Gardening Competition

The gardening competition is one part (a small sprig, perhaps) of the Herne Bay in Bloom campaign. It's open to all Herne Bay residents and businesses. So if you live or work in Beltinge, Broomfield, Herne Bay, Reculver, Herne, Greenhill or Hampton, you can join in. There are categories for everything from a window box to an industrial estate, so everyone's in with a chance. You can put yourself in for the competition, or you can nominate someone else.

To enter, just fill in an entry form and choose your category, then return it by Thursday 10th June 2010 to any of these places:

• Herne Bay divisional Council office, William Street, Herne Bay
• Herne Bay Library, High Street, Herne Bay
• 97 Central Parade, Herne Bay

For all enquiries ring 07540 392916. The closing date for all entries is Thursday 10th June 2010, and judging will take place week commencing Monday 14th June 2010. There will be PRIZES GALORE, generously sponsored by local businesses.

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These are the categories:

1) Private front garden - small or large
2) Window box or container
3) Place of worship
4) Public house or restaurant (frontage floral display)
5) Guesthouse or B&B
6) Design a seafront garden bed competition (based on a Herne Bay landmark) - 16 years and under
7) Communal (residential or non-residential)
8) School grounds
9) Environment project
10) Medical premises (hospital, surgery, convalescent)
11) Commercial (industrial or large retail)
12) Commercial (non-industrial or individual run shop/office)
13) Allotment plot

Herne Bay in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is one of the largest horticultural campaigns in Europe with the year round aim of creating a more beautiful Britain. Entrants compete against each other within their area and then selected communities are nominated to compete against each other in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) finals. Britain in Bloom encourages all to make the UK a more beautiful place to live through imaginative planting, cleanliness, sustainability and community effort.

With its beautiful seafront flowerbeds, and lovely parks, Herne Bay is frequently quoted on BBC radio as one of the sunniest towns in Britain. In 2009, Herne Bay won a silver gilt award in the regional South and South East ln Bloom Coastal category and a silver award in Britain in Bloom. This year we want to do even better and achieve gold.

How does it benefit Herne Bay?

• It provides a welcome boost to the local economy;
• Helps to make long-term improvements to the local environment;
• Increases civic pride;
• Regenerates run-down areas; and
• Encourages the community to work together to improve their home town.

The In Bloom Committee (a group of local people, sponsored by Serco and supported by CCC and KCC) will be leading this year's campaign and entry into the regional In Bloom competition. They will be hosting a local gardening competition in Herne Bay and looking for help from local businesses, schools and community groups to ensure Herne Bay really is fully in bloom to welcome the judges and visitors to the town.

If you are a local business, group or resident and would like to help, contact Colleen Ashwin-Kean for more information:

t: 07540 392 916
e: herne_bayinbloom@live.co.uk

Excursion July 2010

The Lee Valley Olympic Tour

New City & Village Tour.
Tuesday 13th July 2010
Leave from William Street Car Park at 9 a.m.
Cost £33.00

We meet our guide at 10.30 a.m. for morning coffee at Excel Exhibition Centre in London's Royal Docks. We visit venues for many Olympic events including Boxing, Judo and Table Tennis. We then drive through the Lower Lea Valley to view the Olympic Park with a really good view of the 80,000 Seat Stadium. See progress on the Velodrome, Aquatic Centre and the Olympic Village. This huge project is totally transforming the Lower Lee Valley.

We stop at Waltham Abbey for lunch after scenic drive. More Olympic views from Broxbourne through the Lee Valley Park (canoe and kayak events included). Afternoon 90-minute cruise from Broxbourne. Cream Tea is included in the tour fee which will be served before we return to the wharf to head home at approx. 4.45 p.m.

City & Village Tours require a minimum of 35 people. Bookings and payments for these excursions to be made at United Church Hall on Thursday 22nd April at l0.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Enquiries to Moyra Holness, 9 Clarendon Street, Herne Bay (368460). No refunds on unused tickets. The Committee reserved the right to cancel any outing if necessary.

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DON'T FORGET: END OF SEASON SOCIAL: Thursday 15th April at 7 p.m., £1.00 as usual.

Excursion May 2010

Hidden London and the Regents Canal

A City & Village Tour.
Wednesday 19th May 2010
Leave from William Street Car Park at 8.30 a.m.
Cost £29.00

After meeting our guide for morning coffee at 10.30 a.m. at St. Pauls Cathedral, we walk through a maze of narrow streets and alleyways seeing stately Charterhouse and the homes of Hercule Poirot and Sir John Betjeman. We also visit Smithfield Victorian Meat Market - now skilfully restored and still working.

For lunch we transfer by coach to the Barbican Arts Centre where hot or cold lunches are available. Or you can take your own packed lunch.

