Key Updates - Extraordinary Council Meeting

• The Council supports the findings of the independent aviation assessor’s draft report for the Secretary of State, for the re-determination of the application by RiverOak Strategic Partners Limited for an Order Granting Development Consent for the upgrade and re-opening of Manston Airport. A further independent assessment of this report on behalf of Ramsgate Town Council will not be obtained. It is hoped that a final decision will be made by the Secretary of State will be forthcoming soon.


• The Council is mindful of the number of local events that are being scaled back because of concerns about the increasing ‘R’ rating (the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) and rising hospital admissions, and councillors are keen not to organise anything that puts residents at risk of infection. The decision was made to cancel the classic ‘Christmas Lights Switch On’ event which leads to a large gathering of people at the countdown for the lights to be switch on. However, there will still be some spread out festivities on the 28th November and residents will be encourage to attend throughout the day, not at a specific time. Details will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.


• The New Year’s Eve Fireworks can no longer take place on the Main Sands due to the proximity to the Royal Sands development. A location within the Port has been identified as potentially suitable instead, and it was resolved that subject to the necessary safety concerns being addressed this site will be used. The other option would be to have the fireworks fired from a boat but this is prohibitively expensive. It was felt that because the fireworks don’t have a ‘central viewing point’ that the risk of crowding and the spread of COVID-19 would be less of a risk than the Christmas Light Switch On event.


• A grant of £1,000 to POW! Thanet was approved, to help fund a “Reclaim & Reconnect – Ramsgate Day” on the 5th March 2022.


• A grant of £2,000 to Ramsgate Festival of Sound CIC was approved, to support a “Ramsgate Through the Senses” event that will take place over three days in March 2022.


• There are 14 Clifftop Shelters that are currently leased by Thanet District Council (TDC) to the Ramsgate Society, who have maintained these shelters for over a decade. Ramsgate Town Council is going to ascertain if TDC would be receptive to transferring these assets to the Town Council once the current lease expires in 2023. It is still proposed that the Ramsgate Society will take responsibility for their upkeep. NB. It is by no means finalised that the town council will take on ownership of these shelters, but the idea is being explored.

This is not a summary of everything covered at this meeting, please see the official Minutes for the legal record of the meeting. The above is intended to provide a snapshot of matters that may be of particular interest to residents.

Written by:
Miss Laura Fidler,
Town Clerk & RFO