"Mr Turner gets steamed up!"

I was glad to have stumbled across Robert Poulter's New Model Theatre on the Harbour Arm this weekend. I hadn't realised it was on. We caught the showing of "Mr Turner gets steamed up!" which was a jaunty piece about Margate's most famous visiting artist and his liason with a certain Mrs Booth who had a house at what is now the Yacht Club building.

Robert advises signing up to his mailing list to keep up with his latest works as he doesn't get time to update his website.

Twinkle twinkle little boat

The Celestial Radio boat came to Margate on Saturday. Just at the right time, in the sunny slot before the clouds came.

The rest of my Margate travels saw that there doesn't seem to be visible damage to the Arcadian building on Fort Hill. So not sure where the reported fire was. And talking of fires, The Today Programme reported a fire in Westgate this morning, but I have so far not found reference to it in the news channels.

Thanet's dog accessible beaches

As a new owner of a four legged furry friend, I was interested to know which beaches I could take the pooch to over the summer. TDC's dog guide on their website unfortunately doesn't have a map or illustration of the various bays and beaches where I can take my canine friend. They have a list of beach names, but some are so small or local that they don't come up in google maps. As a newcomer to the area, I've no idea where Fulsam Rock is and neither will other tourists.

I called TDC who offered to post me a leaflet. I declined in deference to saving on paper and time. But would be nice to have a map on the site, please, TDC. Should be simple enough.

We apologise for the interuption in service...

Sorry folks, well, the small amount of readers of this little blog. I've neglected this blog over the last few weeks. But on one of my last trips out to survey the progress on Cliff Terrace, I noticed the bargain price of £139,000 has been literally scribbled out on the hoarding.



Is this indicative of a price hike or a price drop?

Hopefully, with the credit crunch biting someone will buy the job lot of them and reconvert to shops. Hopeful? No, but you can but dream.

Dreamcoaster

A good time was had at the Dreamcoaster exhibition and party this weekend at Substation. The scenic railway has been rebuilt in model form from donated timber. The exhibition has a lovely collection of vintage posters and artifacts from Dreamland and great video footage from back in the day screening from the working park. On Friday there was a reading from Margatonian author, Iain Aitch and Saturday, we stuffed ourselves full of candyfloss, and were entertained by the highly amusing performance from one third of the Dead Victorians group and his musical sheep. All washed down with a fish and chip supper from Peter's and a pint down at Barnacles.


Discussions were abound at what is the one true name of the long sticking out stone walkway into the Harbour. The local contingent swear it has only ever been referred to as the Harbour Arm in this recent phase of renovations. Previously it was known as the 'Stone Pier'. The wooden structure that was destroyed in storms in the 70s was apparantly the 'jetty'. The Parade where Angela's, Peter's Fish Factory and the Harbour Cafe are sited is also bandied about recently as being amusingly referred to as 'The Piazza'.

More parties, please! It cheers us up in the rainy season.

Days left for consulatation on the proposed sell of Margate properties

The consultation with the ironically titled, 'Making the most of our Margate properties', ends on June 6th. I took a trip out to Northdown House yesterday for a look round. It's such a lovely building and in what must have been an elegant park setting, this is surely one of the key items in the sale. However, is the credit crunch period the best time to sell off the family silver?


Comments can be emailed to hannah.thorpe@thanet.gov.uk

The 16 properties in the proposal are:

1. Booth Place Margate Cliftonville West Suggested by local people that this should be developed as a garden with parking and small residential development.

2. Dalby Square Margate Cliftonville West Retention of green space with some development with improved road layout.

3. Land adjacent to Media Centre Margate Margate Central Potential residential or mixed use development.

4. Northdown House and depot, Cliftonville Margate Cliftonville East Residential conversion of the house, with possible ground floor retention for appropriate community use. Depot to become six cottages.

5. 45 Hawley Square, Margate Margate Margate Central Residential or commercial use.

6. 22 Cecil Square, Margate Margate Margate Central The Post Office will remain, with the upper floors converted for commercial or residential use.

7. Land at Barnes Avenue, Westbrook Margate Westbrook Will not involve significant built development. Any use will be community related.

8. Land at Knockholt Road, Cliftonville Margate Cliftonville East Could be used for additional garden space for adjacent properties

9. Albion House Ramsgate Eastcliff The majority of ground floor and basement retained for community use, building brought in line with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, with the upper floors converted for residential use.

10. Albion Place Car Park, Ramsgate Ramsgate Eastcliff Re-instating the early 19th century terrace for possible residential use.

11. Land at Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs Broadstairs Viking Possibility of building one property and extending the gardens for neighbouring properties.

12. Garage 3 Colemans Yard, Ramsgate Ramsgate Central Harbour Possible residential use.

13. Closed toilets Boundary Road Ramsgate Eastcliff Possible commercial use, maybe as a café.

14. Land at Greenfield Road Ramsgate Northwood Possible use for garden extensions.

15. Motor Museum, Westcliff Hall Ramsgate Central Harbour Possible commercial use.

16. Vere Road Car & Coach Park Broadstairs Bradstowe Improved coach parking, with some residential development.

Thanatos - Isle of the dead

Nice little feature on BBC Kent today regarding the origins of the Isle. There is a reference to a fact I'd not realised that Thanet has more Bronze Age burial grounds than anywhere in Britain.

In March there was the discovery of a Bronze Age skeleton at Monkton where the new salad growing glasshouses will go.