Friday 22 April 2011

Richborough Energy Park - renewable energy to power Kent

Richborough Energy Park will bring world-class renewable energy production to a derelict power station site. By embracing advanced and efficient low carbon technologies already in use in mainland Europe, selected providers and operators of energy generation will create environmentally sustainable energy from a number of materials, including wood, crop residues, gasses and household and commercial waste that will provide enough clean energy to power over a million local homes and businesses.

http://www.richboroughenergypark.co.uk/

Dear Resident

I am writing to introduce myself and my team


at BFL Management Ltd, the managers of the

former Richborough Power Station site in

Richborough, Kent.

BFL have managed the site since 2007 and are

currently exploring options for future uses.

We have instructed a professional team to

assist in developing a masterplan for a world

class energy park using a variety of sustainable

renewable fuel sources and aim to bring together

leading players in the energy field.

At this stage, we are very keen to ensure that our plans and aspirations for the site are drawn up in

conjunction with Kent County Council and the local authorities, Thanet and Dover, as well as local

residents and interest groups.

In preparing our masterplan proposals, we will be holding a public exhibition in May to display our

plans to the local community. Before this however, we would like to ask local people to help us to

formulate our plans by responding to our online survey. We are keen to hear what local issues might

impact upon our plans for the site and what you feel we should be taking into consideration.

I look forward to reading your responses and will be in contact again soon to inform you of the dates

of the exhibition.

Kind regards,

Gary Lever

Development Director

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


Date Published*
Application No.
Address
Status
21 Apr 2011
1 LINDEN AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT101HR
withdrawn
21 Apr 2011
121 MONKTON STREET MONKTON RAMSGATE CT124JQ
current
21 Apr 2011
19 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE MARGATE CT93BP
current
21 Apr 2011
51 CLIFFSEND GROVE CLIFFSEND RAMSGATE CT125JU
current
21 Apr 2011
BEACH KIOSK DUMPTON BAY WESTERN ESPLANADE BROADSTAIRS CT10 1TD
current
21 Apr 2011
13 GREEN ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79JY
current
21 Apr 2011
23 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE MARGATE CT93BW
current
21 Apr 2011
17 MAYFORTH GARDENS RAMSGATE CT110LL
current
21 Apr 2011
ST. PLACIDS APARTMENTS 1-2 FLAT 1 VICTORIA PARADE RAMSGATE CT118DE
current
21 Apr 2011
17 KING STREET MARGATE CT91DD
current
21 Apr 2011
5 LA BELLE ALLIANCE SQUARE RAMSGATE CT118HU
current
21 Apr 2011
25 HARDRES STREET RAMSGATE CT118QF
current
21 Apr 2011
87A CANTERBURY ROAD MARGATE CT95AX
current
18 Apr 2011
27 HIGH STREET ST. LAWRENCE RAMSGATE CT110QW
current
18 Apr 2011
72 STATION ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79RA
current
18 Apr 2011
PRESTIGE INSURANCE 107 NORTHDOWN ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92QY
current
18 Apr 2011
47 PRINCES GARDENS MARGATE CT93AS
current
18 Apr 2011
40 CLARENCE AVENUE MARGATE CT93DR
current
18 Apr 2011
4 ALBION ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79DN
current
18 Apr 2011
1 SMUGGLERS WAY BIRCHINGTON CT79HP
current
18 Apr 2011
27 HIGH STREET ST. LAWRENCE RAMSGATE CT110QW
current
18 Apr 2011
RAMSGATE BRICKWORKS 19 WALLWOOD ROAD RAMSGATE CT118AS
current
18 Apr 2011
191 RAMSGATE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT102EW
current
18 Apr 2011
RANK HOVIS LTD ISLE OF THANET FLOUR MILLS MARGATE ROAD RAMSGATE CT117RR
current
18 Apr 2011
5 SOUTH GATEWAY COURT VICTORIA PARADE RAMSGATE CT118DQ
current
18 Apr 2011
RANK HOVIS LTD ISLE OF THANET FLOUR MILLS MARGATE ROAD RAMSGATE CT117RR
current
13 Apr 2011
10 FORT HILL MARGATE CT91HD
current
13 Apr 2011
BELLE VUE HOTEL 159 NORTHDOWN ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT92PA
current
13 Apr 2011
MARCHESI RESTAURANT 16-18 ALBION STREET BROADSTAIRS CT101LU
current
13 Apr 2011
FLAT 4 2 DOVEDALE COURT BIRCHINGTON CT79UG
current
13 Apr 2011
CROSS CHANNEL SERVICE STATION MOUNT PLEASANT MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124AU
current
13 Apr 2011
27 WELLINGTON CRESCENT RAMSGATE CT118JD
current
12 Apr 2011
KENT COUNTY CONSTABULARY POLICE STATION FORT HILL MARGATE CT91HL
current
12 Apr 2011
26 QUEENS AVENUE RAMSGATE CT126DQ
current
12 Apr 2011
4 LINDEN ROAD WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88BY
current
12 Apr 2011
CLIFTON HOTEL & RESTAURANT 43-45 ALBION STREET BROADSTAIRS CT101NE
current
12 Apr 2011
55 LALEHAM ROAD MARGATE CT93QB
current
12 Apr 2011
35 BRASSEY AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT102DS
current
12 Apr 2011
LAND ADJACENT 25 COXES AVENUE
current
12 Apr 2011
POWELL ARMS 11 THE SQUARE BIRCHINGTON CT79AF
current

