Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
These guys are fantastic, they have got off their butts and organised a whole campaign to make a change to what they have today and have a clear vision of what they want and what is achievable,
The modular steel skate park in Pencester was never what the skaters who were consulted wanted it was what was delivered once the lions share of the available budget had been spent on a concrete bowl and ramps at Deal. All the issues with a modular steel facility that were highlighted by the skaters at the time, 8 years on have come to pass, with deteriorating transitions between ramps and the base of the park, rusting steel, unsafe ramps as the special paint wears off after about 3 months etc.
The reality is that a truly world class facility could be designed and built for somewhere in the region of £200-250,000, providing a not only a regional but national focus on Dover, allowing the town to attract top quality pro teams to do demonstrations/exhibitions, regional/national/international competitions etc as well as tapping into the growing skate park tourism market. This proposal ticks so many boxes, youth, health, tourism, community engagement, up-skilling, employment to name the obvious ones.
In an ideal world they would love to replace the existing facility with their proposal, but recognise this may be contentious or problematic and as such their second choice would be Connaught; which would bring an under used civic amenity space back into much higher use and replace derelict sporting facilities with a world class one. The use of Connaught would also allow them to expand the proposal to include a free running facility and other activity provision.
"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
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
I think building a world class facility in Dover sounds marvellous and the cost seems reasonable. It would bring people to the town and I am sure we would all enjoy watching them training and performing.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
The young people were fully consulted and given the faclities they asked for.It was always debatable whether it should have been placed in Pencester. A larger facility would completely take over the Park .I suggested Whitfield or Elmsvale .
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Sue you clearly have a different recollection of what was wanted to the guys that I have spoken to
But that is history - this is now
Any facility for it to work as a major attraction for Dover needs to be reasonably central - so Pencester, or Russel ST car park or the old DHB Hoverpad or Connaught are ideal
"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
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
When a decision is required revamped or new skate park provision .Think.Where do these young people live?My understanding is ,mostly Buckland Ward and Whitfield Ward.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the new facility is supposed to attract people from far and wide sue, not just dover.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
In my opinion I think that Russell Street car park, the old DHB Hoverpad & Whitfield, are more suitable than Connaught Park. Both Russell & the Hoverpad are more central to the town & therefore more accessible & Whitfield with its large expanse of land & a frequent public transport service are ideal. Connaught on the other hand is not easily accessible because of its very infrequent bus service & also not being centrally based is rather a disadvantage.
For me & many others Connaught is a more genteel place suitable for dog walkers, bird watchers, squirrel feeders, picnics, a spot of tennis playing, a kick of the football, little ones enjoying the aviary, the children's play area & generally sitting enjoying the flowers, the pond & taking in the wonderful views of Dover Town. Of course this is the idyllic view but once we get to grips with bringing Connaught back to its former glory, all will be as Connaught once was & should be.
Also a project such as this, which I might add, I think is a brilliant idea for Dover, would be all too consuming for Connaught Park, It would take up far too much of the Park leaving very little space for all of the above.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
"The young people were fully consulted and given the faclities they asked for"
What one asks for is very seldom what one gets quite often it is what can be afforded at the time, so I expect they got part of their dream facility. As Howard says it is hoped the skaters will also come from outside the town bringing much needed revenue into Dover so where they live at present is completely irrelevant as people often move homes.
Colette what a good idea, still fairly central and therefore easily accessible, any vacant area on the DTIZ site would be more practical than more empty shops.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
I presume it would have to be town centre for Big Local. Russell Street car park sounds ideal. It would be great to have this skate park in the centre of town and Connaught Park back to its best but I think the skate park would be a great asset and Connaught Park is a better location than Pencester Gardens.
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,549
I would put it in the Cherry Tree scrap yard.
Is it in the Big Local area?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
yes karlos i am certain of that, how much the land owners would want for it is another question .
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
If it can't have houses built on it, it will be a lot cheaper.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Must have been too impatient, or system slow - triple post.
Roger
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
like to hear from you roger, but 3 times ?? lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
7pm tonight at St Mary's Parish Centre.
7000 residents. Lets hope at least 1% of them turn up
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Overall a reasonable turn out - and despite a few hiccups and side tracks a good meeting
We have now established the path to the next stage
"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 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Good luck Ross, said with some trepidation. I could sense Karl getting frustrated last night.
What is it with public meetings that certain people have this burning desire to drone on about irrelevant issues? If you look at the thread I started about regeneration, this one should overlap really. My fear is that the town is full of people that are full of hot air and not a lot else.
John and Simon have volunteered to help out, hopefully in time the work of Big Local and the Town Team will merge in some respects.
I know you're with me Ross when I say keep politicians out of the way, they're destructive.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
It's my observation that politicians come in many different forms, and you should concentrate on the ones that are useful
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
And who are they?
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
David
you have a perception that all of them are useless, when in reality politicians from all parties work in different ways and have differing abilities.
It would be wrong to name anyone as it would only be in my eyes and obviously there would be a lot i wouldnt know about them from what they do both at ward and District/county levels.
You have asked howard not to be negative yet you give out the same type of negative views at times yourself
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS