Botany Bay and Kingsgate looking stunning on film with John Hurt

Settled down to watch John Hurt in the BBC adaptation of M R James’ Edwardian ghost story shot in Kingsgate and Botany Bay. We who live here know how stunning this stretch of coastline is, and it seems still to be one of our best kept secrets. Clean swept wild beaches of golden sand, dunes, rockpools and chalk cliffs with the remains of smugglers tunnels. It looks fantastic on film. Great photography and it brings home why I love living here.

Preview of the programme here:

Programme page here

One of the nicest things to do in our area is to walk from Margate to Broadstairs along the beach, taking in the series of Bays. Just check the tide is out and and it is possible to make it round without having to come back up to the cliff top. Tide table here.

Finalists for "This is Margate" Photography competition

So, what do you think?

The finalists for the Margate photograph competition have been released on the This Is Margate website. The idea is that you choose your favourite for ach section. I'm not sure I like being forced to choose a picture from each section before moving on to the next. I would have preferred to have been able to see each group selection before having to make a choice for the next one.

But I'm sure there is a reason for this?

Here's the official blurb and instructions:

"Please vote for your favourite Margate photograph shortlisted in the This is Margate photography competition by visiting http://www.thisismargate.co.uk/Competition/Default.aspx The voting closes on wed 15 December at Midday.

We had nearly 400 competition entries from people of all ages (youngest was 7!) and the shortlist of 30 photos will also be displayed in the Tudor house, Margate this weekend (11 & 12 Dec) as part of their Christmas event.

We are also delighted to welcome Martin Parr to Margate on Monday 20 December to decide the overall winner and present the prizes.

All the votes will be counted and revealed at a special VIP judging event on Monday 20 December. We are delighted to be welcoming, international photographer Martin Parr, as our guest judge to announce the final winners and the overall winner of the competition as well as present them with their prizes, at this event.

If you would like to attend the judging event, please contact Lucy on 01843 577168 as a guest list is being run for the event."

Turner Contemporary is beautiful

The handover for the Turner Contemporary took place yesterday. What an amazing addition to the town this gallery will be. The views are stunning, the light, the finish. I'd like to wish a hearty congratulations to everyone who has made this building happen. Applause very well deserved. Can't wait for the opening. April 16th 2011! Sorry not to write more tonight. Am very tired!

12-15 Cliff Terrace - to be sold ay auction

What a journey it has been for 12-15 Cliff Terrace. Heralded a resounding success in May 2008 as a flagship project for KCC No Use Empty Scheme, the building stood empty until January 2010. The developer, Wards Renovation and Construction Limited (Company Registration No. 5166962), owned by Ramsgate FC's Jim Ward, has gone into receivership.

The whole site has is being sold at auction on December 15th with a guide price of £350k-£360k. The series of buildings remains under one title and has not been divided into separate leases, no matter how many banners were displayed advertising the sale of 'luxury flats'. The details of the sale at the auctioneers state there are 10 flats with rents as low as £60 per week. So just how much of a success is this site? The grave risk is now that with annual rental income of £54k that this stacks up for bottom of the market rental investors.

Is this really the best outcome for a grade II listed building that was hailed as a major success of regeneration?

One would hope that a building control completion certificate has been issued, given the fact that young families are tenants in the building.

And for the future? Well, the interior renovation being far from luxury, then perhaps someone will come along to return the building to it's rightful glory as a restaurant with letting rooms for tourism.

Here are photographs we have taken of the building in the last few years.

Search this blog for 'cliff terrace' to find the story on how this has happened.

Is this Margate? You're invited to discuss Monday 29th November

Invitations have been sent out from Creative Margate to an event to discuss the Countdown to Margate 2011. Details:

"Join the conversation...

Please join us:

Monday 29 November 2010

6-8pm | Harbour Cafe | The Parade | Margate
6pm | Welcome
6.30pm | Conversation begins
8pm | Conversation closes

This is a free event, light refreshments will be available.
Anyone is welcome to attend but please RSVP by 5pm on Wednesday 24 November as places will be
booked on a first come first served basis.

RSVP:
Call 01843 609336
or email creativemargate@gmail.com

Many Thanks
Sharon Sebastian

Creative Margate"

At first glance I had thought, given the absence of logos or other information, that Creative Margate was Margate Creatives (the collective of Margate based creatives that has been meeting monthly since the summer). But it isn't. Here's the info from the horse's mouth so to speak:

"Creative Margate was set up in 2008 to steer the work of the The Cultural Vision and once the work was complete, continued to meet to steer the Delivery Plan. Those documents are below and can be found on the Margate Renewal website.

http://www.margaterenewal.co.uk/pdf/Margate%20Cultural%20Vision%202008.pdf
http://www.margaterenewal.co.uk/pdf/Margate%20Cultural%20Vision%2010%20Year%20Plan%202008.pdf

Creative Margate sits within MRP, but is a partnership that includes local authorities, ACE, English Heritage and cultural organisation representation. It has been variously chaired by TDC, Turner
Contemporary and currently by KCC."

Leslie Fuller's Margate Ped'lers at the Clifton Concert Hall 1932

My lovely friend Matthew builds wonderfully useful websites. His Theatricalia site helps build an archive for theatre. And look what turned up! A 1930 production of Leslie Fuller's Ped'lers at The Clifton Concert Hall. Brilliant!

Arlington House residents meeting with Freshwater December 2nd

We've been reliably informed that a letter was sent to "occupiers" of Arlington House over the weekend, from PPS media relations consultants for Freshwater.

They are going to hold meetings at 4pm and 6pm on Thursday 2nd December at the Nayland
Rock hotel.

They state, "We intend to explain how the scheme has been revised since the last time we saw you and to run through what progress has been made on the various issues that were raised back in March".

A concerned resident states, "TDC have pretty much said that whatever Tesco wants Freshwater/Tesco will get, as it's a question of "if we don't take Tesco, then nothing will happen to the Arlington site for the next ten years." The latest
gossip on the Tesco store is that it will be a 70,000 sq ft monster superstore. ( not 60,000 sq ft. as originally proposed.)"

Onwards and upwards!

Interesting report from CABE on the effect of supermarkets on towns in the long run.

http://www.planningresource.co.uk/bulletins/Planning-Resource-Daily-Bulletin/News/1042160/CABE-launches-supermarket-report/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin