Pier Trust AGM

Rebuild pier or I'll 'jump ship': Trust founder vows to quit unless structure is restored.

A founding member of the trust set up to preserve Herne Bay's pier has vowed to quit if there is no progress towards rebuilding it within a year. Arcade boss Michael Khoury spoke out at the first annual meeting of the Herne Bay Pier Trust, and said he was determined to make their dreams of restoring the structure a reality. He also revealed the group hoped to buy the pier from owners Canterbury City Council for the nominal sum of £1. Mr Khoury said:

"If this end is going to be all we have of the pier I would jump ship yesterday. I want that pier to be done somehow I would like the council to build it for us but unfortunately that's not going to happen. But I will stand down next year if the rebuild is not going to happen."

The decision to try to buy the pier was made a few months ago and the group is now preparing a business plan to help their case and attract more funding. Mr Khoury said:

"As a businessman, I know what is good and what doesn't make money. I want that pier to be done somehow. We have to have a central attraction. We know we can make it work but we must have all the power to do it ourselves."

Mr Khoury also revealed the lack of progress so far had forced trust chairman Graham Cooper and fellow founding member Andy Newell to consider standing down from the group, set up by Canterbury City Council. But Mr Cooper, who took over as chairman from solicitor Stephen Parry just before last week's meeting, said the mood within the trust was now positive. He said:

"Our ambition is to get a full built pier and a first class attraction for the town. If we can get the right level of inward investment we can get the best for our beautiful town. I am feeling convinced we are going to do it. None of us would sit here if we didn't think we had a chance. But it is the membership we need. More people to support us. We have an open mind about the physical structure of the pier. We all agree we want a rebuilt pier structure. We are not going to do that overnight but that is what we are aiming for We want inward investment and public finding and then the ideas will come."

More members needed for project

Fewer than 120 people have signed up to support the rebuild of Herne Bay pier. Now leaders of the group set up to oversee its regeneration are appealing to others to join them to guarantee its future as a tourist attraction. Members of the Herne Bay Pier Trust hope to take management of the pier from the council and see 2012 as the key date to start its regeneration, once the sports centre has moved, leaving it free for future development. But at the first annual meeting of the Herne Bay Pier Trust, trustees said it was vital more people became members to attract crucial funding. Chairman Graham Cooper said:

"The trustees are all totally committed to regenerating the pier but equally it must be recognised that all of us cannot do it alone. If the citizens of Herne Bay are to have a new pier, they must be prepared to fight hard for it and pull together with the trust. We will certainly need to have a membership in the thousands if we are to have credibility and claim a legitimate mandate from the people of the town that a regenerated pier is what they want."

The trust hopes to raise enough money to pay for a complete rebuild to connect the pier to pier head and will ask for ideas from the town before committing to any designs. Volunteers are also needed to help share the workload.

HB Times 20th May 2010

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Membership of Herne Bay Pier Trust costs just £10-a-year. For more information or a membership application form visit www.hernebaypiertrust.co.uk or write to: Andy Newell, Membership Secretary 30 Gordon Road, Herne Bay CT6 5QT

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Democracy is worth encouraging

Put off joining

Your last edition presents something of a conundrum for local people. On the inside pages you have an item about the Herne Bay Pier Trust and its forthcoming members' meeting, effectively encouraging people to join up. On your front page you carry a report of how some of those who do face public criticism, scorn and attack from the ever-strident Tory councillor Jean Law ("Storm brewing for Pier Trust", HB Times May 6th). Hardly an incentive.

Some would say this is simply good, plain speaking on Ms Law's part. Others would say it is the usual local Tory trait of trying to stamp on any criticism and silence it, and of slapping the faces of those who attempt to call Tory politicians to account.

Brian Glew
High View Avenue, Herne Bay

HB Times letters 13th May 2010

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Involvement mustn't be dismissed as whingeing, and dialogue requires a reply to questions.

To declare an interest: I am a founder member of the Pier Trust. To declare another interest: I have a degree of empathy with Kim Hennelly (the "whinger"), having been bad-mouthed on the front page of the local press by local councillors within days of submitting the village green application.

I'm not happy with the Council's high-handed and combative response to criticism, which is I think the result of complacency, arrogance and a forgetfulness of purpose. I'm not impressed with the public's lack of involvement in local democracy, which has its roots in disenchantment with a Canterbury-centric Council, a lack of awareness of how to engage, and laziness (amongst many other things, like getting on with life).

None of the councillors was voted in by more than 50% of the electorate in their wards. The Council was chosen by a minority of the public, and it follows that the majority who didn't choose them may disagree with, and even criticise, the Council. For the good of their blood pressure and mental health, every councillor should be able to deal with criticism - I expect there are courses available.

"Just answer the question!" was a phrase that popped into my head with monotonous regularity throughout the run-up to the recent general election. And earlier, in my dealings with the Council over the last year and more. So, a very simple rule of thumb for all councillors and Council officers to bear in mind (or have stencilled on every visible surface) is:

"A straight question deserves a straight answer."

Following this simple rule will mean that the public will not feel we are being pushed away, fobbed off or disregarded. We will be more inclined to join in the dialogue between elected and electorate, leading to a robust, hands-on local democracy. Which is what everyone wants. Isn't it?

Tainted Mayor

One well-informed local fears the Mayorship may become sullied and diminished by politicisation. It's hard not to agree. I'm not thrilled at voting becoming a redundant sham, come to that...

The Precious Leader does seem to be rubbing people up the wrong way in his recent press statements. Fair comment from Mrs Berridge in her letter, though - the Lord Mayor is a figurehead, a ceremonial position, and emphatically civic and apolitical. The CCC website says:

The Lord Mayor is elected by the City Councillors at the Annual Council Meeting in May and becomes chairman of the Council, the most senior member of the civic office and the principal representative of the City and District on important occasions.

The word 'elected' does rather suggest to me the free exercise of choice by the eligible constituency, which doesn't seem to have been the case this time round. Jonji-il Bi has shown his willingness to fight tooth and nail at the drop of a hat, as evidenced by his 'absolutely disgraceful' outburst. I do hope he will fight to defend the Lord Mayorship from the taint of politics, otherwise who knows where we might end up - politically partial Council Officers? Heaven forbid!

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Don’t taint Lord Mayor with partisan politics

In the May 6th edition of your newspaper you report Cllr John Gilbey as saying that non-Conservative councillors had not supported the role of Lord Mayor and had failed to attend civic functions like the Lord Mayor’s Ball (Anger Over ‘Lack Of Consultation’ For Lord Mayor Choice, Gazette, May 6).

