Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
I take the view that if our local authorities do not or are incapable for whatever reason of doing the things we think should be done to benefit the town then we via community forums, chamber of commerce etc need to do it for ourselves. I am happy to work with the various councils etc. but I have a responsibility to the members of my forum first and foremost, so will always endeavour to deliver the things they want that are within our capacity to do. Ultimately if the authorities consistently do not deliver then vote them out and elect people who will do the right things. As for businesses moving out of the town, this is mostly to do with economics, whether it is the recession or the sky high rents charged by landlords; you can get a lock up shop in London Road (not many left) for a quarter of the rent you will pay in the town centre; which explains London Road's success in attracting business.
Regarding toilet facilities the Town Council and District Council are in discussions about how to keep various current facilities open and have approached numerous businesses with financial offers to make their facilities available to the public - only 2 shops have taken them up on this so far - hardly the councils fault that.
"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
It isn't all about economics - it is also about political will and networking as well.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thought the eight bells would have joined the scheme, only mcd's and macari's are in it as far as i can see.
betting shops always have toilets, thought they might have gone for the extra revenue.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Bern didnt say it was
"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
I know you didn't Ross, I suppose I was just being specific. Have I offended you lately?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
8 bells doesn't need to join, the staff are so busy most of the time that hundreds of people could slip in for a jimmy without being noticed.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that is my favourite watering hole, one day i might even buy a drink in there.
Guest 736- Registered: 5 Jan 2012
- Posts: 118
People with babies or toddlers are supposed to take them through shops or restaurants to use their toilet facilities. Nice! As for it not being the councils fault that more shops have not signed up for the scheme! Who closed the toilets?
Who should we vote for? I always use my vote but it doesn't seem to matter who is in, the rents stay high in the town center. It is good that London road is getting some decent businesses, but it is a shame that most people only see them as they are driving past.
I would love to know in what way I should "get off my backside" and do something to help. I would be grateful for any suggestions.
I apologise if my opinion of the town center is offensive to anyone, but it is just my opinion and not a personal attack on anyone.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Voting won't change rent or rate in Dover as the council don't control them.
Dover problem is and will always be that it is a place that people pass through on the way too or from somewhere, the populations is relatively small, catchment areas for shops are small, the town doesn't really have any big employers these days, a lot that can't be overcome....
However there is a lot that people can do, just look at what the volunteers do from the Western Heights Preservation Society, White Cliffs Countryside Project, Transport Museum, Crabble Mill, London Road Forum, etc, etc. Mike McFarnell and Terry with the work on the Tattoo. The Regatta and Carnival groups. National Trust volunteers and those trying to do the community garden.....
A lot of these groups do struggle as most people involved have full time jobs and do this stuff for 'fun', so they all need extra help
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I agree Paul - and Ross and other contributors and that's why it can't all be done by volunteers or council officers and that's why the 3 major stake-holders should be the main funders and facilitators for a Manager's salary, so he can spend his (full) time working on the various projects and initiatives to move Dover forward.
Other coastal towns are destinations, no reason why Dover can't be - we have more to see and do than any other coastal town - from Southend to Southampton and probably further afield.
Roger
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
roger;
i agree with most of your contributin
and won't at this point get involved in the chamber debate lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I think a lot of the problem is how we are portrayed by the media to the general public as just a port with never a mention of any other attraction, unless that is what the report is about. Nine times out of ten a TV reporter will start "now over to the Port of Dover" and port towns often have a scruffy image in peoples minds. WE ARE NOT SCRUFFY but we are a bit run down in places as is every single town in the country.
I hasten to add most ports suffer from the same sort of image when I was in Suffolk it was always the Port of Felixtowe yet for some reason Yarmouth and Lowestoft had lost the 'Port' tag when introduced possibly because most of their news seemed not to be about the docks.
If the money is made available there are often volunteers who can do the labour side if not get the community payback lot to do the job. The varying councils have to do their bit first though and not keep saying they are 'looking into the matter'.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Who mentioned the Chamber Keith ?
Now that you have brought them up, I perhaps should say (without a hint of sour-grapes !) that the Chamber have relinquished any responsibility for the Market and do not have a Business Support Manager, so presumably have relinquished interest in Dover businesses too.
Roger
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I don't care about the stone throwing or politics or any of that - we all NEED a central body to help coordinate efforts of all the groups and attractions locally - it is quite difficult at times even just to scheduled an event as there is nowhere that had the overview of it all....
Been nice knowing you :)
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Bern - no you haven't :-)
Roger & Paul - I agree that central co-ordination would be a great help, but that requires funding that at present is not forthcoming so we must do what we can through our own networking and co-ordination efforts. If and when the funding is put on the table then we will see what we can do.
Paul - with you on the politics - I just want to make my community a better place to live, work and play.
Mark/Mark's other half - as Paul said most of the volunteer organisations are in need of support and assistance, so why not come along to a WHPS, or Dour River Group workday, or attend your local forum meeting or next activity and help out, or offer your skills. We all need help with things ranging from event planning, newsletter collation, production and distribution, running stalls, networking, running events, making representations to the authorities, etc etc
As for toilets - Maison Dieu and East Cliff are open and cleaned/checked at least twice a day by Fountains, Stembrook are open (likely to close as they are the least used except by local junkies to shoot up). There are ongoing discussions between DHB, DTC & DDC as to how to keep the seafront toilets open and what to do with the ones nearest the DHB offices.
"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 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I'm not throwing stones Paul and I'm sorry if it sounds like I am, but I'm trying to point out that the "co-ordinator" or Manager or whoever, would need be separate from the Chamber.
I agree with your point about a central body to pull it all together and move things forward.
Roger
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Sorry Roger that wasn't directed at you, it was a general point that this sort of stuff too often gets in the way of people trying to do good things
Been nice knowing you :)
It strikes me that just about everyone who takes the trouble to post on here about Dover and how we could cherish it is after the same thing, regardless of how much time each of has, realistically, to offer up. There are a few alternative options and pathways to reach the same goals and those are the conversation points, but actually, we are all driving towards the same aims. We form something of an awesome pack..........
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
post 58 well done
problem we have is every time someone is critical a number jump on them
its fine by me and i will at present continue to post
but some will be put off by it and have or will stop posting
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
anyone in public life knows they will be shot at at some stage.
no different in every day work situations, someone will always feel that they have a genuine grievance.