New documents published by Thanet District Council,

·                     21/04/2011 - Meeting held: Apr 21 2011 7:00PM, Council
·                     21/04/2011 - Agenda supplement published - Supplementary Agenda : Supplementary Agenda: Meeting of Apr 26 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel
·                     20/04/2011 - Meeting held: Apr 20 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee
·                     20/04/2011 - Agenda supplement published - Supplementary Agenda : Supplementary Agenda: Meeting of Apr 28 2011 7:00PM, Cabinet
·                     19/04/2011 - Meeting held: Apr 19 2011 3:00PM, Local Development Cabinet Advisory Group
·                     18/04/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Apr 28 2011 7:00PM, Cabinet
·                     18/04/2011 - Agenda supplement published - Supplementary Agenda : Supplementary Agenda: Meeting of Apr 26 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel
·                     15/04/2011 - Publication of plan: Forward Plan for period from 1 May 2011 to 1 November 2011; Cabinet
·                     15/04/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Apr 26 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel
·                     14/04/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Apr 26 2011 5:00PM, Airport Working Party
·                     12/04/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Apr 5 2011 6:00PM, Standards Committee
·                     11/04/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Apr 21 2011 7:00PM, Council
11/04/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Apr 20 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee

WISH LIST LAUNCHED

By Clive Hart

As usual, the last minute Tory manifesto tries to rewrite history. In his introduction Bob Bayford says the Tories have tried to do their best for four years, but local residents have actually suffered under Conservative control at TDC for eight long years, and boy don't they know it!
 
The Conservatives say they have 'helped traders by encouraging residents to shop locally', yet their Tory 'Shop Local' scheme is in tatters and they get their own Conservative election leaflets printed in Canterbury.
 
Like so many of the numerous 'visions' and 'masterplans' we've been bombarded with over that past eight years by Thanet Conservatives, their manifesto is just another wish list. Our town centres and harbours have been neglected and too many of Thanet's streets are under maintained. No amount of last minute window dressing can hide them and four more years of Tory rule would simply prolong the negligence.
 
Their decision to use the Oval lawns in Cliftonville for their manifesto launch on Tuesday was yet another Tory bungle.  Just a few hours after the Conservative bash, Cliftonville Residents Association held their AGM in a hotel overlooking the lawns, and there was genuine local anger voiced at the way Tory-led TDC had dealt with matters concerning the Oval arena and bandstand.
 