I take exception to that accusation. As the wife of a Lib Dem city councillor, I have worked this past civic year as a member of the Lady Mayoress’s charity fundraising team and have attended a number of civic occasions with or without my husband. Since my husband is councillor for the same ward as the current Lord Mayor, Cllr Harry Cragg, we made a special effort his year to attend the Lord Mayor’s Ball and brought a table of 12 people to the event.

We believed we were attending a civic, not a political, function that evening. It has often been stressed that the role of Lord Mayor is a neutral, non-political one. It seems that Cllr Gilbey wishes to taint a high civic office with the air of partisan politics, which can only be detrimental to the post.

Janet Berridge, Birch Road, Canterbury

HB Gazette letters 13th May 2010

More turbines

The Crown Estate gives the go-ahead for Kentish Flats and Thanet Offshore windfarms to expand by 50%

The agency that controls the UK sea bed, the Crown Estate, today announced that it has agreed to extend the first and second wave of offshore wind farms to provide more than 2GW of additional capacity, enough to power 1.4 million extra homes. The organisation said it has authorised the extension of five existing offshore wind farms that combined could provide an additional 1.7GW of capacity, and had also approved the expansion of two other planned projects in order to provide an extra 340MW of capacity. The Crown Estate said that formal agreements with the three developers who run the existing wind farms are expected in the coming weeks. Rob Hastings, The Crown Estate's director of the marine estate, said in a statement that the expanded projects highlighted the growing confidence among offshore wind developers:

"This 2GW has been driven by developers' appetite and will increase the total potential 2020 installed capacity to 48 GW. It is another positive step in the maturing of the offshore wind industry and will significantly support the growth of the supply chain as it adds further to the pipeline of construction projects."

His comments were echoed by Maria McCaffery, chief executive of trade association RenewableUK, who hailed the announcement as:

"Definitive and positive evidence of the environmental and commercial viability of existing offshore projects. The site extensions come as a direct consequence of the UK’s world beating offshore wind farms showing that, after a successful start, they have further potential for growth. It is clear that developers are confident projects will continue to deliver and we welcome The Crown Estate's timely action in ensuring that this happens."

The U.K. in 2008 overtook Denmark to become the leading nation in installed offshore wind power, and last month reached 1 gigawatt of generating capacity. The three main political parties vying for power following last week’s general election have all said they plan to promote the industry as the U.K. strives to attain 15 percent of energy from renewables by 2015.

Kentish Flats is a 90MW (megawatt) wind farm off Whitstable and has been generating power since 2005. Along the coast, Vattenfall will complete construction of Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, which at 300MW, will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world - at least until the planned London Array project is completed. Vattenfall’s Kentish Flats and Thanet sites will be expanded as the Swedish company has won permits for an extra 198MW of capacity.

Ole Bigum Nielsen, head of Offshore Projects at Vattenfall Wind Power in the UK said:

"Vattenfall is pleased to have reached this important stage in the negotiations to extend Kentish Flats and Thanet offshore wind farms. The two existing projects that we own off the Kent coast are making a substantial contribution to the Kent economy and are going some way to helping deliver British climate change targets. Vattenfall's vision is to make electricity clean by 2050."

Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

"This is another significant step forward along the path to a greener, safer future. The UK's renewable energy potential is huge - maximising it would slash emissions, increase energy security and generate tens of thousands of jobs. All the major political parties agree on the need to build a low-carbon economy - urgent measures to boost green energy must be a top priority for whoever forms the next government."

Liberating labyrinth

This is rather lovely: in the midst of fear and pain, people finding comfort and consolation in a simple but convoluted path.

I'm no fan of religion (but a great fan of the few hospices I have spent time in) and although this labyrinth was instigated by a reverend and inspired by a cathedral, it seems that this pattern of bricks has a power, and fills a need, that transcends our modern and formal interpretations of the divine.

You can donate to the Pilgrim's Hospice here.

Reverend Lizzie Hopthrow

One day, in the late 1990s, I saw a labyrinth on the floor of a transept in Canterbury Cathedral and was bowled over by its spiritual resonance. I started reading about labyrinths and I ended up going to see the one in Chartres Cathedral. I’m the chaplain at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury, and the power of that sacred space made me think that maybe this was something we could do to help hospice patients.

We began by having patients make small labyrinths out of clay. I watched a man walk up to one, reach out his hand, and say, “Wow”. I thought, what’s going on there? It’s just a bit of pottery and a shape. But somehow it calmed patients down, and eventually they said, “We want a labyrinth we can walk.”

First we made a fabric labyrinth out of silk. I was amazed by the emotions that hit people when they walked it. One man wept for 30 minutes. He said that his wife had been ill for 18 months and this was the first time he’d been able to express any feelings about it. Some patients would watch others walking and burst into tears. It was shocking.

After seeing how the fabric labyrinth helped patients, I wanted to build a permanent one. We got funding from the Department of Health to build a therapeutic labyrinth garden, which opened in July 2008. It’s the first hospice labyrinth in the UK. And people can wander in and walk it; it’s there for the community. The labyrinth is an ancient pattern - a spiral with one path that leads to the centre and then out again. Most people think of the Minotaur story when they hear about the labyrinth, but that isn’t particularly helpful. The difference between a maze and labyrinth is very important - in a labyrinth you can’t get lost.

There is evidence of labyrinths in many faiths and cultures. They appear in Islam and ancient Christianity; it’s like a spiritual imprint in the human fabric that pops up all over the world. I can’t say where it originated - I don’t know if there’s anybody who can. That’s the mystery of it. But I have done a lot of research to figure out how the labyrinth works. What happens as we go into a spiral walk of this kind is that we slip from the left side of our brain, which is always analysing and worrying, into the right-hand side - the intuitive, imaginative, creative part of ourselves. You can take something that you need to let go of into the labyrinth, and at the centre you can experience peace. For many, it’s a meditation. It makes them calmer.

Sometimes people go into the labyrinth with a question and they’ll come out with an answer. Other times they might have had an outpouring of grief, but it’s like lancing a boil. Once you let the poison out, you feel better. You can’t prove it scientifically - the evidence I have is from my own observations. On one occasion, there was a gentleman on the ward who was dying. He wanted to walk the labyrinth, but he was too ill. So I walked for him. His family was with him, and they all wept together. For me, that’s evidence. I can’t explain it, but I see it happen so often that I’m convinced that it’s real.

