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For details of our monthly talks, past and future go to our activities page. TDC CLOSE ALBION HOUSE TO PUBLIC MEETINGS Albion House, once thought to be a 'community' building, available to Ramsgate residents for public meetings has now been closed by Thanet District Council. Once again TDC have shown their indifference to Ramsgate residents by banning Ramsgate Town Council from renting out the Mayor's Chamber for public meetings. ERA, who have held their monthly meetings there on the second Thursday of every month for many years, was told on the eve of their AGM that it could no longer use the building. Richard Styles, Ramsgate Town Council's Town Clerk, was told that they were no longer able to rent out the Mayor's Chamber to the ERA and passed on the news to ERA Chairman, Paul Warrick. ERA members were shocked at the news. Their feelings ranged from anger towards TDC to deep feelings of hurt that the elected representatives could show such disregard to voters. ERA RESPONSE TO TDC CORE STRATEGY PROPOSAL ERA submitted it's official response to TDC's Core Strategy Proposal in January. Our main objections were where we felt the Proposal would have a detrimental effect on Ramsgate as a whole. We were not just looking at interests of the Eastcliff. Amongst our many objections most were on the sections related to the proposed expansion and development of Manston Airport and Westwood Cross. We also objected to the overwhelming bias and focus towards Margate in both the areas of regeneration and allocation of resources. Whilst we recognise and do not dispute that Margate needs regeneration we feel strongly that this should not be at the expense of Ramsgate and the other coastal towns. Ramsgate is in dire need of focus and regeneration too. View the percentage of "agree/disagree" responses in total compared to ERA responses together with the reasons for our responses see here View or download our response to TDC Core Strategy proposals here (pdf file 0.78Mb) . . . . in conjunction with the original Proposal available from the TDC website here (pdf file 1.77Mb). OUR LATEST PRESS RELEASE Jan 2010 View or download our latest Press release - sent to RTC Councillors here. LETTER TO RTC Have a look at the letter we sent to Ramsgate Town Council in September 2009 with our views on how the EASTCLIFF can be improved - here See the Council's reaction to our letter and what action they are taking here ERA PR INITIATIVE Following on from this ERA arranged for PR specialist Fiona Brandhorst to visit Ramsgate on Saturday 7 November and to draw up an outline PR strategy for the Ramsgate Town Council to consider. It is not a fully worked up proposal – simply some initial thoughts on what such a strategy might look like. See it here ERA hopes Councillors will find this useful when considering whether the Town Council should become involved in raising Ramsgate’s profile in order to attract visitors, new residents and new investment to the town. The Annual ERA Christmas Quiz . . . held on Thursday 10th December was a great success. It was hosted this year by MATT FREEMAN who devised and asked the questions. He did a brilliant job. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We desperately need volunteers to help run and organise the Eastcliff in Bloom scheme and also the Youth Focus Group. If you would like to help please contact us immediately. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THE LOOK OF THE EASTCLIFF? We would like residents to put forward any ideas they have. It is your chance to do something that will have a beneficial effect on the lives and well being of everyone who lives, works or just visits the Eastcliff. ERA Committee meetings Once a month, usually on the first Thursday, the ERA committee meets. If you have any issues, which you think the ERA could help with, please email the Secretary here. |