The afternoon is spent on a narrow boat cruise of approx. 50 minutes exploration of London's Regent Canal. We see elegant London town houses on this hidden waterway going through the cobbled and flagged courtyard of Camden Lock, through leafy Regents Park, terraces of London Zoo to Little Venice. Stop for tea at the Royal Festival Hall.

City & Village Tours require a minimum of 35 people. Bookings and payments for these excursions to be made at United Church Hall on Thursday 22nd April at 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Enquiries to Moyra Holness, 9 Clarendon Street, Herne Bay (368460). No refunds on unused tickets. The Committee reserved the right to cancel any outing if necessary.

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DON'T FORGET: END OF SEASON SOCIAL: Thursday 15th April at 7 p.m., £1.00 as usual.

Herne Bay Historical Records Society

The Society was formed as the Herne Bay Records Society in 1932, and various archaeological specimens and other records relating to Herne Bay and district were either donated or loaned to the Society. The late Dr. T. Armstrong Bowes MA, MD, FSA was President from the inception until 1951. The Society's Museum and its archives were originally accommodated in a hall in Mortimer Street before moving to the Public Library in the High Street in 1939 and subsequently in 1996 to its current home in the Herne Bay Museum at No. 12 William Street. The Society's name was changed to Herne Bay Historical Records Society in 1988.

Lecture meetings are held in the Lower Hall, Herne Bay United Church, High Street, Herne Bay (click here for a picture). Doors open from 6.30pm, the lectures start at 7:00pm. Meetings are open to members and guests. The meetings are free to Members on production of their Membership cards (if requested). Visitors may attend if there is room, when a charge of £2.00 per meeting will be made. The Annual Subscription for 2010/2011 is £10.00 per member, falling due on October 1st.

Anyone interested in the activities or publications of the Society is invited to get in touch with a member of the Committee.

General Election Results

See the results going back to 1983...

2005
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Gale	21,699	49.6	-0.7
	Labour	Iris Johnston	14,065	32.2	-2.2
	Liberal Democrat	Mark Barnard	6,279	14.4	+3.4
	UKIP	Timothy Stocks	1,689	3.9	+1.6
Majority			7,634	17.5
Turnout			43,732	60.1	1.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.8

2001
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Gale	21,050	50.3	+6.2
	Labour	James Stewart Laing	14,400	34.4	-4.0
	Liberal Democrat	Seth Proctor	4,603	11.0	-0.4
	UKIP	John Moore	980	2.3	+1.4
	Independent (politician)	David Shortt	440	1.1	N/A
	National Front	Thomas Holmes	395	0.9	N/A
Majority			6,650	15.9
Turnout			41,868	59.0	-9.9
	Conservative hold		Swing

1997
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Gale	21,586	44.1
	Labour	Iris Johnston	18,820	38.4
	Liberal Democrat	Paul Kendrick	5,576	11.4
	Referendum Party	M Chambers	2,535	5.2
	UKIP	J E Haines	438	1.1
Majority			2,766	5.7
Turnout			48,955	68.8
	Conservative hold		Swing

1992
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Gale	30,867	57.2
	Labour	A M Bretman	12,657	23.46
	Liberal Democrat	J L Phillips	9,563	17.72
	Green	H F Dawe	873	1.62
Majority			18,210	33.75
Turnout			53,960	76.02
	Conservative hold		Swing

1987
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Gale	29,225	58.03
	SDP-Liberal Alliance	N R M Cranston	11,745	23.32
	Labour	A M Bretman	8,395	16.67
	Green	D R Condor	996	1.98
Majority			17,480	34.71
Turnout			50,361	72.23
	Conservative hold		Swing

1983
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Gale	26,801	58.44
	SDP-Liberal Alliance	W MacMillan	12,256	26.72
	Labour	Cherie Booth	6,482	14.13
	BNP	B Dobing	324	0.71
Majority			14,051	32.37
Turnout			45,863	70.02
	Conservative hold		Swing

Herne Bay Beach Hut Owners Association

The Association was formed in Summer of 2005 to provide a voice for the Beach Hut Owners of Herne Bay. There are about 250 Beach Huts on the West Beach of Herne Bay and our membership represents around 75% of the owners of those Huts. There is regular contact with Councilors, City Council Officials, the local Police Officers engaged in work on the Foreshore areas of the town. We have arranged for our members to obtain generous discounts from Local traders for supplies and Services needed. Also significant discounts on Beach Hut Insurances.

