NIGHT FLIGHTS STUDY TO BE TAKEN WITH A 'PINCH OF SALT'

The recent study produced by York Aviation, and paid for by Infratil, is based on an aspirational Airport Master Plan also produced by Infratil, and was no doubt designed to influence the local media, councillors and planners.  It is an expression of Infratil's hopes for the future. Master Plans are at best guesses and should be treated with appropriate scepticism.

The Manston Master Plan, published in October 2008 predicts a throughput of 2.2 million passengers and 167,000 tonnes of freight a year by 2018 with employment rising to 3,500; there appears little or no justification for these figures. Airports and Airlines, for their own commercial reasons, tend to exaggerate the number of jobs that will be created by airport expansion: they have shareholders to keep happy.

Currently all Regional Airports are suffering due to the economic down turn and if new runways are ever built at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted the future for Manston could be very bleak indeed.

Thanet Labour Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Poole said "Manston is operating nowhere near capacity during the day (07:00 to 23:00) and the introduction of night flights from 23:00 to 07:00 simply cannot be justified. Night flights could bring untold misery to Thanet’s residents. Sadly our local health statistics are already the worst in Kent and sleep deprivation is known to cause heart problems and further reduce life expectancy. The health and quality of life for Thanet’s residents must surely remain paramount considerations".

Thanet Labour Leader Cllr Clive Hart said "In so many ways our relatively poorer district here in Thanet is all too often seen as a very convenient dumping ground by an otherwise prosperous south-east economy and the protection of our local communities and their delicate local environment must therefore be our main priorities. Let's be clear, we - Thanet Labour - most certainly want Manston to succeed and to be prosperous. We certainly want good jobs for local people but we will not be hoodwinked by a study so clearly designed to benefit private interest and run roughshod over the threatened local communities that we represent".

Thanet Could be a Regional Hub for the Green Deal’

This week Laura Sandys MP welcomed the Skills Minister, John Hayes MP, to Thanet College to discuss the role Thanet and Sandwich could play in training up the future workforce to drive forward the Government’s flagship ‘Green Deal’.

 

Laura said: “By re-fitting our most inefficient housing stock with energy saving devices, the Green Deal has the potential to create up to 250,000 jobs. However, the UK will need to develop a workforce with real expertise and skills in the renewable sector if it is to realise its environmental ambitions. There is no doubt that – as leaders in Higher Education provision - Thanet College and Canterbury Christchurch are best placed to develop the regional skills capacity.”

 

“We in Thanet need to tap into this emerging green market. Following today’s meeting, the Minister was left in no doubt that Thanet is the ideal regional hub for the Green Deal. By benefiting from the opportunities attached to the Government’s green policies, we can also help local people into employment and boost Thanet’s economic growth and productivity.”

 

The  Leader of Thanet District Council, Bob Bayford, Vice Principal of Thanet College, Andrew Gower, External Relations Manager at Canterbury Christchurch College, David Smith, all emphasised the central role Thanet could play in facilitating The Green Deal with the Minister.

 

The Green Deal is a revolutionary energy saving plan which will see energy efficiency measures installed in homes. These will be funded by trusted businesses and then paid back through customers’ energy bills. Once the cost of installation has been recouped, homeowners can expect to save up to £400 a year on bills.   

Big Society in Action Right Here in Thanet

Last weekend was a great illustration on what is Big about Thanet.  The Big Dance in Broadstairs on Sunday broke the Guinness Book of Records for getting 1000 people dancing to Abba’s Dancing Queen.  Having danced myself I am wondering if I am the only MP to be in the Guinness Book of Records – all thanks to the great team that organised the event led by Fiona Crawford.

 

But the Big Society was also very much in action across the Isle.  Both the Friends of Ellington Park and Northdown Community Project hosted their May Fayres over the weekend. While these really successful events were put on for the enjoyment of all they had an important underlying objective – to bring the community together to help support the regeneration of both Ellington Park and the Northdown Community.

 

 And it doesn’t end there, the new community driven Visitor Information Centre in Broadstairs is set to open its doors to the public today. The Centre is the Big Society vision at its best – organised by local residents, supported by local businesses and providing an invaluable service to Thanet’s tourists.

