Going Dutch

I see Councillor Biggles is getting his joystick in a lather over on Thanet Life about the new KLM flights that began today from the Ile's RAF London Kent Manston Margate Tracey Emin Schipol International Airport.

Bizarrely, I find myself in agreement with our very own teeny-tiny banner-tugger for once!

After all, Thanet is now connected to everywhere in the world, and soon we'll be swamped with gazillions of foreign visitors, all cramming their way onto the island to get a glimpse of our lovely attractions! According to a UKIP pamphlet which flopped through my letterbox this morning, at least 29 million of them will be coming from Bulgaria and Romania! Hurrah!

Of course, I won't be using the service myself as I have my own private Lear jet permanently parked at RAFLKMMTESIA, ready to thrust me off to my other homes in Provence, Bali and the Virgin Islands. But at least this latest development means the radar will work and the runway will be swept. And all with only a £100,000 subsidy from our taxpayers' pockets. Just the ticket!

Visitor Information Information

My spies on what I like to think of as the Croisette here in the Cannes of Kent report that the visitor information centre in the newly renovated Custom House didn't open today, despite coachloads of crumblies and other incomers being deposited in the plethora of car parks that Thanet Council has so considerately conferred on us by knocking down all our amenities.

This is curious, as I was under the impression that Ramsgate Town Council had done a deal with diminutive developer Terry Painter to provide visitorial services on a 7/7 basis. Word has it that the man who has more fingers in more pies than Greggs has suddenly and unexpectedly pulled his finger out of this particular pastry. Anyone know any more?

Still, riding to the rescue is none other than my old sparring partner Cllr/Dr Biggles, who's emailed me with details of a new tourism application he's come up with. Simes writes:

If you can spare the 50p cost of an SMS then you might like to test and let others know of a tourism application concept that I came up with. It uses some very clever technology developed and patented by one of our local companies, that leverages the latest generation of mobile phones and we've already got the likes of Avis and 118 118 using the platform for marketing purposes.

Anyway, if you want to find out at any time what's on in Thanet, send the text "tourism" to 80012 and you'll get a link sent back to your phone. From the menu you can then choose Thanet!

It's not 100% comprehensive but we are using Thanet for proof of concept collating information on local events. What makes this so unique and interesting to the larger players is that we can attach one-time vouchers that can be redeemed at local businesses; i.e. 2 for 1 deals etc

All feedback appreciated!

Happy to oblige, Simes! Although forgive me if I don't try it personally. I'm still reeling from your 'trails of breadcrumbs' diatribe a few years back, and I'd hate to think this was some ruse to snaffle my mobile number!!!

Biggles Shot Down By Standards Committee

Word on the island grapevine is that Tory Cllr/Dr Moores has had his complaint against Labour Cllr/Sherriffof Nottingham turned down by the standards people. The complaint, regarding some kind of blog-related hissy fit between Thanet Council's two political heavyweights, had already been rejected once. Now it's been rejected again on appeal.

Quite how that affects Westgate-based, banner-tugging Dr Biggles' libel case against The Sherriff, lord knows. (I would have said 'law lord', but we don't have any of those these days, do we?) As previously reported, Cllr Nottingham has obtained the services of top London libel lawyers Carter Ruck to defend himself against cabinet member Dr M's accusations.

Oh well. At least the news is an excuse to use an amusing photo which was sent to me by top Thanetian author Iain Aitch!

Clean Streets Survey Clean Gone

Browsing round Waitrose earlier, I picked up the latest edition of Thanet Tatters. 'Free news from your council' it said on the stand. Well, how could I resist?

The Duffers claim to have saved £10,000 by not distributing this exotic material door-to-door. You can now only get it from the top shelf in, er, selected outlets. Following up the cover pic of the feather duster/heart, um, thing, I zoomed to page 6. 'We want you to tell us the problems in your area,' screamed the copy under the heading 'How clean is your street?' (Filthy, actually, since you ask.) 'We need your help to identify your priorities and we promise, in return, to use your feedback to hit the places hardest that most need it!' Alright, alright, already. I'm going to tell you. You don't have to waterboard me!

Apparently a survey will be coming through my door, or I can also fill it in online at www.thanet.gov.uk/loveyourstreet. I think that's 'Love Your Street', not 'Lovey Our Street', although both would suit me now I come to think of it.

So off I trots to www.thanet.gov.uk/loveyourstreet. Here, try it yourself. www.thanet.gov.uk/loveyourstreet.

See? Nothing. Nix. Nada. Completely sausageless. 'Sorry, the page you requested could not be found.'

Now, isn't Cllr/Dr Biggles in charge of the council's IT mullarkey? And isn't he always banging on about 'joined up thinking'? Judging by this faux pas, I'd be surprised if anyone at the council was capable of joined up writing!

Update: Cllr/Dr Biggles has now fixed this link quicker than you can say 'Page 404 - not found'! Next time my Delboy laptop bursts into flames, I know who to call!

Thanet Blog Wins Politics Award

The votes are in for Tory funded Total Politics magazine's 100 best political blogs in the UK... and the winner is [drum roll]... Doctor Councillor Simon Moores (Conservative) for his veteran island blog Thanet Life!!! Hurrah!

Er, no, wait a minute, I've come over all Wogan there. No, the winner, according to Total Politics' founder and Tory doyenne of blogging, Kent's own Iain Dale (Mrs) actually is... [Get on with it - Ed]... Councillor Mark Nottingham (Labour) for his newbie Thanet blog From One End of Kent!!!! Double hurrah!!!

Although he's actually only made it to 99 out of 100 in the Labour Blogs category. And, um, they've called him From One End of Paint. Still, we'll, er, gloss over that, eh?

Click here to see Total Politics Top 100 Labour Blogs
Click here for local winner
Click here for local loser