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Thanet Star


Sewerage in sea but we get blue flags anyway?

May 14, 2022 in thanet by Matthew Brown

How did we get so many blue flags when Southern Water keep discharging into the sea?

This year, Thanet received seven (7) blue flags and there (3) seaside awards for our beaches. That seems odd given how many times raw sewage is dumped into the sea each year.

Which beaches have blue flags?

  • Botany Bay
  • Joss Bay
  • Minnis Bay
  • West Bay
  • St Mildred’s Bay
  • Margate Main Sands
  • Stone Bay

Pollution Problem

Notably missing from the list of blue flag beaches is Ramsgate Main Sands. This might have something to do with what Southern Water does when it rains “too much”.

In June and October last year, several Ramsgate beaches were closed due to pollution incidents for a total of 17 days. With the town’s status as a popular tourist location and an area of natural conservation, such incidents caused great concerns from locals and residents.

Save Our Seas Ramsgate: Thanet activists fighting to protect beaches from Southern Water pollution, Sam Honey, kentlive.news

The problem is so bad that locals have formed a new organisation to fight back against pollution in our seas. Save Our Seas Ramsgate (SOS Ramsgate) has had a meeting with Southern water and is hopeful that change is coming.

Why is Ramsgate so dangerous?

May 13, 2022 in crime by Matthew Brown

Ramsgate is a hotspot for crime but especially Violence and sexual offences. It is one of the most dangerous towns in Kent rating well above the Kent average.

Ramsgate crime statistics.

No crimes prosecuted

The Crime Rate page for Ramsgate has some alarming details.

For example, 0% of recent crimes were prosecuted.

At the time of writing all the crimes listed had one of three outcomes:

  • Investigation complete; no suspect identified (police have no idea)
  • Unable to prosecute suspect (police have an idea but no evidence somehow)
  • Further investigation is not in the public interest (sounds like an excuse to me)

How exactly can a crime’s investigation be not in the public interest? I can’t answer that. But I know who can. I’ve filed a freedom of information request to see what more can be learned.

Ramsgate Habour area is the most deadly

On the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Crime Breakdown on the Crime Rate website, Ramsgate Harbour was the most dangerous for all crime types.

Things seem to be getting worse.

Violence and sexual offences in Ramsgate over time

Emergency meeting called by Ramsgate council

Ramsgate Town Council is seeking a meeting to discuss Ramsgate’s crime rates. They, like many, have questions as to what exactly the police are doing and if more could be done.

Ramsgate Town Council is asking for an urgent meeting with police and district council chiefs to discuss the level of crime in the town.

Town Council calling for urgent meeting over ‘prevalent crime’ in Ramsgate, theisleofthanetnews.com

Chair of Ramsgate Town Council, Cllr Steve Albon, reportedly said that “Local residents inform me that they don’t feel safe.” I can’t blame them. The crime figures are rightly terrifying.

A new scheme to reduce drink-related crime

A scheme first piloted in Manchester, called Best Bar None has been launched in Thanet. Best Bar None – a scheme to reduce alcohol-related crime – is expected to mostly focus on Ramsgate.

Backed by the Thanet Community Safety Unit and Thanet District Council, the scheme launched with a meeting that included over 30 licensees.

Under the Best Bar None scheme, publicans will work with police, TDC, and other businesses to hopefully reduce crime. It is too early to say if this will work but Ramsgate residents must surely be hoping that it does.

Controversy: Roger Gale MP calls for all Russians to be “sent home”

March 9, 2022 in politics by Matthew Brown

Roger Gale, MP for Thanet North has called for all Russians – good and bad alike – to be sent home. The good and honourable Russians are just collateral damage, he said.

Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet in Kent, argued that visas should be rescinded for “everybody” with Russian nationality on account of the invasion of Ukraine.

Independent, Tory MP says every Russian living in Britain should be ‘sent home’

The veteran MP even suggested one of his own constituents – who he described as “reputable” – should be expelled in order to send a message to Putin.

huffingtonpost.co.uk, Tory MP Slapped Down After He Calls For All Russians In Britain To Be ‘Sent Home’

When pressed on whether this would apply to all Russians in the UK, he said: “We can’t pick and choose, because what we’ve got to do I’m afraid is send a very harsh message through the Russian people to Putin.”

kentonline.co.uk, Kent MP Sir Roger Gale defends calls for Russians to be evicted from UK

Is Gale right to treat people as collateral damage to send a stronger message? Many people seem to disagree with him. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Turner Contemporary supports Ukraine

February 28, 2022 in arts by Matthew Brown

The Turner Contemporary centre is illuminated in the colours of the Ukraine flag in a show of support for the country after Russia’s declaration of war on the 24th.

Flood Alert: Margate

February 21, 2022 in weather-warnings by Matthew Brown

A flood alert has been issued for two hours on either side of the high tide today.

Flooding is expected to affect lower-lying coastal locations between Whitstable and Margate. At particular risk are areas around the Seasalter seafront.

This Flood Alert has been issued due to the high tide expected to affect coastal and tidal locations this afternoon, Monday 21 February. Flooding is possible two hours either side of high tide, between 2pm and 6pm today, with strong winds and unsettled weather causing higher water levels than normal.

Flood alert for Coast from Whitstable to Margate

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