 

This is social energy at its best. Far from being a political slogan, social entrepreneurs and community activists are in abundance across our Isle. But if the Big Society is to really take off, it will need the engagement of those who have no history of getting involved. So how can we spur a volunteering revolution?

 

This week the Prime Minister has devoted a £10 million Social Action Fund to support the most promising ideas for giving in the most deprived areas; challenge prizesof up to £100,000 are up for grabs for the best solutions to get people volunteering; and a £30 million fund to charitable organisations who can offer their expertise to more local organisations. The Big Society’s goals are ambitious and set out a positive vision for our country. Its aims transcend party politics and so I urge all of us to take a moment to ask: “What do I have to give to build a stronger community in Thanet 

MARGATE MASTERS

Potential Olympic competitors will be heading to Margate this summer to take part in the Margate Masters National Beach Volleyball tournament.

Voted as the Best Tour Event for the last two years by the players and officials of Volleyball England, it gives local people and visitors the chance to see top international players performing on their doorstep for free.

Organised by Thanet District Council’s Sport Matters team and sponsored by Hornby, it’s one of only four stops on the Volleyball England Beach Tour, and is being held on Margate Main Sands between Friday 8 July and Sunday 10 July.

The Friday begins with an East Kent schools competition, which is a pilot for the new Sainsbury’s UK School Games, taking place in Sheffield in September. The elite competition gets underway on Saturday 9 July. The sport’s top men and women from both the UK and abroad are once again expected to be showing off their serving and volleying skills in Margate, complimented by full match commentary, music and the chance for spectators to win great prizes in competitions. 

Finals will be played on Sunday 10 June, with the women’s finals taking place at 1.30pm, followed by the men’s final at 3pm.

As well as watching the action in the free grandstand seating, you can also get involved. There will be a free coaching zone where families can learn how to play the game and have a go on the courts themselves. If you fancy more of a challenge, you can take part in the local standard competition on Sunday morning. Teams of 2-a-side or 4-a-side are welcome, with great prizes to be won. You can enter at www.thanet.gov.uk/sport

Cllr. Martin Wise, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “The Margate Masters is now one of the top events in Thanet each summer and for good reason. It’s an amazing opportunity for local people to see top international sportsmen and women performing in a national competition on their doorstep. With London 2012 just around the corner, this year could see appearances from those who’ll be competing in next year’s Olympics. It’s also a superb spectator event, as shown by the fact that the Margate Masters has walked off with the title of Best Tour Event for the last two years.”

Alex Balzaretti, Project Director London 2012 at Hornby, said: “Hornby are proud to sponsor the Margate Masters for a second year.  With little over a year to go before our country hosts the greatest sporting event on earth, the London Olympic games, Hornby launches their London 2012 Official merchandise. We are thrilled to be associated with an event that brings beach volleyball, an Olympic event to our doorstep.”

For more information, visit either www.thanet.gov.uk/sport or www.volleyballengland.org/beach

TAKING VISITOR INFORMATION OUT AND ABOUT

Thanet’s visitor information team will be hitting the road for the third year running, heading out to major events across the area to promote what Thanet has to offer visitors.

Last year, the team welcomed more than 4,800 visitors to their travelling Visitor Information Centre, which is based in a marquee. As well as allowing them to meet visitors face to face and tell them all about what they can see and do in Thanet, it gives them an opportunity to promote the services offered by the Visitor Information Centre.

Now newly located in Droit House, next door to Turner Contemporary, the centre is open from 10am to 5pm seven days a week throughout the summer season. The centre offers a wide variety of services including booking quality graded accommodation, National Express and Eurolines tickets, theatre bookings, coach day trips, ferry crossings, local information and gifts and souvenirs.

The team already have a packed line-up of events that they will be attending this summer, including:

•           The Great Bucket and Spade Run – Sunday 5 June

•           Margate’s Big Event – Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June

•           Quexpo – Saturday 9 July

•           Margate Masters – Friday 8 to Sunday 10 July

•           Folk Week – Friday 5 to Friday 12 August

•           Monster Bass – Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August

•           Sports Summer Blast – Wednesday 24 August

•           Broadstairs Food Festival – Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October

The visitor information team will also have a stand at this year’s Open Golf championship at Royal St. George’s from Sunday 10 July until Sunday 17 July, along with Visit Kent.