Chairman: Andrew Cook
a: 87 Station Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7QQ
t: 07767 338400
e: hernebaybeachhuts@yahoo.co.uk

Membership Secretary: Kevin Bloxham
a: 76 Linden Avenue, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 8TZ
t: 07770 942103
e: hernebaybeachhuts@yahoo.co.uk

HB Philanthropic Society

Herne Bay Philhanthropic Society has been in existence since 1922 and is there for the benefit of the people of Herne Bay. The society is able to help those in need but these people must be recommended. Recommendations usually come from other charities, CAB, Churches, Social Workers etc.

Promotion of any charitable purpose for the benefit of the inhabitants of Herne Bay and the neighbourhood by the protection of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress.

Secretary: Mrs Mary Littlejohn
a: Bridgport, Conyngham Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 6PT
t: 01227 375047

Cultural Trail

Behold the Herne Bay Cultural Trail!

The Herne Bay Cultural Trail is a step by step trip through the history of Herne Bay from the bronze-age through to the modern day. See the historical, famous faces and postcard from Herne Bay murals. The statue of Sir Barnes Wallis and thirteen other key attractions. The Cultural Trail is open throughout the year, 7 days a week.

As you can see from the map, the suggested route is rather convoluted, but I'm sure you can choose your own path. You can visit the Cultural Trail website for more details on each of the stopping-off points listed below the map.

1     Historical Mural           
2     Museum     
3     Ship Inn     
4     Barnes Wallis Statue     
5     The Kings Hall     
6     Attraction coming 2009/10     
7     A Postcard from Herne Bay mural     
8     Smugglers and Barges     
9     The Clock tower     
10     Bandstand Central Parade     
11     Victorian Fountain     
12     The Pier     
13     The Famous from HB Mural     
14     War Memorial     
15     Attraction coming 2009/10     
16     Brides in the Bath Murders     
17     In Memory of a Young Pilot     
18     Herne Bay Railway Station

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Incidentally, the News section of the Cultural Trail website contains the following cryptic image...

click it to big it

HB Residents' Association

The Herne Bay and District Residents' Association is a campaigning group aiming to improve Herne Bay for the benefit of residents, traders and visitors. It tries to work with Canterbury City Council, Kent County Council and other organisations to give a Herne Bay perspective to consultations; to monitor planning policies and decisions; and to give input to the decision making procedures at all levels. It works with other organisations beyond its defined area on matters of mutual interest.

Chairman: Dick Eburne
a: 22 Western Esplanade, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 8RW
t: 01227 743201
e: dickeburne@yahoo.co.uk

Town Centre Development zones

Here's some NewSpeak from the Herne Bay Area Action Plan:

Opportunities exist to deliver an improved and more connected urban form and a reinvigorated Herne Bay town centre through the redevelopment of three prominent, centrally located Development Opportunity Sites:

• the Central Development Area
• Beach Street
• the former Bus Depot site.

A central aim of this AAP is that high quality, innovative and exemplar redevelopment of these Sites will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of  the town.

Canterbury councillor Roger Matthews acquitted...

... but developer Julian Brealy convicted

A Kent property developer has been warned he could be facing a jail sentence after a jury convicted him of corruption. The verdict on Julian Brealy came shortly after Canterbury city councillor Roger Matthews was acquitted of the charge. The jury of six men and six women found estate agent and property developer Brealy guilty by a 10-2 majority. He was granted conditional bail until sentence on April 13. Brealy, of Mandarin Lane, Herne Bay, and Mr Matthews, of Beltinge Road, Herne Bay, denied the charge.

Mr Matthews, 58, was alleged to have corruptly received benefit by way of unpaid rent as a reward for promoting the interests of Brealy, 51, and two of his companies, Herne Bay Golf Club and Hollanby Estates Ltd. His landlord was Hollanby Estates. Brealy is managing director and a shareholder in the family business. Mr Matthews, who represented Greenhill and Eddington, denied he showed favour to Brealy in return for being allowed to live rent free for almost six years between May 2002 and July 2008 and failing to pay around £36,000.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC ordered Brealy to surrender his passport and banned him from obtaining travel documents after hearing he was a director of Heron Helicopters. He will also have to report to police once a week. Philip Noble, defending, said he would be arguing there were "exceptional facts and other matters" that could enable a suspended prison sentence to be imposed.

"What is clear from the verdicts of the jury is they accept Mr Matthews did not corrupt him."

The judge said he made it absolutely clear that in adjourning sentence for reports there would be anything other than immediate imprisonment. But he added he would consider all the material put before him. Speaking after his acquittal, Cllr Matthews said:

"The whole thing has been hell for me. I knew I had done nothing wrong but you can never tell how it was going to go. When the verdict was read out I felt numb. I’d been told I faced up to two-and-a-half years in prison which just added to the pressure. I’m a very relieved man today. I’ve received so many texts and calls from people congratulating me and saying they always knew I was innocent."