Working in a hospice, I think we have more emotional experiences than in other contexts. But there is always loss and grief in life. If you lose your handbag, think of how much of yourself is in it - that’s a loss. The labyrinth, in any situation, is a powerful tool for healing those emotions inside us that are hurting us.

Now I give workshops on the labyrinth at conferences and schools. To begin, I usually ask participants if they’ve walked a maze. Many have. They say the experience was stressful - they couldn’t find their way out. Then I show them a picture of a labyrinth. There’s only one path, and you won’t get lost. I think of it as a metaphor for people’s lives. The maze imprisons you, because you can’t get out. The labyrinth liberates you.

FT Magazine 8th May 2010 Sonia Van Gilder Cooke

General Election results

Here's how you voted. See how it compares with my forecast...

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Le Petit Poisson in the press

The local press are also impressed with Le Petit Poisson. It's hard not to be.

Year of refurbishment brings 'amazing results'

A seafood restaurant has undergone a stunning transformation on the site of an old public toilets and pier ticket office. Le Petit Poisson - at the top of the pier in Central Parade - reopened last week after the £200,000 makeover. The work, which has seen the restaurant refurbished and extended on to another floor, took more than a year, but head chef Alex Windebank says it has all been worth it. The 24 year-old, who learned his trade at the Michelin-starred Sportsman in Seasalter, said:

“There was so much work to do when we started out, but the results are amazing. The restaurant has virtually doubled in size and looks so much fresher. The feedback we’ve had so far has been great and We’re really looking forward to the summer. It’s really exciting.”

Alex says the restaurant offers a “menu with a twist” and all produce is sourced locally from Broadstairs and Hythe:

“It’s so important to make the most of what you have on your doorstep. It also means the food we serve is as fresh as it can be.”

The restaurant will also have a side-hatch selling seafood during the summer and hopes to have a rooftop seating area next year:

“We’ve got big plans but obviously things cost money. We’ve done so much so far and can’t wait to show it off.”

Opening times: Tuesday to Friday noon to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 9pm; Saturday noon to 3pm and 6.30pm to 9.30pm, Sunday noon to 3.30pm. For more information about Le Petit Poisson call 01227 361199.

?HB Gazette 6th May 2010

Freedom from choice

Nice to be Mayor, to be Mayor, nice!The next Lord Mayor is a shoo-in. Of course. And not everybody's happy about it. Of course.

So, the Canterbury City Conservatives have "arranged" a smooth transition from one Lord Mayor to the next. Please don't be surprised or disappointed by the absence of consultation - it seems to be their style. They may have a grudging admiration for the Soviet era ballots with 99% turnout and 100% agreement. I expect the North Korean style of compulsory consistent consensus is an inspiration to our own Precious Leader, Jonji-il Bi. But when it comes down to it, is anyone bothered which councillors fill the roles of Lord Mayor and Sheriff? Wouldn't it be smarter to choose the most photogenic and media-savvy people from the district, regardless of whether they're councillors?

Anger over lack of consultation for Lord Mayor choice

Tory councillor Pat Todd has been nominated to take on the role of Lord Mayor for a second time. An email sent to all council members this week by leader Cllr John Gilbey stated that Cllr Todd is in line for the prestigious civic job, a post he previously held in 2006/7. Another Tory councillor, Northgate representative Sally Pickersgill, has also been nominated as the new Sheriff of Canterbury.

The pair are expected to be voted in by the Conservative-controlled council at its annual meeting at the Guildhall on May 12, replacing Cllrs Harry Cragg and Gabrielle Davis. But Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Alex Perkins is angry that opposition councillors have again been ‘frozen out’ of the selection process. He said:

"I’ve got nothing against Pat. He’s a good bloke who did a fine job last time he was Lord Mayor. But yet again we’ve not been consulted and instead had this presidential style announcement via email by the council leader. It’s very wrong because there are other councillors who would have liked to have been offered the opportunity."

Labour group leader Cllr Julia Seath said:

"There are only two Labour members on the council and as it happens neither of us are interested. Cllr Todd is a very likeable and capable councillor but he has done it before and it would have been nice to see perhaps a long-serving Liberal Democrat member have the chance. But I’m not surprised. How the Conservatives have handled it has become a bit par for the course with them."

Cllr Gilbey said the group had started the selection process some months ago because they did not want it to clash with the general election. He said that neither opposition groups had contacted him about any of their potential candidates and he accused them of not supporting the role of Lord Mayor by failing to attend civic functions like the Lord Mayor’s ball. He said:

"They very rarely turn up and it’s really poor because it’s about recognising the importance of the office of Lord Mayor as much as the individual. Pat was the only one in the group who was really keen and there is no precedent which says he can’t serve a second term. We know he is very capable and a safe pair of hands and that’s what the position needs because it carries significant responsibilities. We had three candidates for Sheriff from the group but the vote went to Cllr Pickersgill who I am sure will do a good job."

HB Gazette 6th May 2010

How to help the Pier

Joining Herne Bay Pier Trust is a chance to make a difference to the town and play a part in building the history of the future. The trust is urging people to become involved in preserving the pier and add their views to plans for the area surrounding it.

An exclusive meeting for members takes place on Tuesday, 11th May 2010, and anyone signing up before then will be able to attend. People can join the trust as a full member, which costs £10 per year, or as a friend, which is free, and allows the trust to keep them informed of events and progress in the regeneration bid. The organisation aims to secure the pier as a heritage building and a place that the whole community can use and enjoy.

Joining as a friend will help the trust to show that it has strong community support if it applies for grants in the future. The trust is also encouraging people to make a donation to help their work by going to its website’s online shop. For information about the work of the trust, and to join as a member or a friend, go to www.hernebaypiertrust.co.uk

HB Times 6th May 2010

Classic Cars: punny headlines, good news

Big crowd drawn to May fiesta

Parking was at a premium around Herne Bay on Saturday but for once no one was complaining. The town was swamped with vehicles as motorists flocked to take part in a classic car rally and show off their gleaming machines. Organisers also staged plenty of entertainment to keep visitors amused, including May Day morris dancing and live music. Coastal towns manager Chris West said:

"There was such a wide selection and I was delighted with the turnout. Classic car owners are notorious for not wanting to turn up if there is a spot of rain, but we had a full house. The feedback from people has been excellent, and the entertainment was a success because there really was something for everyone to enjoy"

 The cars and motorbikes were parked all around the town centre, and visitors also flocked to the cafes and restaurants, giving them a bank holiday boost. Chris added:

"The idea of an event like this is to give people a good experience of Herne Bay so they will come back on other occasions."

