Friday 27 April 2012

NEW THANET MAGAZINE "OVERWHELMED BY SCANDAL STORIES"


A new Thanet magazine has been "overwhelmed" by stories of alleged private corruption, public incompetence and environmental cover-ups.

Mr Norman Thomas of Thanet Watch magazine, which was launched in March, said: "We knew there were some dodgy things going on locally -- we didn't know how much or how near the surface it was."

The big problem, Mr Thomas said, is checking the stories out before they can publish them.

"It's really frustrating, but we are limited by the number of people we have to deal with the things we're being told about.

 "We are a community not-for-profit publication staffed by a small number of volunteers. It takes time and careful research to make sure our coverage is true and accurate. So if there are any would-be investigative journalists out there who'd like to help, please get in touch!"

"I promise we will get the stories out -- eventually," Mr Thomas said.

The new MAY issue of Thanet Watch is out this week. It includes:

 -- "The Burning Question" -- the legacy of controversial deceased developer Jimmy Godden 

-- The passionate debate over equal marriage for same sex partners 

--What Nigel Farrage UK Independence party leader got up to in Broadstairs

-- Worrying developments in local health services

--Shops closing because of Ramsgate's new ASDA

--And a "modest proposal" to solve the problem of Margate's Arlington House.

FOR MORE INFORMATION RING NORMAN THOMAS ON 01843 604 253

Wednesday 25 April 2012

19th April Thanet District Council meeting webcast,

here is the link to the council's page http://www.thanet.gov.uk/council_meeting_webcast.aspx

to download the video file right click on this link and select save target as or save file http://www.thanet.gov.uk/files/CMApril.flv


It will take anything from about 5 to 30 mins to download and then can be opened in various media players FLV probably being the most versatile free one without advertising problems and is available from https://www.download-free.com/easy-media-player?source=ga

This will make what is a very poor quality file just about watchable to the point where it is possible to identify some of the speakers and means that you can watch it in sections as you have time. 

Conservative Group on Same Sex Marriage Motion


The Conservative Group position was outlined in the press release dated 18th April.  The Conservative Group did not believe that this was an appropriate use of Council time and resource and voted against debating the motion.  This was defeated and the motion was debated.  Of the 24 Conservative Councillors present, 2 voted against the motion, 7 voted for the motion and 15 abstained.  One Labour member also voted against the motion.

Accusations of homophobia were bandied around like confetti by Thanet Independent Group, Labour and the public gallery, including libellous tweets against members who had abstained and the Conservative Group as a whole.

Tories win free parking to help Broadstairs traders


In a bad tempered debate last Thursday, Conservatives on TDC pushed through a change to Labour's unfair parking review, which gives Broadstairs free Saturday parking in the Vere Road Car Park.  Labour had proposed the concession in the less central St Peters Park Road car park, which would not have benefitted most traders or residents wishing to use the town on a Saturday.

The Labour Party rejected a Conservative amendment to bring Birchington into line with the rest of Thanet and to reflect the stated preference of Birchington traders by allowing a full day’s free parking on Saturday instead of the first ½ hour of each day. 

TIG and Labour refused to consider the evidence provided by Cllr Bruce regarding the preference of most Birchington traders for free Saturday parking in the Albion St car park.  Cllr Cohen did not even seem to know which car park was being debated, preferring to be personally abusive to Cllr Bruce.

Cllr Chris Wells said: “Parking has become the chosen hidden tool to prop up a minority Labour administration.  With nearly 30 per cent on street parking in town centres, it is simply something all parkers can remember: 30 pence in every pound put in a parking meter pays for the political bribes to keep Labour in power.”

Tory leader Bob Bayford commented “It is a sad day for Thanet when tawdry political expedient is put before doing the right thing for our residents.”

TDC Conservative Group criticises Labour’s ‘Corporate Plan’


The Conservative Group at Thanet District Council has criticised Labour’s Corporate Plan as woefully inadequate and unfit for purpose.

Shadow Cabinet Member, Cllr Martin Wise said: “As I have stated at Scrutiny and Cabinet, I believe that Labour’s Corporate Plan fails to explain to residents what the Council will do the in coming years to achieve its objectives.

“It is nothing more than a wish list of token statements that could have been culled from any council or equivalent body in the UK or indeed, the world. It does not challenge anyone (cabinet member, officer, or Chief Executive) to deliver on anything because it contains too many priorities and no measurables.  No one can be held to account, and no one can be blamed for failure.”

The Conservative Group suggests that realistic ambitions should be stated clearly, such as:

Prosperity - We will meet with MPs, government officials, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Manston Airport operator to find opportunities to relieve air traffic congestion at Heathrow and Gatwick, by increasing passenger and freight traffic at Manston.

Housing - We will bring back into use 70 private sector homes a year.

Clean streets - We will add glass and metal to the fortnightly collection of recyclables.

Leisure - We will secure funding to upgrade the changing facilities at Hartsdown Swimming Pool, and increase the number of beach huts and beach concessions around our coast.

These are just a few ideas that would make real improvements for residents and visitors, but which were rejected by the Labour and Independent members at the Council meeting on Thursday 19th April.

Sandys Welcomes Google to Thanet in Drive to Boost Local Busines


Laura Sandys MP has linked up with her Kent colleague, Damian Collins MP, to bring Google to East Kent in a drive to grow local businesses by getting them online. Laura will be welcoming Google to Thanet on Friday 27th April when the multinational internet and software company will be offering free one-to-one workshops for local companies.
 
