Guest 3130- Registered: 22 Feb 2019
- Posts: 67
#1
I realise it is not that new now but who allowed those houses to be built on the old training area at Connaught Barracks?
Here we have a world-class, iconic landmark - The Castle - with a world-class eyesore next door. It totally blemishes the otherwise pristine skyline. The eye cannot escape the distraction.
It's like sticking a block of flats next to the Eiffel Tower or a Drive-Thru McDonalds besides the Taj Mahal. Unthinkable. I am all for brown field sites but this one...no. Only screening it off with trees would have made it acceptable, but that would have ruined the vieeew for the residents of course, and they come first...right?
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Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,261
#2
The ones in this thread Andrew? I haven't looked for a while so don't know how they are looking.
Arte et Marte
Guest 3925- Registered: 28 Nov 2020
- Posts: 541
#3
That's just the start. I'm always walking up in this area and if it was up to the council, they'd continue building on the hill below that site, to the side of that site, in fact all the green land up until Buckland the much "loved" IBF.
On the plus side, the houses won't last long. I went past the site after the last storm and most of the unfinished insulation and roofing had blown away.
The artists impression and advertising blurb might say how lovely it is looking over town, but you wait until the purchasers find they can't keep their windows open or use their gardens for most of the year
Windswept doesn't even start to describe it!
Even before they are finished, they destroy the countryside. Why it's the only side of Dover not in an AONB I haven't got a clue.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#4
It's not do funny when we look at other lands of ONB
I ran a youth side in Aycliffe for a few years taking the children off the streets
Because we had a girl we needed changing rooms on the rec.
We applied to DDC to put changing changing rooms at the lower level so not seen by the main road ,
Paint it whatever colour the council wanted, we would maintain it at no cost to council .
It was all turned down
So the club had to fold and children lose a club
Some of these children were a problem in the area and learning new skills to move away from boredom .
The rec ground before we took over was a druggies heaven .
We cleaned it up and even offered to maintain it
All refused .
So look at the inconsistency
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 2547- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
#5
Even being in an AONB is not necessarily a protection against the planning zealots at DDC, particularly when there is a political impetus behind the development.
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 455
#6
I and others personally attended meetings with Homes England with regard to the development of the Officers Mess site at Guston and I can report that we vehemently opposed the design of these properties- we certainly didn’t want a development that looked like a university campus or worse still a prison site! We were told that our opposition was merely a matter of personal taste. Sadly despite our protestations this is the result which is dire and depressing. I’m fearful for what will be built on the main old barracks site.
I clearly recall walking the Officers Mess site with the former leader of DDC and it was agreed that such a site needed a build of quality and prestigious housing that would reflect the location. I despair!
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Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#7
Guest 3130- Registered: 22 Feb 2019
- Posts: 67
#8
Thanks for the link Karlos...however, it just takes me back to a page with links to the forums?
It is not just any old piece of green, hilltop skyline-ruining space that has been spoiled either. This is almost adjacemt to Dover Castle...only a total philistine would have come up with this. It deserves much more outrage than it has apparently attracted. Can you imagine this being tolerated in a country with aesthetic sensibility - like, say, France.
Stiill what dso we know? We just want to "whine and whinge".. right? How dare we have an opinion, and question our elected (or non-elected) "betters", whose worlds they so assiduously barricade? So many aspects of the way Dover is run make me angry and the closer you get to it, the more it disturbs. This town needs people like us to rattle a few complacent, self-serving (and no doubt lurking, copying and pasting) cages.
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 455
#9
Just to put some “meat on the bones”. There was a “public consultation “ on this proposal which was held at the Discovery Centre. Apparently notification of this was meant to have been delivered to all Guston residents ( and presumably other interested parties) however these notifications were never received by Guston residents. Representatives of the PC made this clear to Homes England but needless to say no one took any notice. The PC made lengthy comments regarding this proposal and the proposal to “stop up” the road to Guston from Castle Hill. When the Connaught Barracks site is developed access to Guston from the current turn off will only allow people to access the Officers Mess site. The new access will be further along the road and all traffic to Guston will have to drive through the new Connaught barracks estate - also applies to traffic coming from Guston/Burgoyne Heights going to Dover. The PC again put up many arguments why this was unsuitable but as usual no one takes any notice.
Developers don’t listen to those with local knowledge of sites, traffic, movement of people which all influence the local area. The most recent example of this is the fact the DEFRA now realise that the site at Guston for the IBF is unsuitable because of the topography and geological features of the site - all of which was signalled to them at the outset! So now only 1/4 of the site will be used by HMRC. Why oh why does no one ever listen??
Dover will end up with this monstrosity on the Western Heights, because again no one who pulls the purse strings takes any notice of Dover residents. It will be like all the other failed projects.
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 455
#10
The Monstrosity on the Westen Heights Is the proposed Vera Lynn memorial!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#11
I agree Arthur no consultation.When will they listen?.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,109
#12
Arthur wrote:When the Connaught Barracks site is developed access to Guston from the current turn off will only allow people to access the Officers Mess site. The new access will be further along the road and all traffic to Guston will have to drive through the new Connaught barracks estate - also applies to traffic coming from Guston/Burgoyne Heights going to Dover.
Oh goody, so a T-junction with good sightlines and a waiting lane will be replaced with - what? A blind T-junction? A roundabout? Light-controlled junction?
(Not my real name.)
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 455
#13
A light controlled junction as I recollect- most of the changes are being implemented to serve the Dover Fastrack- don’t get me started on that!!!
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#14
Totally agree with Arthur & others. This is a unique site & demanded unique housing. I despair when I go by & see the construction taking place. How could Homes England have allow the site to be developed this way. They controlled all aspects of both sites. There were interested parties who were prepared to develop the site& the major Barrack block site in that sensitive manner . I commend Neil Rix who directed the developers to Home England when Mayor.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#15
Yes Paul not what we invisaged.Where does the original idea get lost in the system ?a blot on the landscape .
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#16
Andrew P Stucken wrote:Thanks for the link Karlos...however, it just takes me back to a page with links to the forums?
I think the link not working has something to do with me being logged on.
The last post on it is 31st March if you want to scroll back.
Guest 3130- Registered: 22 Feb 2019
- Posts: 67
#17
Will do, Karlos.
I certainly don't have anything against the principle of development on brownfield sites, including Connuaght, although I might think differently if I was a Guston resident. Indeed some of the housing complexes being built in town are an asset, transforming derelict urban wastelands into something useful and far more aesthetically pleasing. More of this please.
But these hilltop houses...every time I look at them it annoys me and it would be bad enough even if the castle was not nearby. I suspect future generations will condemn us.
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 455
#18
Guston PC has always been in favour of developing both of these sites. However, this is not what was originally proposed- as Paul has already confirmed it was envisaged that a prestigious development would be built to enhance the area. This looks cheap and nasty and is an affront to creative design. The site deserved so much better.
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Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#19
On a windy day up there you can barely stand up and the way they throw houses together nowdays i doubt theyll last long.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#20
So had a public consultation then ignored the public
Sounds like DDC
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS