CENTRAL HARBOUR WARD COMMUNITY FIRST PANEL – WARD PLAN
Twenty nine people representing twenty three organisations from Central Harbour ward met in February 2012 to identify a set of priorities for the ward which would form the basis of a ward plan. The meeting agreed that the Community First money was not transformative but should be viewed as seed money. We could not hope to address the social problems of the ward but could make a modest improvement to our environment.
About the Ward
The boundary bisects the High Street and runs to beyond the station and down the middle of Grange Road. According to the 2011 census, there are 8240 people living in Central Harbour of which 38% are under the age of 30 and 21% are over the age of 60. 87% are white British, Irish, Scots or Welsh. Apart from English, the three most common native languages spoken are Polish, French and Lithuanian, in that order. 23% are claiming benefits of some kind. The majority of claims are pension credits and disability living allowance.
Recent earnings statistics at ward level are not available. But median wages in Thanet are £162 per week lower than they are in Canterbury and £122 per week lower than they are in Dover.
Ward Priorities
The priorities identified for Central Harbour are:
(i) To improve the visual amenity of the area
(ii) To improve the sense of pride in the area
(iii) To increase community involvement
(iv) To enhance and/or build upon existing community initiatives
Improving the Visual Amenity
Central Harbour has many fine old buildings and a beautiful harbour but it also has some terrible eyesores. There are many empty shops, derelict buildings and weed infested building sites. The Leopold Street car park and its connecting underpass is a particular problem in the town centre. It is ugly, smelly and threatening. As these two sites are owned by Thanet District Council, they are both ineligible for Community First funding.
We would like to improve the visual amenity of the area by building on the positive as well as improving the negatives. We can do this through commissioning works of art both permanent and ephemeral. However, the artists present made it clear that the funds provided by Community First are insufficient to do this, even as match funding.
Litter has proved an intractable problem in Ramsgate. In summer, when the visitors arrive the harbour is full of algae and litter and not enough is done to clean it up. The introduction of seagull proof bags has helped in some areas but we need to build awareness of the problem. The Ramsgate Society is conducting a ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign which targets the litter problem. The first event will be in May and we would like to extend the life of this campaign to help ensure its success.
However, there are other initiatives which could improve the visual amenity which are allowable under the Community First Fund. Additional lighting which is in keeping with the look of the conservation area would improve the appearance of the area and also help reduce vandalism and fly tipping in the ward. Improving the green spaces of the community will help the young, especially mothers with children. Ramsgate Society has done up the shelters on the front and these now look superb.
Improving the Sense of Pride in the Area
The area has a long and glorious history but its future is less certain. There is a strong sense, especially among the young, that its best days are behind it and that young people do not see a future for themselves in the area and many are disaffected. Wages are very low and job prospects poor. Improving the visual amenity should help improve the sense of pride in the area but we need to show that the town is not just backward looking. It has a future; it has hope.
It does not help that you step off the train at Ramsgate and the station underpass is filthy and pigeon dung encrusted. The station is within the ward. Cleaning up that underpass would improve the first impression of the town no end, but, it is a matter for Southeastern Rail. Perhaps the community could apply pressure to see that it is cleaned every spring.
Ramsgate Arts holds a successful summer festival which enhances pride in the area. Bygone Days has a very successful outreach programme which includes going into schools and doing costumed walks. Chris Tipping is a Central Harbour based artist with a national reputation who specialises in exploring a sense of place in the public realm and his daughter enjoyed the Bygone Days events at her primary school. During the meeting, he and Bygone Days started developing ideas for working together. By bringing modern technology into a celebration of the history, it links the successes of the past into the present. However, the limited nature of the Community First funding is not sufficient to do anything of significant scale.
The meeting liked the idea for having a commentary on the Loop Bus like the one on the DLR but it would not be ward specific and would, therefore, not be suitable for Community First monies. We also like the idea of an app which tells you about the areas many attractions. Once again this would not be ward specific.
Notice boards informing visitors about the history of the town are a popular idea. Some of these have rotted away and need to be replaced. Ideas to celebrate the town’s heritage are not in short supply but ideas to give a sense of pride in the town’s present are another matter.