Cllr Matthews said he had yet to decide whether to stand at the next local elections. He said:

"It’s something I have to think about. The jury has come to the right decision today, but mud sticks."

kentonline 19th Mar 2010

£20k down a small hole

Just to quickly refresh your memory, dear reader, we are living in times of budget cuts and belt-tightening. There has been widespread local coverage of Canterbury City Council slashing, cutting, trimming and salami slicing. In the expectation that their central funding will be reduced, CCC has been wielding the knife on all but the biggest projects.

It came as an unwelcome surprise to me that CCC was proposing to make a £20,000 "contribution to hospitality for the Open Golf Tournament at Sandwich". (For the benefit of our international readers, the town of Sandwich has its own Town Council, and falls within the realm of Dover District Council. In terms of the semi-feudal world of local government funding, it is completely separate from Canterbury City Council: only 12 miles from Canterbury, but it may as well be in France.)

The clearest explanation of the rationale behind the outlay that I've been able to find comes from the Council Leader, Cllr Gilbey:

The Leader said that the £20,000 contribution for The Open golf tournament in 2011 was not a grant and that it never had been. He indicated that, like the situation for the 2012 Olympics in London, the whole of the district would benefit from the event and that we would expect every hotel in the district to be fully booked. The Leader emphasised that the £20,000 was available, if required, for the council to take full advantage of the event. He pointed out that it would be used for things like promotions to make sure we achieved the maximum benefit for the businesses, homes and people of the District, as we did when The Open golf tournament last came to Kent.

Schmoozing in the posh seats, by the sounds of it. News of this £20k-worth of largesse has been widely met with incredulity and anger, and unsurprisingly it came up in the recent budget "debate" in the form of a don't-be-evil-be-good ambush from the LibDems:

It was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey that the council cancel the £20,000 contribution to the Open Golf at Sandwich and use that money to reinstate £20,000 of the funding withdrawn from Age Concern and Northgate Over 60’s. (Revenue neutral).

The foregoing amendment was declared LOST. I'm not particularly surprised, but I am thoroughly disgusted. As luck would have it, this was one of the shamefully rare occasions when the vote was actually recorded, so we (the paying punters) get to find out who did what:

For the amendment:
Councillors Berridge, Bright, Calvert-Mindell, Dixey, Dye, M Flaherty, R Flaherty, Flanagan, Hando, Linfield, MacCaul, Matthews, Parsons, A Perkins, Staley, Vickers, Vye and Wratten (18)

Against the amendment:
Councillors Anderson, Austin, Bissett, Davis, Doyle, Ellis, Fisher, Gilbey, Harrison, Mrs Law, Lee, McCabe, McMahan, Patterson, J Perkins, Pickersgill, Samper, Sharp, Sonnex, A Taylor, H Taylor, Thomas, Todd, Vickery-Jones and Windsor (25)

Abstained from voting:
Councillors Cragg and Reuby (2)

Absent from the meeting:
Councillors Carnell, Eden-Green, Parry, Seath and Steed (5)

You may want to ask any or all of those who voted against the motion why they did as they did, or you may want to share an opinion with them. Here's a who's who and where and how:

Anderson Conservative, North Nailbourne, john.anderson@canterbury.gov.uk
Austin Conservative, Sturry North, tony.austin@canterbury.gov.uk
Bissett Conservative, Herne and Broomfield, evelyn.bissett@canterbury.gov.uk
Davis Conservative, Reculver, gabrielle.davis@canterbury.gov.uk
Doyle Conservative, Chartham and Stone Street, rosemary.doyle@canterbury.gov.uk
Ellis Conservative, Northgate, darren.ellis@canterbury.gov.uk
Fisher Conservative, Tankerton, martin.fisher@canterbury.gov.uk
Gilbey Conservative, Blean Forest, john.gilbey@canterbury.gov.uk
Harrison Conservative, Tankerton, jeanne.harrison@canterbury.gov.uk
Mrs Law Conservative, Seasalter, jean.law@canterbury.gov.uk
Lee Conservative, West Bay, peter.lee@canterbury.gov.uk
McCabe Conservative, Blean Forest, hazel.mccabe@canterbury.gov.uk
McMahan Conservative, West Bay, vincent.mcmahan@canterbury.gov.uk
Patterson Conservative, Chartham and Stone Street, mike.patterson@canterbury.gov.uk
J Perkins Conservative, Gorrell, jackie.perkins@canterbury.gov.uk
Pickersgill Conservative, Northgate, sally.pickersgill@canterbury.gov.uk
Samper Conservative, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, jenny.samper@canterbury.gov.uk
Sharp Conservative, Seasalter, mike.sharp@canterbury.gov.uk
Sonnex Conservative, Herne and Broomfield, sharron.sonnex@canterbury.gov.uk
A Taylor Conservative, Reculver, ann.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk
H Taylor Conservative, Sturry South, heather.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk
Thomas Conservative, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, ian.thomas@canterbury.gov.uk
Todd Conservative, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, pat.todd@canterbury.gov.uk
Vickery-Jones Conservative, Herne and Broomfield, peter.vickeryjones@canterbury.gov.uk
Windsor Conservative, Seasalter, cyril.windsor@canterbury.gov.uk

HB Councillors, by Ward

Full contact details...