HB Times 6th May 2010

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Mustangs and Cadillacs make day a Triumph!

They may have been armed with extra shammy leathers, but vehicle owners were not deterred by the threat of rain to miss the increasingly popular Herne Bay Classic Car Show on Saturday. The event was described by coastal towns manager Chris West as the most successful in its five year history, with 212 cars and motorcycles from all over the South East converging on the town centre. He said:

"I really thought the dodgy weather forecast would put a lot of them off because I know they don't like their cars getting wet. So I was surprised and delighted that so many owners turned up and put on a really great show for the people and visitors to Herne Bay"

Several town centre roads including William Street were closed for the show, which included a variety of musical entertainment, from morris dancing to a Sixties pop group and a jazz band. Among the cars were 12 Panthers, a 1918 Model T Ford, a collection of American cars, including Mustangs and Cadillacs and the ever popular Morris Minors, MGs and Triumphs. They were also 40 classic motorbikes, including BSAs and Nortons. Mr West said:

"We had owners from as far away as Surrey, Sussex and Essex so clearly the show is becoming a favourite on the classic car calendar. I think they like the fact that Herne Bay is a nice place to visit and their cars are on hard standing, instead of the muddy fields they sometimes have to park in. I think it's a great way of promoting the town and showing people what we have to offer."

Mr West said that hoteliers and guest house owners were already reporting forward bookings for the summer season which was encouraging. He said:

"I think a lot of people are choosing to holiday in the UK because it is so expensive in the Euro zone."

The next show in the town will be a custom car and motor show on August 21.

HB Gazette 6th May 2010

Storm brewing

Storm brewing for Pier Trust

A war of words has broken out between pier campaigner Kim Hennelly and county and city councillor Jean Law just days before Tuesday's Pier Trust annual meeting. In a series of e-mails between the two women, Cllr Law accused property investor Mrs Hennelly 49, who lives abroad most of the year, of "whingeing". But Mrs Hennelly replied: "I am not whingeing. How bizarre you think that." The row began in March when Mrs Hennelly demanded to know why the city council commissioned a new £10,000 report on the future of the pier despite a similar one being paid for by the county council in 2004:

"How can the council warrant a further report when the options for the pier have long been established? This appears to be nothing but stalling tactics. Weston-super-Mare pier burned down in 2008 but, thanks to the determination of local people and the support of their council, it has been rebuilt and is due to reopen in May. If Weston-super- Mare can do it, why can't we?"

Cllr Law wrote back:

"The earlier report was paid for by Kent County Council and arranged by my late husband John Law. I have spoken to the Pier Trust and it has wonderful ideas for the pier once the pavilion is removed."

But that did nothing to appease Mrs Hennelly:

"That's the point: The Pier Trust is allegedly dictated to by the council. Is the council stipulating that proposals are considered after the demolition of the pavilion? If the council had taken that stance with the Marlowe Theatre we would be looking at a pile of rubble for another five years."

Cllr Law replied:

"Please do not keep on Kim. The Pier Trust is there to do a job on behalf of the town. If you want to get involved with the Pier Trust, other than just being a member; then get yourself on the committee. What are you going to do - other than keep on whingeing?"

Mrs Hennelly who was banned from contacting city council staff last year after a series of e-mailed questions, is flying back to Herne Bay specially for the annual meeting in the Pier Cafe at 7pm.

HB Times 6th May 2010

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Let's hope the mud-slinging doesn't escalate to mud-wrestling. Anyway, I'll be there early for a ringside seat.

Post-election: stress, disorder

In contrast to the hard mathematical precision of my recent results analysis, today I go out on a limb for a national prediction. The LibDems will collect more votes and more seats than ever, but not as many seats as the number of votes would imply (as usual). What will thrill them to bits, however, will be the wildly disproportionate influence that they will wield as the maker/breaker of kings and coalitions. 

Unaccustomed as they are to the exercise of power, their initial efforts may appear gauche, attracting criticism and derision. They will be completely unbothered by anyone who tries to rain on their parade. In their shoes, I would push for electoral reform being the primary and absolute pre-condition for any form of alliance, and get the legislation passed asap.

After a while the wheels will fall off, and everything will go pear-shaped, the new friends will fall to bickering, and we will be stuck with stalemate and stagnation. Eventually, the penny will drop and whoever is running the show will realise that the only resolution will be to call an election.

Hah! Now it gets interesting. With the new electoral system (whatever it is, some degree of proportional representation or transferable voting) smaller parties will get more of a look-in on a purely mathematical basis. More importantly, people's voting patterns will almost certainly change. Even under the current system, about 10% of votes are cast for parties that have absolutely no chance whatsoever of winning. Within a new electoral framework that allocates seats and power in proportion to actual votes, many more people will vote for the smaller parties.

We may find ourselves living in a truly multi-party democracy.

Daft General Election Forecast!

Behold my far-fetched but statistically sound election result forecast. You will by now have heard and seen any number of polls and analyses, confidently "predicting" Thursday's outcome. I expect you are all worldly-wise enough to realise they are a load of tosh. Weary call centre slaves heckle the unsuspecting few by phone, and smug pundits recklessly extrapolate the results to several decimal places of precision. Knowing that you will be unsatisfied with such piffle, I have assembled the most reliable prediction yet - read it if you dare...

Rather than relying on a precarious forecast drawn from a few thousand (possibly imaginary) people across the whole country, this forecast is based on the entire turnout in the North Thanet constituency from the last 6 general elections, some 285,00 people in all. With such a large sample, predictions can be made with a much higher level of confidence.

Starting with the universally recognised statistical technique of drawing a straight line that touches NONE of the data points, we can be assured that the turnout on Thursday will be 43,300.

We can now repeat the exercise with each of the main party's percentage share of the vote. (One of the lines does come perilously close to a data point - I do apologise.)

So, the results will be as follows:

Conservative: 19,139 (44.2%)

Labour: 16,367 (37.8%)

LibDem: 5,153 (11.9%)

Given the sample size, this forecast can be relied on to be about 100 times more statistically significant than any other you have seen. The margin of error is about as wide as the page.

Vote on Thursday, or hang your head in shame.

