Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
14 December 2008
12:1710948Paul, I appreciate the response and would gladly hear more. My apologies if you feel my tone was inappropriate.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 December 2008
20:4510956good post from paul, the problem is we only get this after a long period of disgruntlement from people.
the demographic side was very illuminating, if people were made aware of these facts a lot earlier, they would feel less frustrated.
this would then curtail aggressive posts on forums and the same in letters pages of the local press.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
15 December 2008
08:2110959Yes I agree totally with Howard above there, a very informative post from Paul Watkins, Leader of the Council, about the changes coming to us all. Communication like this is very welcome and again as Howard says, if people are kept fully informed it eliminates much of the wild inaccuracies expressed in the media, and it also eliminates much of the disgruntlement and frustration that people feel not knowing whats going on.
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
15 December 2008
11:2110973I think you've hit the nail on the head Paul. My post was really raw frustration boiling over. I don't think the council can communicate too much - the more that people understand, the better.
I am however still totally opposed to the massive expansion of Whitfield, especially on the western side, and think all development there should be limited to the east. WAG may go further than that and want to restrict much more, and who can blame them?
I don't see why some of the housing earmarked for Whitfield could not be added to some of the other towns such as Deal and Aylesham or maybe even spread around the villages.
Unregistered User
15 December 2008
19:3410998Andrew, will sit down over next 48 hours to continue the posting. Sorry am on short time scales over next 24 hours.
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
17 December 2008
10:3011062No problem Paul, look forward to reading it.
Unregistered User
18 December 2008
13:3311121Andrew , I have just typed a long reply to- Why Whitfield? which has just disappeared from the screen .
Why I do not know.
I am sorry I have to go to another variety of meetings , so will have to start again, sometime tomorrow unless I can find or retrieve my writings.
Sorry.
Watty
Unregistered User
19 December 2008
12:1411213Andrew,As I posted previously the main thrust of the LDF process is building a prosperous economy. Presently Dover cannot support extensive & quality retail & leisure with its current economic profile. Part of the reason for that is the population is too small & poorly paid to attract private sector interest.Dover is the bottom 5% of GVA[gross valued added] in the South East. Pre-war there were approx 41,000 people living in urban Dover now that number is around 29,000. The rest have leeched away to other locations. Dover's private sector housing is assessed as some of the worst in the South East & its geography mitigates against further housing development without taking out brown field sites ,which are already identified for development in the LDF.The object of the LDF is to increase Dover's population opportunities by concentrating housing in & around Dover in an attempt to redress the balance. The business parks & port jobs are in Dover & located around the outskirts of Dover & therefore make sustainable development opportunities more likely to occur. There is a government requirement to make development align with employment sites, primarily to deliver local job opportunities but also reduce travel times & carbon footprints. Training aschemes are currently being put into place to take up future employment patterns, around construction ,maritime & marine occupations together with eco & environmental technologies.You mention Aylesham as a location to take more housing. That is a good point & the local plan has identified 1000-1200 new dwellings there. The plannning application is now being worked on. The area is on the outskirts of Dover District & adjoins Canterbury City Council boundaries. It is regarded as having the potential to lose trade to Canterbury because of its closeness & road & rail connections. Canterbury City Council sees Aylesham as an overspill opportunity for them.Deal is another location for development but is constrained by flood innundation issues & draws blanks from the Environment Agency when potential Deal sites are discussed. Other constraints around Deal are to do with Environmental designations that preclude housing development. When you add the appalling A258 to both Sandwich & Dover [with its horrendous death rates] transport links come into play. The sustainable development theory cannot be readily played at Deal because it has little employment base to offer its population. Deal is essentially the dormitory town of Dover. This is evidenced each morning & evening with trails of slow moving or stationary traffic from Walmer to the Jubilee Way & reverse.Capel could have been looked at & indeed has offered & been allocated increased numbers but that primarily benefits Folkestone retail because of its proximity.Village allocation across the District has been justified by parishes & environmental designations.Finally we live in a District that is rich in heritage, natural beauty & has internationally known landmarks & environmental designations. These factors which are our strengths are also restrictive factors when applied to planning & the STOP powers of the quangos that control them.With the above factors particularly trying to establish economic growth for the town & people of Dover , Whitfield, the LDF working group, concluded was the only logical & unfettered by too many environmental contraints location to house the future of Dover's economy.I would recommend that you read this posting together with the work force demographics that I posted earlier.This , I know, is not the explaination you want to see but I hope you will appreciate a logic to the thread.Sorry for the long delay but technical issues & time have conspired against me.As a foot note to Andy Stevens ,an increased population could fill Crabble over & over.Watty
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,681
19 December 2008
19:1911252Thanks Paul
This is pretty much the conversation I had with the Chief Planning Officer back during the public consultation of the proposals, whilst I have my doubts about the benefits long term to Dover town centre, it is good to see a consistent story from both officers and councillors
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Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
23 December 2008
19:3011447Thanks Paul for your personal attention to my points. I will digest them over Xmas. In the meantime best wishes for the festive season. Andrew.
Unregistered User
23 December 2008
20:0411449Andrew , best wishes to you.
There are a few issues I have not picked up to date & I will reflect on them after Xmas period. They relate to Growth Point , Regional Hub designation & Homes & Communities Agency "single conversation" initiative. They are important & are basically the " cash allocations".
To the other Andy
I think I passed you early this morning when I was doing my dog walking session. Sorry if I did not recognise you immediately Andy. I was chatting to the Deal Pier attendant & it only clicked who you were after you had reached the Station.
Watty.
24 December 2008
12:3311492Hi Paul,
No problem - yes, it was me near Deal station yesterday morning. It was a bit dark and gloomy and I was half asleep!
No matter - have a great Christmas and a happy New Year and no doubt see you around Deal during the festivities.
Onwards and upwards for Dover district in 2009!
Best wishes,
Andy
PS: Like your point about Crabble in your posting above. Now that's something to relish!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
24 December 2008
13:1611493Andrew
Hope to meet you in the New Year.Have a fun filled frolick over the Festive period.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)