If you're not sure which Ward you're in, visit: www.canterbury.gov.uk/whatward.php

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Reculver

Gabrielle Davis (Conservative)

21 Sea View Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 6JB
01227 367 426
gabrielle.davis@canterbury.gov.uk

Gillian Reuby (Conservative)

Northernlights
King Edward Avenue
HERNE BAY
CT6 6EA
01227 366 081
gillian.reuby@canterbury.gov.uk

Ann Taylor (Conservative)

33 West Hill Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 8HG
01227 367 852
ann.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk

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Heron

Robert Bright (Liberal Democrat)

63 William Street
HERNE BAY
CT6 5NR
01227 366 550
robert.bright@canterbury.gov.uk

Ron Flaherty (Liberal Democrat)

Dillon House
35 Central Parade
HERNE BAY
CT6 5HX
01227 365 757
ron.flaherty@canterbury.gov.uk

Ken Hando (Liberal Democrat)

3 The Paddocks
Beltinge
HERNE BAY
CT6 6QX
01227 363 334
ken.hando@canterbury.gov.uk

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Greenhill and Eddington

Margaret Flaherty (Liberal Democrat)

35 Central Parade
HERNE BAY
CT6 5HX
01227 365 757
margaret.flaherty@canterbury.gov.uk

Roger Matthews (Independent)

Flat 1
42 Beltinge Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 6BU
01227 366 950
roger.matthews@canterbury.gov.uk

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Herne and Broomfield

Evelyn Bissett (Conservative)

45 Mill View Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 7JF
01227 363 693
evelyn.bissett@canterbury.gov.uk

Sharron Sonnex (Conservative)

6 Rye Walk
HERNE BAY
CT6 7XD
01227 369 994
sharron.sonnex@canterbury.gov.uk

Peter Vickery-Jones (Conservative)

71 Grand Drive
HERNE BAY
CT6 8JS
07931 314 111
peter.vickeryjones@canterbury.gov.uk

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West Bay

Peter Lee (Conservative)

12 Sunningdale Walk
HERNE BAY
CT6 7TR
07831 582 473
peter.lee@canterbury.gov.uk

Vince McMahan (Conservative)

68 Cornwall Road
HERNE BAY
CT6 7SX
01227 742 606
vincent.mcmahan@canterbury.gov.uk

Non-HB Councillors

Full contact details...

John Anderson
Con: North Nailbourne:
Aunt Betsy's Cottage
7 Dering Road
Bridge
CANTERBURY
CT4 5NA
01227 830 260
john.anderson@canterbury.gov.uk

Tony Austin
Con: Sturry North:
The Purlins
Black Robin Lane
Kingston
CANTERBURY
CT4 6HR
01227 830 131
tony.austin@canterbury.gov.uk

Michael Berridge
LibDem: St Stephens:
3 Birch Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 3BS
01227 470 027
michael.berridge@canterbury.gov.uk

Jo Calvert-Mindell
LibDem: St Stephens:
29 Longmeadow Way
CANTERBURY
CT2 7DG
0779 265 6225
jo.calvertmindell@canterbury.gov.uk

Paul Carnell
Con: Gorrell:
Flat 5
18 Tankerton Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2AB
01227 770 498
paul.carnell@canterbury.gov.uk

Harry Cragg
Lord Mayor
Con: St Stephens:
60 St Stephens Hill
CANTERBURY
CT2 7AR
01227 760 869
harry.cragg@canterbury.gov.uk

Michael Dixey
LibDem: Harbledown:
Linden House
Linden Grove
CANTERBURY
CT2 8AB
01227 456 626
michael.dixey@canterbury.gov.uk

Rosemary Doyle
Con: Chartham and Stone Street:
16 Richdore Road
Waltham
CANTERBURY
CT4 5SJ
01227 700 296
rosemary.doyle@canterbury.gov.uk

Stephen Dye
LibDem: Westgate:
24 St Lawrence Court
St Lawrence Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 3EY
stephen.dye@canterbury.gov.uk

Nick Eden-Green
LibDem: Wincheap:
16 Dane John
CANTERBURY
CT1 2QU
01227 470 416
nick.edengreen@canterbury.gov.uk

Darren Ellis
Con: Northgate:
68 Field Avenue
CANTERBURY
CT1 1TR
01227 463 501
darren.ellis@canterbury.gov.uk

