Ramsgate Winterstoke Gardens - An Improved View with LGBT Involvement

Shaman's view on supporting change in someone's outlook.

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My Email to Thanet District Council Chief Executive & Partners

From: sologays@hotmail.co.uk
To: sue.mcgonigal@thanet.gov.uk;

Beware The Ramsgate Vigilantes

I always thought the author of Promote Ramsgate blog was a decent ordinary sort of bloke, willing to consider all points of view, that sort of thing.  Then I read this statement:

"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 behavior".

"A Social Experiment" - from the "Bloke Called Dave" blog

I don't know where Mr James get's his information, but I suspect it is fear of anti-social behavior that haunts him and his followers more than anything?  It could be there has been a serious incident that has caused the "clear out" which Mr James is more than happy to shout about? If this proves to be the case, then perhaps he will kindly explain? 

Will Filming TDC Meetings make a Difference - To Everyday Folk?

Or will the Culture of Self Interest and Indifference just Win the Day?

When farmers (linked by their association formed in the 1960's) spoke against my mother's proposed single dwelling  in 2009 (her having been encouraged to submit an application by planning officers), they all lied basically, by claiming to represent residents of her road. One was in his capacity as Chairman of Manston Council, Cllr Goodban, and Cllr Neville, in his capacity as Chairman of neigboring Monkton Parish Council (albeit at later application and appeals, and is a near neighbour of then Planning Committee Chairman, Ken Gregory, living in the same road in Monkton). The third, being Arthur Burbridge, who resents sharing a track with my mother.

I cannot overstate the significance of the backing TDC legal monitoring officer, Harvey Patterson, gave to these farmers and the Councillors backing them. Mr Patterson brazenly presented false minutes at the appeal hearing in 2009. Some of the Councillors voting on this matter as Parish or District members, were also Standards Board members who relied upon Harvey Patterson for "advice".

WESTWOOD CROSS DEVELOPMENT - Link with Bradgate Caravan Park and the Young Farmers Association (not quite so young now!) + The Lost Farewell?

A Birthday Ode - "Ripples of War" - PDSA Family History Starting in Ramsgate

Swinging Sixties bursting forth

Famillies at risk of going under

A Great Grandmother to shoulder

Friendship cats and horticulture

Vetinary husband gassed in WW1

Amassed years to cope

Animals to suffer to in WW2

Appeasement was a vain hope

Margate Arlington Tesco In Your Face

The Feared Plan for Arlington House Tesco

I understand the hurt architects Nabb and Causer felt about sacrificing the integrity of a building they admire, which motivated them to produce their impression opposite. And at the Inquiry just two townsfolk turned up supporting redesign for shopping. Being unconcerned to hear the Arlington residents position they then left. Over on Simon Moores' blog someone has at last asked the question I was  most interested in:

A Home for Wrecks

This post by All at Sea is about the Historic WW2 Dunkirk Evacuation boat Sundowner. The writer implies it is a wasted asset because it takes up prime parking space at Ramsgate Harbour. This kind of links in with my suggestion for a community bid for the Marina car park, which could make an ideal visitor attraction of maritime relics placed among an expanded Sea Garden?

Reclaiming the Public Realm

4 Police cars with 8 officers were dispatched last night to look for a man who was seen making a possible suicide bid. We worked out that it was me leaning over the cliff in a shabby coat looking for a fox which caused a dog walking couple to make a call. It got me thinking about the cumulative negative effect of acts of authority, eg. vans parked on the promenade, overbearing halogen lamps, OTT Police presence, too many signs, ripped out shelter partions etc etc.  I hope Orchard Toys won't mind the use of their puzzle? How much more amusing I thought, if we had a  helicopter and an officer on horseback to complete the ensemble?

Simon Thomas's Hole

TDC Planning Manager Simon Thomas has allowed this overlooking my back garden. I wonder what kind of opening is going there? And who will get to see me shower in the morning I wonder? Designs have been submitted and changed several times, but I have found out there was a variation which was approved without consultation. A technical assistant sent over two links to show details of two options (nothing showing) so we can decide for ourselves which of them is being implemented by the builder?

A Ramsgate Community Plan - Pink Funerals - and a Business Plan (Please)

I must admit readers,  the relatively strong interest in discussing the concept of making King Street a Gay Village did rather take me by surprise.  And it could well help breathe life into the shabby old ghostly trading area. And then I thought of the initiative shown by a young funeral director, turning up as he did to highlight the problem of too many Funeral Parlours in the Town.  Maybe he should consider new markets?

A Trendsetting GAY TOURISM SURVEY

I was feeling quite sad last night readers, sitting alone in the Winterstoke Memorial with the wind and rain beating down, with the drips from the leaking roof catching the back of my neck as if someone had just walked over my grave. And of course the rays from those halogen lamps penetrating my sight in place of a once glorious night time view of the sea and moon.

Cheers

For a change we've used our own picture to wish you a Happy Christmas because we can't have you thinking we're some Mickey Mouse recycling outfit. It's just there are some cracking images around on the internet which suit our posts so well. Thankyou photographers and artists for the stimulation your efforts bring.

