8 minute read
News around Thanet
The 6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts
The 6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts have been serving the Royal Harbour community since before World War II, for over seventy years. They have provided thousands of young people and adult volunteers opportunities to learn life-long skills that support emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health, and now they have a new ambitious project for the future. Their project is to renovate the Ice House in Ramsgate's Royal Harbour, which was given to them by community asset transfer in 2019, creating a community centre that will provide opportunities for our Scout group and the wider community. There are few places for community organisations or individuals to rent affordable space in Ramsgate's central harbour ward, and they want to change this. The Ice House has the potential to offer fully accessible community rooms that will accommodate many uses. The group is keen to hear from community groups who may be interested in using the community rooms or anyone who can assist the project through volunteering. For more information visit 6thramsgateseascouts.org.uk or contact
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gsl@6thramsgateseascouts.org.uk
Shirley Appleby, Group Scout Leader
futureCodersSE
futureCodersSE CIC are a small coding experience academy, who provide courses and work experience in coding for app development and data analysis. They have been given government funding to provide courses specifically to people who live in East Kent. These courses are fully funded by the Government's Community Renewal Fund in partnership with East Kent Colleges (so no cost to you). Courses starting now and continue into Spring! To apply, contact
karen@futurecoders.org.uk
Emily Groves MBA, Director of Operations and Strategy, futureCodersSE CIC
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You missed a cracking meal!
Every year the Broadstairs Society has its annual lunch and this year was no different – about 40 of us went to the Racing Greyhound and had a lovely meal. The Broadstairs Society is not just about good meals though. As well as looking at all planning applications covering Broadstairs and St Peter’s, working with the Town Council to try and ensure that the place develops and grows without destroying the heritage assets that abound we also have open meetings to which you are very welcome to come along. Open meetings are held every month except from June to August at Pierremont Hall staring at 7:30pm. Here’s the programme until May:8th March – Father Dominic Felton 12th April – Margaret Ovenden (her talk is entitled, “The Beautiful Banker” 10th May – AGM and then a talk on Cheerful Sparrows Why not think of joining as a member and/ or becoming a member of the Executive Committee? If you need any more information please visit our website at
www.thebroadstairssociety.org.uk Peter Lorenzo
An update from Margate Town Council
The Margate Charter Trustees are now a few months into their campaign to form a Margate Town Council, which we believe would bring positive change to our town. Our vision for Margate is that we would have cleaner streets, better parks, more support for local community groups and businesses as well as local events. A Town Council could achieve all this and more. We are pleased to report that we have collected over 1,500 signatures in support of this, over half the total amount needed. Originally we were only able to collect signatures on an e-petition on our website - Margatetowncouncil.co.uk. You can still sign the petition there, but we are now able to offer a paper petition for people to sign if they prefer. Paper petitions are available via your
ward councillor or from the Town Clerk who can be contacted on 01843 448590. We have held meetings in each of the seven wards affected (Garlinge, Westbrook, Salmestone, Dane Valley, Margate Central and Cliftonville East and West) and are now working on making sure that the message reaches as many residents as possible, using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, street stalls and local media. If you are a member of a group that would like more information about a Town Council, we are happy to come along to talk to your group, please contact the Town Clerk to arrange. If you want to know more about what a Town Council could offer, our website has a comprehensive 'Frequently Asked Questions' section or come along and see us on our street stalls (dates to be announced shortly), we will be happy to answer any questions. Cllr Heather Keen, Cliftonville West Ward Shadow Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Youth Engagement made a regional finalist and this year they will compete against four other bookshops in the East of England category. All bookshops will be competing to win their region first, before aiming for the overall prize at the British Book Awards on the 23rd May. The 2022 regional and country winners will be announced on 16th March.
The brilliant work of three Thanet residents has been honoured at the New Year Honours List for 2022. The New Year Honours List for 2022 recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK. Broadstairs’ couple Carol and Derek Moody were both honoured with MBE’s for their services to Foster Care. Birchington’s Christopher Lee Argent was made an OBE (Officers of the Order of the British Empire) for voluntary service to Reserve Forces in the UK and NATO.
