Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
remind me peter whos your mate charlie????? lol
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Guest 750- Registered: 12 Apr 2012
- Posts: 72
Getting a second wind and more interest in the heritage by giving people associate events and activities surrounding the area - my ideas may seem a littlle sky high at the moment - but not impossible.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
hopefully paul will come on here soon and give us his views on his way he wants to go forward, whast he proposes
what help he feels is out there
also he may well be already in the throws of all these talks.
what we shouldnt do is discount any p;art of any ideas(including developement) all of it should be looked at in an unbiased fashion, then hopfully with all these great ideas there can be a coming together to get the best for the western heights
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Thanks Lara - I want a sensible and constructive discussion, but I don't appreciate Alexanders attempts to defame and drag down the efforts of the Western Heights Preservation Society. Just because someone isn't chaining themself to the railings it doesn't mean they support the plans, and as I have said many times, but he conveniently ignores, I CANNOT SUPPPORT the plans as they currently stand and even with revision they still might not necessaily get to a level where they a reasonable compromise, and which point I may then still not support.
I am certainly not backing a developer, but I wouldn't feel that I was doing the Heritage justice by not looking at and carefully considering every avenue available. Until there are full details, guarantees and ideas of funding a decision cannot truely be made.
As I have said above the White Cliffs Countryside Project are currently mid a £2m+ lottery application, and with the Height being a crucial element of their work, I'd suggest that 'nature' can currently be left alone to see how this pans out for the moment.
As I have also mentioned the Western Heights Preservation Society have already been contacted recently by English Heritage with regards a longer term agreement which should open up more funding opportunities and give the society more automation over what it can do. WHPS are also planning to be able to meet up with EH to follow up their recent comments in the press about them "working with their partner organisations" and the Heights have the "potential to be as big as Dover Castle". We need to know what they see as the future of the Heights, what they see themselves doing and what they want 'us' to do. Going in all guns blazing isn't the right attitude and the current base should be built upon. 'History is history' and we need to look at the future and not what has or hasn't been done in the past.
I don't see a need for 'rival' groups which will just dilute the efforts. I would like to see the Residents Association concentrate on the community efforts, perhaps have Victoria Hall as a community centre, hold events on the sports field to make better use of it, and work alongside WCCP/WHPS on their elements of the Heights
Been nice knowing you :)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
paul(scotchie) there appears there to be quite a lot already going on, and im sure any new community group, could go some way to preserving the area and im sure help for a better future.
by all working together im sure it will all come good
may be differences of opinion but thats good for the area to
certainly once plans are fully known(would apprciate a nod, planning application number)once it comes forward if at all possible
i will reserve my judgement until then
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Guest 750- Registered: 12 Apr 2012
- Posts: 72
As Keith says now is the time time to work together and as I have said before I have always been willing to join in with WHPS, I am sure the even Alexander appreciates that this thread now has to have a different angle whilst the development currently sits in the lap of the gods, there will come a time after when solutions and discussions will have to be made regarding the CGI proposals but it would be great knowing that a unified body of ppl consisting of residents, WHPS, DTC, DS with the knowledge and support of EH, would be able to bring about what's best for the Heights.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
lara;
you are correct in what you say, sadly alexander for whatever reason has been unable to grasp this nettle.
but lets hope in the interests of the western heights a unified body will be found
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
but are we all in it together,no factions etc.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Anyone is welcome to join WHPS - just £5 gives 'life' membership to our newsletters by e-mail and people are welcome to come along and help at our events and monthly work parties (3rd Sunday of the month 10:30 at the Drop Redoubt
http://www.doverwesternheights.org/
As mentioned the committee are doing a lot of work behind the scenes that isn't generally seen or appreciated, and next on the list is to try and get permission to do a clearance project around the North Entrance bridges that is getting rather tree chokes and only goes to hide vandalism and flytipping. We are also working on the Autumn Open Weekend 20/21 October.
WCCP are also always after volunteers at their work parties and details on on their website.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Great news there!
Glad to see the Western Heights folk are now being recognised as community participants in the discussions, and really hope DDC accept this too.
Well, hopefully all my preparatory work yesterday and the day before on this thread to open the way to the Western Heights Community group of residents in this direction has gone well, then.
Best of luck, Lara, I've done my bit
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
The residents have always been a stakeholders and don't know why you think otherwise... it would be good also to see the residents unite as I know there is quite a divide over the current plans....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Paul, to sum up my views, I'll quote from page 57, post 1140.
"I was just getting used to Mike Green's ideas of promoting visitors to open day events and extending the number of such events on the Heights, and starting with small, affordable projects, such as electricity, toilets..."
As soon as we get to this conclusion, then someone sounds off with the need to build thousands of houses again. In fact, check it out on p. 57.
That's where the whole discussion goes round in a 360 degree circle.
Now, let me say one more time: ideas of promoting visitors to open day events and extending the number of such events on the Heights, and starting with small, affordable projects, such as electricity, toilets...without building houses on W.H. or Farthingloe.
Add to that my expressed desires yesterday for the local Community.
This is my final posting on this thread,
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Alexander, in your own post #1140 you started on about 6,000 houses yoursellf !!! Oh well you have had your final posting so no comeback on that then
Been nice knowing you :)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Paul(scotchie)bet aexander will reply.
now let's just look at things as they are(again)
D.D.C. would always welcome views from community groups as they would developers, that has bnever been in doubt.
pauls s. view that there are divisions within western heights is of course of concern to us all, and something maybe any new group could get to grips with, and decide its direction.
Lara, you will see from alexanders last posting that he opposes any development, whilst you appear to hold a more open mind, in the interest of working together.
paul will know more than i about whether or not the western heights would survive purely as a tourism site, with no dosh going into it.
also maybe if funds could become availible.
lots more to come on this i feel
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Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
*IF* English Heritage and DDC did their duties with their property maintenance and there was a large cash injection from the start (lottery but where does the match funding come from?) then I am sure the Heights could be a major tourist attraction. Trouble is I can't see where the money could come from that can kick any projects off be it WHPS or a new community group.
I think the ideal solution could be the memorial, hotel and Drop Redoubt as a visitor centre - this would bring a permanent presence for security, a huge amount of visitors with money to spend and would see the Redoubt brought up to a decent level. From there any efforts could slowly extend around the Heights taking more and more areas into the attraction.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Another quick hypothetical question - although people are opposed to CGI's plans, what do they see want to happen to Victoria Hall (burnt out shell of the officers club for about 8 years), if it isn't restored and converted to accomodation?
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 761- Registered: 10 Jul 2012
- Posts: 115
#1358 - Someone suggested a while ago - think it was Lara, that it would make a fantastic (and profitable) restaurant and wedding venue. As a listing building whatever is done with it would have to keep to the original footprint etc but something along those lines could be a really good use of the building and encourage the tourism use of the area.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Last time that was planned - I think for a pizza restaurant - planning permission was turned down, then the building mysteriously spontaneously combusted
It's not a listed building though...
Been nice knowing you :)