For his first announcement, the CRA Chairman explained that TDC had recently contacted the residents association with a very worrying communication asking 'what agreement the association actually had with TDC to run the food kiosk and how much rent does the association pay for it'?  The fact is, Cliftonville Residents Association is an extremely hard working voluntary organisation that has done sterling work for fifteen years and for the last ten years they have provided the regular award winning Farmers Markets.  Among numerous other community projects the residents association also stage regular band concerts for local residents and visitors.  The residents association should therefore be given every assistance by TDC to help them.  They certainly should not have hurdles put in their way!
 
Just to make matters worse, the Conservative Deputy Leader of the council explained to the residents at the meeting that 'someone had approached the council wanting to use the kiosk seven days a week'.  Could that mean that after a decade and a half the residents association could just be ejected from the venue?
 
The next matter raised by the residents Chairman was the regular band concerts, also staged at the Oval by his association.  He said he hoped funding of £4,000 to continue the concerts would soon be forthcoming from TDC.  Once again the Conservative Deputy Leader of the council disappointed residents by telling them he had 'no knowledge of any such funding'.
 
Lastly came a report from the residents chairman on the condition of the TDC owned Oval arena and bandstand.  He said that paint was peeling on the bandstand roof at an alarming rate and that much of the arena fencing was dangerous.  Calls came from the floor for (Tory-led) TDC to get on and do the work to restore the venue.
 
So basically, for their manifesto launch, the Conservatives used a much loved community facility that's been virtually neglected by Conservative-led TDC, consistently starved of funding by Conservative-led TDC and a venue that now has a less than secure future thanks to Conservative-led TDC.

THANET GIRLS AND BOYS HEAD TO WEMBLEY

14 Thanet teens are on their way to Wembley after competing in the
National Street Soccer Showdown in Ramsgate.

More than 70 young people, aged between 10 and 18 years old, took part
in the south east regional qualifier which was held at the Warre Rec on
Friday 15 April.  The event, which was part of Sport 4 NRG’s Easter
Programme, saw both girls and boys showcasing their skills as part of
this innovative football tournament.

Sport 4 NRG Officer, James Gregory, said: “Our finalists are over the
moon!  They’re so excited to have reached the grand final and having
the chance to compete at Wembley is a fantastic opportunity.  The event
itself was a great success.  It was wonderful seeing so many people from
different backgrounds, and from all over Thanet, getting on so well
together and behaving like true sportsmen.  This has been a great
example of what sport can do for the community and I’m delighted that
our finalists, both boys and girls, have the chance to head to
Wembley!”

At the event two local young people, Andy Morris from Newington (23)
and Michael Dodson from Dumpton (19), were also awarded for their
dedication to sport, both receiving a Local Hero Award.  The awards are
part of the Co-operative Street Games Young Volunteers Scheme and are in
recognition of the time and dedication put towards coaching and
supervising young people in Thanet.  Both Andy and Michael have
completed their Level 2 Sports Leadership Awards with Sport 4 NRG and
their Level 1 FA Coaching Badges.

To find out more about Sport 4 NRG, or to view the sports activities
taking place over Easter, just go to www.thanet.gov.uk/sport
  

CONSERVATION WORK AT SHELL GROTTO

The first stage of conservation works have been completed at Margate’s
world famous Shell Grotto.

The Grotto, a Grade I listed structure since 1973, is sited under two
houses and the garden in-between. The concreting over of this garden,
carried out many years ago, was causing rainwater to be channelled down
into the tunnels of the Grotto, damaging the unique, and highly fragile,
shell decoration.

Work on restoration began in 2009, with the monitoring of environmental
conditions. An analysis of the structural condition of the chalk through
which the tunnels run was then undertaken, followed by trials to
establish the most suitable methods of stabilising and cleaning the
shell patterns.

This was then followed by work to stabilise the natural chalk, so that
the concrete above could be broken up. The chalk surface above the
central part of the Grotto was then covered in hardcore, a rainwater
drainage system, topsoil and grass. This replicated the lawn seen in a
pre-War Pathe newsreel about the Grotto and its mysteries.

