Barking mad

As I mentioned earlier, this week I don't have a lot of time this week to blog but since I have written many thousand words since starting this malarkey I found something that I wrote previously, depressingly relevant, that is something had I had the time I would have written concerning dangerous dogs today.

Also rather disappointingly is the fact that Roger Gale is still a Vice Chairman the Pet Advisory committee, which has this nonsense statement on its website "any legislation should judge the individual dog by its deeds and not its breed " ( I think this is Bollix).

Looking after animal welfare and being kind to animals is one thing and certainly in the Flaig household, Mr Puss is a pretty pampered pet but were he capable of anything more harmful than the occasional superior look of disdain then his status would be in question.

Plain and simple people who keep potentially dangerous dogs are not capable of rational or responsible thought therefore the law should outlaw Rottweillers.

For my previous posting on the Pet Advisory Committee click here

Working towards the new year

Since Boxing Day I have been working 10 hour shifts up in west London, which means I have very little time to blog, in fact I have not much time for anything except sleeping, even my conversations with Mrs Me have been short and to the point.

This morning I got in about half five decide to have a cooked breakfast my first hot meal, since Christmas day (apart from half a cup a soup), which after shovelling in the wind and rain much of the night was a real treat.

Waking up around one I had time for a brief but futile converstaion with the boss about a new suite for the front room, as with much we dont always concur particular over soft furnishings. Despite my reputation for consuming pies, sausages and burgers, when it comes to seating I'm pretty much a vegetarian whereas Mrs Me has become a carnivore, I just hate leather, it smells, its sticky and cold, but most likely it will be delivered any day now though.

There are some local issues which I hope to get round to, not least the one where Thanet District council have listened to the local opinion and then totally ignored their wishes, or Ramsgate Harbour which could be about to generate big money with these wind farms off the coast, what do the council do, get rid?

I heard David Blunkett the other day on TV, whinge or at least talk in derisive terms about us bloggers, and extol the virtues of professional hacks but when I read some of the tosh which our local papers put out, they seem to have all the independence of Pravda under Stalin. Which is hardly surprising when KCC flush away 6 million pounds of public money on advertising.

One big issue I hope to bore you lot witless with next year is whether our local authority officials have become too politicised, and whether the spend too much time making policy rather that protection the public interest such as in the case of the Kent TV Scandal.

Happy New Year if I dont blog again.

One in a Million not me

I had a comment from local internet bloke Matt questioning my, accuracy re my claimed popularity of this blog.

To make it clear the reference was to Technoranki top blog list this is used by Brit blog
this may well be confused with Technorati for which I don't wish to promote since for some reason, maybe of quality puts me in top million catagory, I prefer to be at position 146 as per Brit Blogs.

It maybe spin and but I'm sure that at least one regular contributor, to thanet blogs, refers frequently to self promotion and geting better rankings, big deal, I write and enjoy the process, I don't cut and paste endlessly republish others works or indulge in back slapping with other self promoting bloggers, the ones I recommend or link to down the side bar are there because their original.

Top and bottom is that some bloggers get wrapped up in rankings.

Christmas is over?

Christmas is over, well it is at least for this blogger and I think the retail trade, which of course moves us swiftly on to the New Year sales which comprise of real price cuts, for those items that are so hideious that even I didn't think Mrs Me would go for and those items that are sold all year round during for the same price albeit summer or winter.

I trust that everyone has survived Christmas, even the odd family rows, particularly that rather nasty one in Eastenders, what better way to celebrate Christmas than having someone roughed up for Christmas and pushed down the stairs, well done BBC.

Blairs conversion to Catholicism has apparently been a tad controversial with some Catholics, cannot see why, since under his stewardship, we became a catholic country, as Blair was too preoccupied groveling to America, to maintain our borders, possibly the last nail, as we lose our British identity.

Well there are a few other things I'd like write about but , I will be at work today as I was yesterday, a couple of final points I see that I'm now ranked at 148 in Technoranki top blogs list, also I would like to thank Thom whatsit from the Gazette, for giving me a mention last week, I would however point out that I'm a track worker as in railways not a truck driver, this explains why I wear orange hi viz clothing.

As I have limited time excuse any errors of judgement or grammar. Happy New Year.

PS I shall be working on Bignews Margates New Years Honours list over the next few days

Xmas banner takes off

Again thanks to Simon Moores Eastcliffe Richard,Paul Nettleingham and others in the blogging community for raising money for charity, fuller reports available on Thanet Life.

I've got to go to bed before santa turns up, again happy christmas. apologies to Mr Puss who is taking a cut on his fat cat christmas bonus, yes he's got turkey and tuna to look forward but since Eastcliffe decided to go the full hog and bung in a ton, I though I had better match so I've had to cut back on the smoked salmon this year Mr Puss will get over it.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL

As you will know I'm not a christian, thank er ... SANTA , anyway I would just like to thank all my readers and fellow Thanet Bloggers for their comments or not over the last year or so, I'd remind you that you pay nothing for this excellent blog (Please note their are some even better ones available from the Thanet Blog list) and that Simon Moores is still raising money see Thanet Life so if you've enjoyed reading this over the year you have till 5pm today to make your mark.

I might not be able to blog any more, this year, it depends whether Mrs Me imposes martial law or not.

I would like wish a happy Xmas and new year to those who have encourage me in my primitive style of writing, readers, those I've worked with , friends, and family but not surprisingly none of them read this.

GONE SHOPPING FLYER UPDATE

I got to meet Mrs me , shortly Bignews and ECR have won Simons Moore Ebay charity auction.
For details refer to Eastcliffe.

Hopefully simon is going to auction off the passenger seat via local radio. Since im to heavy and Eastcliffs to er.. SHOWBIZ

GOT TO GO

Thanet councils office expansion

Well it looks like its moving day for Margate Library, as you will know, Thanet council acquired the Marks & Spencer building a while back, at the time they were frankly clueless with what to do with it. Fortunately it wasn't long before some bright spark had the idea of turning Margate's Library into more office space, for the ever increasing bureaucracy, that is the council.

So for the last few months the Marks & Spencer building has had a use, as temporary home for the library , anyway today its being moved to its new home. Unfortunately it looks like there new home will be the same as the old home except smaller and this time they will have squatters in from Thanet District Council.

Eventually the whole centre of Margate will be set aside for administrators and council "officers", I'm sure that one day Sandy Ezekeil and Richard Samuel chief exec. will be able to stare down from the top of the council buildings and say, all this is ours.

For some strange reason planners at the council have decide to hide and brick up the entrance to the library, hiding the door somewhere round the back of building why, who can tell, maybe someone has a relative, who happens to be a brickie or they just want to make it less attractive to the public.

