Immediate action is called for by MP Laura Sandys as part of her ongoing campaign to conserve Cliftonville.

Ms Sandys is urging people to email their local councillor without delay in support of a motion due before Thanet District Council on February 27.

Councillor Julie Marson, shadow cabinet member for housing and planning, will be putting the motion to Full Council that most of Cliftonville West be designated a conservation area.

This follows a successful meeting on the issue in Cliftonville, hosted by Ms Sandys and attended by more than 70 people.

The MP said she had been thrilled that passion and enthusiasm for her Conserving Cliftonville’s ‘Camelot’ campaign was evident.

Ms Sandys said: “Designation would undoubtedly help us access funding and tackle rogue landlords with dilapidated properties but it is also about much more than that: it would give the town a new ambition and branding.

“I was particularly pleased that after over a year of requesting the publication of the conservation appraisals undertaken by English Heritage, Thanet District Council published them an hour before my meeting. Whilst they are several years old, there is no reason for any further delay and action must be taken now.

“Cllr Marson’s motion therefore needs everyone’s support to make it through the next meeting of Full Council on Thursday, February 27. I hope that local residents will email their local councillors urging them to support the motion.”

Cllr Marson, Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said: “The message from the Cliftonville meeting was very clear: local residents want conservation areas. I absolutely agree with them and to be frank, why should the council hold off designating Cliftonville’s conservation areas any longer? The appraisals were undertaken years ago and nothing has happened.

“The community wants action now and as elected representatives it’s our responsibility to ensure that they get it. I very much hope that other councillors are listening to local residents and will support this motion accordingly.”

The motion will be voted on at the Full Council meeting.

BLOB: To e-mail your local councillor, visit: www.writetothem.com For more on the Conserving Cliftonville’s ‘Camelot’ campaign, visit: http://telllaura.org.uk/petition