Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet is a seaside resort in the south East of England. Once a major holiday destination it has become run down because of a failure to move with the times. Once a place for a wonderful holiday experience now blighted by 11 years of dereliction on the seafront and a failure of governance from Thanet District Council. This blog has been set up to give Ramsgate people a voice and to campaign for change
#Truthwillout
Thanet District Council are hoping spending some money (£40K from Vattenfall) will improve the look of the Eastcliff and at the same time reduce their maintenance costs.
The work is due to commence in October and will also include the removal of the raised bed by the Granville Theatre along with removal of undergrowth and some self-seeded trees in the Winterstoke area.
The work at the Winterstoke, which has already been started by volunteers , will also improve sight lines and take away the many dens currently being used as hidey holes by those committing Antisocial behaviour.
The Memorial to the fallen of WW1 will need to be relocated albeit on a smaller plot to ensure that the people who have dedicated a cross haven't done so in vain.
A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on
the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to
carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and
Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow
hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which
then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which
were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will
be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to
the town and see for themselves. The businesses in the town will benefit and so
too will the residents for having an uplifted town.
“It is going to be what the seaside is all about. Fun, sunny colours and
something to take home. A conversation piece.”
The team are asking for volunteers to help with the work and also to
inspire them with colourful Ramsgate photos. They also plan to work with schools
A team spokesman said: “We definitely have a multi-coloured town and
sky. The colours will be bright and cheerful and we plan to involve school
children in creating collages of each colour, chosen showing where those colours
are seen around the town. These collages will be displayed on each landing of
the Augusta steps.
“Each school will receive a colour and we are asking the children to
think about what that colour means with regards to Ramsgate - orange sunsets,
pink rock, red lighthouse, blue sea, green palm trees. Each board will be hung
on the landings with the school name. We also have school children who will be
helping with the initial sweep up of the steps. Any age volunteers are welcome
with their parents as long as they can paint without going over the lines!
“The idea is paying homage to Istanbul's retired engineer who started
this and I am sure he would feel proud that it is inspiring other communities
across Europe to copy him and help bring their communities together.”
What a transformation and people walking past where very complimentary and wondered whether other parts of Ramsgate would benefit from the same treatment.
A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves.
A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves
A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves.
For those that don't know Ramsgate is twinned with Conflans St Honorine and today we hosted a visit from the French contingent. We were entertained and fed at Shipshape along the Military Road. Ramsgate needs to do more but this was fun.
I was asked along to promote the Memorial Garden on the Eastcliff so a short plug in pidgin french
Mesdame et Messieurs. Pardon me my French was learnt en ecole plus ans ago. Il est cent ans since WW1 started et je built a Memorial Jardin pour commemoration.
This garden, in conjunction with Ramsgate Council nears completion. The area was originally a sundial but with no money for its upkeep it was looking sad.
2 days weeding and clearing the stones enabled the setting up of a poppy garden and an area in the front to plant commemorative crosses.
Creating a sign to display the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 took a few more days but looks the part.
Planting a cross which honours the fallen of Ramsgate I hope people will take the opportunity to plant a cross for their relatives.
With thanks Dave Steele of the Friends of Ramsgate Seafront a Spring Clean of Winterstoke Gardens on the Eastcliffe was organised on the 16th March in glorious Spring like weather. With temperatures hitting 18C Dave Steele, Rebekah Smyth. Kandy Jones, Barry James, Bob Bowling, Rebecca Sewell and Maxine Morgan started work cleaning up a huge area on the Eastcliffe. (apologies to anyone I missed)
Cllr Clive Hart and his wife Sandra who happened to be out enjoying the sunshine met with our volunteers and expressed his gratitude that the community spirit is alive and well in our beautiful Ramsgate. He said plans were afoot to redress the feelings of Ramsgate residents where spending on our wonderful town seems to be neglected. He also said we were doing a great job improving the area for the benefit of the people of Ramsgate.
Nice and clean
Now all this needs is the benches fixed, the graffiti removed and a coat of paint
Starting them young
With thanks to Thanet Council and Ramsgate Council for the loan of the equipment.