For the time being they will have a few books presumably until such time as they can freeze the public out.

Thanet Bloggers in flying bid

Ebay what a blooming palaver, its taken me the best part of two hours to hunt down and retreive my login details for ebay, but as suggested myself and Eastcliff Richard are joining forces for charity and picking up on Simon Moores charity auction of a flight with his Airads.

Again if one of my regular readers would like to out bid us click here. I'm sure that I can speak for both of us I and say , that if we don't win the bid, we will still hand over the amount of our bid to charity.

RADIO ONE RUN BY

"you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot"

Just how else could you react to Radio 1's decision to censor, the classic Pogues & Kirsty McColl "Fairy tale of New York" to hack to pieces a Christmas favourite of mine and probably the majority of the country.

The following are quotes from the bbc's own report

But sister station Radio 2 said it would play the track uncut, and Mr Parfitt subsequently said that after "careful consideration", the ban on the uncut version of the song would be lifted.

"The BBC had said that an edited version would be played because "some members of the audience might find it offensive". #

"However, veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell said Radio 1's original actions were right.
"The word faggot is being sung as an insult, alongside scumbag and maggot. In this abusive context it is unacceptable," he said. "

As someone for whom christmas is just so much commercial trash this classic, gives me a warm glow of realitiy in a desert of unreal hyped up expectation. Ive heard this song a hundred times and never once thought that it had anything to do with homosexuals, maybe Peter Tatchell (I asume he must be an american since I know a faggot happens to be a sort of meatlball ) should er come out more often, INTO THE REAL WORLD. What a ****** ! Get a life.


BBC news story

Taking a flyer

If you read Eastcliff Richard's blog regularly, you may well have noted a couple of strands on his post refering to Simon Moore's (of Thanet Life) generous offer posted on his blog site and also Ebay offering the chance of having a banner towed behind his plane, with a message chosen by the winning bidder.

ECR commented on the fact that this offer had lapsed (apparently back up on Ebay click here), since the minimum bid had not be received I commented the minimum was not unreasonable and would be prepared to go halves, to which ECR added a few more comments now I didn't pick up on this strand or rather comments till yesterday again( I work weekends constantly change shifts and write this stuff).

So I gave him a ring (ECR), once I passed through security, the man himself deigned to listen for three minutes, just while his man servant, prepared him another G & T before Dinner. I repeated my offer and he is also agreeable going halves.

Simon Moores put this offer up on EBay, now since I have not had chance to contact him so this is all a bit presumptuous. I shall try to get hold of him.

Any how since along with Simon Moores, ECR myself and other Bloggers in Thanet provide , you lot, the reading public with many thousands of words of misinformation, opinionated self indulgence and in my case just middleaged ranting perhaps those of you who get this all for free could consider dipping into your pocket.

Whatever the outcome I shall give 75 quid to Simon for the NSPCC. Incidently having read his blog since starting this post I see its still available, so if your one of my regular FAT CAT readers put something back and place a bid.

Obiviously the opening bid of £150 is what it says, and hopefully someone out their could well offer more.

Its easy to critise people in the public life, but this is clearly a generous offer from someone who pioneered Thanet Blogging for "johnny come latelys" like me and er ....

Council Tax may go up

That's the astonishing claim from this weeks Kent on Sunday,which seems a tad naive but when you delve into the the article below, this is qualified, when it becomes apparent that Paul Carter (Conservative Leader) and his big spending pals in Maidstone, will not be able to contain the counties budget below 5% increase, now there a surprise (whats new, nothing it seems).

You can understand since, multiple junkets, sorry correction business trips like fifty plus to America this summer, top brass like Alex King Deputy Leader (Con) to Virginia I think, to negotiate god knows what at the highest levels, result so far apparently in er jack .....


Oh and Kent TV, with its fascination with Tory cabinet member, freemasons and very few normal types like me. Bus passes for rich kids in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells etc


Who knows what initiatives, Paul Carter and his highly competent mates will come up with this year, one things for certain it won't come cheap.

Just in passing well done to Kent on Sunday for winning best free newspaper in the world I think. Kent on Sunday is a real sucess and I must say that their local papers like Your Thanet are not bad either again well done.

Ex-con in denial?

Johnathan Aitken former MP who bought disgrace upon himself and the Tory party with his rusty sword of truth (which turned out to be a pack of lies), crops up once again in the public eye, on page eight of today's Kentish Saturday Observer.

This time he is dishing out advice, on prison, whilst at the same time admitting to being a supporter of Conrad Black, the former owner of the telegraph news paper caught helping himself to share holder assets.

Its strikes me that both of these characters, share a couple of things, supreme arrogance and a private education.

Not surprisingly Mr Aitken, thinks that Conrad Blacks sentence is too long at six and half years, despite Blacks helping himself to many millions of dollars, of share holders money, similarly Aitken probably thinks his telling a few porkies, was of no consequence.

Well its clear to me, that Aitken got off lightly, serving only 7 months for his obscene attempt to pervert justice in the blatant way he did.

I think their is a lesson for all us here, and this is it, there's one law for us at the bottom of the food chain, and another for Tory Toffs and the like.

Finally I think when Aitken admits to himself and the rest of us that his perjury was not some minor misdemeanor but a serious crime, then he'll be able to give advice.

Police doing their job

A subject that I have touched on recently is people trafficking and its good to see that Kent police are doing some good work in driving low life evil pimps out of business.

Assuming its possible to judge crime, as to how low it is, then forcing women in to prostitution, is about as bad as you get. So its good to see that Kent police have arrested seven in connection with this vile trade.

Excerpt from Kent police's press release
East Kent Superintendent Chris Hogben said: 'This is an ongoing operation into a disgusting trade. The individuals who engage in it are at the very bottom of society.
'Disrupting their activities is an absolute priority for us. Personally it will give me great satisfaction to hurt these criminals by stripping them of assets which could total hundreds of thousands of pounds and which they will struggle to prove were gained by legitimate means. That will inflict the most pain.
'What is of paramount importance is to ensure the victims of these crimes are cared for and their safety secured. The support is there for them to escape this terrible existence.'

As I mentioned I have touched on this subject before in a past post and would just like to update you, I have complained to the publishers of several local papers, Northcliffe Media who appear to have some rather dubious advertising offering foreign massage services since they also own the Daily Mail their probably unaware, that out in the real world, the term "massage services" is frequently used as a euphemism for prostitution.

Why does this matter, well like any business even those involved in crime like prostitution need to promote their business pimps have to advertise their product and where better than the local paper.