Cllr. Martin Wise, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Over the last couple of years, our visitor information team have met literally thousands of people each summer and have been able to tell visitors to our area all about what they can find here. With our major events attracting thousands of people, it makes sense for our team to be out there as well. They get an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone they talk to and play a superb role in helping to promote Thanet to both our visitors and our residents.”

If you would like the mobile Visitor Information Centre to be present at your event please contact Lisa Powell for availability on 01843 577577 or email lisa.powell@thanet.gov.uk

Sea flood defence

Plans for a major flood protection scheme for Margate have been passed
to council officers to approve.

The proposals were considered by the council’s Planning Committee
last night (Wednesday 25 May). In total, they looked at four separate
planning applications, between them covering the seafront from Marine
Gardens to Turner Contemporary, along with the Harbour Arm.

The first application is to construct a series of wide steps from the
beach to the promenade around the Kings Steps area to stop the risk of
waves breaking over the sea wall. The sturgeon lights would be removed
from the existing wall and put back when the new wall is completed. A
second application asked for Conservation Area Consent to partially
demolish the seawall, so that this work could be carried out.

The other two applications both relate to strengthening and repair
works along the Harbour Arm, with sheet piling put into the chalk around
the pier wall and below its base. This would be finished off with a
concrete cap.

The Planning Committee decided to defer the final decision to officers,
with a recommendation that the plans be approved, subject to Natural
England confirming that they have no objection to the scheme on the
grounds of ecology.

Local businesses and residents can find out more about what’s being
planned at two drop-in sessions being held by the council in June. Both
will be held at the Margate Media Centre in King Street, with the first
taking place on Thursday 16 June, from 5.00pm to 8.00pm and the second
on Tuesday 21 June, from 2.00pm until 5.00pm. The work is planned to
take place over the coming year, further details of which will be
available at the drop in sessions.

The Environment Agency has already put £1 million into the project,
which will cost just over £6.1 million. The remainder of the money is
due to be paid over the next two years by the Environment Agency. The
planned scheme would increase protection along this part of the Margate
coastline considerably, from a one in 20 year flooding event to a one in
200 year flooding event.

SCHOOL CHILDREN CREATE NEW PLAYGROUND

Fun, laughter and face painting were on offer at the opening of a brand new playground in Ramsgate, chosen by local school children.

The playground, built on an empty piece of land in Prestedge Avenue, Dumpton, became a reality after staff from East Kent Housing contacted local residents to ask their views about what the land could be used for. 

The majority of those asked supported the idea for a playground and children from Newlands Primary School chose the colourful play equipment, which includes a climbing frame with slide, roundabout and seesaw. The playground was build by Park Leisure and Lednor on behalf of East Kent Housing, who now manage Thanet District Council’s housing.

The new playground was officially opened by local girl, Ky Collins (9) who was the winner of a poster competition, after designing an eye catching poster that asks visitors to the playground to keep it tidy and Helen Buller, Chair of the East Kent Housing Board.

This is the first major project for East Kent Housing, who took over the management of Thanet District Council’s housing last month (April). The opening day also offered local residents the chance to have their bulky waste removed for free and speak to local housing staff. They were also able to receive free DIY demonstrations from Mears, meet officers from the local police and fire and rescue service.

Ky Collins said: “I’m really excited to open the new play area and to see my poster made into a sign that makes sure people keep it tidy. I can’t wait to play here with my friends.”

Helen Buller, Chairmen of the Board for East Kent Housing, said: “This playground is a great example of community involvement and just shows how our local residents, school children and staff can work together on a project that has a lasting legacy for the area. We understand how important it is to be proud of where you live and we hope that this new playground will bring enjoyment to the local community for many years to come. We are committed to making improvements across East Kent and we want to encourage our residents to get in touch with any ideas they might have.”

For more information about East Kent Housing visit www.eastkenthousing.org.uk or to get in touch with your tenant participation officer for Thanet call Michelle Thomas on 01843 577221.

