A Message from the Mayor of Ramsgate - August 2021

In my last article, I spoke about the light of charity work, when we care for all within our community. This spring has been a beacon of hope, as many people donated time and money to some wonderful and essential causes in Thanet.

I am grateful to Ramsgate Town Council for allowing me to use £3,000 of the Mayoral Fund to donate to my chosen charities. As your Mayor, I was pleased to donate £1,000 to Thanet Winter Shelter; £500 to East Kent Mencap; £500 to the RNLI; £500 to Foreland School and £500 to the Ramsgate Sea Cadets.

I also made donations to the QEQM League of Friends and Speak Up CIC Mental Health.

As small business owners, my husband Reza and I are proud to use our restaurant to help raise awareness and funds for various charities by hosting events at The Ramsgate Tandoori. Like many restaurants we were restricted by the rules of lockdown. Instead of hosting events, we have put our kitchen to good use, providing meals for key workers, and community groups and volunteers. To celebrate Easter, we provided meals for the Winter Shelter guests, Oasis, Women's Refuge clients and other community members.

International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s contributions to the world, and a means of raising awareness of the issues which affect women. For this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8) I ran an online cookery demonstration with donations going to Oasis, an essential service for anyone suffering from domestic abuse. I would like to thank everybody who donated their talents and money to raise funds for this local charity.

This year, our Queen lost her husband of many years, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. As your Mayor, I attended a remembrance service for the Prince at the Ramsgate Cemetery, which was conducted by Father John Chater. I also attended the licencing of the Reverend Paul Worledge, as the incumbent Vicar of St. Georges' Church. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to Paul, Fiona his wife and their family.

Ramsgate is opening up and many visitors are returning. Let’s keep the town open by practising our social distancing, wearing face masks in groups and in shops, and together we can keep our visitors and ourselves safe and prevent another lockdown.

Please be aware that vehicles and cycling are not permitted between the hours of 10am to 5pm in Ramsgate Town Centre. This is part of the many improvements and developments taking place in Ramsgate. Part of our efforts to improve the town centre is to keep it well maintained and tidy, thanks to the hard work of our Ramsgate Town Council Technicians, the Thanet District Council Street Cleaner and the community volunteers. We can all do our part by putting waste in bins and as businesses by keeping shopfronts tidy and cleaning the pavement outside of our premises. Together we can make Ramsgate a wonderful place to live and visit.

I am always available for my residents. If there is anything that I can do for you, or help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Written by:
Councillor Raushan Ara,
Mayor of Ramsgate