A splash of beach-themed colour has been added to part of Westgate thanks to the efforts of Bethany’s sandwich bar and café, young artist Libby Owens, retired businessman Mike Wiseman and Ammit from the Premier shop in Cambourne Avenue.
Clare and Steven Barnes, who own Bethany’s in Lymington Road, put out a call for ideas to brighten up the corner of ‘Little Westgate’ and received a brilliant response.
Ursuline student Libby, 16, spent 15 hours creating a wonderful seaside mural and Mike installed lots of work by local schoolchildren that had been displayed the West Bay and St Mildred’s Bay shelters until Thanet council removed them for maintenance work in 2022.
Ammit has let his shop be used to display the colourful art and brighten up the parade.
Clare said: “There is more of the children’s artwork going up on more of the boards. They were put up on the shelters at Westgate beach also but they’ve been taken down by the council, but thankfully retrieved by Mike Wiseman.
“We’ve had quite a lot of children come by to find them, so as many as possible will be displayed soon thanks to Ammit at the Premier for letting us use his boards.
“Libby Owens gave up 15 hours to create her beautiful picture. She’s a talented girl and it really brightens up Little Westgate as we call it.”
What a fantastic sight and site to display local talent. Thank you Ammit for allowing this talent to be displayed in such a prominent position. Thank you also Clare and Steven Barnes for thinking up this idea. Most of all Thank you to Mike Wiseman for at his tender age still wanting to retain a community atmosphere and relationship within Westgate.
We are extremely lucky to have such a community spirit in Westgate. BUT… a note of warning… make the most of it.
When the 2000 planned houses on the fields either side of Minster Road are built and full of south London dross it’ll become the same as the toilet that is Margate.
My house is already on the market.