The council’s Heritage Development Advisor, Nick Dermott, said:
“The Shell Grotto is one of Thanet’s many extraordinary listed
buildings, and perhaps its most unusual. This work is vital to help
preserve this unique attraction for future generations to enjoy.”

These ‘Phase I’ works, which cost in the region of £90,000, were
funded by English Heritage and the Friends of the Shell Grotto, with a
£19,500 grant from Thanet District Council.

The second phase of works, which include repairs to some of the
decorative panels and the cleaning of the shells, are due to commence
this autumn. This work will be funded by a 83% grant from English
Heritage already agreed in principle and match funded by the Friends of
the Shell Grotto.

THE VERY LAST CHANCE TO SEE THANET ON FILM!

A film about Thanet has proved so popular that the Granville Theatre in Ramsgate has brought it back for one last screening.

Producer Christine Tongue said: “The final screening was supposed to have happened at the end of March, but that was sold out, so the theatre has decided to give it another showing.”

“Thanet On Film” tells the story of the area from the 1920s to the present day, with footage of showing the resort towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate when they were at their most popular.  

The film has been showing in independent cinemas across Thanet, since October 2009.

 “We only intended to show the film once on one evening,” said producer Christine Tongue, “But there has been such huge interest, the cinemas have just kept on screening it. I reckon numbers of people have watched the film seven or eight times.”

But people aren’t just going out of nostalgia, according Christine, who offers Q&A sessions after the screenings as often as she can. “The film charts the decline of the area and the tremendous social problems which have hit our seaside towns – and viewers tend to get very angry with what’s been lost and criticise local politicians.”

Screenings of the film regularly spark heated debates among the viewers.

“Thanet isn’t famous for its political consciousness, but I think the popularity of our film shows how genuinely passionate people in this part of the world feel about their area.”

Christine is already working on the next edition of Thanet on Film and is inviting people to send in ideas, memories and old home movies. “These films stand or fall by the contribution of local people,” Christine said, “It’s a sort of people’s history of the area.”

The Very Last Screening of the present Ramsgate edition of Thanet On Film will take place on Friday May 6th at 7.30pm at the Granville Theatre Ramsgate. Booking is advisable – telephone 01843 591750.
                                               
Pictures attached. For more details and pictures, and a 90 second trailer for “Thanet On Film”, telephone Christine Tongue on 01843 604253 or email inmeds@yahoo.co.uk.

THANET UNIONS CALL MAY DAY MEETING

A meeting has been called in Thanet for Sunday May 1st to discuss the need for strong trade unions in the area.

Called by the Thanet Trades Union Council, the meeting will be addressed by a representative from Unite, Britain’s largest trade union.

Issues to be discussed will include the need to unionise workers in Thanet Earth who, Unite claims, are being “systematically denied workers’ rights”.

Thanet TUC member Dave Bull said: “The present attacks on jobs and working conditions demonstrate how important it is that we have strong unions. We need solidarity, we need to stand together in the face of the present cuts.”

But Mr Bull said that there is an important job of education to be done. “Younger people in particular often have never been a union member and don’t know why they should be one. It doesn’t take them long to see why.

Thanet Trades Union Council recently took part in a demonstration in Canterbury against cuts in the National Health Service and also took part in the big TUC march in London on March 26th (photos attached).

Mr Bull is optimistic that the unions will get stronger. “The union march in London recently was so successful, this shows that people are ready to join together to defend their rights and services.”

The meeting will be followed by a free film showing of Harlan Country USA – an award winning documentary about corporate arrogance, corruption and communal solidarity during a bitter Kentucky coal miners’ strike.

The meeting will be held at the Red Hall, 11 Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs at 4pm on Sunday May 1st. Telephone Jon Flaig 07789961744. Photos attached of Thanet trade unionists on the London march and the Trades Council banner with Filiz McNamara a retired health worker from Broadstairs.

THANET TRADES UNION COUNCIL
The Red Hall,
Grosvenor Road
Broadstairs CT10 2BT