The amount of money generated by this sort of advertising must be minimal you'd think, but there doing nothing wrong, according to correspondence I've recieved from Advertising Standard Authority although I'm told that after recent meetings between the newspaper society and government their is a commitee investigating.

To me its simple the newspaper industry could just refuse to take advertising for massage services particularly when these are offering foreign girls. If you have information contact Kent Police on 01622 690690 or Kent Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

People trafficking is the 21st century's slave trade, it would be interesting to know just what price the Advertising Standard Authority place on freedom.

Police news item click here

Internet Millstone

Millstone not milestone, yesterday I counted my new emails as they slumped into my inbox (1219). I try to answer my emails but for god sake how more times, I don't want any Viagra.

I can remember back in 1995 or so when an email however impersonal was an exciting novelty to read, now all this shit is just something to be process into the recycle bin.

Still as good as they are, getting round to reading, all the local blogs is getting tougher but at least its worth it for now.

Police go over the top

Interesting article on the Guardian Unlimited website today which shows that its not just Kent police whingeing about their pay, seems that Peter Smythe vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation is more than tad miffed as well.

It looks like hysteria is now effecting the ranks with this character upping the anti by saying *"that London Officers are at war with the Government", if this is so, surely this would be treason, in which case lets hope special branch are still loyal to Queen and Country (you and me).

I reckon its time the police looked outside their own narrow world, and take into account how many of us don't get an automatic pay increase each year on time or even a month or two later.

For most coppers what we are talking about is a hundred or so pounds after tax, so maybe these police officers, who are so hard done by, might like to consider that they get fat pensions, early retirement, job security etc, I would swap my some what less reliable income for theirs any day even if I had to wait a week or two for a pay increase.

Back in the dark days of the 1970's, pay was poor for police officers and as a result not surprisingly, many officers particularly in the metropolitan police were tempted to seek er.. private sponsorship, this I do not believe to be the case today, yes of course they have been shortchanged slightly but again their still better off than most.

Its important that police are paid a fair wage, since they deserve it, and since they get more than me I reckon their OK. The vision of a few police officers bleating about society doesn't value them shows what an insular self-centred world some of the live in (did anyone else find that copper on local TV the other day extremely irritating).

Coppers know that when they joined the police force right or wrong strike action wasn't an option, which again is something shared in practice with large swathes of the work force, take the hundreds of thousands who work for agencies, if you don't turn up for work they just get another to replace you.

Lets hope I haven't upset the police, as well as the freemasons last week!


*To see this quote in its proper context click here for the Guardian article, just in case I've got things out of proportion

This is going to be, an is it me post? I'm afraid so if you've any sense you will click on to Eastcliff Richard or Thanet Life, any how I'd like to revisit last weeks astonishing news that Kent council are spending countless gazillions of your wonger on self promotion vanity publishing etc

First off in this bonanza of media spending is the Kent TV thing, now earlier in the year I corresponded with Peter Gilroy whom if any of the "county Tories" are to go by is the greatest thing since sliced bread, the subject of my emails was the accountability of Kent TV and more importantly the Independence of any governing board.

Since that time it looks as if Kent Council have cobbled together their idea to independence, the list looks to me as though it is made up entirely of either those connected with the county administration including quangos or media types. Just for the education of the Kent TV bloke, who should have known better there is indeed a Ten Alps member on the board. see list.

Last word for a moment on Kent TV, they have a section on this website entitled "your say" and no surprise to me or you, the comment topics are dictated by er..... well it seems Kent TV and since the guy I spoke with this afternoon who although he thought it a good idea, to ask joe public whether Kent's media spend (6mill) was wise he suggested it might be a while before such a question gets posted. Knowing how egalitarian things are in Kent I have subverted the system by placing a comment on the latest tough "your say" poser " Is Christmas becoming too commercialised? by referring to Kent councils profligate spending.

Anyway I just feel that Kent council are spending money on promoting the political agendas of Kent's "county tories", and its about time perhaps our local media other than middle aged bloggers took up this issue but of course they might just be biting the hand that feeds.

Put up or shut up

*I sometimes have difficulty in getting motivated, particularly when I'm working nights, which is one reason, why I didn't give you the benefit of my concise and opinionated ramblings yesterday, one thing that has effect of motivating me, is when what used to be referred to as civil servants, get up off their bottoms and start venting what must be their personal opinions.

It may be going to far but to my mind but large swathes of the civil service, have become politicised, an example I think of is that of the chief executive of a large local authority, who seems whenever I hear of him, to be driving his authorities policy, being assisted by a compliant conservative leader.

The way I always understood that our society was governed, was that it was safeguarded by separation of various functions in society, so basically in our democracy elected representatives would create laws and policy, these would be applied by agencies of the state Treasury, Home Office, Local authorities etc., finally the lawyers judges and juries would in our system be the final arbiter.

Currently our police force have been given a pay rise backdated to December 1st, rather than September 1st, now disappointing as this may be, to those of us outside the public pay gravy train this seems trivial and it is if you put it in the context of the thousands of people in the county of Kent who work in manual unskilled industries who consider themselves lucky not to be receiving cuts in the wages, due to the governments failure to protect low income groups.

So the imagine the irritation of seeing Mike Fullers (Chief Constable of Kent) interview on the front page of Kent on Sunday, apparently criticising the Home Office's pay deal to police officers. Outside of publicly funded institutions any senior manager in a private company or Plc who openly criticized the boss for not being more generous to staff would probably find themselves updating their CV.

The police earn their money but so do many of us, who earn considerably less, I don't know whether its the same in the police force but in most workplaces if you moan about your employer, the advise is generally the same, get another job.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I would find refreshing if occasionally paid civil servant could refrain from venting the own opinions in public that's what we have politicians for.

Maybe if Mike Fuller reckons that Jacqui Smith has made a mistake perhaps he could hang up his truncheon and see if he would make a better politician, I feel he should concentrate on policing Kent not criticising the Home Office.

*I omitted the first two paragraphs when I posted this yesterday, probably makes little difference to anyone except me, and the first 2 comments where prior to this addition.

Imagine

Stumbled across this photo I took a couple of years ago.

Things that might be left unsaid

ROUGH DRAFT

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

This blogging business is time consuming, even when its the ranting however well consider of a middleaged git.

There are several topics I would like to cover but unfortunately I have other fish to fry this weekend, such as police (acknowledging their workload)pay increase being held back, upsetting as it is the fact that its being delayed, might like to console themselves that they are not facing competition from the east such as those of us in mainly manual roles such as construction and even in my world.

I would like to expand on the influence of Kents large sums of wonger into the media world, I could mention my discussion with the BBC top dog who thought, bbc coverage of this topic was adequate. It will be interesting to see if Kent on Sunday titles make any mention particularly as they supply news to Kent TV. If I had time I would research how many media personnel moonlight on Kent council media communications jobs.

