Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from the last of the Westbrook
Turnstones (very few visiting this winter).
Looking
forward to the New Year, this could be an important year for the future of Thanet.
January starts with the consultation on the Local Plan. This reads like a cut
and paste job with figures thrown in for good measure. Ticking government boxes
it plans to concrete over our island with 12,000 new houses.
The Beach
Management Plan as part of the Destination Plan will also be up for
consultation.
The future
of Manston airport is still an on going topic despite attempts to dig it up and
create a developer’s paradise. Unfortunately I am not sure our present council
are up to the job of decision making and do not appear to have the ability or
legal expertise to influence events.
Looking at
the bigger picture Gatwick and Heathrow are now coming in for mounting
opposition to expansion. The recent software glitch with the air traffic
control shows us how intricate the 3D chess game is that is played out in our
skies. Should someone not be saying “what if there were twice as many aircraft
in the skies over Gatwick and/or Heathrow and it happens again”? Surely there
is a safety question to answer. Davis may want to look at his report again and
not discount other airports. Maybe Manston should be mothballed for the time
being until the game pans out or there is an integrated transport policy for
the South East.
I feel sorry
for Roger and Laura who have fought so hard for Manston whilst Government
Ministers have paid lip service preferring to leave things to market forces.
Personally I believe the decision over Manston is one of public interest and
national importance and the Government should step up to the mark. If it does
not Thanet could easily turn purple.
Looking
forward to the spring we will no doubt be faced with election frenzy or even
apathy as many people will opt out of voting as they cannot see suitable candidates.
This could be dangerous with politics of the extremes taking over.
For as long
as I can remember Thanet has been an unemployment black spot and ever more
appears to continue to be so. Regeneration needs a kick on top of what is
already happening. Maybe we need a “Thanet First” movement but I do not see it
coming.
The local
plan talks about action on Climate Change but ignores the work done by the
CC2150 Project
where the local community worked on plans and visions for the future. Is this
really a local plan for Thanet or just another report bought in from expensive
consultants?
Development
plans for Thanet seem to place nails into its coffin. The port access road at Ramsgate
was completed after the ferry closed. The Pfizer access road was completed and most
of Pfizer closes. Now the airport has closed the Manston Parkway is planned to
be built. We seem to be doomed by a lack of joined up thinking.
I am now
going to put away my crystal balls as they only depress me and I want to enjoy
Christmas.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
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