NEW WASTE COLLECTIONS GET UNDERWAY

A series of new waste collection services for 3,000 more homes in Thanet are set to start next week (week commencing Monday 30 May), leading to changes in collection days for thousands of homes.

In total, three schemes will get underway, all aimed at cutting the problem of rubbish strewn all over the streets by seagulls. To implement the changes, waste collection days for a further 4,500 additional properties will change from Monday 30 May and notices have been delivered to these homes.

The first scheme sees the trial of the seagull proof bags, first successfully tried out in Eastcliff in Ramsgate, extended for a second time. Around 1,000 homes joined the scheme at the end of April and now an additional 850 properties across Thanet will be the latest to start collections. Only properties that cannot accommodate wheeled bins are considered for this scheme.

The seagull proof bags are designed to protect black rubbish sacks from seagull attack, with each one large enough to hold around two or three black rubbish sacks, which should be tied securely at the top.  Waste should not be put loose into the seagull proof bag and the lid needs to be closed correctly, so that seagulls cannot get to the rubbish inside.  

Across Thanet, over 51,000 homes are already on the council’s dual wheeled bin collection, with waste that cannot be recycled collected one week from the black lidded bin, while recyclable items, such as plastic bottles, tins, cans, paper and cardboard, are collected the following week from the blue lidded bin. Now another 790 homes in Westgate, Ramsgate, Margate, Broadstairs and Birchington are joining the scheme.

The third set of waste collections is a new initiative from the council, with residents only receiving one black-lidded wheeled bin for their rubbish. These homes will continue to receive a weekly collection of their waste. The bins hold the equivalent of one and a half standard dustbins. The scheme is only being offered to homes that can accommodate one wheeled bin, rather than two.

With all three schemes, residents are asked not to leave their wheeled bins or seagull proof bags out on the road and to take them back inside their property boundary at the earliest opportunity. Any waste not contained inside the wheeled bins or seagull proof bags or put outside of it will not be collected.

Cllr. Martin Wise, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Our wheeled bin collections have proved to be exceptionally popular with residents, with our teams often getting calls from people, asking when they will receive theirs. Wherever we can, we will continue to roll them out and now we’re trying different approaches at properties that can’t accommodate two wheeled bins. Our seagull proof bags allow people, who don’t have any room for wheeled bins at all, to keep their rubbish safe from seagull attacks. Now we’re also trying out a new idea of just one wheeled bin for people’s rubbish, again to try and keep it out of the way of seagull attacks. It all helps to contribute to keeping Thanet’s streets clean, a priority for local people.”