On the Kent TV thing I spoke with a busy top er knob RE your money promoting freemasonry, the upshot was that it was suggest I make a film for Kent TV, on suggesting a bit of dosh this character got even more busy, obviously so many meeting s and not enough time in the day.

As for Thanet councils chopping money to local museum this short sighted penny pinching, best have a lie down.

Nice to see that after all those gazillions spent on the marks & Spencer building and the best thanet can come up with is as temporary home for turner contemporary.

Finally as I type these random thoughts I see Mike Fuller chief copper for kent speaking out on the police deal, I suggest he keeps to crime rather than politics.

This has not been honed to my usual near incoherent perfection and needs some revisions. I dont have time to edit so this is as good as it gets

One final thought if someone giving their own money to Labour is sleaze just what is a local authority spending 6500000 pounds on advertising Tory S.....?

Enjoy the weekend DISCUSS

ps FILL IN ANY MISSING WORDS AND PUNCTUATION

COMMENT MODERATION TURNED OFF

Comment moderation enabled

I have enable comment moderation for a while as a reminder to contributors that personal accusations are unacceptable on this website.

To elaborate criticism of someones political stance or some element of their public life, office etc. is fine by me. However defamatory statements are not acceptable without substantiation, my suggestion to anyone who has a legitimate statement they wish to make, is that they get their own website. It takes about five minutes.

I would also advise anyone that most activity on the internet leave a trail back to the originator.

Kent TV the tip of Kent's Squander culture

Were it not for the fact, that news of Kent's profligate spending of £6.6million on propaganda, is coming out of your pocket and mine, then Paul Carters performance on Meridian TV last night, would have been quite enjoyable, during which he appeared for once, to me at least, to be in some discomfort as he attempted to explain Kent's excessive spend on advertising.

Still I don't want to be too tough on Mr Carter, since he is one of the main reasons I write this blog as without his calm unruffled performance when he came down to Margate's Winter gardens, to explain how another huge waste £8 million (The Turner Contemporary gallery (Mark 1)) was part Margate regeneration, his attitude and that of other politicians is all the motivation I need.

Mr Carters justifications for Kent high spending never ceases to amaze me, such as Peter Gilroy's salary, wasting money on trips to America, spending on Manston.

Conservatives have in the past pointed to loony labour councils I just find it funny how things have changed, look a Kent TV you might just double the viewing figures, one gem on this service I think you will find is Paul Carter inspirational performance in the classic "Towards 2010".

I think what we have in Kent is a conservative administration who look to me at best amateur, surely the tories could run a tighter ship.

Remember this blog along with my youtube site cost you nothing unlike Kent TV @ £800.000 this year. Again I would like to thank Paul Carter and his ilk, for providing the reason for me to ignore my slight dyslexia, and express my thoughts.

KENT TV PROMOTES FREEMASONRY at your expense?

It's some apparent measure of the arrogance and lack of impartiality that the new taxpayer funded Kent TV shows little if any embarrassment, at promoting and presumably funding what appears to be a PR exercise on behalf of Kent Freemasons. If you do not believe me, click here to view " Freemasons of Kent".

Now whether you happen to be one of those who dresses up with an apron, and exposes yourself in a secret ceremony or the vast majority who at best a view freemasonry as a club for those who seek personal advantage outside public scrutiny or at worst have images of Roberto Calvi allegedly murdered by Italian Freemasons.

Anyway whatever stance you take on freemasonry, the fact is they are a secret society, they are unaccountable, membership lists are not published.

So really you have to ask, just what a public authority thinks it's playing at promoting freemasonry in the unchallenging, way it does on Kent TV.

What next for Kent TV, the benefits of a sharia law, why we should become scientologists etc.

Now I see belatedly that a board of governors has now been appointed, and not surprisingly it seems it is stuffed to the gunwales with those who work with KCC or quangos and or local media. Probably as independent as any lodge might be.

Perhaps it's time for Peter Gilroy KCC's chief executive to justify this enterprise once again, and explain how this Kent TV channel is in any way impartial, perhaps also as a public employee he might also let us know whether he's also a freemason.

For many people freemasonry is a corrupt and corrosive influence in public life, although it's only anecdotal, of those whom I know to be freemasons the vast majority, have made it abundantly clear that their membership is all about personal advancement.

THANET'S LONG MARCH TO PROSPERITY

It appears that Thanet's expeditionary delegation led by council leader Sandy Ezekiel to China has arrived home safely, and according to the leader, the Chinese are keen to get things moving.

Disappointingly none of the local papers, reflect how tough negotiations must have been in China, perhaps a small glimpse, of the condition our boys were working under is given in this week's Isle Of Thanet Gazette, where on page two a photograph shows, what I surmise to be Sandy Ezekiel, being forced to hold a business discussions on the great wall of China.

Right now, it looks as if it Chinese businesses are doing Thanet a favour, and maybe they are but maybe it is worth showing some attention on the roles played by KCC, SEEDA etc. because I suspect, we might see a bit of taxpayer money subsidising all this.

Anyway well done to our local representatives, presumably good manners and diplomacy (and possibly censorship), will prevent us from ever knowing the full story of their journey

Kent Police for sale

In a new Kent privatisation initiative, Kent police have reversed the trend of closing things like police stations and pubs by opening an online gift shop.

According to Simon Redman (Director of support services) ‘The Kent Police online gift shop is an exciting new venture for Kent Police. The online shop is a positive and innovative way to meet demand for new police-themed products and hopefully raise money to put back into community projects.
‘To get the online shop up and running, we have partnered with an experienced organisation which is set up to supply good quality merchandise.

Well it looks like Kent constabulary who may not be able to solve many crimes will prove more useful this Christmas by at least solving the big question, what to get Mrs Me, otherwise this year would have found me once again, wandering around gormless an clueless in Canterbury or Westwood, well more likely asda, Tesco or Sainsburys in injury time.

Anyway take a gander yourself by clicking here, since Mrs Me rarely reads this stuff I think I can safety let you into my choice, and to honest its been quite a tough decision in the clothing area it came down to the Battenburg "Ladies" Tank Top or Fingerprint "Ladies" Top. Since I'm no skin flint I shall also be choosing the Police Mug as well and maybe the Kent photo frame although it doesn't say whether they come with mug shots, perhaps I shall take a photo of Mrs Me's beaming face as she opens this lot.

Apologies for mentioning Christmas at such an early stage. Anyway if you want to avoid any bad taste crimes in the present department this year, you know where to go.

