29 December 2008
17:1311624#1
Hi all,
Hope you all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a lovely New Year.
Just thought I'd draw your attention to the following thought-provoking and highly-pertinent article by Libby Purves on today's Times website (see link below).
Could our own fair town - and the district at large - benefit from the sort of enlightened outside-the-box thinking illuminated in the article?
Worth a thought. It could be a great solution to the tyranny of empty shops before redevelopment and the economy get going again in earnest.
Look forward to your feedback.
Regards,
Andy
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/libby_purves/article5408244.eceGuest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
29 December 2008
20:0611635#2
Couple those ideas with the decorating ideas of Jeanette's LRCF and we could be onto a winner.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
29 December 2008
20:0911637#3
Thank you - maybe we need to wholly re-evaluate how we use our spaces? Pause for thought..........
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
29 December 2008
20:1811641#4
two things that caught my eye through the general haze.
1) zero business rates for boarded up shops, to be used by a prospective retailer just starting out, or voluntary groups.
2) park wardens!!
making our open spaces feel safer and more pleasant for the general public.
any comments ian??
Unregistered User
29 December 2008
20:3211643#5
Have to say the Business Rate element would not upset me. Don't believe Councils currently have those powers. They have been lobbying Government for reductions.Park wardens? Why can't PSCO's or Community wardens join in & do the job? Could see a role for youth outreach workers as well where they exist.More use of Bandstands i.e. Pencester , I agree.
Deal is currently consulting about moving the market into the northern High St [currently in a car park] to enliven it.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
29 December 2008
22:0811649#6
paul
i think that pcso's have enough on their plate.
i would like to see dedicated "parkies", not many needed in our town to cover open spaces.
if this is not covered by council's budget, ask seera or seeda to give some money back to pay for something useful.
incidentally, next time you see susan, could you ask her to bring back the park benches.?
30 December 2008
09:0111661#7
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
30 December 2008
11:0011667#8
I think there are some good ideas there, especially making (community) use of closed shops - until someone wants to use it as a shop (or whatever business), but there is a mountain of red-tape and permissions etc. - that's where a business support body would come in.
I think that with all the millions being put into Dover for regeneration, that it is essential that a river warden is employed to patrol the river - they could also patrol the parks and gardens here, but they must be given the authority to stop people who are illegally fishing and be able to issue fines for various river-related offences.
I have many ideas how the Town could be brought to life and made to look better, feel safer and restore the Pride in Dover.
I've said many of them on here too, but who's listening ?? no one (probably).
New thoughts and a CAN DO attitude is what is required - oh, and funding too of course.
Roger
30 December 2008
11:1111668#9
Above all it's the Can Do approach and the will to make the very best of any and every opportunity. Oh, and the funding....!!!!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2008
18:0011702#10
roger
have been saying the same thing about a river/parks warden for ages.
is it really that expensive?
surely on the spot fines for drinking in these areas,littering and illegal fishing would more than cover the start up costs, training and wages of a warden or two
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2008
18:0011703#11
roger
have been saying the same thing about a river/parks warden for ages.
is it really that expensive?
surely on the spot fines for drinking in these areas,littering and illegal fishing would more than cover the start up costs, training and wages of a warden or two
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
30 December 2008
19:3811711#12
As we trawled the last of the bargains in Woolworths the other day I took the time to gaze at the shocking empty lump that will serve as a reminder that the big name shops are not 'here to save our high streets'. How long we have JJB for I don't know but it now fills half the space once occupied by a beautiful Victorian building. I'm all for new buildings and replacing old with new when necessary, but please let it be as good if not better than what went before.
The woollies 'building' has left us with another problem to rectify, because once again 'forward planning' has failed to provide capacity. Now I appreciate that at the time this mess was allowed through the planning process, many felt that Woolworths would save our high street, in much the same many feel the same about Asda. Did it provide the 'healthy competition' that popular capitalists would have you believe? I don't think so, although it remained, to me and my family, as a pretty good and useful shop for the town.
