The Eyesore of Ramsgate

Yesterday (Thursday) we went for a walk along Ramsgate Seafront.
We started off at the Eastern Undercliff:

It was very quiet and apart from a man and two dogs it was deserted.

The main beach was not much busier either. Mae is a bit reluctant for me to take photographs of the beach in case there are children playing and people may object. (I don’t agree with it myself but it seems to be the age of paranoia we live in).

I saw this rather striking image of the Lift and the top of the Ramsgate Council building with a flag flying:

The lift was working. It was not working for many a year but it was restored to it’s former glory and is now operational. We went up in it. It saved our legs!
We stood at the top over looking the seafront and harbour just where the man is standing in the previous image.

Looking over the cliff top this is what the view is:

This has been like this for years. In the ‘good old days’ there used to be a Railway Station but when I visited as a boy it was an amusement arcade and Bingo Hall with lots of rides (Helter Skelter, Bumper cars and a little train that took you from the sands up under Ramsgate to Dumpton Park). The Bingo Hall was closed down and building permission was sought by the owners but that was refused (I understand) as the requirement was to keep the facade intact. Unfortunately there was a fire that meant the whole building had to be pulled down. (How fortuitous the fire appears to have been for the owner and developer!) Great things are planned for this site. I hope to watch as the site is developed.

I just feel disappointed that this is the view over Ramsgate’s Main Beach. It is an eyesore and should not have been left like this for so long.
Ramsgate has lots to offer visitors but this not what their first view should be when they disgorge from their coaches to take the lift down to the sands!

To get a decent shot I cropped in this image to get this:

It was a pleasant walk on a lovely sunny day though.

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