BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK?

Readers might not be aware of the developing picture that is being revealed by Michael Child, Rick and Ramsgate 'Walter' of the threats to Thanet's aquifer. If you want some detailed information please visit www.thanetonline.blogspot.com and click on the links Michael has put up on his strand "Another significant Chemical Pollution Incident".

In summary they have revealed that:

1. we have ongoing remediation at Sericol's old site in Poor Hole Lane (470 tonnes of cyclohexanone recovered so far with remedation work on-going).

2. un-named solvent and chemical pollution at the nearby Thor site on Ramsgate Road that ocurred between 1973 and 2003 with solvent recovery and extraction of water from the aquifer to foul sewer recently commenced and soil decontamination and removal to be done.

3. Widespread contamination by diuron ( a nasty residual carcinogenic herbicide) and its metabolytes detected in 90% of samples from Thanet's aquifer by a British Geological Survey carried out from Sep 2003 to Dec 2004. This report states that a TDC contractor used undiluted diuron on flower beds and verges in 2001 and that regular use of diuron ocurred at Connex in Ramsgate up to 2003 where the aquifer was vulnerable due to soil removal above it. (This affected the Lord of The Manor public supply borehole). The report also shows that 10 landfill sites sit on Source Protection Zones of Thanet's aquifer and that CFCs were detected probably as a result of fly-tipped refrigerators.

I am beginning to feel sorry for TDC's Contaminated Land Officer, Morgan Sproates. It does seem that having taken over this responsibility he now has the nightmare of rather lax activity in the past by TDC, to sort out. Our aquifer is in a parlous state and if we are not careful in Thanet, we will simply end up with an undrinkable water supply below are feet.

For those who wondered why the 'Save Thanet's Water- Stop China Gateway' campaign was so concerned about Industrial development on the huge scale envisaged by CGP at Manston, I leave you with the conclusions that the British Geolocical Survey team came to. Quite simply, they found highest concentrations of pollutants at industrial sites and lowest levels in the open farmland centre of Thanet.

THE TDC 'MOLE' IDENTIFIED

How strange it is that we have criticism of a Labour Government for pursuing a 'mole' in the Home Office whilst TDC, if reports are to be believed, seems to be pursuing its own 'mole'.

'Mauwice' and 'Woger' need look no further and can call off the Monitoring Officer and Kent's Finest. I have attached a picture of the culprit. His known associates are not Frank, Terry or Jimmy but are known locally as 'Rattie' and 'Badger'.

Reports from 'TDC Mole' are that 'Mauwice' and 'Wodger' almost 'froth at the mouth' if the name of Richard over at The Eastcliff is mentioned and generally fulminate and curse all bloggers in general in the local vernacular.

They need to relax more ( nautical pastimes are considered good therapy by most psychologists) and realise that the Internet has empowered the 'plebs' and that secretive, autocratic management of a Local Authority should be consigned to history.

THE COUNCIL TAX NIGHTMARE IS ABOUT TO COMMENCE.

I am unashamedly opposed to the waste of tax-payers money to build Mr Chipperfield's mediocre Turner Contemporary in Margate and hoped that at some stage commonsense would kick in after KCC wasted over £6,000,000 and TDC wasted £2million on M&S for the 'Turner Regeneration Dream'.

Yet tomorrow will see the start of this folly. I have heard all the arguments that it is not going to cost us to have it built (all sorts of tax-payer's money is nevertheless being spent) but what is glaringly obvious is that it will not do the job of being a successful visitor attraction.

Local TDC Councillors Hart and Johnstone have expressed concerns that KCC would rather build apartments and an hotel on the Rendezvous Car Park than have a car park for the TC and I must share their worries. Where will people park? KCC insist that this development is essential to help pay for the estimated £2.3 million annual running costs. In other words TC is not able to pay for itself!

KCC Scrutiny Chairman Dr Mike Eddy said "The key to any project of this type is its long-term viability and I think we all are concerned about how the gallery will be able to pay its way. Thanet needs a successful Turner Contemporary and we need to ensure that the finances are sound after the big launch event is over". Well if we are so concerned, should this project proceed?

My understanding of local habits is that Primark attracts more visitors to Margate than any other attraction at the moment, so we would be better off with TDC issuing free £20 vouchers to visitors to spend at Primark than continuing with this ill-fated and mad project. Each visitor to the TC is likely to cost us local Community Charge payers a similar amount in subsidy.

HAS TDC TAKEN SOME VIAGRA?

Could I apologise if the picture above causes any offence; I am afraid I could not resist including it in this item. Could it be possible that at last TDC has woken up to the fact that the 'Great Garden Grab' can be stood up to?

In the last few days we have been informed that Lillybrooks have lost appeals in Birchington and in Pegwell when TDC Planning Committtee turned down unsuitable development. Was it only such a short time ago that TDC was saying that 'it had no choice' and had to 'approve' when all along , Public Policy Statement 3 (PPS 3) was written to enable local authorities to decide requirements based on their own needs?

You can either believe 'Mauwice', in last Friday's IOTG that TDC has had a sudden conversion to fight the battle to keep spaces green or perhaps, like me, you might consider that protest power by residents combined with Councillors who are prepared to take on such issues 'head on' is what has changed. Since Simon Moores (good to see Thanet Life back again in style) tried to stop the dreadful 'Sea Towers' demolition and flat build in Westgate even with a 'banner in the air' and failed, there is at last clear signs now that TDC is prepared to draw a line in the sand and take developers on!

