Ramsgate Greens Call for Seafront MasterPlan

BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT ARRON OLDALE, IAN DRIVER, MIKE WHITE, KEVIN PRESSLAND FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT TONY UDEN, TRICIA HARTLEY, TIM SPENCER

Thanet Green Party, which is running 7 candidates for District and Town Council in Ramsgate,  has announced that if elected its councillors will be arguing for the development of a Ramsgate Seafront Masterplan. The Masterplan would replace the existing  Ramsgate Maritime Plan which was published by the Council’s Labour Cabinet last year. It would set out proposals for transforming the seafront, harbour and port into a modern leisure focused area which would attract more visitors; generate more spending;  attract increased  investment and create more jobs in Ramsgate.

 

Some of the ideas being discussed by the Green Party include transforming the port into  a modern marina; pedestrianizing Harbour Parade and turning it into Ramsgate’s Café quarter; building a seafront skate park and family friendly area with fun activities; developing exhibition space  and walks to celebrate Ramsgate’s rich maritime and natural history; working with the Ramsgate Tunnels and Project Motor House to raise more funds to fully develop their plans; preventing  inappropriate developments on the  seafront such as proposals to locate a concrete block making and waste wood processing plant at Ramsgate Port.The Masterplan will continue to protect and support Ramsgate’s historic fishing and boat building industry and the wind farm support fleet.

 

Commenting on the proposals Green Party election candidate for Sir Moses Montefoire Ward, Tricia Hartley said “Ramsgate has one of the best stretches of seafront in the country. With a strong  Masterplan and lots of new ideas the town could quickly become, once again,  a  major visitor destination generating hundreds of  jobs and business opportunities.

 

Green Party councillor Ian Driver, who is standing in the EastCliff ward said “Labour’s Ramsgate Maritime Plan was developed in secret behind closed doors. Three private consultation meetings were held to which handpicked groups were invited including just one member of the public (1). It’s totally unfair and undemocratic that the people of Ramsgate were excluded from having any involvement in developing plans for the future of their own seafront. No wonder  the Maritime Plan is dull, unimaginative and not fit for purpose. Green Party councillors will insist that in developing the Seafront Masterplan there will be the fullest public consultation. After all it’s the people’s seafront and they should play the most important role in deciding its future”