Partnership gets athletics track back up and running

The Thanet Athletics Track reopened in May this year following an extensive refurbishment project, a partnership between Thanet District Council and the Coastal Academies Trust.

The council contributed £40,000 to the £80,000 project to help repair the facilities at the Royal Harbour Academy at Marlowe Way in Ramsgate.

The 400m athletics track closed in March 2025, following damage to the track and floodlights, and concerns over safety. The project involved resurfacing the track, replacing the track drainage, and repairing and upgrading the floodlights. Thanet District Council’s funding supported the floodlights.

A community use agreement is in place between Kent County Council, Royal Harbour Academy, Thanet District Council and England Athletics. This is to ensure that residents across Thanet can use the track through community programmes and special events, as well as regular club sessions. For more information on current sessions, visit the Thanet Athletics Club website.

Cllr Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services at Thanet District Council said, “Thanet District Council cares enormously about helping local people improve their overall health and wellbeing. It’s so important that Thanet residents have quality facilities and open places where they can get active. High quality sports facilities can play a really important role in improving activity levels and overall quality of life.

“Thanks to this project, many local people can literally get ‘back on track’; get up, get out and get active again. This excellent result comes from close partnership working, and I’m grateful to the Royal Harbour Academy for their commitment to reopening the track.”

Kristian Lasslett, Headteacher at the Royal Harbour Academy said, “We’re grateful to Thanet District Council and the Coastal Academies Trust for providing the funding to repair and replace the track and the floodlights to bring this great facility back to life. Their support means that our students, their families and the wider community can access top quality athletics facilities, on their doorstep.

“The track is currently enjoyed by our students and local athletics clubs. We’re keen to open up the track to as many local people as possible, and are working on plans for this at the moment.”

Julien Lawton, Chair of Thanet Athletics Track said, “It’s great that Thanet District Council and the Coastal Academies Trust has recognised the importance of repairing these floodlights so members of the Thanet Athletics Club and Thanet Running Club can get back to training on the track every week.

“We have members of all ages, who are looking forward to training and competing on the track once again.”

Further information on the Thanet Athletics Club, including session times, is available on their website.