April replies

July 2007 | home thanetonline.com michaelsbookshop.com Click here for books about The Isle of Thanet Dangerous cliff ?

this link takes you to the rest of my Pleasurama site this link takes you to my previous correspondence

My attempts learn about the Pleasurama project have lead me into a dialogue with Thanet District Council about their website and the way they pass on correspondence to councillors. Click on the links above to read the correspondence.

April replies

Subject: Re: Hundreds of tons of sand, flints and chalk boulders Date: 03/04/2007 12:06:27 GMT Standard Time From: Michael Child

Reply To:
To:	iris.johnston@btinternet.com

Iris thanks for the courtesy of replying, I am now totally certain that the building as planned would be in danger of serious damage during a tidal surge and storm, possibly resulting in loss of life. The glass front of the children’s play area for instance is about 20 m behind the concrete slope where the waves are at a normal high tide now. I think in fact that the children’s play area is about where the 12 ton crane landed in 1953 which illustrates the point fairly clearly. Were a tidal surge combined with a storm to happen during the night it would be difficult to evacuate the building quickly enough, looking at the pictures of the storm damage to the harbour wall in 1978 there can be little doubt as to what would happen to those parts of the building without a considerable amount of beach above the high tide mark in front of it. We lost so much beach this winter that sea defence in front of the pavilion is being undermined, something I have never seen before. I am worried that if something isn’t done there soon the pavilion could be damaged, in 1953 there was a huge beach above high tide level in front of it.

I am trying to be a bit more efficient at publishing peoples replies this month at http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/tdc/id29.htm where you will also find some pictures taken 1.4.07 that illustrate the problem with the pavilion.

Best Michael

April replies.

Subject: Re: Hundreds of tons of sand, flints and chalk boulders Date: 02/04/2007 18:50:10 GMT Standard Time From: iris.johnston@btinternet.com

Reply To:
To:	MichaelChild@aol.com

Thank you for keeping me informed. Iris

Subject:		RE: Hundreds of tons of sand, flints and chalk boulders
Date:		02/04/2007 15:15:52 GMT Standard Time
From:		poole@btinternet.com
Reply To:
To:	MichaelChild@aol.com

Thanks Michael………..

Subject: Hundreds of tons of sand, flints and chalk boulders Date: 02/04/2007 15:05:48 GMT Standard Time From: Michael Child

Reply To:
To:	HES@thanet.gov.uk
CC:	Doug.Brown@thanet.gov.uk, terry@wwheeler.freeserve.co.uk, winterstoke@tiscali.it, mauriceburton@btinternet.com, rjwinramsgate@tiscali.co.uk, peterjude@landi4.freeserve.co.uk, terra_nova@btconnect.com, richglen@clements320.fsnet.co.uk, ralph@ralphhoult.co.uk, mrsmknight@hotmail.co.uk, Michael Child, margatemuseum@btconnect.com, lauraprobert@btinternet.com, Kedajone, johnmac1941@hotmail.com, jocelynm@talktalk.net, info@clivebaker.co.uk, fiona.fennell@kent.gov.uk, eddie@ramsgatebrewery.co.uk, curator@greatstorm.fsnet.co.uk, batt977@btinternet.com catblake@freeuk.com, poole@btinternet.com, sandy.ezekiel@thanet.gov.uk, CC: llaldred@yahoo.co.uk Bobbreggub robert.bayford@thanet.gov.uk jobooth@tinyworld.co.uk jackbernard.cohen@virgin.net cook_barbara_ann@hotmail.com kaydark@hotmail.com simonday@clara.co.uk trevoremes@freenet.co.uk michellefenner@hotmail.com johnfullarton@hotmail.com bowenfuller@hotmail.com brianandann@birchpark.fs.co.uk greenliz@btinternet.com AGreg115 Ian.Gregory@ekht.nhs.uk cllrboggs@hotmail.com bill-hayton@bhayton.fsnet.co.uk charles.hibberd@thanet.gov.uk higgsl@parliament.uk Iris.johnston@btinternet.com john.kirby@thanet.gov.uk roger.latchford@btinternet.com roger.latchford@thanet.gov.uk Jeff.Kirkpatrick@btinternet.com barbara.nicholson216@tesco.net richard@rnicholson3.wanadoo.co.uk william.peppiatt@thanet.gov.uk ingrid.spencer@talk21.com ingrid.spencer@thanet.gov.uk margatecarnival@tesco.net steve_ward@btinternet.com zita@wiltshire1.fsworld.co.uk martin.wise@thanet.gov.uk Claire.Sivier@thanet.gov.uk lucy.tuson@thanet.gov.uk editorial@kosmedia.co.uk eleonard@thekmgroup.co.uk editor.thanet@kentregionalnewspapers.co.uk thanetextra@thekmgroup.co.uk news@meridiantv.com newsdesk.thanet@kentregionalnewspapers.co.uk southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk Annette.Firmin@thanet.gov.uk Committee@thanet.gov.uk jdr_kent@yahoo.com howardm@parliament.uk steveladyman@email.labour.org.uk GaleRJ@parliament.uk enquiryodpm@odpm.gsi.gov.uk cpocrown@odpm.gsi.gov.uk dc@odpm.gsi.gov.uk devplan@odpm.gsi.gov.uk regplan@odpm.gsi.gov.uk hens@thecoop.orangehome.co.uk laura@sandys.org.uk LadymanS@parliament.uk bobsimmonds@surefish.co.uk Terry.Prue@hpiresearch.com Michaelsbookshop

Update

Over the weekend I managed to successfully work out the tidal surge level above datum that has occurred in Ramsgate in the past. In the simplest terms it is about the same level as the floor of the new building.

I have also had a very helpful letter from Brian White, who has promised to take up the matter with the environment agency for us. He also sent me the plans, unfortunately there was a mistake and I didn’t get copies of all the latest sheets, however I am sure he will send them so I can accurately measure them.

Below calculations, explanations, newspaper article on the 1953 tidal surge (courtesy EKMT) and address to find the letters.

Best Michael.

All measurements of height above sea level on maps, navigational charts and architectural drawings are above datum, this is the lowest level reached by a low tide.

The height for the harbour cross wall above datum is 6 meters, in the end I went down there with a navigational chart and measured it. I have documentary evidence that it is flooded by a depth of as much as 0.45 meters during tidal surges, this weeks ordinary spring tides being 5 the level of the car new park at best being 6.2 and the floor of the new building at best 6.45 taking into account the probable effects of global warming it would seem that a level of 7.3 could occur in the next 50 years. With any sort of sea running there could be a catastrophic situation.

Thanet Advertiser and Echo 3rd Feb 1953

Hundreds of tons of sand, flints and chalk boulders were washed up on to the Colonnade and the Royal Victoria Pavilion looked as if it was actually on the beach.

Further along the Marina, public seats were smashed and summer kiosks damaged. A twelve-ton crane which was being used for the removal of flints was carried along the promenade and swung into the roadway by the force of the seas.

At the eastern end of the seafront, a door was torn off the public toilet accommodation and a large stone slab lifted.

Ramsgate's Marina Bathing and Boating Pools were filled brimful and dressing accommodation and storerooms completely flooded. Examination of the fabric of the pool's walls showed, however, that there had been no structural damage and their opening for the 1953 season will not be retarded in any way.

http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/tdc/april.htm