Thanet Countryside Trust Pledge Support

The Thanet Countryside Trust field officers visited the land on Westbrook Promenade (proposed Village Green) today. They have identified rare grasses and several other plant species. The conclusion is that this land should be saved from development. They are going to continue their studies into the spring and summer as more plants appear. Pieces of land on the coast like this are important to nature particularly insects and birds. This particular site would be ideal to develop biodiversity and become a nature reserve.
I would like to thank the trust for their support also their intention to help us lobby the council.

In the meantime here are some of the delights to look forward to in the spring and summer (pictures taken last year).

















The campaign continues to save this special place for the continued enjoyment of local people. Support is growing day by day.

"Under Utilised"?

'Barnes car park, a completely under utilised piece of land, suitable for a "Holiday village" development of a few luxury Chalets was identified, and what happened then, your Group immediately opposed the sale of this piece of land and by applying for Village Green status effectively blocked the very proposal you are so firmly in favour of.' (Thanet Strife)
The above attack on counsillors supporting our application just shows how poorly informed those making decisions are. There are 115 forms lodged at KCC showing that this land is very well used by local people and has been for a very long time. If the councillor concerned had taken the time to visit the site first thing in the morning he would no doubt have received comments on his scheme by the many dog walkers or perhaps on a sunny day when people picnic, fly kites and admire the wildlife. He may also meet the people who walk the site most days and pick up all the rubbish. If he was not able to visit the site he could view it on his computer on google maps satellite view (follow link on right for Google Map) which shows clearly well trodden paths across this land.
If a 'few' chalets (12) were placed on this site it would deny all access to those using it now and ruin it forever.
One of our contributors sent me this information "The sale of land West of Barnes car park has been on the council agenda before. It was rejected.
If I remember rightly the issues raised at the time were , the natural habitat, rising sea levels and exposure to storms". So what has changed?

Bertie Biggles Fires on TDC

Westbrook WASPS appear to have caused a political storm not of their making. Counsellors are fighting like the seagulls feeding on the dead crabs in our bay. See report by Bertie Biggles on the Thanet Strife Blog link. http://thanetstrife.blogspot.com/ or follow link on this blog
He certainly knows how to place his punches. Westbrook WASPS are not a political organisation we just want to preserve a lovely area of green on Westbrook Promenade for continued use by local people and keep developers from ruining this rather special place. All this political wrangling just goes to show what a sorry state local politics have become.
WASPS are very determined to fight to the end to stop development on this land.
Come on TDC you can either fight the application and waste more council tax money or do the decent thing and register it voluntarily as a Village Green yourselves. This way you will regain some credibility with your electorate. You may even get extra funding. Could this be a win win situation for all or has 'common' sense been lost forever.

Crab Disaster

For those of you walking on our village green or on the beach you will have noticed large numbers of seagulls circling and its raining crabs. A victim of the cold weather is the beautiful Velvet Swimming Crab washed up on this bay not doubt suffering with crabby hypothermia. There were literally thousands in large heaps on the beach. This follows after a similar incident last year when the weather turned cold. Some were only just alive and unlikely to survive especially the onslaught of hungry seagulls.

Press Report (coutesy of Isle of Thanet Gazette)

The press report dated 8th Jan 2010

Happy New Year from Westbrook WASPS

New Year New Village Green the Campaign Continues.