Martin Fisher
Con: Tankerton:
15 Queens Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2JE
01227 266 021
martin.fisher@canterbury.gov.uk

James Flanagan
LibDem: Westgate:
11 Fitzroy Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2LG
01227 750 146
james.flanagan@canterbury.gov.uk

John Gilbey
Leader of the Council
Con: Blean Forest:
Brambley Hedge
Black Robin Lane
Kingston
CANTERBURY
CT4 6HR
01227 830 138
john.gilbey@canterbury.gov.uk

Jeanne Harrison
Con: Tankerton:
4 Tower Hill
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2BW
01227 273 570
jeanne.harrison@canterbury.gov.uk

Jean Law
Con: Seasalter:
29 Alexandra Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4LR
01227 265 021
jean.law@canterbury.gov.uk

Ida Linfield
LibDem: Westgate:
93 The Street
Boughton-under-Blean
FAVERSHAM
ME13 9BG
01227 750 146
ida.linfield@canterbury.gov.uk

Charlotte MacCaul
LibDem: Wincheap:
66 Strangers Lane
CANTERBURY
CT1 3XG
01227 764 714
charlotte.maccaul@canterbury.gov.uk

Hazel McCabe MBE
Con: Blean Forest:
Little Well Farm
Fleets Lane
Tyler Hill
CANTERBURY
CT2 9NA
01227 471 352
hazel.mccabe@canterbury.gov.uk

Carolyn Parry
Con: Marshside:
Walnut Tree Farm
Highstead
Chislet
CANTERBURY
CT3 4LX
01227 860 600
carolyn.parry@canterbury.gov.uk

Adam Parsons
LibDem: Barton:
c/o Lib Dem Office
Canterbury City Council
Military Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 1YW
adam.parsons@canterbury.gov.uk

Mike Patterson
Con: Chartham and Stone Street:
Ashfield Farm
Waddenhall
Petham
CANTERBURY
CT4 5PX
01227 700 624
mike.patterson@canterbury.gov.uk

Alex Perkins
LibDem: Wincheap:
21 Cambridge Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 3QG
alex.perkins@canterbury.gov.uk

Jackie Perkins
Con: Gorrell:
41 Douglas Avenue
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1RW
01227 263 790
jackie.perkins@canterbury.gov.uk

Sally Pickersgill
Con: Northgate:
39 Abbey Gardens
CANTERBURY
CT2 7EU
01227 459 227
sally.pickersgill@canterbury.gov.uk

Jennifer Samper
Con: Chestfield and Swalecliffe:
Smeeds Farm
Church Street
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1PJ
01227 272 666
jenny.samper@canterbury.gov.uk

Julia Seath
Lab: Harbour:
Brockway
Clifton Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1DQ
01227 273 467
julia.seath@canterbury.gov.uk

Mike Sharp
Con: Seasalter:
84 Borstal Hill
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4NZ
01227 770 538
mike.sharp@canterbury.gov.uk

Brian Staley
LibDem: Little Stour:
Littlebourne Nurseries
Littlebourne
CANTERBURY
CT3 1UP
01227 721 315
brian.staley@canterbury.gov.uk

Michael Steed
LibDem: Barton:
Nethersole House
36 Dover Street
Canterbury
CT1 3HQ
01227 479166
michael.steed@canterbury.gov.uk

Heather Taylor
Con: Sturry North:
18 McCarthy Avenue
Sturry
CANTERBURY
CT2 0PE
01227 710 134
heather.taylor@canterbury.gov.uk

Ian Thomas
Con: Chestfield and Swalecliffe:
37 Elmwood Close
Swalecliffe
WHITSTABLE
CT5 2QR
01227 793 057
ian.thomas@canterbury.gov.uk

Pat Todd
Con: Chestfield and Swalecliffe:
60 Sherwood Drive
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4PH
01227 276 396
pat.todd@canterbury.gov.uk

Paula Vickers
LibDem: Barton:
c/o Liberal Democrat Office
Military Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 1YW
01227 455 147
Paula.vickers@canterbury.gov.uk

Martin Vye
LibDem: Barham Downs:
The Dacha
Patrixbourne Road
Bridge
CANTERBURY
CT4 5BL
01227 831 820
martin.vye@kent.gov.uk

Cyril Windsor
Con: Seasalter:
9 Martindown Road
WHITSTABLE
CT5 4PX
01227 272 369
cyril.windsor@canterbury.gov.uk

John Wratten
Lab: Harbour:
14 Cornwallis Circle
WHITSTABLE
CT5 1DU
01227 261 109
john.wratten@canterbury.gov.uk


Roger Gale MP
North Thanet Conservative Association
215a Canterbury Road
Birchington
Kent
CT7 9AH
House of Commons Phone: 020 7219 4087
House of Commons Fax: 020 7219 6828
Constituency Phone: 01843 848588
Constituency Fax: 01843 844856
Parliament email: galerj@parliament.uk
Website: www.rogergale.com



A flattering picture

Unspoilt and unassuming, Herne Bay relishes its enviable location on the glorious north Kent coast. With its splendid seafront, beautifully restored bandstand, Victorian heritage, variety of local shops and glorious countryside, Herne Bay presents an unrivalled opportunity to sample the delights of an attractive seaside resort. Even the weather smiles on Herne Bay and it ranks high in national sunshine league tables.

