Issue - meetings

Cabinet agreed the need for Council to promote and manage the public message around antisocial behaviour as part of civic duty responsibility and a responsibility for the safe use of all the promenades under Council’s control.

Councillor Brimm proposed, Councillor Crow-Brown seconded and Cabinet agreed that the barriers should remain locked unless the concession in situ is open and trading to allow daytime vehicular access to the lower promenade at both Palm/Walpole Bay areas.

Ms Singer presented a petition containing 45 valid signatures as follows:

“We the undersigned petition the Council to not lock the barrier leading to the Hodges Gap Promenade car park.

Currently, the barrier is being locked with 2 padlocks and is rarely open. This is certainly the case in the early morning when many people walk their dogs, go for a walk on the beach or swim in the tidal pool. This is very inconvenient to the residents of Margate since this is the only location where you can park with easy access to the beach. Older dog walkers have difficulty managing the ramps leading down from the cliff top to the beach and vice versa, while Palm Bay is the only beach in Margate that can be used by dogs all year round. Workers who need access to Hodge Gap Promenade do not seem to have a key to the second lock and have difficulty in performing their job.

People are now parking in between Hodges Gap Promenade and Newgate Lower Promenade (which also has a barrier). There is only space for 4 cars without blocking the access to anything but many times there are many cars and the barriers are being blocked all together since there is a lack of space or people drive down and leave again. This could potentially lead to a dangerous situation such as emergency services not being able to access either promenade.”

In accordance with the Council’s petition scheme, the petition will be referred to Cabinet without debate for report to the Council within three ordinary meetings.