A Message from the Mayor of Ramsgate - January 2022

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well.

Ramsgate has had a great summer season. Visitors returned bringing much needed support to our local businesses and events. Our summer kicked off with Ramsgate Week which proved very popular. We hosted the National Kite Surfing Championships for the third year running, had a Festival of Sound and the annual Ramsgate Carnival. These events were a great success and a big thank you to all the supporters, volunteers, and performers.

We had a wonderful ‘Thank You Day’ for all our key workers and NHS staff. I would like to thank the Town Promoter, Rebekah Smith, whose hard work and help made the day run so smoothly.

To celebrate the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) we had a beach clean-up. Thanks to all those who volunteered. Without the many volunteers in Ramsgate who give their time and service, many of the events we have would not be possible.

This year was the 200th anniversary of Ramsgate Royal Harbour, granted the title by George IV in 1821. Ramsgate has the only Royal Harbour in the country. This year we marked the bicentennial with three days of entertainment and celebrations. As your Mayor, I was so proud to be part of this historic event and would like to thank Ralph Hoult and his team and the wonderful officers of Ramsgate Town Council who helped to make the celebrations so memorable.

I am so proud to represent this wonderful town with its amazing community spirit. I would like to thank all those residents and visitors who attended all the events, because without your support, none of these activities would be possible. Your support keeps our small businesses going and brings our town to life. There will be many more events and I look forward to seeing all our regular and new visitors to our future celebrations.

If you are interested in joining my monthly litter picking event, you will be very welcome. This activity takes place on the last Thursday of every month at 10am, meeting at the Salvation Army in Ramsgate. I am donating free litter pickers. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and make a difference to our town.

To all my residents, I continue to be available as your Town Councillor and Thanet District Councillor and will continue to work hard on your behalf as well as representing and promoting Ramsgate as your Mayor.

Lastly, I would like to welcome our new Town Clerk, Laura Fidler, to Ramsgate Town Council, who I look forward to working with.

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone peace and happiness in 2022.

Written by:
Councillor Raushan Ara,
Mayor of Ramsgate,
Councillor for Central Harbour Ward