Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
11 February 2009
21:0115244Brian Dixon,
Your right, test bores were sunk in Lyden and part of the village itself was built as part of the government's plans, in 1925, to build 18 pits in Kent.
Houses in Wingham, Woodnesbourough & many other villages flourished because of these plans.
The fact is having coal stocks in Kent, along with its miners, has lead to creating and sustaining our heritage in towns and villages, up to and including the present day and I believe it is very important not to forget that fact.
I also believe, still, having large coal stocks here in Kent will have a big influence on our future heritage as well. I don't think the story of the Kent Coalfield is finished yet.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
11 February 2009
21:3515247There was a coal mine behind Lydden and also the coal train would stop there there was a sideing the train would go down.
king Vic
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
11 February 2009
21:3615249I saw another yellow car
beer the food of the gods
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
11 February 2009
21:4115254garyc,thanks.in regards the matter of coal stocks in kent,there is in my mind still 50 years worth of coal still underground.at tillmanstone collery they just tapping into seams of coal 2.4 meters thick not to far from pit bottom so it would not to expensive to extract.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
11 February 2009
22:5615260interesting stuff here about untapped coal.
if it all come to fruition, would mean regeneration for the whole of east kent, not just dover.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
12 February 2009
18:3415284Given the extreme reluctance to even consider dualling the A2, what chance is there of the government being prepared to spend on the new roads and/or railway track required to even prepare the pits to reopen?
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
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
12 February 2009
20:4315298Again good I have been on about coal for about 3years now and at last I am not on my own but we must keep talking about it ,I have been talking to our M.P.aswell about it.
King Vic
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
12 February 2009
20:4515299I know Vic,I took you over to him,he will never forgive me for that.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 February 2009
20:4515300no wonder he was too busy to sort out keith's brothers problems vic.(allegedly)
coal is an issue one can talk about for days on end.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
12 February 2009
20:5115305You are right there Howard,Vic has been talking about it for 3 years and no one listen,now he wants to open a pit in River,wonder what the real Royality in River think.Cllr Derek Leach.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
12 February 2009
21:1715307howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 February 2009
22:5515314thank you for the kind offer victor, i will give it due consideration.
however, posh barry has already intimated that i will be entering the employ of his household when he takes over at that big house in central london.
i understand that he has a team of bailliffs standing by kick those old codgers out into the cold night.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sadly this furniture shop has closed, the sign in the window advises people that their deal branch is still operating.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Beech's, I believe it was called, some nice furniture, but not selling enough to pay the bills or make a profit.
Pennies in Cannon Steet is also closing, so two more holes in the High Street. I hope the Town-Team appoint a Manager soon and start working on plugging these holes.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Roger, a couple of points.
Firstly, how on earth can the town team appoint a manager - we have no money!
Secondly, if/when one is appointed I'm not sure how they will be in a position to fill empty shops, that is a far more deep seated problem.
And finally, I appreciate you have Dover's best interest at heart, but the appointment of a Town Centre Manager is but a small part of the jigsaw, an enormous concerted effort from lots of people is the only solution. I'm not sure a person exists that is capable of pulling together all the vested interests of the town.
Please dont take this as a negative or a rebuff, all concerned are grateful for your input and ideas.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
not surprised about pennies closing after the arrival of poundland.
i suppose they have come to the end of their lease, a great pity as they are nice people.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks David.
Firstly, the Town Team have the support of the Town and District Councils do they not ?
If there is a political will from both Councils for Dover to move forward and succeed and a will from other stake-holders, it shouldn't be too difficult for them to pledge financial support - £10,000 each would be enough to get it off the ground.
I understand that DDC have already offered office space in the Market Square.
Someone with the full backing of the Town-Team could be calling on people and organisations letting them know what is being done and the projects/initiatives that are going to be worked on and ask for their financial support.
That person can also be calling on businesses letting them know what is planned and looking for Town-Team membership; at the same time, they could be given the survey to complete, so you will know what their problems are, what their aspirations and needs are.
