625 people were interviewed onsite at Westwood Cross during July 2007 by B Market Research Services. You can read a summary of this in a free PDA document.

Some of the questions that the 625 shoppers at westwood were asked was what they liked about our town centres and what they would like to see improved. Apparently out of all 625 people no one liked anything in Margate leaving Ramsgate and Broadstairs being much more popular.

When it came to what could be improved about the area people wnated more and better shops and better parking conditions as the except shows:

When asked the one thing people particularly liked about each of the town centres in Thanet the top answers were; Primark, being near to the beach and nothing for Margate, the harbour, specialist shops and pedestrianisation for Ramsgate and the beach, specialist shops and cafes/restaurants for Broadstairs.

When asked the one thing that would improve their shopping visits to each of the town centres the top responses were; more shops, free/more convenient parking and regeneration for Margate, more shops, free/more convenient parking and nothing for Ramsgate and free/more convenient parking, more shops and nothing for Broadstairs.

What I must ask is: why has it has taken Thanet Council more than a year of constant nagging to even realise that parking in Margate might need to be addressed? They have been aware of the need and the desire of the people for more than a year. Are the council realy useless, stupid or inept or is it that those with any power just don't give a damn?