Shiny cars, happy throng

Classic Car Show is a triumph. Again.

I'm a long way from being any kind of petrolhead, grease monkey or Clarkson fan, but I've got to say the Classic Car & Bike Show was fun. It's curious the feelings of puzzlement, wonder, affection or nostalgia that mere machinery can induce. There were some mighty fine machines on display, and the general feeling of bonhomie that results from having a lot of like-minded harmless nutters in one place.

There will be another Show in August, so if you missed this one, do try to catch the next. Hopefully, the organisers will manage to promote August's show more effectively. It would be so easy for CCC to produce some tempting promotional blurb - the range, numbers, ages of cars and bikes; a little street map to show where to find the Morris Minors, the MGs, the vintage bikes, etc.

Inexplicably (and unforgivably, to my mind) there was only the bare minimum of information available for this Show. It's one of the biggest draws for our town, consistently pulling in thousands of visitors. So next time, dear whoever it is in CCC, pull your finger out, don't be shy, get on your soapbox, get out your megaphone, AND SHOUT ABOUT IT!

Watching the arsonists

Use CCTV to stop arson attacks, pleads mother

A desperate mum has pleaded with the council to help stop arsonists ruining her family's summer. Carolynn Binnie - whose beach hut has been destroyed by fire-starters three times - wants CCTV installed along the seafront in Western Esplanade, Herne Bay. The 42-year-old masseuse, of Ravensbourne Avenue, Herne, says she couldn't face having to tell her two young sons - Andrew, 11, and George, nine - the hut had been burned down again. She said:

"We've been left with a feeling of dread every time we go down to the hut - we just don't know if it's still going to be there. My boys are resilient, but I don't look forward to more tears and nightmares if the arsonists target our hut again this summer. Surely installing CCTV is something the council has to do this summer. It's nonsense not to protect people's property from crime. Having cameras along the Esplanade would at least act as a deterrent and help convict those mindless individuals who choose to carry out such reckless acts."

Mrs Binnie, who suffered arson attacks in 2004, 2006 and 2009, says only two weeks ago someone had tried to start a fire less than 10 feet from her hut. She said:

"Had it caught and the wind been blowing in the wrong direction, I could again be going through the nightmare of submitting another insurance claim and having to explain to two distraught children that their playtime on the beach has been ruined. Unlike some who holiday abroad, we prefer to enjoy our local amenities and spend money ir1 the local economy on leisure. We go downto the hut about five times a week. Surely the city council must recognise this and reward us 'stay-cationers' by helping to protect our property?"

Promise of more police patrols but more cameras would be prohibitively expensive

City council spokesman Rob Davies ruled out the possibility of CCTV along the seafront:

"We understand Mrs Binnie's concerns, but with more than 700 beach huts along the whole coastline it would be prohibitively expensive to install permanent CCTV at all hut locations. In addition, there are no power sources along the coast that would allow us to run a sophisticated CCTV network. That said, there are things we can do to try and reduce vandalism at beach huts.

Mobile CCTV has already been used at Herne Bay and will be used at Tankerton as well. We have the option to use this during the summer, but this will be on an intelligence-driven basis and when it is not in use elsewhere in the district. There will be increased and more targeted police patrols, advice on hut design and security for owners and extra facilities to deter the use of huts as shelter. Foreshore Services does not grant permission for fires.

The recent incident will be discussed at the next coastal neighbourhood tasking group to make sure it does not happen again. The council and police work closely with the beach hut associations and do as much as they can to protect beach huts."

HB Gazette 29th Apr 2010

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So, how do you feel about your Council Tax being used to provide security for beach huts? A sensible way of protecting a town asset, or a waste of money trying to solve someone else's problem? CCTV hasn't deterred or caught the 'boy racers' on the brightly lit Central Parade, so what's the use of CCTV footage lit only by matchlight? How about using a fraction of the cost of CCTV to fund rewards (£1,000 for example) for information leading to a conviction? Your comments, please...

Herne Bay B&Bs

Here are some of the Bed & Breakfasts available in Herne Bay. In my experience B&Bs always work harder to make your stay a happy one than hotels do. I think it's a matter of pride.

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Westgrange House B & B

42, Busheyfield Rd, Herne, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7LJ

t: 01227 740663
Website

The Bayview Hotel

86, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5JJ

t: 01227 741458
Website

Summerhouse

15, Glenbervie Drive, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 6QL

t: 01227 363192
Website

The Priory B & B

203, Canterbury Rd, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5UG

t: 01227 366670
Website

Evening Tide

97, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5JJ

t: 01227 365014
Website

Hobbit Hole

41a, Pigeon Lane, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7ES

t: 01227 368155

Victoria Private Hotel

85, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5JQ

t: 01227 369660

Aqua Bay Guest House

92, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5JJ

t: 01227 742111

Pebbles Reach

96, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5JJ

t: 01227 372855

Lazy Days

54, Avenue Road, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 8TG

t: 01227 368335

Classic Car Show May 2010

I've been searching around all over the place, but haven't managed to find much more than a couple of sentences about we've got in store for this year's show, but if it's anything like last year, it's going to be a cracker - about 8,000 people tipped up to leave smudgy little finger prints on the immaculate paintwork and gleaming chrome on display...

(2009 Show) More than 150 classic cars and bikes will be on display along Mortimer Street, William Street and Bank Street between 10.30am and 3.30pm. Cars on show include a Ford Model T, originally a 1913 town car that has been painstakingly reconstructed by its owner over a period of two and a half years using photographs, a black 1924 Tourer, a genuine Detroit open top car and a Yellow Spitfire 1500, which was originally a racing car and was converted in later years to a road car.

There will also be a 1970s Triumph 1360 Convertible, which was raffled in the Daily Telegraph in 2001, a variety of Morris Minors and Minis and a wide selection of American cars that have been lovingly renovated by UK enthusiasts, including Cadillacs and Chevrolets.

Motorbikes appearing at the event include a highly sought-after Triton. Made from a 1960s Norton frame and a Triumph engine, this was the crème-de-la-crème of bikes to have in the 1960s. Its owner, Brian Smith, will also be exhibiting a number of motorbikes from his collection including a 500 Royal Enfield, a bike he was keen to obtain and spent months searching for on eBay, only to finally find one collecting dust in a garage no more than 25 yards away from his house.

Don't return to sender

CCC recently upgraded their email system with the result that councillors get fewer emails. Unfortunately, it's not spam and suchlike that is being winnowed out, but emails with mis-spelt addresses - they just get trashed.

