops, cafes, restaurants or bars, with a hotel above. The ground floor of Arlington House would become either shops, a cafe, restaurant, bar or community facility such as a doctor's surgery.
Details of the application are available on the council's website using UK Planning under reference number 10/1061. The plans can also be viewed by visiting Thanet's Gateway Plus in Cecil Street, Margate from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with extended opening until 8pm on Thursdays. Thanet's Gateway Plus is also open from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

The deadline for comments to be received is 28 February 2011. Comments should be sent to planning.services@thanet.gov.uk The application will be considered by the council’s Planning Committee in spring 2011.

Pfizer Closure response

''News of Pfizer’s decision to cease operations at its Sandwich sitehas come as a huge blow. Leader of the Council, Cllr Bob Bayford said“This news is an enormous setback for Thanet and the East Kenteconomy as a whole. Many of the staff who work there live in Thanet, sothe unexpected closure of such an important contributor to the East Kenteconomy is especially worrying, particularly at a time when both thenational and local economy face equally daunting challenges.Thanet’s unemployment level is already the highest in the South Eastso this is going to hit us particularly hard, at a time when theeconomic recovery is still very fragile.We will be seeking an urgent ministerial meeting with our local MPs tosee what action the government can take to mitigate the job losses. Wecall on the government to intervene and provide tangible opportunitiesto attract business investment into East Kent to replace the jobs lost.We will be redoubling our efforts to attract businesses and investmentinto Thanet.We will also be working closely with our neighbouring councils and withthe county council to mitigate the impact of Pfizer’s closure onsurrounding businesses and the local economy”Publication date: 01 February, 2011

ANTI CUTS CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN RAMSGATE

Anti Cuts Thanet
The Red Hall,
Grosvenor Road
Broadstairs CT10 2BT


PRESS RELEASE
FEBRUARY 2011

ANTI CUTS CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN RAMSGATE

A fight back against the cuts in Thanet will begin in Ramsgate at 11am on Saturday February 19th.

A stall is being held outside the HSBC Bank in the centre of Ramsgate and the organisers are calling for all people opposed to the government cuts to join them on the day.

Anti Cuts Thanet or ACT is a group set up by people across Thanet to fight the government cuts and draw attention to their impact on the isle.

ACT Member Norman Thomas said: “The government cuts are going to hit the poorest parts of the country worst – and it looks like Thanet is going to be particularly badly hit.
“Thanet is very dependent on public sector jobs and it is full of small businesses which are in their turn largely dependent on the people with those jobs. All this means that the cuts are going to really hurt this area.”

Mr Thomas said there is an urgent need to start organising to fight the cuts now. “In the next few months we are going to see jobs being lost and services being cut. We cannot just wait and let this happen. Our only option is to organise against the cuts.”

“People wonder what they can do, but when people get together, if there’s enough of them, they can achieve great things. It’s important we don’t accept the line that there is no alternative. It’s all about people power.”

“The government argues that the private sector will step in and make up for the cuts in the public sector, but one of the biggest private employers in this area, Pfizers, is closing down. We have to find a new way forward.”

The group is urging people to come to the event in Ramsgate and bring banners and placards opposing the cuts. “We have to make our voices heard,” said Mr Thomas.

Anyone interested in getting involved in fighting the cuts can contact ACT at anticutsthanet@gmail.com or join the Anti Cuts Thanet Facebook group.

Telephone 07789 961744. Photo attached of Kent students demonstrating in London.

THANET ON FILM WEEK

COMING UP – THANET ON FILM WEEK!


Interest in seeing a film about Thanet has been so high that the producers have declared the week beginning February 7th “Thanet On Film week”

Film-maker Christine Tongue says that recent screenings in Ramsgate and Westgate have prompted such interest that additional showings have been arranged in both towns.

“We have been absolutely inundated with enquiries about the film,” Christine said. “It just shows how interested people are in the past, present and future of the isle.”

Screenings in cinemas in Ramsgate and Westgate were packed out, with many people having to be turned away.

“It was really heart-warming to see people turning up in such large numbers at their local cinema,” Christine said. “This is exactly what independent cinemas can do so well – act as a hub for the local community.”

The film will be now shown in the Carlton Cinema, Westgate on Tuesday February 8th and in the Granville Cinema, Ramsgate on Friday February 11th and Saturday 12th at 7.30pm. There will also be a special matinee screening in Ramsgate on Saturday 12th at 2.30pm.

“But if there’s even more demand extra screenings may be arranged,” said Christine.

The film includes vintage footage of Thanet from the 1920s to the 1970s and explores the impact of the decline in seaside holidays on the area.

The film also features interviews with Thanet Council leader Bob Bayford, local MP Laura Sandys, and items on China Gateway and Manston Airport.

It ends by offering a fascinating glimpse at the future for Thanet and asks whether plans for regeneration are likely to materialise.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with the film-makers and a chance for the audience to put their views.

Sandys: Devastated by Pfizer’s Decision to Leave Sandwich

Commenting on Pfizer’s announcement, Laura said today: “This is a body blow to East Kent. I am particularly concerned for all those employees at Sandwich Pfizer and small businesses that are associated with the company and will do all I can to support them through this difficult time.

I am arranging a meeting with the senior team at Pfizer and have had commitment that they will play an active part in supporting the local community over the next 24 months.”

Having spoken to the Business and Research and Development Minister David Willets and with Pfizer, I am pleased that we are establishing a taskforce with Ministers, Kent County Council and Pfizer to put together a dynamic transitional plan to attract new businesses to the Sandwich site. We have 24 months to put in place a programme of re-investment and to ensure that this prime location becomes the home of new businesses into the future. “
“We are committed to marketing the huge strategic benefits of the facility. It is a purpose built

Research and Development facility with impressive buildings, superb surrounding infrastructure, and close proximity to Europe.

In addition we have some superb expertise and skills in Sandwich that are attractive to any investor considering taking advantage of the facility in Sandwich. With some of the highest calibre research scientists in the country positioned on the edge of England’s best preserved medieval town, I am hopeful that the facility will be put to productive economic use in the near future.”

Pfizer to close.

The Labour Group at Thanet District Council condemns the decision by the Pfizer Group to close its site at Sandwich in Kent. Cllr R Nicholson, Shadow Member for Economic Development Thanet District Council said, “I am dismayed at this step which will affect a lot of Thanet residents who are employed at this site. Not only that, Pfizer was a good place for our children to seek work, now that will no longer be possible. The loss of 2400 jobs from Pfizer in the Area will definitely knock the area hard and lead to more deprivation for residents and businesses. How many additional jobs and businesses serving the Pfizer site, will go can only at present be guessed at.

This shock, coming on top of the huge cuts in Thanet due to the ConDem government cuts in spending, spell a miserable and difficult time for many in Thanet. So much for the private sector taking up the increasing numbers of unemployed.
We will be watching to see what steps are taken to deal with this emergency, not just hand wringing by Tory MPs and a let the market do its worst attitude. The site will be difficult to clear and clean up, costs in the millions, who will pay for that?

Labour members are calling for proper action to address this situation so jobs, private or public sector come to Thanet and quickly.”