WESTGATE AND WESTBROOK
RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT
WESTBROOK BOWLS CLUB ON MONDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2015 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Richard Charlton, (chair), twenty one members, Thanet
District Cllr Bertie Braidwood, Westgate Town Cllr Richard Charlton.
The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Sam Secombe, Chris
and Derek Smith, Cllrs Ash Ashbee, Carol Partington, and KCC Warden Laura
Bungard.
CHAIRMAN
The chairman told the meeting that details of the
balance and prevention of falls classes as outlined by Mr Peter Ellis at last
month's meeting will be to hand shortly.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (10th
August 2015), which had been circulated, were amended and adopted on a prop by
Stephanie Sutton sec by Don Eacott, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) Westgate Town Council –
Information from Meetings. Richard told
the meeting that he had arranged for the clerk to prepare a precis of the
minutes so that he could read from this at W&WRA general meetings. The full
minutes will also be shown from the space allotted in the window at the Town
Hall Building.
2) Flowers/Railings Margate Sea
Front. KCC had wanted to remove railings
and some had already gone. These were
there as safety barriers as people came up from the beach and to assist those
who are blind. TDC had not been involved
but there had not been the proper procedures or consultation.
3) Accounts. Several members asked about last year's
accounts as they had not had the opportunity to see them. Richard is to arrange for copies to be
available at the next meeting and on the Bake House noticeboard. Usually they also appear in the magazine.
COUNCILLORS’/PCSO/WARDEN REPORTS
Cllr Bertie Braidwood:
1)
Family Fun Day.
Cllr Braidwood congratulated Abigail on a very good day.
2)
St Mildred's Bay Car Park. Cllr Braidwood had asked Mike Humber who is
going to see the Civil Enforcement Manager to check the situation and payments
received.
3)
Speedwatch. The
present scheme only covers the villages, and Westbrook/Westgate would need an
advisor/coordinator, plus volunteers and £2,000 funding. Iris Johnston said that there was TDC funding
to help start up such schemes.
Cllr Carol Partington:(Report read out by Richard)
1)
Local Plan.
There is to be a planning meeting with Keith Holland very soon
concerning the local plan, and Cllr Partington offered to take any specific
questions or issues to this. (It was
thought that that some of the buildings already built are included in the total
count, and Iris Johnston said that the Draft Options Local Plan shows no
housing on Manston Airport, but there was a need to watch what was happening
especially developments around Belmont Road).
KCC Community Warden Laura Bungard: August report read out by Richard:
Items dealt with include police matters, pavement
obstruction, highways (trees and potholes/drains), homeless, youths in care
homes, bus stop repairs, vulnerable adults and children, waste/recycling and
fly tips, parking, dog warden called, DVLA enquiries, vandalism, lost and
found, scams, noise, housing, social services, speed watch, ASB, domestic,
burglary, RTA, NEM, illegal campers and also other items.
CORRESPONDENCE
None received.
PLANNING
1) 37, Sea Road, (Westcliff House). Application for permission to erect a four
storey building with flats and access, and a rear extension to Westcliff
House. Refused.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Sam had sent in her report: Bank balance £7,040 and bills paid to
date. However income from the Bridge
Club ceases from 17th September as they have had declining numbers,
and their rental had been a considerable proportion of the W&WRA
income. Richard hoped to produce a press
feature on the Bake House which now has available time slots for hire. Charges are £11/hour, (trials available at
special prices), and can hold up to thirty five people.
EDITOR’S REPORT
Most of the magazines have been delivered, but more road
stewards are urgently required.
MEMBERSHIP
Ray and Christina Taylor have taken up the work of
membership secretaries, and it was proposed by Don Eacott and seconded by Jane
Welch that they be elected to the position.
This was agreed unanimously.
CIVIC REPORT
Civic Society.
James Brazier reported that there is an outing to the Imperial War
Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum on Tuesday 22nd
September. Monthly meetings commence on
Thursday 1st October when the AGM will be held followed by a talk on
“Turner Contemporary's Waste Land Community Project”.
Westgate Heritage Centre.
Next meeting is on Saturday 3rd October from 10.00am with the
talk “October 1973 Water water everywhere”, by John Naden who was a local
police constable at the time of the flooding.
SOCIAL
Jane reported on last month's events. which included a visit to Ramsgate Tunnels, some members joined a
trip with Carol Peters to Rye, Quiz night last week (thank you to Richard), and
some members enjoyed the Community Centre's family fun day at the weekend. Some members failed to turn up for the
Ramsgate outing , so that a deposit will be requested with bookings for future
outings.
Future events/trips.
Sunday lunch at the Golf Club 20th Sept (pre-orders required
as a good number are coming). Isle of
Sheppey music hall trip 29th Sept, “Silver Sunday” different things
to try out and buffet at St Augustines 10.30am to 5.30pm 4th
October, also a tea dance in the Winter Gardens, a shopping trip in November,
and new year lunch on 10th January 2016.
Discounts have been arranged for members at the Golf Club
and in some local businesses on Mondays on production of a membership card.
Abigail reported on the family fun day which was good but
suffered poor weather and so was down on last year, but did not make a
loss. However the Centre has had
a new floor and kitchen and men's toilets. More work is needed. Other events to come will include Halloween
and Easter.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Work on Promenade between St
Mildred's and West Bays. This appeared
to have been completed but one very large skip of rubble had been left
behind. Cllr Bertie Braidwood agreed to
chase this up.
2) Pavement and Drop Kerb
Obstruction. A new shop in Station Road
called “Volunteers Trust”, apparently open on two days a week has caused the
obstruction. Cllr Bertie Braidwood and
Warden Laura Bungard will be checking on this.
3) Westbrook Road blocked by
Abandoned Cars. This was reported by a
member, and Iris Johnston suggested contacting Phil Snook (TDC), or the police
or highways.
4) Canterbury Road near King
Ethelbert School. A member reported seeing
bags tied to trees in the centre of the dual carriageway. This was thought to be due to the work of the
Birchington anti litter group, concern was expressed for the safety of those
working in that location.
5) Walmer Castle Pub. Richard pointed out that the CAMRA group had
exercised the right to buy by community groups and the CAAG were concerned
about the plans for a house or dwelling behind the existing building as it
could involve reversing onto the main road.
The Westgate Town Council did not stop the sale, plans will now be
considered by TDC
6) Illegal Camping on the Sea
Front. Tony Sykes informed the meeting
that this could be reported direct to Thanet Coast Project as an incident, and
prompt action usually follows. On the
roads Iris Johnston said the correct protocol was to inform the KCC, if the
jacks or legs of a caravan are down this becomes illegal.
7) Westbrook Undercliff Green
Annual Cut. Tony Sykes said this would
now take place in January following the advice of the RSPB, and it is hoped
that the Bumble Bee Trust will be introducing and monitoring bees in addition
to the miner bees already present. Members of the “WASPS” group keep the weeds
down on the areas planted with shrubs and other plants suitable for wild life.
8) Talk “The Dornier
Restoration” by Nina Hadaway (RAF Hendon) takes place in Birchington Village
Centre on Wednesday 16th September at 7.30pm for 8.00pm.
9) Beach Clean St Mildred's
Bay. This will take place on Saturday 19th
September at 10.00am all welcome.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 12th
October, at the Westgate Town Hall Building 7.00pm for 7.15pm.
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 8.30pm.