Increase Community Involvement
Central Harbour boasts a large number of community groups, many of which were represented at the meeting. We would like to improve communication between these groups as well as involving more Central Harbour residents and businesses. The Community First Panel is already improving the sharing of information and skills between the groups but experience has shown that well-run public events are key to attracting wider involvement.
It was noted that the youngest person present at the meeting was in her 20s and that there was a lack of participation by young people. Ramsgate Arts found that there was a high portion of youth engagement for their event, Love, Hate, Hope: Ramsgate. Translating it into more youth engagement is proving tricky.
Project MotorHouse is working to turn the derelict old motor museum into a state of the art multi-purpose venue using green technology and a place where young people can learn how to be Thanet’s employers of the future. But that is some way in the future. In the meantime, PMH are developing a cross generational permaculture project in the gardens.
ArtAha held an Easter Feast of Fish on the harbour cross wall in 2012. It appealed to all ages and there was significant youth attendance. Liverpool Lawn does the Big Lunch every year. The Ramsgate Carnival involves local groups across the age range. Funding Crafty B**ches makes costumes. Funding for groups which have synergy and could work together is an ideal way forward.
A major concern is the lack of facilities for young people. Ideally, steps to address this would be taken in consultation with local youths. This requires recruiting youths, building trust in order to get them to identify what they would like to see. Many of the local youth have severe behavioural problems. The community groups could do with improving their skills at engaging with these young people. That will require some training from expert.
Enhance and/or Build on Existing Community Initiatives
Ellington Park which is our only green park is lovely and is used by a number of community groups. But the park has no toilet facilities and its Edwardian bandstand is dilapidated. The Friends of Ellington Park have surveyed local youths in the area and they would love to have an outdoor gym in the park.
Peter Cull inspired the meeting with the story of the transformation of Spencer Square. Six years ago, it was a no-go area, blighted by drug use. The residents took matters into their own hands and started regular gardening days. The square is now used by the residents and won the 2011 Royal Horticultural Society’s South East in Bloom Award.
There are many groups which are active in the ward and do a superb job. Their projects deserve ongoing support. One idea would be to hold a hold an event in Charlotte Court where local people, especially local youth, can find out about what the various clubs and organisations have been doing and what they plan to do.
Mike Taylor, Bygone Day, Sea Cadets
Ralph Hoult, Sea Cadets
Sally Rosebourne, Friends of Charlotte and Albert Courts
Patt Scutt, Friends of Ellington Park
Tegwen Barsley, Friends of Ellington Park
John Walker, Ramsgate Society, Kent Federation of Amenity Societies, Civic Voice
Jocelyn McCarthy, Vale Square Residents Assoc, Ramsgate Society
Dominic Grant, Ramsgate Society
Stephen Melton, Meltdowns Arts Studio
Chris Tipping, Artist
Theresa Smith, Mooch
Martin Holdcroft, ArtAha
Peter Campbell, Thanet District and Ramsgate Town Council [Panel Partner]
Peter Cull, Spencer Square Residents Assoc [Panel Partner]
Davena Green, Nelson Crescent/Prospect Terrace, Sion Hill Residents Assoc [Panel Partner]
Jean Mancini, Liverpool Lawn and Adelaide Gardens Residents Assoc
Sue Shove, Liverpool Lawn and Adelaide Gardens Residents Assoc
Sonja Bigg, Project MotorHouse, British Pain Society
David Mancini, Liverpool Lawn and Adelaide Gardens Residents Assoc
Russell White, Liverpool Lawn and Adelaide Gardens Residents Assoc, Harbour Impact Group, Project MotorHouse [Panel Partner]
Angela Cousins, Bygone Days, Liverpool Lawn and Adelaide Gardens Residents Assoc
Terry Askew, ArtAha
Jessica Farnham, Arts curator
Jo Mapp, Ramsgate Carnival and Crafty B**ches
Kim Edgington, Guildford Lawn Residents Assoc
David Green, Mayor of Ramsgate, Thanet District Councillor
Janet Fielding, Project MotorHouse [Panel Partner]
Central Harbour 