Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#1
Fountain is fenced off when events are being screened on Giant TV .Tennis recently and now the Open Golf .Consideration is now going to be looked into as to whether it is necessary for the fencing .
No good complaining on here contact an Officer at DDC as I have just done .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
certainly not my experience that officers reply anymore.
had to make a freedom of information request to get an answer to a query eventually.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#3
If the fencing continues, it would surely be better to re-style the centre of the Market Square with something different - and replace the fountain - any ideas ?
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
I agree Kath, I have yet to see it working on the few times I get down to the Market Square.
Replacement has to be something that does not encourage the vandals which does not leave much does it.
How about filling it in but with a weeping willow tree in the middle and seating around it.
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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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Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#5
Sue
it seems to me that local politicos and journalists read the Forum and take action - as you have done. Writing on the Forum is a good way of getting things done!
I have shared this a couple of times before but my favourite idea for the Market Square is to turn it into a 'beach' in the summer complete with deckchairs as they do in Birmingham. You could have children's entertainers during the holidays.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#6
I like that idea Mark .I think the Market Square looked better when we had raised beds there .I dont think I would win on this idea but some people would like to see a carved or stone piece of art as a focal point .Would not take up so much room .We have numerour talented youngsters who attend our schools who could design this .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
i am fully in favour of the fountain staying there is always people being photographed in front of it.
water features in towns have been shown to put people in a more relaxed mood.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
But that is only when they are working Howard.
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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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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#9
The officers at DDC may have taken the decision to fence off the fountain when there's an event on, but why ?
It's so much worse with that fence, it makes the whole Market Square look drab and unwelcoming.
The Market Square should be a Spanish style Piazza when there's no events on there: good business and great atmosphere.
There should be bunting around there too during the summer.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
couldn't agree more roger, a piazza would be perfect for the many people that go through it.
french school children through to american cruise passengers would have a nice memory to take back with them.
i have always wondered why the fountain is turned off when the screen has an event, trafalgar square does not get sealed off at such times.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#11
Water features are always good, but what is the reason behind fencing it off so regularly?
Bunting good idea - inexpensive, just the putting up which needs organising (as long as it is above the minimum 'health and safety' height!!)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#12
basically dover has a "no can do" culture.
there will always be a reason for stopping something rather than finding a way around a solution.
had an interesting chat with pat sherratt the other day where he described measures taken in other places that he knows where quality of life was improved.
#13
It is outrageous, and we have listened patiently for far too long to the old excuses - the legal processes, the planning processes, the challenges. Well, chaps, that's what you were elected/recruited for, to meet challenges and Seize The Day for Dover.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#14
it is up to our representatives on the council to get the paid officials to pull their finger out and actually earn the vast amount of money they are receiving.
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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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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#15
Cor blimey, music to my ears, for years I habve been saying the council is officer led, and posters are at last coming round to my way of thnking.
So much can't do by the officers is not helping the town as howard says.
Well only our elected representatives can change this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#16
I like Keith have been saying this for some years now,and it is done all the time in the planning dept,to get things done in Dover heads need to roll in the planning dept that means to, the very top ones .
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#17
I have highlighted on this forum in seperate posts that the planning dept is not a look ahead council, but a dept that looks to find reasons why something can't happen.
Even other depts on the council were saying what a great job we were(are) doing taking children off the street in organised events, which often the council doesn't have the man power or resources to do, but even they couldn't convince there own planning dept.
nor could the community safety unit wh also supported what we do.
It's just a small example why things don';t happen.
As i stated in previous posts just returned from little villages around north yorkshire who are thriving with packed tourists walking the streets.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#18
Keith I have been banging the same drum for ages, with little success. It's important that we keep up the pressure.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#19
PETER;
I find myself agreeing with you.
The problem we have is the local representatives although some getting large amounts of money, many are not, and are just part time turn up when time allows, not always through threre own fault, it could be a number of challenges such as;
home life
work
balancing family against council
plus much more.
But with all of this the officers will fill the vacuum left by the councillors.
There needs to be a big change in the mindset of the planning dept to be
CAN DO dept.
other areas do it, why not Dover?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#20
Nick Kenton is the councillor with cabinet responsibility for planning so he is the one to put pressure on.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