The Margate Bookshop was recently named as one of 63 bookshops across the UK shortlisted for the Independent Bookshop of the Year award, sponsored by Gardners. The award celebrates shops that have continued to support local communities through the past two chaotic COVID-19 years. For the third year running, The Margate Bookshop has been
Thanet Goes Totally Locally for a £28 Million Boost
Thanet District Council, as part of the Welcome Back Funding for high streets, has partnered with Totally Locally to encourage business owners to work together in celebration of our independent high streets and to help them recover post COVID-19. Many of Thanet’s shops & businesses will have special offers - highlighting the Totally Locally message that if everyone spent just £5 a week in local independent shops, it has the power to boost annual spend across our towns as follows: • Birchington: £1.9m • Broadstairs: £4.9m • Margate: £11.9m • Ramsgate: £7.9m • Westgate: £1.4m. Thanet’s businesses will be encouraged to get involved with the event next month. From Saturday 12th to Wednesday 26th March they will encourage people to divert just £5 of their weekly spend to support the small businesses in their communities.
Triplets' taste of fame in BBC drama
They are only eight months old, but triplets Harry, George and Oscar have already appeared on television screens nationwide alongside some of the country’s favourite stars. The babies, who were born at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in June, were selected to feature in Call The Midwife’s Christmas special – and mum Kaitlin Beverley also had a taste of fame alongside them. COVID rules on the set of the BBC drama meant that the actors weren’t allowed to hold the boys, so Kaitlin’s legs featured in one scene, and her arms in another. Filming took place in August, when they were just eight weeks old.
An update from Elsie
Welcome back to all my friends and admirers. Since my last missive there has been an exciting development in my household. As my followers will know, my carer Kathy used to volunteer at the Salvation Army in Union Crescent (and I still help her collect donations of clothes and household goods from her friends for the SA). We also collect egg boxes for the food bank at Ss Austin & Gregory RC Church in Charlotte Place. Kathy used to volunteer at the food bank, as did Phil my hero (he gives me lots of treats and walks) and the BIG NEWS is that Kathy and Phil are getting married!! I’m so excited even though I’m not allowed to go to the wedding. It means more walks, more treats and even more TLC for me. In the twilight of my life I now have twin spotlights on me and I couldn’t be happier! My human and doggy friends are all excited for me, especially my regular friends in Dane Park and at Charlie’s Cafe in Margate. I’ll let you all know how my life of leisure pans out next time I’m asked to write an article. And remember: Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path. Take care, woofs and wags
Elsie the 15-year-old Patterdale
County Council are underway. New equipment has been ordered and is currently being manufactured. Work is expected to Elsie start at the end of March and finish in late May. The Viking ship playground will be closed to the public on health and safety grounds before improvement works are due to start. A November 2021 report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) confirmed that the ship, some of the other play equipment and the play area’s surfacing is not compliant with the relevant health and safety standards. The equipment and the ship continues to deteriorate and the timber is decaying from the inside out.
Kent County Council waives fees for Platinum Jubilee street parties
People wanting to have a street party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will not have to pay a road closure application fee. Kent County Council (KCC) is inviting residents to express an interest in closing a road by completing an online form before the deadline of 31st March 2022. Visit www.kent.gov.uk/streetparties for more information and to complete the form.
Viking ship playground closed before major improvement works
Plans to replace and improve the play area equipment at Ethelbert Crescent in Cliftonville using Community Park funding from Kent
Help QEQM help others by returning unwanted mobility equipment
Do you have any mobility equipment you no longer need? Now is the perfect time to return it to QEQM Hospital. This includes NHS or council-loaned equipment such as crutches, commodes, walking frames, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, free-standing toilet frames, perching stools, chair raisers, kitchen trolleys and wheeled walkers. The drop off point is: QEQM Hospital, Margate: Container located next to the Maternity entrance, St Peters Road. All equipment will be assessed and thoroughly cleaned before reuse. You can also arrange free collection of equipment with a barcoded sticker by calling NRS Healthcare on 01622 235300. For wheelchairs only, please call Millbrook on 0330 124 4485 to arrange collection.