All we would now like to see are the same principles applied to 'The Great TDC Asset Sale'. How sad that 'Mauwice' (is the rumour true that he will be on his way with a Standards Board issue concerning 'Petitions' moving upwards or has he had enough and will not stand in 2011?) attempts to blame Central Government for the past lack of manliness at TDC in last week's IOTG.

In passing, I would also like to join in with the Ezekiel family in wishing Carol Ezekiel a Happy 60th Birthday today and join my birthday greetings to those of Mark, Nikki, Gary, Hayley, Katie, Tom, Sandy and Cheryl.

WHO IS RUNNING THANET: KCC OR OUR ELECTED COUNCILLORS?

I have put up an extract concerning Manston/Eurokent JV (Joint Venture?) issued by KCC to its Economic & Regeneration Policy Overview Committee and dated 5th November. (Click on it to see more detail)

As well as having formed a set up with TDC called East Kent Opportunities as a Limited Liability Partnership with tax-payers assets (land holdings at Manston & Eurokent) which appears to have no democratic control exercised over it by TDC's elected Council, we now have KCC forming a 'management company' for Manston Business Park. Instead of offering land to CGP for a good Phase 1 Plan we have KCC now forming another 'Company'. What is also worrying is that F o I requests to KCC concerning land sales to CGP of 5 acres for its Gateway Building and the 'ransom' strip by the 'Cummins' Roundabout at the end of Columbus Avenue were met with the response 'that no sales have been made' and yet the document above refers to Land Transfers and Stamp Duty Land Tax having been paid. Is this at Manston or at Eurokent?

KCC (under its guise with TDC as EKO LLP) unveiled its plans with TDC and Rosefarm Estates in September to build 700 homes on Eurokent. This 'Master Plan' met with a big thumbs down from many Thanet Councillors and from our two MPs and of course was contrary to Thanet's Local Plan; this site is designated for employment development which is not as lucrative. As CPRE has pointed out to TDC, KCC , GOSE and SoS, Thanet has sufficient development land for employment purposes until 2025. This would all change, however, if KCC and TDC can alter The Local Development Framework and designate Eurokent for housing. KCC and TDC could then argue that farming land already owned by CGP for 'China Gateway' Phases 2 & 3 could then be 'redesignated' for employment as TDC would then have a 'shortfall' of employment land!

So what is KCC doing? Well, its working, as is TDC Cabinet, to change the Local Development Framework so that Eurokent can be developed for housing and the 700 homes. The extract above states:

"The evidence base for the Local Plan DEPARTURE (my capitals) continues to be worked up in order to ensure a robust case, should the application be called in. Work on the master plan with Rosefarm Estates is ongoing to ensure they will support the application."

So, quite simply, whether our Councillors or MPs like it or not, KCC with TDC Cabinet seems to be pushing on with its own schemes, in conjunction with a private property company (that will make even more money for this company) without any real democratic scrutiny, control or even awareness by our own elected Councillors and cover Thanet in concrete. Time for an 'elected' Mayor to stand up for Thanet?

PROSTITUTION. KICKING THE CAT......?

Having sent members of her staff earlier this year to see how Sweden has been curtailing prostitution, our Home Secretary has started to unveil the Government's proposals. It seems that the emphasis is to fine heavily and criminalise the 'punter' and to 'name and shame' kerb crawlers' for even going once round the block. I find this slightly odd when the Home Secretary's aim is stated as a process "designed to crack down on pimps, drug dealers and people traffickers.' This smacks of kicking the cat when the dog messes on the carpet as the Police will find it an easier option to arrest 'punters' than investigate and arrest people traffickers, drug dealers or pimps.

I utterly abhor pimping, drug dealing and people trafficking but is this the answer? Prostitution encompasses a wide spectrum of motives for selling sexual favours and perhaps the German model of licenced, safe, willing, tax-paying prostitutes plying their business in licenced brothels is perhaps a more sensible solution to the problem. If we were less hypocritical about prostitution we could perhaps eradicate the criminal involvement.

How odd it is that The Home Secretary is about to make a new category of criminal and 'name and shame' kerb crawlers', when young thugs who gang-raped a teenager in London or almost killed a young man in Ramsgate are guarranteed anonymity by the full force of the law. I would prefer to know about the violent, vicious young men in my area than the rather sad clients of prostitutes.

'WOGER' SINGS A DIFFERENT TUNE?

Some of you may remember I drew your attention to Cllr Day's not so little 'gaff' being put up in July on a postage stamp sized plot in Berkeley Rd, Birchington. My main gripe was some incredible interpretation of a Planning Inspector's comments on the rejection of a previous application by a TDC Planning Officer that was utterly misleading.


I am sure that the fact that 'Woger' and Simon Day are fellow Birchington Councillors and that 'Woger' was seen being given a 'tour' whilst work was in progress had no bearing on the Full Council giving consent for the monstrosity in Berkeley Rd.

I just find it strange that 'Woger' now sings a different tune about Planning Inspector's reports. Here are Cllr Latchford's comments from a recent TDC Press Release concerning the turning down by a Planning Inspector of an appeal by Lillybrook Developments about some flats they wanted to build at 169 Minnis Rd, Birchington:

"This decision from The Planning Inspector backs our Officers' conclusion that this development would have been out of chracter with the rest of the area. That's an important consideration in deciding any planning application we receive...... "

Here is a snippet from the Planning Inspector talking about the Minnis Rd application that has a vaguely familiar ring to it:

"due to the height, design and position of the flank wall of the proposed building, it would appear incongruous in the street scene and be overbearing .........".

One rule for US and one rule for others, comes to mind here! As so many locals are now saying,
'It could only happen in Fannit'.