In Parade
I'm joining MP, Roger Gale for his regular surgery at Westgate library today and looking at the appointments, it looks to be a busy one, through to 1'O'clock and broadly reflective of the circumstances that the country now finds itself in.At the council's cabinet meeting on Thursday, the jaw-dropping size of our share of the bill for our 'Boom and Bust' economy became clear with the budget and medium term financial strategy report and which the local paper reports as being close to £6 million over the next five years. People often forget that approximately 60% of the council's funding of the net revenue budget, (the costs of providing core council services),

The Grand Planning Plan
If you recall the 2007 protest against building a block of flats in Westgate's Harold Avenue, part of the conservation area, you may also remember that the developer's appeal against a refusal, went to the Government's 'Planning Inspectorate' and like another appeal, Beach Rise in Westgate, was swiftly granted.Last week I received notice from the council that the developer now wishes to swap the block of flats application for nine houses on the same spot (F/TH/09/0674) and so I have asked that this new application be referred back to the TDC planning committee and expect my fellow ward councillors will do the same. It's bad enough, I thought, trying to squeeze

Tony for Prez
Tony Blair's hopes of becoming President of the new Europe appear to be fading fast and even the best efforts of Thanet's Labour group to support him, may not be enough to tip the balance in his favour.I've been busy re-reading George Orwell's novel. '

Clocks Back
The clocks are back, sunset, my watch tells me is at 16:48 and Ottos, the world's oldest dog (pictured) can enjoy a well-deserved nap.Sunday, is however a workday for me for the next month or so, as I've a project in Abu Dhabi to complete and it's a normal day of the week, until about midday, b

On the QT
What a stunning morning! The autumn colours remind me of New England.Yesterday evening, I was over at St Saviours church in Westgate, where the Reverend Tom Barnfather was welcomed by the local and faiths community as the new priest. Cllr Tom King welcomed him on behalf of the Westgate Residents Association and I'm sure readers would like to join all of us in welcoming him to his new Ministry in Westgate.Strangely enough, during the service, it was promised we would all be home in time for the BBC's highly controversial Question Time. I won't make any other comment, other than to say that I still believe, in the interests of impartiality and political debate, that it