Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
11 February 2011
09:2192264All this and prices are going up from £13.90 for an adult to £16.00 in April !
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
11 February 2011
10:2592268i thought that they were getting record numbers since the opening of the great tower?
i don't understand why after all that investment they are cutting back on opening.
some good suggestions from roger and phil there.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
11 February 2011
18:4092331Thanks Howard.
Roger
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
11 February 2011
18:5592332They are expecting record high numbers on 4th June when they re-open the Secret Wartime Tunnels - but what sort of morale do they expect from their staff with many of them losing their jobs....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
11 February 2011
19:4492339I can feel a demo coming on, 4th June would be perfect. Spread the word and I will try and find someone to co-ordinate it.
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
11 February 2011
20:0092341someone i know bought life membership of english heritage for herself, partner and daugter back last summer, they are not best pleased.
11 February 2011
21:1092348I posted on front page (had not been into forum for a couple of days due to computer on the blink...screen blew up)
My posting on the front page was in respect of the affect on the town and the cooments I have made reflect the fact that the town does not greatly benefit due to castle visitors not parking near the town...I still feel this is the case
As far as the closures in the winter at Friends of Dover we are deeply concerned in respect to the affect for staff and their families that may be affected.Also the knock-on affect to the disposable income for the town.
I was given to understand that negotiotions were still on-going...maybe whoever has fed PaulB the initial information could confirm that this is the case.
As many of you know I worked part time for the National Trust (and am a NT Volunteer) and as mentioned on the front page, they close properties (Houses etc, not countryside/gardens) from November to March as if they remained open the visitor numbers (even with unpaid volunteers) would not cover the operating costs.
At my next EH meeting I may be given further info and will also express the concern for staff. If only open Sat/Sun will seek to see if weekend can be Fri/Sat/Sun
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
11 February 2011
21:2192349thanks for that update pat, however i suspect that the "negotiations" are a public relations exercise.
english heritage may find that when things get better they will have to start from scratch in finding quality staff, the ones dumped now will hardly wait around for reinstatement at a later date.
11 February 2011
21:4292352Howard
I would hope that EH hold a core level of staff, as has been said at the Castle we have great and enthusiastic staff, and although most tourist properties have temp staff for the summer any business must not desecrate its highly experienced staff.
I hope to find out how the staffing levels have been adjusted accross EH within "Admin/management" " as in many Government Depts it is this area that often has a little "flesh" on it.
As far as winter promotions at Friends of Dover castle we have sought on many occassions to promote "off-season" in particular 2 fo1 and half price family but sadly has never been within the EH "marketing" strategy.
If the level of deficit for the winter period that I am hearing is substantiated I shall seek where this comes from as it does seem rather high.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
11 February 2011
23:2392354I suspect that some very knowledgable and experienced staff will leave - how can people afford to only work two days a week for 5 months of the year.....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
12 February 2011
00:1692360This is ludicrous-Dover Castle is a superb tourist destination. My wife and I have annual membership. We joined last summer at Osbourne House while on holiday,mainly because of the excellent attitude, knowledge and enthusiasm of staff. We then took the kids to Dover Castle for the halloween session. What excellent entertainment-and what they have done in the Keep is marvelous. The staff were superb-is this how they repay them for making what is obviously extra effort to enhance the experience for the visiting public?
I take it that government has seen fit to reduce grant aid-what cobblers.
Why can't everyone appreciate the value of the brand of Dover -including EH. I do.
Never give up...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
12 February 2011
08:0592364We do need to work on that "Dover" brand Richard and exploit it as much as we can.
Like I said on an earlier post, EH have made a wrong decision here; are there people in Dover who could set up a lobby group about this ?
Funding may be cut, but new innovative ways to promote the castle should have been found; some of which I've mentioned above.
In these austerity times, it was rather inopportune to raise the entry fee to £16; I guess the annual (?) season ticket went up too ?
Puts a new marketing phrase out - "Buy A Season Ticket And Reduce Days Site-seeing" (b.a.s.t.a.r.d.s.)
Roger
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
12 February 2011
10:1192375This is a retrograde step for the Dover "brand" and tourism just when we need to stimulate such industry in the district. I certainly feel English Heritage need to publicly justify their position, not least given the considerable amount of money that was given to them under the SeaChange project. English Heritage have always been reluctant to look at other money-making opportunities. Just look at the privately-owned Leeds Castle to see what can be done with some imagination and proper marketing. Sad news indeed, and another missed opportunity.
Also hugely upsetting for the many dedicated employees and their families.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 February 2011
10:1892378besides the great tower they have renovated the admiralty look out and are working on extending the tunnels.
there have been other smaller projects too.
i simply cannot see the business sense here, i can only think that they are trying to spite the government over the grant cut.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
12 February 2011
10:2992380I believe that at this stage it is an 'across the board' decision so that all staff/sites are treated the same.
I an sure that Stonehenge is 'owned' by the National Trust and Kenwood has reasons due to the artwork so perhaps these are why they have been treated differently.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
12 February 2011
13:5492392Prior to any official EH press release the story is starting to leak out about other locations similarly affected. Here is a report relating to Clifford's Tower and other attractions around York:
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8849788.English_Heritage_attractions_to_close_on_winter_weekdays/Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
12 February 2011
13:5592393Duplicate post.
Guest 702- Registered: 9 Jul 2010
- Posts: 241
13 February 2011
10:4392467Stonehenge is run by EH, NT members get free entry as surrounding land is NT.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
14 February 2011
11:0292571Surprised none of the press are picking up on any of this yet ...
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 February 2011
13:0992577the lack of interest from the media is surprising, this will affect many businesses that are reliant om mini breaks from uk and continental visitors.
as an example holiday parks do cheap monday to friday packages off season, a lot of their customers use the as a base for visiting local attractions.