COME ON EILEEN - Town Hall Communications SABOTAGED

Looks like someone has blocked Ramsgate Town Council from communicating with Solo Gays about a Neighbourhood Plan? Whoever did this obviously did not discover the back-up email I had planted...

I dunno, what would you do without me????

HEADED NOTEPAPER NEEDED (For the Information Commissioner)

How nice of that Mr Harvey Patterson to spare the time to look through a few drawers at TDC,  to see if he can find any papers relating to the decision to Install Halogen Lamps at Winterstoke Gardens. Well, I suppose if the Planning Manager couldn't find anything, then I guess Mr Patterson was never really going to find anything?

Peter Checksfield & Mental Health

I had to smile when I saw Peter's comment  published on Cllr Simon Moores blog today  heralding as it does Peter's return to the Good Councillor's fold. Ever since I started blogging back in April this year I noticed Peter periodically bemoaning his ban from commenting on Simon's blog (everyone is blocked from commenting on mine temporarily, not wishing to further indulge the attitudes of a tiny vocal minority whose views remain tediously polarised).

Ramsgate Arts - Budget Entertainment in Margate, Ramsgate & Broadstairs

What's Looping the Loop? it's the idea that we can link up the three towns of Thanet (Margate, Ramsgate & Broadstairs) with some mesmerising theatre and do it all through travelling on the Loop bus!

Full information is at www.loopingtheloopfestival.org.uk or http://ramsgatearts.org/looping-the-loop . Some details are attached and we hope you like the project!

With best wishes from us all

Ramsgate Arts

Creating inspiring new activities for local people and visitors

www.ramsgatearts.org 

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Registered charity 1150096

Kents Young Homeless Turning to Prostitution

For months now I have been trying to get a local homeless charity to back me up with the support I have been providing to a young man who is in receipt of services from them.  My initial contact with him was through a cruising site where he appeared to be offering "services" in return for being "helped out"?  I have noticed this way of working among some gay/bisexual young homeless men lately. The advice given by the charity was vague and non-committal so I decided it was best to ignore him.  After all, I thought, he was bound to get enough contacts where he was hanging out?

Motherhood & Apple Pie - Transexuals and Cross Dressing

Our beautiful cat had to be put to sleep today.  So you can imagine I wasn't really in the mood to face the quarterly lgbt meeting at their hideout in Whitstable.  But I thought it's no good moping, and I did want feedback from members about the first social event to have taken place in Thanet, which was arranged and then cancelled in strange circumstances.

Transgender identity versus cross dressing proved a flashpoint when I remarked how some liked to walk about Winterstoke Gardens late at night in short leather skirts, black stockings and suspenders etc., and that you just don't see them now?

Age UK etc: Support for Over 50's Progressing

I have been busy making sure Gay in Thanet is listed on the Thanet Community Support Partnership  older persons website.

Here at Gay in Thanet we firmly believe Support goes hand in glove with Leisure (gosh I must sound like one of those retirement brochures!).

Staying Active.........

Approaching 50 myself, I feel our philosophy should be to encourage our generation to be involved in Civil Society.  Like cherishing and enhancing our beautiful public open spaces and amenities.

OMG!  Where did those new houses come from?

Cream Tea with Margate Pride 2013

Following my recent coverage of a half hearted attempt by  East Kent LGBT Network to organise a Coffee Morning: Gays Devastated by CANCELLED Coffee Morning, it appears the Business Community

have stepped in and created a weekend of "flash sale" events for the 27th, 28th and 29th of September to cater for lgbt/all.

Inventively dubbed  "Margayte Pride" this event enables gays to have a (Thanet) Ball after all! Anyway,  I shall be going along to the Walpole Bay Hotel for a Cream Tea if anyone wants to catch up with me there? (only snag being no-one knows who I am?  Oh well, you can't have your scone and eat it as my grandmother used to say).

Community Inclusion Coordinator Job Vacancy PL277

*POST NO LONGER AVAILABLE*

Working with an Inclusion Worker from the homeless charity Porchlight is one way of bringing projects off the back burner.

Picture credit: Communities of Practice

"The History of TDC Legal Advice is Worrying"

Gays Devastated by CANCELLED Coffee Morning

A Police Community Liason Officer had recently found somewhere "safe" for us to meet in Birchington-on-sea for an eagerly anticipated Coffee Morning. As it was to be held this Friday at the Ice Cream Parlour our intrepid PC  has been chasing the owners for an explanation as to why they had appeared to cease trading?  Turns out it's been sold and the place is closed while new owners wait to take over.   Notice was issued with apologies that no alternative could possibly be found at such short notice.  Poor old ducks, I feel sure some must have been looking forward to showing off their summer outfits?

Picture Credit: Kazuki Yamamoto

The Heritage Regeneration Game

There is funding around for community groups to partner businesses to restore heritage assets like the rockery pictured.

In the Spotlight

I notice over on Cllr Ian Driver's post that Kent Police have repeatedly failed to criminalise  protesters for calling for an end to live animal exports.

I went down to the port in support a few times last year and recognised a familiar face.  It was a Police dog handler known by many in the gay community for all the wrong reasons (harassment).