In the olden days, with the previous email system, if you sent an email to joe.loggs@canterbury.gov.uk in the hope of contacting Councillor Joe Bloggs, you would get an automatic message saying that your message couldn't be delivered (known as an NDR - Non-Delivery Receipt). That way you would know that something was wrong, and you would probably be able to figure it out, and eventually get it right. However, the new system doesn't send these helpful NDR messages. So you send your message to joe.loggs and having no reason to think otherwise, believe that your councillor has got your message and is now springing into action.

It gets worse:  it wouldn't be terribly difficult to automatically route these mis-spelt messages into 'check these' file, and have a human being scan through them daily or weekly. But no, these mis-addressed emails are instantly destroyed, so there's no chance of them ever getting through. In the physical world this is like the Royal Mail shredding any letter that is mis-spelt, mis-addressed or even mis-punctuated. The Council have come up with a short-term fix (see below) which simply involves all of us doing a little bit more work, and Customer Services presumably doing quite a bit more work.

Every IT department has its own special mix of considerations and constraints - in banking it's security, in the stock market it's 'up-time'. What CCC's IT department must not lose sight of is that their special duty is to help, not hinder, local democracy.

Le Petit Poisson

Joy of joys, Le Petit Poisson has re-opened!

I was starting to worry that it was in danger of death by dustsheet - the building work for the refurb and enlargement had been going on for so-o-o-o long. Le Petit Poisson is in a rather odd building (public loos once upon a time) at the shore end of the Pier, and they've been going through the extended trauma of building works for what seems like about a year by now. Must seem like half a lifetime to them.

They've managed to roughly double the floor space by knocking through the back wall and opening up another dining area about half a storey down - a kind of inverse mezzanine. A view through to the kitchens, slate and flagstone floors, exposed brickwork, plenty of light - all very much du jour if not de rigeur for current restaurant interior design. But so what? If I wanted to be surrounded by stone with a view of the sky, I could just go and sit in a quarry, or Brett's Aggregates yard at Whitstable.

Food is the point of restaurants, and these people really do get the point. I've had more than my fair share of fine food over the decades, and in my humble-ish opinion Le Petit Poisson is worth every twinkle of a Michelin star. (I thought the same of The Sportsman at Seasalter, and they got theirs!) In the modern age, restaurants are dubbed Eclectic European, Modern British or Pacific Fusion in an attempt to give an enticing twist to the description of what they serve. Le Petit Poisson can be plainly described as "Excellent Fish".

A limited range of starters and mains (with some long-standing and outstanding favourites) and a couple of daily specials, some classic shellfish dishes, and reliable puds. It's a simple formula that means effort and attention isn't dissipated - each dish on the menu is well-judged and accomplished. Every time I go, I'm torn - everything is tempting - and what continues to impress me is the consistent excellence. The baked cod in cep, and the haddock chowder are perennial favourites of mine. I don't really 'get' oysters, but mussels are another matter - a different kettle of shellfish - and here they are superb. A while ago I got chatting to another diner there who said she used to go on regular daytrips to Boulogne, just for the moules. "Used to" - now she goes to Le Petit Poisson.

I'll double-check the details, but I believe it's owned and run by a husband and wife team. Husband's something to do with the fisheries at Whitstable (which explains a lot). Wife's Belgian and charming and runs the customer-facing end of things, and together with their regular waitress (also delightful) delivers service that manages to be both friendly and professional. I hope they can sustain it with twice the number of tables.

The window tables in the upstairs (i.e. original, ground level) part of the restaurant are great for watching the world go by, and in fine weather they put tables out in the roped-off area outside the front - feels positively European (in a good way!). I think they're also thinking about making use of the roof, which would be great. I'm surprised there aren't more fish restaurants along our coast, but I'm delighted that Le Petit Poisson has made its home in Herne Bay. All in all, a gem. Long may it sparkle.

HBM 24th Apr 2010

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Le Petit Poisson
Pier Approach, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5JN
t: 01227 361199
e: mail@lepetitpoisson.co.uk
w: www.lepetitpoisson.co.uk

But don't just take my word for it - here's some reviews:

tripadvisor.co.uk
19 Mar 2010: Really nice seafood restaurant, undergoing refurbishment at the moment (March 2010) and has moved over the road. Food is excellent and the service is good. Wines are good and it is right on the seafront.

8 Dec 2009: An overcast December day on Herne Bay's sea front, and an unlikely looking building next to the pier, but friends had recommended Le Petit Poisson to us so here we were for lunch. Lunch was superb. Started with the best bread I have had for a long time ( made daily on the premises we were told) with lovely fresh olives. I had a rich, spicy fish soup to start; my husband had 4 different oysters, so perfect that he had to order some more before moving on to the main course. My main of poached smoked haddock with mustard sauce and pureed mushroom was outstanding; his moules marinieres could not have been better. Food, and not decor has clearly been the priority in this tiny and weathered restaurant; I hope that this is still the case after the current extension and redecoration - its lack of style is part of its charm. Only wish we lived closer.

Absolutely perfect food. Charming service. Even the other customers were great and were enthusiastically recommending whatever they'd just eaten. I've been raving about this place ever since and would recommend it to anyone. Unless you're concerned about plush decor or starchy tablecloths and napkins.

3 Aug 2009: Great restaurant for a romantic lunch or dinner. You definitely need to book if you don't want to chance it. Great menu and friendly staff.

11 Jun 2008: Excellent service and great food. Small restaurant, need to book.

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restaurantguide.com

Le Petit Poisson is situated almost right on the beach - when the weather is fine you can sit outside looking at the boats come in and out of the little harbour, watch your children playing on the beach, while eating your meal. Inside is cosy, only twenty two covers, the menu is on a blackboard and is a mixture of local and other fish offering an average of eight starters ranging from £4.25 to £5.50, with main courses from £8.95 to £12.95 and a specials board, so there should be plenty of choice for everyone. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, with pleasant and friendly staff serving excellent food at a reasonable price.

29 August 2009: Ten of us ate at Petit Poisson last Saturday and our ages ranged from ninety one to eighteen months. We had a lovely meal, finding it difficult to choose from the varied menu. The service was great giving us plenty of time to enjoy our meal. They were also aware of the needs of the children aged eighteen months and three years. We shall certainly be back.

