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I spent most of today in Margate with KCC's central policy
team.
There is a mass of data and statistics available to tell us
about our communities, from deprivation figures and unemployment
statistics, to the health of its residents.
Nothing compares with seeing the challenges and opportunities
first hand. I set down a challenge to the team to look at how we
can further shape future council policy to benefit the area and its
residents.
There are so many exciting things happening in the area. Turner
Contemporary is a step closer with planning permission now granted
and a developer to be selected in the near future.
A planning brief for Dreamland will shape future development on
what is currently a pretty forlorn site and the flow of investment
coming into the town is aiding its revival.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services starting in November
2009 will bring Thanet even closer to London, opening up enormous
opportunities to this part of Kent.
The chief executive of Kent International Airport, Matt Clarke,
outlined the future plans for the airport at Manston to give the
airport, the local economy and the local workforce a growing and
sustainable future.
A million passenger movements would create more than a thousand
direct jobs at the airport. The International Air Transport
Association estimates that the knock on effect to the local economy
is closer to 4,000 jobs.
The future for Margate and Thanet is bright and bursting with
potential. We must make the most of it for
everyone. |