I just hope that Kent Police haven't wasted a bucket full of money on stock, or setting up this enterprise, in fairness I have to admit to owning a police sweatshirt, which was purchased "last minute" on holiday in a moment madness as I waited for my airport pick up, with the few remaining dollars in my pocket and although its good quality, warm, even I know, I look a tit, in my NYPD sweatshirt.

People Trafficking in Thanet

As remote and unlikely, as it seems to some of us, this weeks Thanet Extra carries a story on the discovery of a Cliftonville property which may have been used as a brothel, this as part of the polices operation Pentameter 2 investigating people traffickers, some of whom force women into the sex trade as part their business model.

I 'll get straight to the point on this one, I think we all know what is meant by "massage services" particularly when advertised in an "an adult services" section of a newspaper, more so when a notice advising whom to complain to is given. As far as I'm concerned people can chose whatever trade they like but I get concerned with advertisements which could be interpreted as or appear to be offering foreign women for massage services in some of our local papers.

The conclusions I reach are this, if the "massage" industry, were regulated, then parasites, pimps & people traffickers would have greater difficulty in plying this despicable trade, secondly if advertising were regulated by something other that the ASA (advertising standards authority), then adverts used to promote the trade in vulnerable women could be prevented.

Pimps will always exist but considering the small amount of revenue earned by these ads surely newspapers could decline to place them.

Just so that publishers understand, whats going on, the Newspaper Society the trade association for publishers, recently highlighted in its newsletter of the 8th of November, work it was doing with the government to tackle sex trafficking.

Harriet Harman (Minister for Women & Equality) is quoted in a joint statement from the Government & Newspaper Society “Small ads at the back of local papers are often used to sell trafficked girls – things like ‘new girls every day’, ‘international ladies 24/7’ - which police believe can fuel the demand for these trafficked girls and perpetuate this trade.

Some time ago noticing an advert which looked as if it could be connected with trafficking I wrote to the production director, and then after week or so I contacted the owners a large media company, eventually I got a response with comments like this "It is a business decision to run these adverts" and "We have, this year, implemented a further control on adverts that mention foreigners which could imply people trafficking is involved" REALLY I suggest they take a look in any one of their three local titles from this week.

I also passed my complaint onto the Advertising Standards Authority and got a reply saying that they had no grounds for action, and after speaking got a further reply with this line " I do appreciate that you felt the references to nationality might encourage pimps or people involved in human trafficking to take out similar ads. However there seems to be little to be gained by the ASA seeking amendments to this ad when the surrounding legal issues are so thorny and potentially serious."

In fairness the advert I originally complained about and others are in all probability innocent, however why take the risk. In 2007, the slave trade still exists and its not just in the big cities assuming Kent's police report of having visited 30 premises as part of their Pentameter 2 campaign is correct then its local.

Apparently according to the newspapers group concerned decisions on what is acceptable advertising is not made locally, and the person I spoke to(somewhere in London), was quite confident that such advertising was in all our local newspapers, well I have checked out KM newspapers(Thanet Extra) and KOS (Your Thanet) and they both seem to get along without the type of advert, that I refer.

As far the advertising standards authority is concerned I'm willing to concede that this is a "thorny and potentially serious" issue but then Slavery always will be.

Society has become more superficial, more money driven and as one of my correspondents recently pointed out, we have to be pragmatic, well I'm willing to bet a couple of quid that bosses of the media company I'm complaining about would probably feel fairly uncomfortable discussing this part of their revenue stream.

Newspaper Society article

Pentameter 2

Kent Police news story

Westbrook goes upmarket

The gentrification of Margate and surrounding areas has for my liking gone too damn far. In common with many local residents I cannot earn a living locally in the great metropolis of Thanet. Therefore it is necessary for me, along with my co workers to pile into a van.

Part of the going to work ritual usually involves stopping at a garage to fuel both vehicle and worker. For various reason its been a while since I stopped at BP's filling station in Westbrook.

Imagine the shock of stumbling out of the van in the early hours, to find that the familiar Somerfield store has now been upgraded to an M & S, I must say I find it unnatural, strolling through the superior merchandise of M&S wearing boots & orange Hi Vis clothing on the way to work.

Perhaps unrelated to the change in purveyor of grocery's at this location, is the difficulty in obtaining diesel fuel, now if I were a cynic I would think that the sight of vans full of workmen, might just unsettle your more refined traditional M&S customer and deterring work vehicles might be a welcome outcome, although when I asked this morning I was told there were problems with the pumps.

Still overall most of the traditional confectionery(Mars bars etc) is available as in any other filling station, an although I'm not entirely convinced that Mark's food is anything special certainly my scotch eggs were no better than Tescos at half the price, although the Melton Mobray was excellent. I suppose Marks is on the whole pricey but when I go to the average petrol station and have to pay nearly 2 pound for a Ginsters sausage role, M&S looks reasonable.

I have mentioned the M&S voice over women before, you know the one who seems to be in a state er... excitement, over her food I just wonder if she would calm down bit were she to witness the likes of me chopping on the merchandise.

Is this your Helicopter?

The reason I ask is that for the last hour or so all I can hear is the drone of a helicopter, which for some reason has found a parking spot, just above my home.

I assume this is some broadcasters attempt at reporting the appalling crime scene in Irvine Drive, traveling along the St. Peters Road this morning, its possible to see some massive type crane thing parked on the estate, presumably for broadcasters or journalist who cannot afford to have helicopters flying around the clock.

You would think that journalist and their handlers could be a little more sympathetic, to family whose home this is an those living in the area who have children for whom, this whole issue is both disturbing and horrifying. I cannot imagine what good it does anyone to have such intrusive reporting.

ALL CHANGE AT LOCAL PUBLISHERS

Has anyone else noticed, the rapid pace of change to reporting staff at Kent regional newspapers Gazettte Office. Looking at yesterday's Gazette, it would appear that most of the journalists who were with paper last year, have now moved on and now been replaced with a whole new line up of fresh faced whippersnappers.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the Daily Mail's owners northcliffe media taking over, well I suppose we will never know, I noticed the other day, that one of the papers better and more productive writers Kathy Bailes, wasn't mentioned and this Friday's Gazette appears to be missing a news editor Julian May.


Still maybe their on holiday or one of those sabbatical things, I think we should be informed as far as I can tell only the editor, picture guy and sports bloke have been with our local (KRN) papers more than 12 months.

New interest in Westwood Cross.

Something I have been meaning to mention for a while is the various tools that most bloggers use to keep some of handle, on how effective or popular their site is or not as the case may be.

For me the sitemeter tracking software/facility is the one I prefer, this gives information such as the location of a visitor, what website they came from, and if they used a search engine the key words used in their search.