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

23 May 2011	A/TH/11/0356	LAND ADJACENT TO PETROL FILLING STATION TOTHILL STREET MINSTER	current
23 May 2011	A/TH/11/0367	6-8 THE LINK, MARGATE ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2FF	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0297	LAND TO THE NORTH OF FAIRLAWN ROAD AND THE WEST OF, NORTHWOOD ROAD, BROADSTAIRS	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0313	18 BURGESS CLOSE MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124BD	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0338	4 RYDERS AVENUE WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88LN	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0347	ALDI FOODSTORE LTD ZION PLACE MARGATE CT91RP	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0373	ENGLISH FRIED CHICKEN 18 THE BROADWAY BROADSTAIRS CT102AD	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0376	11 ELMS AVENUE RAMSGATE CT119BW	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0387	11 CLIFF VIEW ROAD CLIFFSEND RAMSGATE CT125ED	current
23 May 2011	L/TH/11/0327	THE OLD COACH HOUSE SPENCER ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79EY	current
23 May 2011	L/TH/11/0383	MARCHESI RESTAURANT 16-18 ALBION STREET BROADSTAIRS CT101LU	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0366	6-8 THE LINK, MARGATE ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2FF	current
23 May 2011	F/TH/11/0385	131 HIGH STREET, RAMSGATE, CT11 9UA	current
19 May 2011	F/TH/11/0382	DENTAL SURGERY 131 HIGH STREET RAMSGATE CT119UA	current
19 May 2011	L/TH/11/0381	DENTAL SURGERY 131 HIGH STREET RAMSGATE CT119UA	current
19 May 2011	L/TH/11/0384	DENTAL SURGERY 131 HIGH STREET RAMSGATE CT119UA	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0096	69 WEST CLIFF ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 9NP	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0190	27 ADDINGTON STREET RAMSGATE CT119JL	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0285	9 MINNIS ROAD, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9SD	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0293	261 RAMSGATE ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 4EN	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0303	11-13 HIGH STREET, ST PETERS, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2TL	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0315	26-28 EATON ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 1XA	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0335	205 CANTERBURY ROAD, EAST, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9AH	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0358	26 FAIRFIELD ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2JX	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0362	1 HARBOUR MEWS, THE PATHWAY, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1AF	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0363	74 PERCY AVENUE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 3LD	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0364	1 LYSANDER CLOSE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2YJ	current
17 May 2011	F/TH/11/0371	LAND TO THE NORTH EAST OF, WESTGATE AVENUE, BIRCHINGTON	current
16 May 2011	F/TH/11/0377	SCOUTS HUT, CALLIS GRANGE COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL, BEACON ROAD, BROADSTAIRS	current
13 May 2011	L/TH/11/0112	PORT REGIS NURSING HOME CONVENT ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT103PR	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0368	95 PERCY AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT103LD	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0268	3 COLLEGE WALK MARGATE CT91PR	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0317	145 MONKTON ROAD MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124JB	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0330	36 OMER AVENUE CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT93BX	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0334	12 MARLBOROUGH CLOSE BROADSTAIRS CT102HF	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0340	32 SEWELL CLOSE BIRCHINGTON CT70BP	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0341	13 HIGHFIELD CLOSE RAMSGATE CT126QN	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0351	101 STATION APPROACH ROAD RAMSGATE CT117RL	current
12 May 2011	F/TH/11/0361	100 SOUTH EASTERN ROAD RAMSGATE CT119QD	current
11 May 2011	F/TH/11/0359	2A BELLEVUE ROAD RAMSGATE CT118LB	current
11 May 2011	L/TH/11/0360	2A BELLEVUE ROAD RAMSGATE CT118LB	current
10 May 2011	CD/TH/11/0188	PLUM TREE COTTAGE SHUART LANE ST. NICHOLAS AT WADE BIRCHINGTON CT70NG	withdrawn
10 May 2011	F/TH/10/0973	FISHING TACKLE 34 KING STREET MARGATE CT91DA	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0031	ALAN BOWN 103 NEWINGTON ROAD RAMSGATE CT126PT	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0237	ST. MILDREDS REST HOME 14-16 ST. MILDREDS ROAD MARGATE CT92LT	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0238	CHALK GARDEN THE LENGTH ST. NICHOLAS AT WADE BIRCHINGTON CT70PJ	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0251	9 PARK AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT102YL	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0300	9 MANSTON COURT ROAD MANSTON RAMSGATE CT125AX	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0310	ASTON NASMYTH ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79HH	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0318	WHITE LODGE GUEST HOUSE 12 DOMNEVA ROAD WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88PE	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0319	3 WHITENESS GREEN BROADSTAIRS CT103JS	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0329	16 GRUMMOCK AVENUE RAMSGATE CT110RR	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0331	1 CLARENDON HOUSE JOHN STREET BROADSTAIRS CT101LS	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0336	MANSTON COURT GARAGE MANSTON ROAD MANSTON RAMSGATE CT125BH	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0337	STEINKERQUE MANSTON ROAD MARGATE CT94LT	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0342	135 CRESCENT ROAD RAMSGATE CT119RE	current
10 May 2011	F/TH/11/0344	41 BEECH DRIVE BROADSTAIRS CT102LL	current
10 May 2011	L/TH/11/0150	MARCHESI RESTAURANT 16-18 ALBION STREET BROADSTAIRS CT101LU	current
10 May 2011	L/TH/11/0322	SARRE BUSINESS CENTRE CANTERBURY ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT70JZ	current
10 May 2011	L/TH/11/0346	ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE JUNIOR SCHOOL COLLEGE ROAD RAMSGATE CT117AF	current