Guest 679- Registered: 7 Sep 2008
- Posts: 162
25 January 2009
16:3313840#1
Recently some members of the London Road Community Forum were invited to a meeting with DDC to discuss the ever degenerating London Road area. For a good couple of hours the LRCF had the attention of Cllr Nigel Collor, driver of the Council's new Street Scene project, as well as David Willis, head of Business and Community Transformation, and Sarah Lang of Dover Pride.
We have now been formally invited to submit an action plan outlining the improvements and changes we'd like to see happen over the next ten years.
A lot of hard work is needed to prepare a viable strategy and that's where we need your help. The LRCF recognises the untapped brilliance of the community so we'd love for you to get in touch with your ideas. Unlike with most 'consultation exercises', we will actually take notice and we cannot stress enough that this is not a closed group.
We want the action plan to be as extensive as possible because the more comprehensive the document, the more we will be taken seriously and it will be even more apparent that we are not going to go away! Together, we can effect change. Admittedly these will not happen overnight, but the right steps are being taken.
So, whether you live near London Road, drive along it, walk it or shop on it, tell us what improvements you'd like to see. The plan can include anything from foliage, to seating, lighting, better pavements, shop fronts, litter bins or buildings so get your thinking caps on and either reply here or email me at
chariman@londonroad.infoI know a million ways to always pick the wrong thing to say
Guest 679- Registered: 7 Sep 2008
- Posts: 162
25 January 2009
16:3413841#2
Or you could just slot your thoughts into this draft action plan and email back to me....
DRAFT Action Plan for the Regeneration of the London Road area
By: London Road Community Forum partnership
JAN 2009
OBJECTIVE:
To create a sustainable and attractive environment in the London Road area and its adjacent streets for the benefit of the whole community by creating and utilising a sense of partnership between all stakeholders.
TIMESCALE: 10 years
ACTIONS:
Short term
Establish ownership of vacant properties and engage in positive dialogue as to their future plans
Consult with the community on issues relating to the physical environment and draw up a plan to address high priority concerns
Begin a programme whereby local schools and art group's create artwork to enhance boarded up properties once owner consent is granted
Work with Councils to provide floral enhancement for summer 2009
Actively promote the objective through website and media
Medium to long term
Achieve commitment from business owners to "buy in" to the objective by maintaining their properties.
Work with KCC Empty property scheme to bring unused residential properties back into use
Work with partners to ensure a clean usable environment which meets community needs
Obtain support from businesses and Councils to provide Christmas lights on the main stretch
FUNDING:
Options for funding include fund raising by the Forum, grant applications to Town Council, KKC community grants and neighbourhood forums and some sort of scheme for residents and businesses to donate monies. £500 has been ring fenced by Dover Town Council towards the boarding up of shops.
In addition to this there would be donations of supplies and equipment and volunteer time.
I know a million ways to always pick the wrong thing to say
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
25 January 2009
16:3613842#3
Done Jeanette
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
25 January 2009
18:2113848#4
London Road is certainly in need of help and it looks as though the LRCF is doing a very competent job of raising awareness. Pressure does work if you kick up enough fuss. Some years ago I put a post on Dover Forum regarding the appalling state of the ghastly Dover Bargain Centre up near the junction with Cherry Tree Avenue. My mother-in-law lived opposite and this apparition filled the view from her living room window for more years than I care to remember. Simon Finlay read the post and subsequently mounted a campaign in the Dover Express. Action was finally taken as a result of this and the property was sold to entrepreneurs who entirely rebuilt it and transformed it into the Paint and Decor Centre. The before and after photos speak for themselves.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
25 January 2009
18:5813850#5
And we should support these shops like the Paint and Decor Centre, if we don't they'll close and we'll end up with another horrible site. use it or lose it.
Another good reason to use them, is that they have a great range of wall-papers, borders; they have two computers to electronically mix paints, whatever colour shade you might require - and they are very competitive on prices - on everything.
Roger
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
25 January 2009
19:2913857#6
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 January 2009
20:2313865#7
i remember those photos from ed, when they were posted here originally.
we were all amazed at the transformation at the time, a lot of hard work went into that and they have kept it up to scratch too.
if i remember correctly the shop had a stall at the london road community funday in 2007..
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
25 January 2009
20:4213867#8
I buy all my paint up there - much better choice and far better service than the homogeneous B&Q
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
26 January 2009
08:0313877#9
Thought I'd add this:-
Hollingsbee Collection
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
26 January 2009
08:3313880#10
Ah yes I remember that old debate about the Dover Bargain Centre on the old Doverforum. It was memorable as it symbolised in a nutshell what was beginning to happen to Dover at the time..the ghastly boarding up of premises and the sad decline. That new store is a marvel in comparison to the old eyesore. Well done with the pics Ed.
Jeez Terry is it okay to use those pictures? we have to be careful. Very nice to see the one above and the one in the carnival thread but as I say we have to be careful we are not in breach of anything... copyright wise.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
26 January 2009
08:4613882#11
Great photo Terry.
It's very sad that we don't have these kind of shops anymore, even as a kid I used to enjoy going in them - like an Aladins cave.
I wonder if they sold fork-handles, sorry, I meant four candles !
Roger
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
26 January 2009
08:5613883#12
No worries Paul, here's an extract of an e-mail from Bob Hollingsbee:-
"Re the pictures I lent you, please use any you wish for the website, and append "Hollingsbee collection", and let me know if you would like more any time. Who knows, there might be some feed-back and I could see them. I am still researching old photos, in particular trying to identify pictures old friends have passed on to me or loaned. So we could both benefit, and ultimately the Museum archive, into which many of my pictures have gone already."
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
26 January 2009
09:0013885#13
Roger - When my family first moved to Dover in 1949 we had a bakers and grocery shop at 4 & 5 Peter Street. One old boy came in every day to buy two candles. Inevitably he was known as "Two Candles".
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
26 January 2009
09:0013886#14
Phew! Thats great news Terry as the pictures are a great insight into times past and a real joy to see. I love them myself.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
26 January 2009
09:0513888#15
Thanks Terry - every day ? they must have been quick burning candles, or didn't he have any electricity ?
Keep well.
Roger
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
26 January 2009
09:3013890#16
Probably didn't Roger. He also took his radio accumulators to Mr Bond at the top of Bridge Street (next to Mr Gage the barber) for recharging.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
26 January 2009
20:3013929#17
there was an old couple lived close to me in the early eighties in essex, never got into the newfangled electricity.
gas mantle were the order of the day.
they never had any trouble with replacements, the gas showrooms used to keep a small supply in a drawer behind the counter.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
