Local update

Eight Thanet community projects move towards Pride in Place funding

Play areas, a heritage trail, a community hall, road safety work and a skatepark are among eight Thanet projects backed by a council funding panel.

Published 2 September 2026

Illustration of Thanet community improvements, including a play area, heritage trail, community hall, road crossing, sports pitch, skatepark and public green space. — Thanet Directory. Source and licence.

Eight projects proposed by parish and town councils have received support from Thanet District Council's Pride in Place Impact Fund panel. The package covers Acol, Birchington, Cliffsend, Manston, Minster, Monkton, St Nicholas at Wade and Sarre, and Westgate-on-Sea.

The panel agreed on 24 July to support all eight proposals. The projected total is £137,470, which is higher than the original £100,000 set aside for this part of the fund. That does not mean every project can start immediately. The council says each award remains subject to statutory permissions, due diligence and a signed grant agreement. Final scheme recommendations are due to go to the council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Cabinet in autumn 2026.

The eight projects

Acol Recreation Ground play area renewal: £19,600.
Birchington place and belonging project: £20,000.
Cliffsend heritage trail: £13,370.
Pride in play, a Manston Park upgrade: £20,000.
Replacement of the artificial grass pitch mat in Minster: £20,000.
Monkton Community Hall redevelopment: £19,500.
Community road safety improvements in St Nicholas at Wade and Sarre: £5,000.
Phase two of the Lymington Road skateboard park in Westgate-on-Sea: £20,000.

What has been confirmed locally

Westgate-on-Sea Town Council says its £20,000 award is intended to complete phase two of the Lymington Road skatepark. It plans to start work in early September and is aiming for completion in late autumn. Phase one, a concrete ramp, opened in March.

The Manston proposal follows other recent work at Manston Park. The parish council replaced damaged goal posts and reseeded the goal areas in May. Its new £20,000 proposal is listed by the district council as a wider park upgrade, but a detailed timetable has not yet been published on the parish council website.

What to look for next

Residents should look to their parish or town council for dates, temporary closures and final designs. The district council has been clear that statutory permissions and grant agreements still need to be completed. That distinction matters: the panel has backed the projects, but some practical details can still change before work begins.

This page will be updated when councils publish confirmed start dates or material changes to the schemes.

Sources checked

Details can change. Check directly with a venue before making a special journey.

Thanet District Council: eight projects backed by funding panel · Confirms the panel decision, eight project names, allocations, conditions and autumn decision path.
Thanet District Council: Pride in Place Impact Fund proposals · Explains the wider fund, its objectives, initial £100,000 village allocation and March 2027 delivery target.
Westgate-on-Sea Town Council: phase two funding update · Confirms the local £20,000 award, intended use and provisional work window.
Westgate-on-Sea Town Council: phase one completion · Confirms that the first concrete ramp opened in March 2026.
Manston Parish Council: goal post works · Confirms recent work at Manston Park and the location context. It does not confirm the scope of the new Pride in Place proposal.

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