Commonplace and the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Plan

A group of residents have been working on a Neighbourhood Plan for Ramsgate on behalf of Ramsgate Town Council. The Plan will form part of the planning policy arrangement for the area alongside Thanet District Council’s Local Plan. Thanet District Council supports our Plan as part of a statutory process. There are similar arrangements in the other Thanet towns and across the country. Our Plan will put forward four sets of objectives on different aspects of our environment (economic, social, built and natural), for consultation.

Earlier in the year the group commissioned a town-wide Commonplace survey. A leaflet went to all households to advertise the online survey and the availability of paper forms as well.

The results can be found on Ramsgate Town Council’s website and at https://ramsgatetown.commonplace.is

There was a good response. Residents appreciated the value of the historic town and our fine old buildings but despaired of the amount of litter, general neglect, and number of empty buildings. Overall, they felt a need for more community feeling, better design and construction, more local character and more greenery. An additional concern was the possible re-opening of Manston as an airport: this falls outside the scope of the Neighbourhood Plan.

All these comments will be used to inform the development of draft proposals, which will go out for consultation later this year or early next year. Look out for notices about activities that help take the town forward.

Written by:
Del Goddard
On behalf of Ramsgate Neighbourhood Plan Group