It was a favourite with Victorians who founded the town and came to breathe in the health-giving air or bathe in its invigorating waters. With its miles of safe beaches, wide promenade, seafront gardens and restored bandstand, Herne Bay is enjoying a deserved renaissance. National awards given by the Environmental Campaigns Group (ENCAMS) reflect the high standards of the local beaches. Central Beach has been granted a Resort Beach Flag for the fifth year and Herne Bay West, Tankerton and Reculver have Rural Beach awards.

There is plenty to enjoy in Herne Bay – from listening to the band on a sunny Sunday afternoon to bargain hunting in the local shops; from a morning’s fishing to an exhilarating day’s sailing, from uncovering history to exploring the coast and countryside.

From: HBTP

Windfarm info

Trips to the wind farm are available with Bayblast. For more information: Tel: 01227 373372 or visit www.bayblast.co.uk

The Kentish Flats wind farm, off of Herne Bay is a key element of the British Government's commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide seeking to reverse the trends of climate change. The wind farm is arranged in a regular grid of five east-west rows each of six turbines, sited in an area of 10 km². The spacing between each turbine and rows of turbines is be 700 metres. The nearest of them is about 8km (5 miles) offshore.

The wind farm comprises 30 efficient wind turbines capable of producing up to 3 MW of electricity each, so that the total output of the wind farm could be up to 90 MW. The offshore wind farm has set a dual record: the 30 turbine project was the largest wind turbine so far installed in the UK, and the farm was the largest wind farm in the UK, at 90 MW rated capacity, at the erection time.

The First Pier

In 1830 two London businessmen visiting the area came up with an inspired idea. One of these entrepreneurs, George Burge, had recently worked for the great engineer Thomas Telford on the construction of St Katherine's Dock. Burge knew that the shallow water near the shore meant that any passengers wishing to land and take the waters had to be brought across in beach boats known as hoys, an uncomfortable and inelegant method of travel. He also knew that a similar problem across the Thames Estuary in Essex had recently been solved by the building of a landing stage more than a mile long which allowed passengers to disembark from paddle steamers and walk or ride on a cart towards the growing resort at the end, becoming known as Southend.

Burge returned to London and persuaded Telford to get involved with the project. Thomas Telford was President of the Institute of Civil Engineers and a well known figure. But he was now 72 years old. Although his name has forever been associated with Herne Bay, it is almost certain that the town's first pier was actually designed by his chief assistant, Thomas Rhodes. Whereas Telford always worked in iron, Rhodes was a carpenter and he made the fatal decision to build the Herne Bay pier from wood.

Burge had no difficulty in raising the funds for the pier's construction although £50,000 was a very considerable amount of money. Work began in 1831 and was completed a year later. At the same time Burge began buying land and, with local landowner Sir Henry Oxenden, he became involved in planning the town's development. Ambitious designs were drawn for the new town by local builder Samuel Hacker, including a series of elegant squares and a wide Promenade running parallel to the sea which for many years would be viewed as one of Herne Bay's major attractions.

The first pile was driven on 4 July 1831 and, less than a year later, on 12 May 1832 the first passenger steamer, the Venus, docked at the pier head. The first pier was an incredible 3,613 feet long and a sail powered trolley way was installed to transport alighting passengers and their luggage to the town. It made its debut run on 13 June 1833.

The decision to build in wood not iron was already proving to be a mistake. After only seven years the whole structure was in danger and urgent repairs were needed. The pier had become a victim of the devastating effects of the Teredo navalis worm eating through the wood which had never been properly protected. The solution was costly and time consuming and involved driving nails into every one of the inner and outer piles. But the greatest threat to the pier's future came from a different direction. In 1861 the railway arrived in Herne Bay and the steamers which brought travellers from London to the end of the pier emptied. In 1862 steamer services from London stopped entirely and the Pier closed. It was finally demolished in 1870 and the useful remains sold for scrap.

From: The Herne Bay Pier Trust

The Second Pier

There were mixed feelings in the town as to whether a replacement pier should be built, but eventually the Herne Bay Promenade Pier Company financed a very modest structure at a cost of £2,000. Designed by Wilkinson & Smith the new pier was erected purely with promenading in mind, and extended only to a length of 320ft (97m), with a small bandstand at the end. It was opened on 27 August 1873 by the Lord Mayor of London.