As far as I can tell this does not, identify individuals, although some companies, do have their own domain name, which can identify an organisation or establishment. generally media companies and large corporations are an identifiable as are the occasional smaller firms that have their own domain name (including a local law firm that checked out my Aitken rant of yesterday DAMN! (I don't think I went to far?)).

I merely mention this as a reminder to any user of the Internet, that trawling through the web leaves a trail.

Getting back to Westwood Cross, something like ninety per cent of the web searches arriving on my site have been inquiries about Westwood Cross and few of these are local coming from places as varied as Worcester, Sheffield, High Wycombe, City of London, Chelmsford, Bedford, Europe etc. Now I know that the new cinema will be opening there this weekend, but surely that wouldn't generate that much interest.

So if you know of anything occurring at Westwood do let us know.

For information about the new cinema at Westwood click here

For details of what information is revealed by sitemeter click here.

For what I've written on Westwood in the past click here

New Controversy over Thanet's most famous ex-con

You can't keep a good man down or for that matter a disgraced MP who on past performance put his interests above those of a free and independent press.

It looks as if the Tories are so bankrupt of ideas that they need to resurrect Jonathan Aitken, Thanets most famous ex con who has been asked to head a study on prison reform.

Ian Duncan Smith (who? you know former Tory leader one of the bald ones), shows why he only lead the Tory party for a couple of years with this apparent example of poor judgement, giving Aitken a Job in his "think" tank.

Its interesting how easy it is for, Tories to support this man, who might have got away with his perjury and who knows where he might have been in public life, if he got away with it. There is a fair chance he could have been one of the many in the long list of 3rd rate Tory leaders since 1997.

Roger Gale (MP Thanet North) is an honest decent sort of politician, so its no surprise that he defended the appointment of former colleague Jonathan Aitken and passing these comments “Jonathan committed an offence for which he was tried and convicted and for which he has paid a personal and very considerable price." “Of course there will be minnows within the system who will cite this as a ‘political comeback’ and seek to denigrate him but Jonathan is well used to that." shows his loyalty and fairness.

I must be one of those minnows in the system since although I frequently find myself agreeing with Roger Gale on this, I think he is wrong, seven months in prison does not equate to the scale of Aitkens perjury.

We tend to judge criminals by degrees, if we look at violent crimes, not surprisingly we reserve the most distaste for those who abuse the weak and defenseless, an perhaps we dislike politicians who lie, but Jonathan Aitken pushed the boundaries when he made his "sword of truth and trusty shield of British fair play " speech offering to cut out the cancer of twisted and bent journalism. One possible consequence of Aitkens attack on honest British journalism, in pursuit of a bogus claim against the Guardian newspaper is that he could have caused immense financial damage to one of our more independent news sources.

I cannot recall Aitken making any statements about the corrupt cancer of bent and twisted politicians, I find it hard to erase that past image of Aitken, who at the time of his conviction, epitomised that most odious caricature of political creatures, the self seeking unprincipled sleazy Tory politician (just for balance the Labour party has its equivalents).

I'm sure that Mr Aitken has his regrets but having abused peoples trust in the past in such spectacular fashion he cannot expect the general public, to be anything other than critical, and you would have thought the conservative party would have the sense to leave well alone. I just wonder how local conservative party activist feel particularly Laura Sandys (Tory Candidate Thanet South) having this reminder of a former lag & Conservative MP being associate with Thanet South.

Finally this little event is even more interesting as it shows just what an inept bunch of muppets the Tories are, clearly the Tory party can be very loyal as in this instance, apparently welcoming Aitken back into the fold, so its disappointing to remember that back in 2004, Mr Aitken was showing some support for the UK Independence party, so maybe Ian Duncan Smith has scored a cracking own goal by reminding us of Conservative disharmony over Europe and sleaze.

Further Reading Guardian

Kentnews

Aitken Wikepedia

Big waves at Margate

Was going to do a long tedious blog about the rendezvous site but due to the fact its taken all weekend to post this video you'll have to wait!

Look for locals washing their vehicles, don't look if your building on this bit of coast.

Kent in five million pound giveaway

It has emerged that Kent council, has once again been exhibiting its extraordinary, ability to waste your money. Kent council have decided to offer £5 million to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals, after it was revealed that the organisation was at the heart of a health scandal which resulted in the deaths of around 90 patients.

At a recent meeting of the Scrutiny committee chairman Mike Eddy (labour), pointed out that Kent council with no knowledge of the hospitals financial state, made this extraordinary offer, which when I checked today had yet to taken by the hospital in question.

Alex King who has frequently been associated with some of Kent's other wise investments such Virginia, spending hundreds thousands with as yet no return, was of the opinion that this loan "had been made to help restore public confidence".

Blimey I don't know about confidence its certainly restores my opinion that Paul Carters administration are clueless. It looks like those who run Kent council, once again, have shown there loyalty and desire to look after the rich of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells with our money.

What are the chances of Paul Carter or any of that lot dipping in to help, hospitals in the east of the county? Slim I would think since Thanet still doesn't a decent road connection for the simple reason Kent Tory Toffs don't come here that often.

As far as I know Kent council is in business to offer education, empty bins, and sort out roads, so perhaps the Chief Executive Peter Gilroy could look into whether its legal to divert money into the health service.

Unfortunately for us the paying public, Kent council is just like our Health Service, full of people wearing suits, going off to pointless meetings, to justify made up jobs.

My advice to Paul Carter and co is concentrate on the core business of the council, and stop wasting money on trips to Virginia, Kent TV, and god knows what.

Ramsgate wins smelliest Toilet competition

The headline is completely bogus but if there were such a competition, I'm sure Thanet council would win by a significant margin. I had the misfortune to take what Americans call a comfort break whilst visiting Ramsgate Saturday.

Its sometime since, I have used the conveniences in Cavendish Street, and my mind had blotted out the appalling stench. As I'm currently in my middle age, it cannot be long before the provision of public toilets becomes a major consideration. I just hope that before I get caught short again that the council will invest in some bleach or other cleaning product.

I rang the council before on this issue and thought I would try again, it was suggested that drainage might be a problem or even poor aim by local residents, anyhow I was reassured that these toilets are cleaned regular.

I suggested that maybe they could use bleach, but this is apparently not allowed for some hitherto unknown (by me and probably you) health and safety regs. I then asked why it wasn't possible to throw some of those pineapple cube things in, that smell nice into the urinal, but its feared that children would pick them up?. Its a while since I've been responsible for young children, and admittedly never the most competent parent however I cannot imagine allowing children capable of picking up strange objects into a public toilet on their own.

