Thanet residents and businesses are being urged to vote for superfast broadband to be made available across the area.

The campaign, Make Kent Quicker, is being run by Kent County Council and aims to show Internet providers that there is a high demand for superfast broadband across Kent.

Thanet District Council is supporting the campaign to get improved broadband services in Thanet which will make a real difference for residents, schools and businesses.

More than 5,000 people have already signed up to say they want better broadband in Kent but many more are needed to ensure providers can see the demand for quicker services.

The ambition is for 90 per cent of homes and businesses to have superfast broadband access by 2015. Kent County Council and the Government are investing more than £20 million to help make this happen.

Cllr. Clive Hart, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: The campaign is a great ambition for Kent and one that we fully support.

He added: We urge all residents to vote for faster broadband for Thanet to ensure that Internet providers see the high demand for this service in the local area and invest in the improvements. It only takes a few minutes to register your demand and every vote will make a massive difference to the potential to secure faster broadband for Thanet. Get your family, friends and neighbours involved too.

It seems that a local Kent County Council representative has started a minor spat with a a member of the Thanet local independent press.

Council member Chris Wells has, with an ill considered choice of words, offended local blog writer Tony Flaig. Mr Wells has offered a qualified apology in his defence which Mr Flaig has published. Cllr Wells was not available for comment at time of going to press.

BIGNEWS MARGATE: What standards? Councillor Wells " I am expected to follow a code of behaviour different than that expected of members of the public"

Really? Well maybe councillors are somehow different, anyhow I personally think we should all try and maintain a bit of dignity in our lives.

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Thanet District Council is now asking members of the public for their views on proposals for regular night-time flying at Manston Airport.

The night flight proposals were submitted by Infratil, owners of the airport, in last October last year following which Thanet District Council commissioned an independent report which is, in places, fairly critical of the proposals suggestions. There is now a public consultation.

There is a look at the issues on Thanet Star and another on Thanet Online.

The consultation is open to all members of the public as well as Town and Parish Councils, Chambers of Commerce, Community and Residents Associations and Special Interest Groups established in Thanet. Responses received from residents within the Canterbury City Council boundary will be shared with Canterbury City Council.

Your comments may be submitted by email or by post and must include your full name, address and postcode to be valid. You can email consultation@thanet.gov.uk or you can put it int he post and send it to:

Don't forget your postcode and be sure to state clearly if you are opposing or supporting the proposal.

Occupy Thanet have been making headlines if only for camping out in the snow.

Here is a cross section of blog reports.

STATEMENT FROM OCCUPY THANET « thanetwatch

This is a statement from the Occupy Thanet group which is currently camped outside the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate…Occupy Thanet was started in response to the many Occupy protests emerging across the world. It is people coming together to ensure that our voices are heard.

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Occupy Thanet! Mini protest camp braves the freezing Margate snow | urban75 blog

Huddled up next to Margate's shiny new Turner Contemporary Gallery for warmth against the February snow is an 'Occupy Thanet' protest

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OCCUPY THANET IN MARGATE SNOW | Ian Bone

Nice picture from Mike Slocombe of URBAN 75 of a few tents huudled in the snow next to Margate’s new Turner gallery. Something quite heroic about the few punters daring to do this……..ALL HAIL – WE HAVE NOTICED AND SALUTE YOUR STRUGGLE.

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Our council may be powerless to prevent night flights at Manston Airport it has been announced

The story (covered by ThisIsKent (below)) refers to a paragraph in a recent independent report commissioned by our council. It would seem that a weakly worded section 106 agreement may be to blame for this.

The report by Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd says on page 14: It is important to note that the wording of the S106 makes it clear that whilst the Council will be consulted and their views will be assessed, if the airport decides not to adhere to any views or suggestions as to changes to the policy, they are under no obligation to do so.

Council cancels £50,000 survey over night flights | This is Kent

THANET council could be powerless to stop night flights regardless of residents' views, it was revealed this week.Legal advice sought by the council on the application for limited flights between 11pm...

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Given that the report by Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd says: The analysis of the noise impacts have, in our opinion, resulted in an underestimation of the potential adverse impacts on residents in the area this could be cause for some significant worry by people living under the flight path.

Furthermore even if night time flights become a regular and scheduled part of operations at the Manston Airport doubts have been raised as to weather this would create even one more job in the area says the independent assessment by Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd.

Given that Manston Airport currently employs a proportionately large workforce for a small throughput, growth of passengers and freight in the short term may not necessarily lead to a significant employment and hence economic impact.

The council is currently seeking further advice.

Thanet Council have announced a reshaping of the way the cabinet works.

These changes have, according to Cllr Clive Hart been made to create better efficiency. This is not a cabinet reshuffle but a portfolio re-shuffle.

There will still be five Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet portfolio holders, but their portfolio will now line up to each of the council’s five service areas.

Cllr Hart said These changes aim to simplify the way the council works by matching up each Cabinet Member to one of the council’s five service areas. That means we will be working with one senior manager, whereas previously, some Cabinet Members were dealing with two of three senior managers. That didn’t seem to be a good use of resources to me, especially as the council is aiming to be as efficient as possible in everything it does.

Controversial plans to build a new community centre in a Broadstairs park have failed to gain council approval, as they would lead to a loss of open space.

The plans for a new community centre in Pierremont Park were given the promise of financial support by Thanet District Council in 2005. A planning application was then approved by the council in February 2010, but the council still had to give the go ahead for the scheme, as it involved building on land that not previously been leased in a public park.

The council advertised the proposed lease in November 2011 and 10 responses were received, with nine objecting to the plans. Further objections have since been received by the council. Concerns raised include:

• The proposals will damage the park, lead to a loss of trees and open spaces,
• There are other alternative facilities in Broadstairs, so this scheme is no longer needed, and
• It is not a good use of taxpayers' money in the current financial climate.

As a result of these concerns, Cabinet last night (Thursday 5 January) decided that they would not grant a lease to the Broadstairs and St. Peter's Community Centre Trust for the new community centre to be built. Instead, the Cabinet will now investigate, with Broadstairs and St. Peter's Town Council, ways in which the existing buildings in the park can either be replaced or improved to provide better community facilities for the town.

Cllr. Alan Poole, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: I appreciate that this issue has a long history, with much time and effort put into this project by this council over the years. However, as a new administration, we needed to re-look at this and, of course, we're aware of the almost universal objections to this project, which we need to consider carefully. Having done that, we cannot grant this lease, as it will lead to a loss of public open space, which many people have concerns about. Equally however, we know that more needs to be done. That's why we'll now be working with the town council to look at how we can improve community facilities in Broadstairs, but without impacting on the open space in the park, which we are committed to preserving.

BBC News - Joanna Lumley backs long distance animal transport ban

Actress Joanna Lumley launches a campaign to end long distance animal transportation.

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What do you think about Ramsgate being used for live animal exports?