howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
does the whole site have to be with one developer
i cannot see anyone brave enough to take it all on, maybe a few smaller retailers, hotel group etc might be a better alternative.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
That's a very good point, Howard - it shouldn't have to be with one developer, unless that developer delivers the goods (at long last). How about a consortium, a co-operative?
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
I've seen a few mentions of Brighton Lanes style developments in this area. The older residents on here will remember that Dover used to have it's own lanes area between the Market Square and Snargate St - pubs, shops, workshops etc, and all very historic. In a massive act of vandalism it all got knocked down in the early 70s for the York St dual carriageway to take traffic from the A20 via Folkestone Road to the docks (that was then the main route for dock traffic) without going through the town centre - and it's now defunct as a main route and just used for local traffic.
Another thread on here talks about bringing decent entertainers to the town - the town hall isn't ideal so how about a new theatre complex? It doesn't have to be large like The Marlowe or Leas Cliff, the Horsebridge Centre at Whitstable is small, versatile and successful even on a restricted site.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
Hear hear, Ray. The 'massive act of vandalism' bestowed upon Dover in the late 1960s-early '70s, its lanes, historical buildings and medieval street patterns were indeed that - pure civic/corporate vandalism.
Deal's Middle Street and its environs narrowly avoided the same myopic bulldozer mentality at the same time; luckily the Deal Society, Noel Coward et al stepped in and saved it from the idiocy of the un-planners.
Sadly, mine and my family's once-charming and lovely hometown didn't get a similar stay of execution.
How much we have lost. And with zero gained.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I have to agree but lets face it the area was heavily shelled during the war. I remember walking in the area around Gaol Lane, the shell and bomb sites with small businesses still operating amongst the rubble. I must have been very, very young at the time. That said the area could have been dealt with in a far better manner than it was in the late 60's early 70's and for once we cannot blame the District Council - it was the old Dover Borough Council at the time.... Things never seem to change for Dover.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Difficult to blame anyone for the post WW2 destruction in the area - it was happening all over the country and everyone wanted a new start.
Millions of people killed a few years ago or some old derelict buildings - they wanted a new fresh start....
Been nice knowing you :)