26 May 2009: My husband and I have eaten there a number of times and found the food and service to be excellent. The moules mariniéres were perfect and my whole sea bass was beautifully cooked. The strawberry and rhubarb crumble and a passion fruit crème brûlée were both worth breaking the diet for! A charming little place and the lovely Valerie who looks after you so well is charming too.

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Kent Online
Le Petit Poisson is situated in an enviable position, almost on the beach in Herne Bay, by the old pier. The restaurant is in an historic building which has just undergone a major refurbishment. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal and on a nice day you can sit outside and watch the boats come in and out of the little harbour. The restaurant uses only locally sourced fish and produce wherever possible, with the style of food seasonal, simple, local and fresh. Le Petit Poisson was a finalist in the Kent Restaurant Awards (seafood category) 2009. The average cost for a starter is £5.75 and for a main course £13.75. The menu changes seasonally to showcase the best in local produce.

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reviewcentre.com 30th Mar 2009
Good Points: Service, food, ambience, seaview. Good house wines.
Bad Points: A little stingy with the delicious bread. Otherwise could not fault it.
General comments: Le Petit Poisson is a small restaurant on Herne Bay's seafront, cosy interior, very friendly waitress. The menu is devoted to seafood. It is not a huge menu, but everything that I saw coming out of the kitchen looked well-cooked, well-presented and delicious. Having wrestled with what to choose, I ordered the squid as a starter, which arrived coated in the lightest of batter with a light garlic mayonnaise - fantastic! My main course was Moules Marinere - beautifully cooked plump mussels in a steaming juice, served with a huge portion of piping hot frites. My companion ordered the tempura battered rock oysters - I don't normally like oysters, but I tried one of his, which melted in the mouth, and was so good I had to order some more! For a main course, he ordered the Dover sole in a herb and butter sauce - beautifully cooked fish with a light sauce. Not being dessert lovers, we passed on these, but the menu looked very tempting. The bill was not cheap, but we had thoroughly enjoyed the meal and service, and did not resent paying it. Le Petit Poisson is a very welcome addition to Herne Bay, and I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant. 

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Mobile Food Guide
Situated between the road and Herne Bay promenade, this is a cracking little seafood restaurant and the real deal for holidaymakers and fish-loving visitors alike. It looks and feels like a family-friendly café, with a green awning above the frontage, gingham-clothed tables, big windows and an outdoor area (with parasols) looking out over the little harbour.

The menu is chalked on a blackboard and it's 100% fish. Proprietor Philip Guy has his own oyster beds (in Scotland, apparently) which provide top-notch bivalves, but just about everything else is from the Kentish day boats. You might begin with char-grilled sardines on tomato and balsamic salad or pan-fried baby squid with soy, ginger and coriander, before trying tandoori monkfish with couscous and cucumber raita, pan-fried sea bream on stir-fried noodles or a bowl of bouillabaisse. To finish, it's a straightforward choice - perhaps summer pudding, or caramelised oranges or strawberries in red wine. The concise wine list is right on target for value and quality.

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welovelocal.com
25 Jun 08: This restaurant really is a gem. Authentically French cooking, quirky decor and great service combine to create a wonderful eating experience. The menu was well thought out and offered something for everyone, although there were a couple of bizarre combinations. Highlights include lobster salad, tempura prawns and cod with olives and chorizo. Whilst there are probably better fish restaurants in east Kent, the value for money here is unrivalled.

14 Apr 08: The best seafood resturant in Kent, a fantastic little place on herne bay's seafront.(Find it at the entrance to the peir). The food is just amazing, all fresh and local and above all - really good value. The menu is ALL fish, no meat options available - a good sign. Book in advance or be disappointed. 

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restaurant.co.uk
31-01-2009: Best restaurant I've ever been to, excellent food and atmosphere 10 out of 10.

17-02-2008: Had an absolutely fantastic lunch here today 17th Feb 08, lovely food and nice service. Will be back, thanks.

13-11-2007: A fantastic restaurant, couldnt recommend it highly enough. The mussels are great and cheaper than the Continental Hotel in Whistable. My family have been coming here since it opened. The staff are very friendly and the service quick but relaxed. The best restaurant in Herne Bay by a mile.

29-10-2007: We've eaten at this place a number of times and just keep going back. Valerie (the proprietor) makes you feel so welcome, the food is excellent and even though we live in Whitstable, we really much prefer to go here to avoid the pretentious side of some of the Whitstable restaurants, not to mention the Whitstable prices. Won't be long before we're back at PP...

12-06-2007: If you are planning to eat at Le Petit Poisson then you are in for a real treat. I ate there last Saturday (June 07) and had a fantastic meal. The restaurant itself is quite compact and does have tables outside although it was too chilly to contemplate it on this occasion. Of the food I would have to commend the Thai fish cakes, Gurnard in Tempura Batter and the amazing ice cream. Having said that it is one of those memus where you could chose almost anything and be in for a fantastic meal. We had a bottle of red and an amazing floral Chardonnay which I usually hate but this was so fantastic and a great match with our food. The bill came to about £25 per head, great value for money. If I lived in Herne Bay I would be a regular. I am desperate to come back and try the lobster which looked amazing. Anyway if our experience is anything to go by I can thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

14-05-2007: An excellent restaurant with delicious and well presented food. Nice atmosphere and friendly service.

01-03-2007: Excellent food at half Whitstable prices (and better!) Service is always friendly and efficient.

17-02-2007: Visited this seafood restaurant on 13/02/07 with my partner, had the squid and I must say it was just fantastic, partner had also amazing cod wowowow what a find, and will be visiting very soon.

20-01-2007: This is an excellent restaurant, serving wonderful seafood. On the two occasions I have dined there I can only say it's the best seafood restaurant have been to. 

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The Guardian 14 July 2007
Stationed right next to the ugly Pier Pavilion, it is clear from the menu that something beautiful is going on inside the kitchen. They serve deliciously delicate rock oysters, which are farmed on the Isle of Seil in Scotland. Everything else is fished locally, from crab and lobster to squid and dover sole. Take your fishy dishes out on to the seafront terrace and cop a sniff of the sea air while you dine.

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Kent on Sunday 10th Sep 2006
HERNE BAY seafront on a windswept weekend in August can be a disheartening place. The flashing lights and low level hum of the amusement arcades providing the only illumination for the weary holidaymaker against the grey clouds hanging low over the dark waters of a foreboding sea.

