Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
who's majority scotchie
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Here's a picture of part of the Heights around 1910-ish Jan. As you can see, it was virtually treeless even when the Heights were past their prime. Trees would have provided cover, restricted firing arcs and their roots caused damage. All done away with.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
As I indicated above there are a huge numbers of stakeholder and people who have influence over the Heights - how do you calculate the majority I don't know.
From what I have heard from various people over the past few weeks the the vast majority are in favour of some sort of developments to make the most of the Heights including residents !!
That is a great photo from Phil - how it should and would have looked for the best part of 250 years. It was grazed farmland during the military time and likely to have been before that, a tree wouldn't have dared show it's face! Before that you wouldn't have had the roman lighthouse surrounded by trees.
I could stand corrected but in this area the properly managed chalk grassland (of which our area contains a high portion of the world's chalk grassland) is a lot more ecologically valuable than trees in the area, and vital to the rare orchids that would also thrive if the money was there to fully manage the land
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
well lara anything more to say??????????????
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Paul, you wrote that according to me, the work would be only: "'just cut some trees down and a bit of weeding' .
Of-course, if you act like this, people will see through your arguments.
I have specifically written various times on this thread that the work would also include restructuring of walls.
To me it seems you have no interest in getting the work done that should be done to preserve the Western Heights as a green and historical area, but have other interests, which you have clearly stated, namely to urbanise the area in order to bring cash into shops, restaurants and hotels.
This is clearly not part of WHPS's job.
I also doubt that the majority of people here have given you their support on this matter.
Even if you try to bring over a different message in this respect.
At any rate you are not the sole person responsible for the future of Western Heights, which is public land, and I too do not need to further discuss the matter with you.
In fact I won't any more
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Well Alex, come along to our next Open Weekend, tour the Redoubt, look at the Bredenstone, drop a fiver in the donations box, and then go and tell Paul face to face how much he doesn't care about the interests of the Western Heights. I'm butting out of this increasingly farcical thread too.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Might as well close it then PaulB.
With all the will in the World, from W.H. supporters and volunteers, the messages are hitting a brick-wall.
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
i agree with phil here,if the person making all the negative arguments [like planting orchards] go's up there on the next open day,then volentiers for say the next 3 volentier days and helps clear the detrice.then and only then they might understand the problems up there.
and thats my final word on the subject.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Alexander - I find that posting rather insulting - I have put 12 years of my life into raising the profile of the Western Heights, battling the neglect and vandalism that the defences suffer, doing walks, tours, backbreaking work to enable thousands of people to travel across the country over the years to enjoy our unique heritage. The rest of the committee and volunteers have done/do the same. All for no personal gain and most of us have full time jobs or education to do at the same time.
In the ideal world there will be lots of money available from English Heritage, DDC, lottery, etc that will just be given to us on a plate no questions asked, we can do all the work that is needed and it will be a lovely place. Nature will be nice to us!!
In the real world there is little money, lottery grants takes a huge amount of work and justification for the sort of money that is needed. Currently there is an opportunity not only to get the funding kick start that is needed, but also to fit into bigger project which is hopefully the regeneration of Dover.
Life is one big compromise, you don't get everything just handed to you, there are gives and takes, and you have to make the most of opportunities you have
THE END....
Been nice knowing you :)
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
paul.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Paul, the sum of £15 million to bring the Western Heights historical sites up to scratch was mentioned on the thread, by Ray Newsam so it was.
So figure out my points here:
If one qualified worker on a contract with a Western Heights related authority received £25.000 a year, times that by 40, you have £1 million.
So 40 workers could do a 2 year contract on Western Heights for £2 million, at £25,000 a year each. Add £50.000 for a new transport van, a few ten thousand pounds here and there for equipment such as scaffolding and machinery, and you are still at £2 million plus, say, £200.000.
That is much cheaper than paying 15 million pounds to a developer and building hundreds of houses and a hotel in the process. Hence my proposal, ask for a funding to employ workers on a contract to carry out the necessary reparation works, be it repairing walls, gardening, painting or whatever.
But of-course, if you simply don't want to see this point, then perhaps other readers will see it, and take it further. It certainly would serve as a realistic proposal to avoid building houses all over the Heights.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I was not going to waste my time and energy again
When was the proposal to PAY a developer £15 million made?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Never, the developer is supposed to funding it or part of it.
Alex. sums may add up but there is nobody to pay for it.
Watty
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
watty,dose head,banging and wall spring to mind.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Paul, I wonder if you will be believed.
I will definitely give up like the others from banging my head against that old brick wall it is beginning to hurt.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
The cost of £15 million was mentioned as the cost needed to get the repairs done.
The historical sites on the Heights do not require new materials, in fact their historical value would prohibit adding new materials.
So it all comes down to manual work, some machinery and scaffolding. The bricks are already there, some might just need readjusting.
Paul's plan would see a developer, or developers, carrying out repair/maintenance works for £15 million, in return for building concessions. A very unrealistic approach, costly, and contrary to the laws of economics.
Hopefully readers will see the point.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
That's the last contribution folks. It was out of respect for you Jan.
Watty
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
The support for urbanising Western Heights on this thread seems to have come from a relatively small group of people, doesn't look like a massive overall support.