One thing is self evident given the stench these loos don't have sufficient ventilation. On the plus side Roger Latchford who was telling us how marvelous our local facilities were last year (See Press release), having the toilet portfolio(Commercial and Environmental Services )at the time, has moved on to higher and sweeter things (Economy and Culture) and is probably in China right now, so hopefully Cllr.Shirley Tomlinson could adopt a more critical view and sort these bogs out once and for all, since this problem has existed all the time they've been open.

I have been told that new tiles maybe installed, what that will do, god alone knows, what they need to do is sort out the ventilation and drains too damn simple I suppose.

Thanet Council's Chinese Take away

One of the attractions of writing your own blog, is the fact that although Thanet currently has five weekly newspapers, frequently, journalists or editors, seem either unable or uninterested in questioning the news they are reporting, so the likes of me, can actually add something thats not otherwise available.

Two classic examples, are on the front page of last week's isle of Thanet extra, first a rather innocuous story, concerning Southern Waters completed waste treatment plant, with no reference to the years of pollution coming from virtually untreated sewage courtesy of the same southern water company.

A story which might also have benefited from a more creative analysis was the one concerning, councilors Sandy Ezekiel, Rodger Latchford the chief executive of Thanet Council Richard Samuel and a another council employee who apparently have bagged tickets to China.

There are several aspects not covered historically, in the nineties, Thanet lost 350 manufacturing factory jobs, to China when Hornbys moved their production, secondly the question of who's footing the bill, admittedly we are told that the Chinese government are playing for the trip, so no problem there about waste of taxpayers' money, unless of course you include the time taken by Richard Samuel chief executive and his colleague who will be of course away from their desks, and interrupting the vital work they do for us taxpayers.

Councilor Ezekiel pointed out, that taxpayers will not be funding the trip, and that there'll be a little time for enjoyment. Which pleases me immensely, since I wonder how you can enjoy yourself, when you're receiving hospitality from a repressive regime such as China.

Hopefully those representatives of Thanet's, will be briefing themselves on their hosts, but just in cases their missing a few facts and figures perhaps they would care to take a glance through amnesty international's 2007 report on china.

Finally the ordinary people of China will not be able to read these comments, but perhaps our democratic representatives will mention something of democracy and freedom. I'm not suggesting we don't trade with China but maybe we could pass on some of our values, I think it would be rude not too.

Kent TV " propaganda on the rates"*

Leader of the house of commons Harriet Harman*, thanked local Kent MP Stephen Ladyman, for raising the subject of the apparent abuse of taxpayers' money, by spend thrift councils like KCC, who recently decided to spend 1.4 million pounds of your money and mine on what most see as a vanity publishing exercise in self promotion.

Now this project Kent TV, bares all the hallmarks of a hastily ill judged project, perhaps the most, outrageous lapse, has been the lack of any properly thought out independent regulation of this enterprise.

Last month I spoke with someone at Kent Council, who informed me that a governing Board would be formed (cobbled together?) sometime this next month (November). The makeup of which will, not surprisingly I understand contain Peter Gilroy, various council employees including police and fire services, but no members of the public as yet.

I understand that they will be meeting shortly, so maybe they'll to consider this, much of the content so far seems to be local council propaganda, anyway to redress this balance, I have bodged together a quick video commentary, mainly as an experiment just to see how democratic this TV station is.

I will of course update you, if it passes the Kent censor, whilst we're waiting you can form your own opinion and by clicking the link let the world know what you think.

Please remember Tony flaig TV costs you nothing, as does this blog Kent TV however is coming out of your wallet.

Link to Kentnews story

Link to Kent TV

What harm have badgers ever done

As someone who has only ever seen one living badger and dozens of dead ones, I just wonder whether the latest advice from the government to slaughter badgers on mass is more about prejudice, rather than solid science, since its not long ago another report suggested they were cuddly creatures harming no one.

Anyway here is one I spotted in Margate

ANOTHER SANDCASTLE INCIDENT

This Seagull is as perplexed as me, strolling along the cliff, I noticed a fresh giant sandcastle(similar to the one in Margate) was in the process of being created.

However further along the cliffs, a note from of thanet district council sheds some light on the matter. I thought for a minute this might be a crop circle type phenomenon

BROADSTAIRS MEAN STREETS

It has been a while since I have ventured into Broadstairs, primarily the thought of a town where it's necessary to bring in special powers of arrest, have heightened my fear Broadstairs.

More recently news that, the licensing authorities have felt it necessary to revoke the licence for Harpers Wine Bar, which whenever I have passed by seems to be a fairly friendly hostelry, just add to my suspicion of just what goes on in Broadstairs.

Having read the reports about this on the Thanet Life website, it seems that many of the complaints made about this establishment, may actually have little to do with the bar in question. In fact this reminds me of the a similar case involving bar 26 in Margate.

Town centres will always have noise and nuisance if a town has any life in it at all, walking around the Harbour street, and the joining area there are numerous bars and pubs, it seems remarkable that this rather small establishment, could be responsible for the nuisance claimed.

I'm middle aged, so don't get out often, but from my distant memory, it's generally the larger pubs which create most anti social behaviour. How the licensing authorities have managed to zero in on this bar, is a mystery to me, but as is much in life, it is generally the small business and individuals that get clobbered with overzealous regulation.

Anyway good luck to Harper's wine bar, they certainly need it, I hope it's still there next time I'm in Broadstairs. I doubt any establishment in Broadstairs deserves this heavy handed treatment.

Southern Water clean up at last!

I'm frequently accused of talking it, many of us have had bathed in it, and Southern water who actually pump it, are due to complete their new eighty million pound plant this week. Which is just in the nick of time if the reports that the European Commission have started taking legal proceedings against British government for allowing the residents of margate's and broadstairs exposed to sewage for so many years.

It just makes you wonder what all those awards for clean beaches, in these parts are actually worth.

Richard Ashworth conservative Euro MP, is going to write to the European commissioner for the environment, to update him on these improvements, and invite him to visit the new facilities according to the report on Kentnews website. No mention is made as to whether it will be necessary for the commissioner to bring his swimming costume.

But not for the first time has Thanet been the last in the queue, whether it's roads hospitals or clean water.

Hooray for Southern water, it's taken these blighters sixteen years to comply with European law, I just wonder how long Southern water would wait, if you or I were to delay payment on our water bills probably not 16 days.

PEOPLE AS COMMODITIES*

PLEASE NOTE THIS WAS WRITTEN B4 MR BYRNE STARTED CLOSING THE BARN DOOR

Nothing illustrates how far the labour party have moved in the last 20 years, than the way in which the home office report into the effect of immigration was handled by Liam Byrne the immigration minister.