In 1884 a new theatre opened at the approach to the old pier and three years later the formal gardens were laid out to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

Between 1881 and 1901 the town's population almost doubled, from 4400 to 8400 and the last decade of the century saw Herne Bay begin to thrive again as a popular holiday resort. At the turn of the century the popular nickname for the town was 'Baby Bay' because so many nursemaids and children spent time here, enjoying the warm weather and healthy climate.

From: The Herne Bay Pier Trust

The Third Pier

In 1892 visits by shallow draft steamers began as an experiment to see how popular a new service would be and by 1895 ambitious plans were underway for a new deep-water pier capable of handling regular steamers. Work on the new iron structure began in 1896. When it was finished this would be the second longest pier in the country, running 3,787 feet (1147m) out to sea and requiring a small railway to carry the passengers and their luggage to shore.

But the new pier was almost destroyed before building had finished by one of the worst storms the town had ever experienced. It began on Sunday November 28th 1897 and reached its peak at midday on Monday 29th when the following description was written:

It was then that the sea, with irresistible force, began to sweep every obstacle before it. As it thundered against the sea wall it tore the projecting wooden railing from its place as if it were merely matchwood. The paving was wrenched in pieces and eventually in place of the trim promenade, which had been for so many years considered one of the longest at any English watering place, there was nothing left but a chaotic, wreck-strewn waste. The houses facing the front were fortunately not so much injured as they might have been; but the damage done to them was considerable. The effect of the seas as they struck the sea wall and rose many feet into the air - solid masses of water throwing off foam and spray and rending everything within reach - was indescribably awful and grand.

The pier was opened for business at Easter 1899 and in the first year the tram fares were £488. Although the new pier was a great success at attracting visitors to Herne Bay it was badly mismanaged by its owners. The Managing Director of the Pier Company, Henry Corbett Jones, was involved in a number of enterprises and in 1905 he was arrested and charged with embezzlement, falsifying documents and making false declarations. In 1909, after months of negotiation, ownership of the Pier was transferred to Herne Bay Urban District Council for a fraction of what it cost to build.

The pier finally belonged to the people of Herne Bay. A competition was launched to design the new Grand Pier Pavilion which was planned for the landward end of the pier. The winning design was by Percy J. Waldram and Messrs Moscrop-Young and Glanfield of London and the building was opened in 1910. The Grand Pier Pavilion was designed to seat 1,000, with an auditorium 130 feet by 95 and a ceiling height of 35 feet. It had a level floor to provide space for skating and dancing as well as a raised stage. It remained open for sixty years, providing the town with a venue for summer concerts, flower shows and exhibitions and civic ceremonies of all kinds.

The Great War saw the temporary suspension of steamer services, entertainments and the tramcars being used as shelters. Normal service resumed after the conflict, with the old tramcars eventually being replaced by a petro-electric tramcar built at Strode Engineering Works in Herne. The wooden theatre at the entrance to the Pier which had been retained from the second Herne Bay Pier was destroyed by fire in 1928.

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw the end of the tram service. For the duration of the war the pier was closed and encased in barbed wire in case the Germans decided to mount their attack on England from Herne Bay. As an extra precaution two sections of the pier were removed completely in 1940.

In 1948 Herne Bay experienced another terrible storm, equal to that of 1897. Five years later, in 1953 the east coast of Britain took a terrible battering in February and the seafront and its properties were flooded. Ten years later, in the terrible winter of 1963, the sea froze. The pier which had stood for almost seventy years was beaten by the elements and declared unsafe. It closed in 1968. The Grand Pavilion remained open at the shoreward end but was destroyed by fire in 1970, whilst work was being carried out on the pier entrance. A new sports and leisure centre, officially opened by the Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Heath on 5 September 1976, has replaced the pavilion.

Local anglers were among campaigners pressing for the pier neck to be restored, but a severe storm on 11 January 1978 ended all speculation as the majority of the pier neck collapsed.

Since then the Pier head has been left isolated at sea, a poignant reminder to residents and visitors of Herne Bay's past glories. Local inhabitants, fishermen and tourists alike have never let go of the idea of the Herne Bay Pier being rebuilt to its original glory. In spring 2009 Canterbury City Council agreed to the formation of the Herne Bay Pier Trust. The main objective of the Trust is the preservation, renovation, reconstruction and enhancement of Herne Bay Pier. Canterbury City Council does not have the funding for such a project, so it is up to independent and possibly European Funding to see this beautiful example of Victorian engineering brought back to its original glory...

From: The Herne Bay Pier Trust