Laura said: “I am delighted that Googlehas agreed to come to Thanet to help our local businesses increase their online presence and attract more trade. The ever-increasing success of online retailers shows just how important it is to be on the internet. Being online can really boost trade and help a company grow. In the UK alone, online sales for January this year were up 16% on 2011’s figures. When compared to a 2.1% increase in trade on the high street over the same period, it is clear just how vital it is to be online. This is also true for businesses offering services; people will frequently do their research online before deciding on a certain restaurant, hairdresser, floristor hotel. In an area which attracts tens of thousands of tourists a year, being accessible online will become more and more important for our local businesses.
 
“This is a fantastic opportunity for companies to get free advice from the experts at Google on what really works and I very much hope that this will provide a boost for our local economy.”
 
Google’s advice sessions will take place on Friday 27th April from 10am to 4pm at The Oak Hotel, Ramsgate. Advance booking is required. For more information or to book a session, please visit Google’s dedicated website: www.gbbo.co.uk/juicebar

Monday 23 April 2012

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.AddressStatus
20 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0085WESTGATE SURGERY 60 WESTGATE BAY AVENUE WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88SNcurrent
20 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0260LORD OF THE MANOR CANTERBURY ROAD EAST RAMSGATE CT125EPcurrent
20 Apr 2012F/TH/12/028725 ROYAL ESPLANADE MARGATE CT95DZcurrent
19 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0289FLAT 3 18 VICTORIA PARADE BROADSTAIRS CT101QScurrent
19 Apr 2012F/TH/12/031219-27 HIGH STREET, ST LAWRENCE, RAMSGATE, CT11 OQWcurrent
19 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0313237 RAMSGATE ROAD MARGATE CT94BLcurrent
18 Apr 2012C/TH/12/0172LAND ADJACENT 2 SHAFTSBURY STREET RAMSGATEdecided
18 Apr 2012CU/TH/12/01566 LAVENDER LANE RAMSGATE CT125LJdecided
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0139AUSTIN RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHIC 4 HARBOUR STREET RAMSGATE CT118HAcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/017925 MASONS RISE BROADSTAIRS CT101AYcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/02422 WILLOW AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT102LPcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/024544-46 ALBION STREET, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1NEcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/02727 CARLTON RISE WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88QDcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/029592 DUNSTAN AVENUE WESTGATE-ON-SEA CT88HTcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/02983 DOMNEVA ROAD MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124DRcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/02998 MOLINEUX ROAD MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124DPcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/030412 TOTHILL STREET MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124AGcurrent
18 Apr 2012L/TH/12/024644-46 ALBION STREET, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1NEcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/028315 STANCOMBE AVENUE RAMSGATE CT110EXcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/028470 THE SILVERS BROADSTAIRS CT102LZcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0285H S B C 244 NORTHDOWN ROAD MARGATE CT92PZcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/028825 VINCENT CLOSE BROADSTAIRS CT102NBcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/031119-27 HIGH STREET ST LAWRENCE RAMSGATE CT11 0QWcurrent
18 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0256FIRECRAFT 128 KING STREET RAMSGATE CT118PAcurrent
17 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0254CO-OPERATIVE RETAIL SERVICES LTD 54 STATION ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT79RAcurrent
17 Apr 2012A/TH/12/0282H S B C 244 NORTHDOWN ROAD MARGATE CT92PZcurrent
16 Apr 2012F/TH/12/02767 ST MILDREDS AVENUE, RAMSGATE, CT11 0EEcurrent
16 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0268BAY VIEW HEIGHTS, ETHELBERT ROAD, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9QYcurrent
16 Apr 2012F/TH/12/007322 OZENGELL PLACE, EUROKENT BUSINESS PARK, RAMSGATE, CT12 6PBcurrent
16 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0248BIRTHDAYS 106 HIGH STREET MARGATE CT91JWcurrent
16 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0251FOCUS DO IT ALL PYSONS ROAD RAMSGATE CT126RLcurrent
13 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0257THANET EARTH, BARROW MAN ROAD, BIRCHINGTON, CT70AXcurrent
12 Apr 2012L/TH/12/021878 TRINITY SQUARE MARGATE CT91HScurrent
12 Apr 2012F/TH/12/026548 DANE CRESCENT RAMSGATE CT117JTcurrent
12 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0267191 CANTERBURY ROAD MARGATE CT95DAcurrent
11 Apr 2012A/TH/12/0177SEVENSCORE FARM HOUSE, EBBS FLEET LANE NORTH, RAMSGATE, CT12 5DWcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0101112 BOTANY ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 3SEdecided
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/018017 HIGHBURY GARDENS, RAMSGATE, CT126QGcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0200RAWSONS RETREAT, NORTH FORELAND AVENUE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 3QTcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/02113 PARK ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 7QNcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/022859 SOUTHWOOD ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 OALcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0240ST AUGUSTINES BUSINESS CENTRE, 125 CANTERBURY ROAD, WESTGATE ON SEA, CT88NLcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/025929 STATION ROAD, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9DJcurrent
11 Apr 2012L/TH/12/02323 PARK ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 7QNcurrent
11 Apr 2012A/TH/12/0266294-300 NORTHDOWN ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 3PAcurrent
11 Apr 2012F/TH/12/0253HENGROVE FARM, SHOTTENDANE ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 4NHcurrent
11 Apr 2012A/TH/12/0249106 HIGH STREET, MARGATE, CT91JWcurrent
10 Apr 2012F/TH/12/026341 NASH COURT GARDENS MARGATE CT94DGcurrent

* This date is when Thanet District Council first published this case file.