Politicians will always stress the positive side of any issue, so long as it puts them in a good light and the comments from Liam Byrne, just about sum up the cynical uncaring attitude of Britain's new labour party.

It appears from Mr. Byrne's comments as quoted in the independent newspaper "The UK economy and the Exchequer over the long run clearly profit from migration," he said. "But we need to strike a new balance in migration policy where we set benefits alongside what we know about the wider impact of migration."

Notice how the economy and profits appear to be uppermost in Mr. Byrne's thoughts, and concerns about social impact are apparently way down the list of priorities.

Clearly I inhabit a different world to Mr. Byrne, since my knowledge, further down the food chain is considerably different, I often meet migrant workers and sometimes work alongside so I think my experience is possibly more valid than any home office report writer.

Particularly concerning is the myth about the superior work ethic of migrants, which it seems Liam Byrne is happy to perpetuate, my experience of migrants, is that they are in no way different, to what the home office condescendingly refer to as " native worker".

It's unlikely that Liam Byrne or his home office staff, will be replaced any day soon by a migrant worker, who has no choice but to accept the minimum wage £5.50 or thereabouts, which is a pity, since they might just show a bit more consideration not only to us "natives" but also migrants.

What Liam Byrne and his colleagues are really doing, is sidestepping the fact that government controls on migration are non existent. Resulting in tremendous social upheaval the government has been negligent, in planning for the social costs of mass migration, to our Health Service, education system, judicial system, housing and social services.

It's fairly clear that when new labour, are confronted with caring for people or caring for their own backsides, the people will always lose every time.

Finally Liam Byrne opined, something to the effect that in the long run our country and exchequer are better off with immigration, than without it, and that would be true if the government both planned for and controlled immigration, which it doesn't. What is true is that thousands if not millions of "native" people (the derogatory home office term) are having their wages cut and social infrastructure pressured by negligent labour government.

Postscript I would much appreciate any comments, from labour party supporters, who might have evidence to the contrary that anyone in the labour party actually gives a toss for ordinary working class people, particularly welcome would be Stephen Ladyman MP for Thanet South.

TURNER THE FINAL FRONTIER

Just about to head off to work, have just come back from the thearte royal, so have not got time to refine this piece. PLEASE Winge agbout resulting errors.

Anyhow David Chipperfield has given another top performance and produced a quite a pleasing design. see press for details

Surprised that their were none of the usual anti types, every one was well behaved including me, my question being only slightly offensive.

Will add to this after a wake up sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Must say I like the flock wallpaper in the theatre before it was painted over.

One thing that troubles me is the number council officials/functionaries on the top table.

For my previous observations on Turner click the Turner Contemporary Label at the bottom of this post

TURNER BACK IN TOWN

Just a quick reminder more info on the Turner Gallery with David Chipperfield, tommorow night, for details click here.

And if thats not interesting enough, you can always take a butchers at how Thanet council has restored the Theatre Royal.

For interest you might also care to see if the great and the good are segregated from the less than great like me, as they were at the last presentation.

MARGATE SOME CONSULTATION?

This week's Isle Of Thanet Gazette has the frontpage question MARGATE - WHAT NEXT? The gazette addresses issues over the controversial plans for The Dreamland amusement site.

I must say for a variety of reasons, I'm more than confused, I shall elaborate. Over the last few years some things have never been explained adequately, the owners of the Dreamland amusement park have dismantled an established business with a worldwide reputation, surely not as some long cynical process, to turn the site into prime housing land.



The council have as I understand already changed the local plan once to accomodate Dreamlands owners and are in the process of doing so again, despite the advice of a government inspector that dreamland was an assest worth saveing. Till now the owners could only get a change of use for the land, if they were able to prove the site could not be made viable as a leisure facility, now it seems the council are ready to back down all the way and consider other developments such as housing.



In August this year the cabinet meeting of Thanet District Council considered a plan for Dreamland amusement park and Arlington Square, which I thought they would put out for proper local consultation, so far the consultations look as thought it has gone underground.



Then we come to this week, the council hold a consultation meeting, advertised with full page notices, and since the councils spent so much in promoting this event, I thought it would only be polite to go along.



This meeting was offered as a consultation about renewal, so naturally I thought someone would be on hand to hear comments about the renewal of the dreamland amusement park site, this being perhaps the biggest development likely to take place in Margate for some considerable time.



I doubt you'll be surprised to hear, that when I went there no one was available from the council familiar with this project, although I did speak with Derek Harding part of SEEDA Margate regeneration quango thingy.



Assuming by this point you haven't given up the will to live, I'm convinced that a public consultation on this plan to redevelop dreamland and also incidentally create traffic mayhem by restricting traffic along Marine Terrace is probably irrelevant as I believe minds have already been made up by the planning authorities.
THE RED LINE SHOWS PROPSED TRAFFIC DIVERSION INTO MARGATES BACK STREETS

Part of the proposals by both the council and the landowners of Dreamland, are I understand for a new access road, which will come out into Eaton Road. Interestingly there seems to be a clump of properties currently being demolished to make way for new flats, which are at the planning stage I wonder whether they get built, since it would be the ideal place for the suggested new road.

Anyway what really worries me is what the local council are playing at, in August they produced a planning brief for the site, which to my mind seems a tad too proactive for a planning authority, whose principal role presumably is to regulate and interpret planning regulations for the benefit of local populace.



The bottom line is if the Thanet Council are under any obligation to consult with the local people then it should be done in a clear and well publicized way, yes there has been a drop session(whatever that might be) and a further one on 17 October 5.00pm - 7.00pm, if your passing the very accessable commitee rooms (I think somewhere up on the third floor of the council offices) and if you get lost who knows what you might find.



Just as a conclusion the Dreamland planning brief, finishes off with a list of those who will be consulted they are Natural England -English heritage - Kent Highway Services - Environment Agency - The Countryside Agency -CABE - The 20th Century Society - Statutory Undertakers - The Emergency Services -Network Rail - The Theatres Trust - Kent police "Secure By Design"



I'm sure the author of the brief intended to mention the public as a significant group to be consulted.



If you would like more information Thanet Council have produced a simplified planning brief (two pages) off if and consultation form on this page CLICK HERE



If you would like full the Dreamland brief (18 pages) including the nasty bits like maps showing areas of flood risk CLICK HERE



Also the notes from the Cabinet agenda CLICK HERE

Forget anything else the "DREAMLAND BRIEF" is likely to be the most significant issue to effect Margate for years to come (and that includes the Turner Gallery) surprising that Sandy Ezekiel and his deputy and Roger Latchford are keeping quiet on the matter, still given the latters expertise on Ramsgate Harbour beach maybe its a good thing.