My problem is for a shop with such a deep plan it has very little frontage and I would be interested to know who on earth would take on a space like this? Admittedly it would perhaps be viable if the side were opened creating a number of bays, although this would be madness opening out onto what is essentially a side street (Priory Street). It was done with the last woollies, but filled by 'big names' and optimising a twin frontage (one in Worthington Street), this being said there is a still a huge amount of wasted space behind New Look, Savers and Ladbrokes. When we talk about the 'sustainability' of high streets and town centres I really can't see how the big players, requiring vast spaces are in any way 'sustainable' These spaces are just not in scale with the town (classic 60's and 70's mentality), other examples in the town are: the space underneath the Inland Revenue (Centurion House?); Tesco Home and Ware on Pencester; the MFI thing and the space above the Charlton centre. Too big to use as one space, yet too rigid or lacking in light to split into smaller yet useful units. Much of the time an 'indoor market' approach is the only choice and we already have one of those!
So what becomes of the twin turreted lump that stands on a site where a delightful facade once stood? What makes it even worse is round the back, so poorly detailed that the green streaks of rain water stain the rendered walls held together by random pieces of galvanised metal.
What were they thinking?
30 December 2008
19:4611712#13
It is a truly horrible building. Ugly doesn't do it justice.
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
30 December 2008
20:0411715#14
I saw the article too Andrew. I have never ceased to wonder why Britons are so averse to going out for a walk of a fine evening. People use fear of violence as an excuse for not entering the town centre, but why oh why do more people not make use of our seafront, drag their overstuffed selves away from the TV and get some exercise?
If this was anywhere on the continent, the seafront would be packed on fine summer evenings. As it is all you see is a few tourists families dong the sensible thing, and a tiny smattering of locals.
It makes me wonder - where DO people get to at such times? Walled up in their little fortresses with the curtains drawn, miserably watching EastEnders, most likely.
Tragic.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
30 December 2008
20:1611717#15
Andrew
I agree with your comments.During term time my daughter and I go to the seafront most mornings for a short walk before school.
However the problem with Dover seafront is that as usual planners decided to cut it off from the town and its inhabitants by placing a very busy and noisy dual carriage way in its path, which can be crossed at your peril as you wait,stranded in the middle,whilst waiting for the 'other' lights to change.A very daunting journey.
You may of course select to cross to the seafront using the pis*ridden underpass by tackling the steps down and up or take the scenic route of the gently rising slope reserved for skateboarders and idiots riding bikes.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
30 December 2008
20:2111718#16
the underpass is unpleasant leading to the lovely seafront, but just as importantly, where does one get light refreshments?
the only outlet opens at certain times during the summer, no-one knows when.
the cafe at the end of the pier has a similar opening schedule.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
30 December 2008
21:2811723#17
Howard
Have to agree with you ref underpass, sad realy when you see how many people use it to go from the town to the seafront, not the most inviting route.
shame cafe's not open even on a basis like summer only so people know.
its so nice on the seafront i love it down there .
31 December 2008
08:0011735#18
Absolutely - we love the seafront and I prefer it to others like Folkestone, but the route to get there is horrible, and for those who need them there is little in the ways of decent light refreshments. It's sad that, yet again, a decent attraction in Dover, although well maintained, just misses the mark through a lack of some sort. We so nearly make it in some areas but fall short of the mark and it seems so avoidable. But, ending on the positive, it is a lovely seafront and I am enjoying showing it off to my Mother, who is visiting!!!
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
31 December 2008
18:2911762#19
Howard.
you know my feelings, what is the point of making comments?
Iv'e been banging on about it for the last 25yrs to no avail, I am not prepaired to do it any more.
What you must remember is that you have an official body in charge of the river now, they will sort the illegal fishing out, they will sort the fly tipping out and all other crimes associated with the river.
The E.A do drop by once in a blue mooooooon.
IF any of you believe that I shall book myself into rehab next week
Iv'e thrown away their telephone number away now as that was worse than trying to get the coppers to attend a crime.
Have a nice new year.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
31 December 2008
21:2111776#20
It wouldn't surprise me if Wilkinson or even Morrisons decided to move into the Woolies building - the lack of frontage could quite easily be improved by putting side window in.
Just looking at the old building, a shame it went (Copyright Dover Musuem)
Been nice knowing you :)
