Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
[I have no wish to tread upon any toes, but a Front Page Feature surely deserves a thread of it's own.]
I stuck what is the title of this thread into Google and in half a second got about 42,000 hits. Many regarding the closures and re-openings and many many pictures.
Also there is mention of a competition for suitable covers to hide the Fountain during the 2012 Olympics...
http://ucreative.ac.uk/news/2011/December/archfountain#.T64p3WYRgUM
I have not found anything as yet on the when or why there is a fountain at all, perhaps someone here knows.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the die was cast long ago tom, all the usual softening up processes went on.
firstly there was talk of discussing the future of the fountain then we had the rather insane "design a pretty tea cosy" competition for it.
i would rather the fountain stayed but pleased that we will still have a water feature.
the next stage is to save the bandstand, we heard talk of "discussing its its future", so we know what the intentions are.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Howard, such is not the tenor of the front page piece. The 'fight' is on/goes on.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Love the 'Artists' impression on our front page today of our beautiful 'Market Square Fountain'. At first glance I felt joy and pride which quickly turned to despair at the thought of it's demise. I would be prepared to fight tooth and nail to save it
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
paul is being defiant tom but it has already been announced that a new water feature has been/is being commissioned.
watty said a while back that once the fountain breaks down that will be it.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Paul has indeed said that Howard and that is because it is thought too expensive to repair.
I would like to think that a funding stream could be found for on-going maintenance and repair, but from where I cannot say.
It is a good, attractive feature that is photographed by almost every visitor to Dover; it brings benefits to the businesses and pleasure to the people. I can't see spouts of water having the same beneficial affect.
Roger
It smacks of that shortsightedness that fails to prioritise tourism and the promotion of same to the detriment of Dover.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i'll go down to folkestone in the morning and have another look at theirs on a sunny day.
it looks good and is popular with children but ours would have to be a smaller version.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Has PaulB commisioned David Hockney for the fabdabbydosie picture of the fountain on the Front Page? Great Picture PaulB
Howard when you say smaller it will probably be a drinking fountain (not for human consumption) in the horse trough
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
The thing is that the market square is not exactly dynamic is it? Go to other towns, Canterbury for example, and feel the vibrancy and joie de vivre created when intelligent minds get together. Artists, interesting food and a festival atmosphere is the norm. A young and vibrant approach.
Compare and contrast with what Dover has to offer. A giant telly and a fountain. I mean, not to overstate my case, but that sucks doesn't it?
Whenever there is an "event" it consists of a burger van and sub fairground rides.
It's awful.
Get rid of the telly. Get some young artists involved and you're halfway there. All it takes is a visit to places where it works. But I suspect this will never happen.
As for the bandstand I say demolish it. It's a pointless piece of clutter taking up grass space. Rarely used 'cept for skateboarding and a place to drink supermarket lager.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Unfortunately the town's water aspects continue to be the victims of pen pushing short sighted accountants..nothing seems to matter but the bottom line in the annual report.
Let me give you a brief history. When I first came here there was a pond in Granville Gardens. A nice pond indeed. Added beautifully to both the gardens and the general aspect. There was a bridge over the lovely pond. The bridge is still there today...but now it spans nothing...grass. I suppose we have to be grateful at least there is grass.
Then a tad before my time but still in existence right outside my window when I moved here...the famous seafront fountain. I think Scotchie has in the past shown pictures of it. It lay there for years...no water, all gone, no spurting flowing fountain..all gone. Saved a few shillings on the annual accounting report. Recently they covered it over so not much chance of a revival now. All grass...but we must be grateful for grass. The harmless vegetation covers a multitude of sins.
The last of the trilogy is the fountain in Market Sq. Another one destined to suffer a grisly fate at the whim of an accountants pen...to be replaced by a water feature. We have water features up and down the land, every back garden from Rotherham to Rotherhithe has a water feature...they are ten a penny, not so our fountain.
We have lost two of these and are destined to lose the third one unless there is a rethink. Our assets are being stripped away but what has either council done to improve our aspects for tourism in their stead. I would like to see a list. Tourism is the big revenue earner these days in Kent, highlighted by the lack of proper jobs elsewhere...we need them, we need the tourists, why take away the things that interest them. We are stripping away assets, the very items that bring the tourist back.
Imagine the Fountains of Rome being subjected to this kind of vision.
'Lets demolish the Michelangelo and put up a water feature...will save us buckets of cash...'
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
OK, the fountain looks pretty when working, the planned new water feature may look as good or even better, until it is up and working we will not know, we must not live in the past.
When I came to Dover about 40 years ago the shops in the Market Square area were bustling, an interesting indoor market and the town's buses all stopping there. What have we now a fountain, a big screen and empty shops, it will take a lot more than a fountain/water feature to get people to use the area again.
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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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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
further paulb(showing my age) they had coloured light fountain down your area
it was lovely
the bridge you quote is in poor state and sad to see its decline
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Well said PaulB, but let's not forget these things aren't just to attract tourists, they are also about the quality of life of the residents - it's ten years ago next month since we moved out of Dover to retrieve ours so it isn't a recent phenomenon.
True, Ray - we sometimes forget that bit!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
So, in the process of attracting more tourists here, won't we be improving the quality of life for residents too ?
40 years or so ago, when buses came along Castle Street, round the Market Square and up Cannon Street, the shops were thriving, not just surviving, so do we bring the buses back and open up Cannon Street/Biggin Street to vehicles ?
I do agree with PaulB's posting but where would the money come from ? DDC don't have a pot of spare money (I bet they wish they did have) and what wouold people say if they increased the Council Tax to pay for them ? Counciol Tax is capped too, another problem with keeping Council Tax low.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
ROGER;
With regard to your post are you suggesting an incease in the council tax if allowed as a way forward?
I feel its far to high already, a lot of money
im probably not alone on this thought?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
No Keith I'm not suggesting that, I'm asking a question that's all.
You may think the Council Tax is high already, try living in Shepway, Thanet or Canterbury, then you'll know what high Council Tax is.
Low Council Tax = low level of services.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
The whole concept of council tax is propably the problem.
whilst other councils may have higher council tax
i dont consider dovers council tax to be low
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
"So, in the process of attracting more tourists here, won't we be improving the quality of life for residents too ?"
Not necessarily, that's putting the horse before the cart (my Grandad had a more flowery term for it!)
Surely better to improve the environment for all not just tourists, and certainly don't put tourists first to the exclusion of residents or think they are the be-all and end-all of progress - walk down Canterbury High Street and you'll see the problems that can cause, great shops but not a great experience.
Regarding opening up the High St to buses and cars Roger, you've said it yourself - when it was open the shops were thriving. It's the same in Whitstable and Broadstairs and to a lesser extent Deal at present - their High Streets are open to traffic, yes they are congested so drivers avoid them unless they need to go there, but the shopping centres are comparatively thriving.