The first of the 3 open space meetings was held tonight in the Oddfellows Hall and although only 30 odd people attended all felt it was a good meeting.
South Thanet MP Laura Sandys and 4 TDC Councillors were in attendance and all the areas discussed will be added to topics discussed at the next 2 meetings at Kings Hall and Newington Hall.
The Port manager has recently been promoting the alongside harbour road and is trying to attract new business to the area. The road extends from the bustop along to the west wall of the Royal Harbour and finishes with the Church which offers services and coffee.
Then comes the former home for smack boys (which doesn't mean boys being punished :))
Selling boats seems to be handy next to a harbour methinks
There seems to be at least 5 units for rent which could mean businesses such at Paolo's in Broadstairs and GB Pizza could be very welcome in Ramsgate and would revive this end of the harbour.
We went into the newly opened Chocolate Lounge and tried their coffee and cake and very nice it was.
And the chocolates look lovely.
Other business along here look to be doing well.
My suggestion for the Port Master and Ramsgate Town Council would be to get signs at the top of Jacobs ladder and at the bus stop to promote all the business along the Military Road.
When people are involved in shaping their local surroundings, the benefits can include:
Additional Resources Governments rarely have sufficient means to solve all the problems in an area. Local people can bring additional resources which are often essential if their needs are to be met and dreams fulfilled.
Better DecisionsLocal people are invariably the best source of knowledge and wisdom about their surroundings. Better decision-making results if this is harnessed.
Building community The process of working together and achieving things together creates a sense of community.
Compliance with legislation Community involvement is often, and increasingly, a statutory requirement.
Democratic credibility Community involvement in planning accords with people¹s right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. It is an important part of the trend towards democratisation of all aspects of society.
Easier fundraising Many grant-making organisations prefer, or even require, community involvement to have occurred before handing out financial assistance.
Empowerment Involvement builds local people¹s confidence, capabilities, skills and ability to co-operate. This enables them to tackle other challenges, both individually and collectively
More appropriate results Design solutions are more likely to be in tune with what is needed and wanted. Involvement allows proposals to be tested and refined before adoption, resulting in better use of resources.
Professional education Working closely with local people helps professionals gain a greater insight into the communities they seek to serve. So they work more effectively and produce better results.
Responsive environment The environment can more easily be constantly tuned and refined to cater for people¹s changing requirements.
Satisfying public demand People want to be involved in shaping their environment and mostly seem to enjoy it.
Speedier development People gain a better understanding of the options realistically available and are likely to start thinking positively rather than negatively. Time-wasting conflicts can often be avoided.
Sustainability People feel more attached to an environment they have helped create. They will therefore manage and maintain it better, reducing the likelihood of vandalism, neglect and subsequent need for costly replacement.
"The professionals need to consult the users of their buildings more closely. The inhabitants have the local knowledge: they must not be despised. People are not there to be planned for; they are to be worked with… There must be one golden rule we all need to be involved together planning and architecture are much too important to be left to the professionals." HRH The Prince of Wales, A Vision of Britain, 1989
The Royal Pavilion Ramsgate, empty since 2007, had become largely ignored and vandalised since Rank moved out to Westwood Cross.
So the Friends of Ramsgate Seafront decided to take a hand and spruce up the old girl over the weekend of 11/12th January 2014. Making an appeal for volunteers using their Facebook page and getting Ramsgate Town Council to pay for the paint work started on a bright Saturday morning.
The other main job was the digging out of the beach steps covered over by the tidal surge which also extended round the front of the building.
A special thanks also to the skateboarders who lent a hand painting and digging.
Volunteers were Barry, Duncan, Kandy, Matt, James, Dave, Abbie, Lucy, Will Scobie, Julie Marson and many people who turned up for an hour and helped before moving on.
So whatever happens with this iconic building it proves that local people want it looking good and preferably open.
Julie Marson said: “I congratulate the Friends of Ramsgate Seafront on their superb efforts to clear up and repaint the Pavilion over the weekend.
“It demonstrates real community spirit and commitment to Ramsgate and it shows that we can all play a part in making our towns places to be proud of.
“It was a pleasure to contribute in a small way and I look forward to more of the same.”
