Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I bought my son's and his wife's presents on line simply because I could not buy them anywhere in Dover and the items will be sent direct to their home in Oxfordshire so even less of a hassle for me.
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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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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i buy most of my stuff other than food and clobber from our best independent store, argos i think it's called.
the only time they were beaten on price for me was when big dave flogged me a printer cable for half of what argos were charging which considering the purchasing power of the latter is quite extraordinary.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
no no howard that's argoose.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Howard - re your comment (no.20) yes, I am sure you are right, a large percentage of the shops will eventually return to housing, or community meeting places; until then there will be a lot of empty properties I guess.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
There was clearly a mistake with the leaflet as it didn't mention being open last Sunday, however, the member of staff who served me during the week told me that they would be open. The important thing now is that M&S are open on Sundays for the next 4 weeks. Let's hope other retailers follow suit so we can all shop local!
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
The problems of the High St and possible solutions were discussed in depth at the Town Team's open meeting earlier this evening - and my understanding from what was said by people who know is it ultimately comes down to government to bring about change.
If you want any more details - you could have been there.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
That's too easy for the T/T to make a cop-out statement like that Ray.
There is lots the Town-Team could do and I have told them in my Plan of Action for Dover. The fact that they have chosen to ignore it, does not help their cause and is not a lot of help to Dover.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
perhaps a market/town manager would be the answer, one of many suggestions.
Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
And you were doing so well Roger...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I was indeed Paul.
I had helped businesses with lots of things - business rastes, fire safety, marketing, surveys, membership etc. Buildiing a good relationship with various businesses was/is essential, co-ordinating events (not necessarily organising them), all things that will help businesses must be good.
Despite what a poster put up recently, businesses are on their own, they need to know there is someone at hand they can turn to and I'm not necessarily talking about wet-nursing them, but sometimes, for a new business, that may well be necessary. Information on the benefits of a website to a business, perhaps click and collect would benefit the individual business as well as the Town.
Much could be done with the Town itself too, to make it more welcoming and somewhere people want to come to.
Roger
Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
Roger, I've been asked by the Town Team to pass on an invitation - they're very receptive to your proposals and would welcome you to the next Open Meeting with an up to date, fully costed proposal and plan of action.
There, I've done my good deed for the day....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
further opening hours and festive period information here.
http://www.debradelei.com/#/christmas-dover/4580689516Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I've just spent 20 or so minutes writing a reply Paul and fthe just as I was about to post it, it was deleted from the screen. I'll either make another response tonight or tomorrow morning.
Roger
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
think you should give it up roger
you tried twice both bodies felt you should move on
maybe a different career?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
The Town Team will always listen to anyone that has a credible, costed plan for a project, as long as they are prepared to put the time in to work with the Town Team to make it happen.
What they won't do is listen to people that whinge, moan or state the obvious on the Town's travails, yet are not prepared to stand up and be counted.
So far, the latter category has the upper hand on the former, which I guess says a lot about Dovorians.
Too much talk, not enough action - after all, how many from this forum bang their fists on the table about the state of Dover, yet haven't even made it to one of the Town Team's Open Evenings, if only to show some support for those that are trying to make some sort of difference?
As far as I see it, if folk can't back up their words with actions, they should just do the decent thing and keep quiet.
Roger W, bless him, at least puts in the effort to make a difference and that deserves respect, not ridicule.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
Well said Paul.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Ditto, I have a lot of respect for Roger at least he tries unlike some of those who pontificate loudly but come up with nothing.
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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 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
An impassioned speech there Mr Isles, here here and well said.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Second try.
I attended a Town Team meeting in Simon's office some time ago, to give input on how to run a successful street market. I took copies of the paper I had written and handed them out.
I did suggest that a market-manager be appointed and paid on a commission-basis so he would be encouraged to go out and get more stall holders here - ones from other towns (they don't operate on a Tuesday) and everyone loves Farmers Markets, so they would be popular too; this would have generated between 30 and 40 stalls.
New stalls would not need to be provided as stall-holders have their own, but as an encouragement to people who would like to try running their own stall, second-hand ones could be bought on e-bay. This was ignored and new ones were bought, kind permission of DTC.
Everything I had suggested was poo-poo'd and the next day I received an email from David (Little) that was a master of put-downs; it was sent to everyone in the (email) loop and Simon replied to David applauding him on it - I think he suggested David become a politician. I must admit I was surprised to be on the email list for Simon's reply.
I am sure I know a local business-man who would offer free office space for this, so that would not cost, also if a good business-plan was created - and the Town-Team (apart from two I understand) is made up of business men and women, so this should not be too difficult, then presented to the main (4) stake-holders here, asking for £7,500 each, then that would pay the salary of the Town-team Manager and salary-related costs.
A survey of local businesses should be carried out to determine what they think needs doing and how they can move from surviving to thriving.
Creating a membership of local businesses, will not only create an income for a range of initiatives, but give a much bigger voice to the Town Team.
David used to throw figures of £60,000 odd at me as to the costs of setting this up - that's just total nonsense; if this is to be started and Dover move forward, it needs a paid employee - you can't give a volunteer, targets to achieve and instructions to carry out.
Businesses will only join up if they know what they are doing for them: business-rate support (to check they are at least correct and all claims/rebates are being made) fire-risk assessments, marketing, value of having a website created etc. etc. There are also many things that can done to help make the Town look more welcoming and cleaner.
I have been put-down too many times to say I am after a job, but these are just a few suggestions to help move Dover forward.
Roger
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
Roger, I still don't get it, I am sorry.
Who are the 4 stakeholders who would give £7500 to pay a salary for a T C M? Have you asked them if they will give the money because no one has come forward to offer it? Where is the free office?
I agree that it would be beneficial to have an employed person, but that person needs to be quite special and unless it is properly funded has the potential to be a complete disaster.
If anyone has the time, credibility and ability to drive this and lead it for the Town and join the Team, then please come forward, but remember it is hard work and the negativity that surrounds the whole subject is enough to drive a person to drink.
The regeneration is on the cusp of being delivered so there is everything to play for.
