Monday, May 25, 2009

May's Bank Holiday

Good to see my old Top Gear chum James May meandering around the Arsonists' Playground this afternoon. Unlike last year's washout, today's sunshine made Margate Meltdown, and the Ace Cafe's throbfest was rocking with rockers. And one or two mods.

What with the harbour arm packed with stalls and visitors too, it actually looked as if some thought had been put into it. Shame that stallholders were given free parking, though, while ratepayers were made to pay. But hey-ho, you can't have it all.

If only our beloved council would make an effort to put on these sorts of events here in the south. However, as previously reported, they managed to balls up our only annual shindig, the Powerboat Weekend. Seems like all we pay our council tax for here in Ramsgate is the privilege of having knackered old jumbos fly over us. Still, there's a grand old thunderstorm rumbling around the Millionaires' Playground right now. At least they can't take that away from us!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

the rest of my family went to the Manston "do" yesterday and had a very good day, good to hear of something well organised and NOTHING to do with TDC being a great success!

Anonymous said...

sorry to burst your bubble TDC helped organise both events

Anonymous said...

There's help & then there's help.

Anonymous said...

So TDC allowed the bikers to break the law and park on double yellow lines, while making sure that the car parks were covered by inspectors, to make sure that all the local residents paid their parking fees while visiting the event.

Thanks very much!

Anonymous said...

Oh boo hoo, lets all hold somewhere back!

LI said...

The bikers were not breaking the law by parking on double yellow lines as the road was closed and if it was not for the bikes there would not of been anything in Margate for people to see or do! I think the Ace Cafe should be thanked for bringing their event to Margate.

Anonymous said...

Yes well said.It was agreat day.
Different over the weekend when they were charging ten pounds to park on the harbour arm-and on sundays it is free parking in margate!!

Anonymous said...

A fantastic day - congratulations to everyone involved in organising it. If there was this much to see and do in Margate every day of the summer, the place would be bigger than Brighton.

However it was a shame that some of the bars and cafes took advantage of it to ramp up their prices for the day. I suppose the incomers would not have noticed, but us locals did. Talk about killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

LI said...

I forgot to say earlier that I heard that the pitches on the harbour arm cost £250 each - not exactly free parking.

Anonymous said...

£10 to park on there.

Anonymous said...

And how good to read on his own blog (Thanet Life) that our primary local Tory Councillor and biker, Simeon Moores, found himself "near the front" of the visiting enthusiasts.

Not for him coming up the rear, no. It is obviously true that he likes to give a good head lead.

Anonymous said...

Charging £10 to park on the harbour arm is a disgace and is simply a way of fleecing visitors who dont know where else to park. Still perhaps the Arty Brigade dont mind being ripped off by one of their own

mere mortals can park ALL DAY at dreamland carpark for a modest £2.50 or £10.00 for the week!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Is this £10 to park on the harbour arm for real?

Anonymous said...

VARIES SOMETIMES ITS £6 OR £8

Anonymous said...

ten pound on sunday-free in the town.....

Anonymous said...

Plenty of people seem to think it's cheap otherwise it wouldn't be full! Free market?

Anonymous said...

It's interesting to see such inconsistencies in your information. Colin is right that the parking on The Pier, sorry, Harbour Arm, was not free to the Ace Cafe brigade and that the double yellow lines that are wholly ignored by Thanetions of all walks were redundant due to the road closures and posted alternative use notices... and it was a great day and the bikers/mods wish to come back next year. Surely this is good for all of Thanet, even if, as according to Oscar Wilde, Margate is Ramsgate's nom de plume.