All of this is in my Plan of Action that I have sent to all members of the Town Team and the Town Council and many other people and bodies.
The Plan of Action should be linked to the Tourism Strategy and the paper on bringing a successful market to Dover, as all are part and parcel of Dover's success.
By working on the initiatives and projects and letting businesses know what is going on - even having a weekly article in one of the local papers (the Express has come out in support of you), greater confidence will be given to those thinking of packing it in.
Help with businesses rates - helping businesses to check if they are paying the right level (there are many anomolies on rates for a number of businesses) that if someone was appointed, would help resolve.
The fact that someone is there to offer help and support will make an enormous difference to the independant traders - I helped a few to write their fire-risk assessments when I was with Dover Chamber of Commerce.
If the precepts contained in my paper on how to bring a successful market here, were followed, we would be encouraging new entrepreneurs, who will want to start a retail business - help with a Business Plan will make an enormous difference to them taking the plunge.
The Plan of Action explains how to set up a Town-Team body with a Board and a Manager who will work on the initiatives, including those in the Tourism Strategy.
It's not too easy (nothing worthwhile ever is), but although I know I won't do the job, I know I could do it, if circumstances were different.
The only rebuff I take David, is being ignored.
Inclusivity not exclusivity is the way ahead, forging partnerships with local businesses who are not (yet) linked to the Town-Team, letting all of them know what you are doing.
You, as a business owner as well as the other members of the Town-Team, can't spend all your time working on this, you have your own businesses to keep your eyes on and that's another reason why you need a Town-Team Manager/Co-ordinator.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Roger, your points are valid and well made, but let's be realistic and accept what I've already pointed out - we have no money! We are still waiting to hear if we have won with our second bid, until we hear we can't do anything.
Please rest assured that whether we win or not we will press ahead with our plans, albeit at a different pace. Where we differ is your faith and conviction in a town centre manager, it's been tried in various guises with varying success, I personally believe that with the resources available one person can achieve very little.
I'm not sure about you being ignored Roger, you and I talk regularly on here and it's my understanding that you've met with other team members.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks David - I have absolute conviction that given the support of the Town and District Councils and other stake-holders (DHB could, if they so wished, gain community support, if they put £10,000 in as well).
I have spoken to Menon aned Seelan of the Ramada and Dover Marina Hotel fame and as they have invested a lot of money in their businesses and in so doing, Dover too, maybe they would be willing to invest in a Town-Team Manager - there's never any harm in asking.
Gaining support from National chains and independants is vital to the success of it, so talking to the owners and managers must be high on the agenda of things to do.
No individual can be successful - I know, because I tried with the Dover Loyalty Scheme for two years, then there was the very successful Discover Dover leaflet (working in conjunction with P & O Ferries and LD Lines).
Having the Dover Town-Team as the body to give this support and the publicity from a local paper to promote your activities, it won't take long before businesses know what you are doing and will be wanting to be a part of it and pay their subscripion fees (as per the Plan of Action).
In the paper on the street-market I've written, I have suggested that the day is changed and a separate body set up to manage/oversee it; the money from the stall-holders (after the Market Manager has been paid), will be split between DDC and this new body, which will then bring in money to help bring intiatives to fruition.
I know you and I chat on here David, but I have sent Louise a number of emails, as well as all the members of the Town-Team and no one has even acknowledged receipt of them.
As you may recall, I was requested NOT to attend any more Town-Tean meetings, at the end of the second one; the reason given was that I am a District Councillor and I don't have a business in Town.
As you are well aware I'm sure David, there is another District Councillor who has attended every meeting you have had and they don't have a Town business either.
I hope you win the money in this second round David, but you can't have a volunteer working full time as the Manager/Co-ordinator, so talking to those (other) major players, is most important.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Some good points roger, as previously said, until we hear about the portas money our hands are tied, hopefully before long well start to make progress.
