The festive season of good cheer has been overshadowed by the sad news of the closure of The Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate following the appointment of administrators. I had hoped that they would be able to recover a slimmer and fitter organisation out of it so that the fantastic work conducted there since 1792 could continue. As I write this looks unlikely. There are immediate clarion calls for government to do something; I wish solutions were that simple.
The next bad news locally is the announcement of financial difficulties at Dreamland, a hugely important and enjoyed tourism attraction for the whole of Thanet, again a fast moving and evolving story. Better news is likely following the announcement that our much loved Academy FM may close. I have been instrumental in pulling parties together, and am hoping for good news later this week.
In Parliament I have been involved in the debates about South East airports and fishing in advance of the Fisheries Minister taking his annual trip to Brussels to plead for a fair share of what should already be ours. The under 10m fleet in Ramsgate is a key part of the community and I will fight for them whenever I can. The All Party Parliamentary Group “Protect our waves” meets regularly. I take an active part in the group because of ongoing concerns at bathing water quality and rubbish on our local beaches.
The announcement of £50,000 from the Coastal Revival Fund to fund professional reports in advance of Lottery bids for Ramsgate’s Harbour Street and the Maritime Museum building are to be welcomed, projects which dovetail in with my ambitions for Ramsgate regeneration.
Congratulations need to go to the Royal Temple Yacht Club committee for encouraging boat owners to put up Christmas lights within Ramsgate marina. A simple, low cost idea that has brought national media interest and plenty of visitors. More formal lights on events across our towns have been well supported. I’ll finish with a huge thank you to Thanet Male Voice Choir and Upton Junior School choir for the fantastic Christmas concert at Holy Trinity Church, Broadstairs on Sunday 13th in aid of Kent MS Therapy Centre. Now feeling well and truly Christmassy; I’d better think about writing the cards, putting the tree up and buying some presents!