But for a town which is so often overshadowed by the extravagant hype of neighbouring Whitstable, it is perhaps well deserved that the pearl in its shell is a restaurant which beats its coastal rival at its own game. Don't get me wrong, Whitstable is awash with high class eateries - but you half expect a decent feed in a place which trades on its image as Islington-on-Sea. Which makes discovering Le Petit Poisson outside its borders even more of a treat.

The seafood restaurant is plonked right next to the pier and overlooks the arcades and trampolines on the beach. It's small - 22 seats inside and a handful outside - but it packs an almighty punch. So why the glowing praise? Well, if you want good food, competitively priced, where presentation is as important as pleasing the palate, and the service is with both a smile and a pace which cannot be faulted, then it earns ticks in all the right boxes. And with three children - aged 13, seven and four in tow - we were able to give it a real work out.

For starters we had deep-fried calamari (light and tasty), avocado stuffed with crab and cream cheese (a subtle blend of subtle flavours), and grilled goat's cheese on prawns and crushed potatoes (giving the sort of kick only goat's cheese can). All were priced between £4.50 and £4.95. For the main course, my partner had a bowl of moules mariniere (£7.95) where big fat, juicy mussels benefited from a sauce which accentuated the taste of the mollusc without dominating the dish. I tackled monkfish wrapped in bacon with a creamy basil sauce (£10.50), and was not left disappointed.

The children opted for a salmon fillet on roasted vegetables and pesto sauce (£9.50); the fish soft and plump, the vegetables perfect. For dessert; cheesecake, banana meringue, homemade ice-cream and pot au chocolat - all faultless (all £3.95). The family; well-fed, the children content (clean plates and smiles all round a testament to that) and three courses for five for under £85.

And it wasn't just us going away happy. The waitress was actually being called over to be congratulated on the quality by fellow diners, and the feel-good factor was reflected in that rarest of things - cheerful banter between the clientele. Never has a dark day in Herne Bay been illuminated by such a ray of sunshine.

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The Guardian 29 July 2006
Whitstable was once charming, but is now Fulham-on-Sea. Therefore, we avoided its Oyster Festival last week and motored along to Herne Bay, a few miles further east, for lunch. "Lee Pet-it Poisson," the bloke on the phone said when we reserved. "We're next to the ugly 1970s Pier Pavilion." Herne Bay turns out to be unreconstructed, unaffected, thoroughly uncontinental English seaside. There's Connaught Bingo and Macari's Cafe with its good coffee, pegboard menu and the same knickerbocker glories for 60-odd years. Crazy golf and the Central Bandstand. Shingled beach huts and a pebbled beach that crucifies your feet. Empty churches, greyish sea, buckets and spades of feel-good factor.

The pier broke up some time in the past, leaving the end bit marooned towards the wind farm over in Essex. Between the prom and the road, Le Petit Poisson. A glance at the chalked menu shows that something serious is going on in the kitchen.

The carte and specials look more than tasty, so we order our way through them, and ask for bottles of Muscadet and Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay Ale. Nice bread, Normandy butter, garlicky olives. The place has pine seats for 22 inside, and wickery ones outside that leave criss-cross patterns on your bottom. Service is really nice as are the starters. Frances and her sisters have fat grilled prawns, and spanking fresh sardines, the kids have calamari with real mayo and I have the best rock oysters ever. I collar the boss, who's called Phil Guy and is looking shy. I guess the oysters are from Whitstable. God, no - he wouldn't serve us oysters from there: farmed them on the flats for 20 years, water's no longer up to it. He has his farms on the Isle of Seil in Scotland now. Nice tides, wonderfully clean water, that's what makes them so sweet, nutty and plump. That tells me.

Waiting for our mains, we watch the ebb and flow of the natives taking the sunny air. Two biddies on motorised wheelchairs circle our roped-off area, scooting in to buzz a table that's finished its meal, letting them know it's time to go. Absolutely everyone is in a good mood, especially our kids, who watch mini-speedboat races and beg 70p for the trampolines. Main courses put us in excellent moods, too. Whole sea bass on slippery noodles, perfectly cooked lemon sole, cod and chips - it's all tip-top and bang-on. Turns out that Darren the chef used to cook at that royally rammed, top-dollar place at Whitstable, but likes it here because it's so ... normal.

There are simple, normal desserts on the menu, such as caramelised oranges with ice cream, lemon syllabub and petit pots of chocolat, but we ask for the bill, which is nice and small, and stroll along to The Rock Shop by Cain's Amusements for softee ice creams with flakes. Someone's barbecuing on the beach. Is Herne Bay the New Whitstable or next year's Broadstairs? No, thank God. But it is the Real Deal.?

Befriend our Museum

If you want to save Herne Bay Museum, it's time to make your voice heard. That's the message from campaigners, who are hoping to set up a Friends group to fight for the museum's future.

Crucial meetings with council bosses are due to take place in the next few weeks and campaign spokesman David Cross said it was vital to demonstrate the strength of feeling for the service. Officials still plan to use it as an "education space", rather than a public museum. Mr Cross, who used to work at the museum, said:

"It is hard to read the council at the moment. They are trying to put together a proposal which squares the circle and pleases everyone, which will be very difficult. Our next move is to form a Friends organisation so we have an official body to negotiate with the council. Then they can see how seriously people in Herne Bay take this threat."

Initial meetings have already taken place. Officials told Mr Cross they believed the museum had to either focus on visitors, or residents and school groups. But he disagrees with their conclusions:

"It is crucial schools can still walk their pupils to the museum and still keep a measure of drop-in public access. I refuse to accept a display about the bouncing bomb isn't equally of interest to local children learning about their town, and people coming here to visit. The same applies to the Roman displays and to the items dug out of the sand. The museum is for everyone."

The museum was earmarked for closure in this year's budget debates, but given a year's stay of execution by council bosses, after thousands of people signed petitions calling for it to stay open.

Canterbury City councillor Darren Ellis announced at a meeting of the ruling executive committee on Thursday that consultation with interested groups had started. The announcement sparked a wave of concern among campaigners, who feared time was running out. But Mr Ellis, who is responsible for museums, told the Times a final decision would not be made until the end of the year. He praised the idea of a Friends group, but ruled out a proposal to run the museum with volunteers to save costs. He said:

"The idea is the museum should be more of an education space, but we are not saying 100 per cent that is what we are going to do. It is a process which could run into next year."

HB Times 22nd Apr 2010

To get involved with the Friends of Herne Bay Museum, or to find out more, please contact the Membership Secretary at: MuseumFriends@HerneBayMatters.com