Unfortunatley Dover didnt get the cash , Margate and Dartford did . I understand there will be a second round of the project and the deadline for revised bids is 30th June .
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
I have to say, in terms of high streets, Margate needs the money more.
Of course (in my mind) Dover could do with the money but I think unlike Margate, our problems are more to do with the planning of the town.
What Mary Portas is attempting to do s a good thing, however I feel merely a celebrity gesture. I find it patronising that our government uses such shallow icons for the electorate to place their faith in. "kids aren't good at maths" - "let's got Carol Vorderman in"; "people need to buy more houses" - "let's get Kirsty Allsop in"
When will people realise that these 'initiatives' are just vacuous publicity opportunities for the government, piggy backed onto boring TV programs that will inevitably be screened on C4 at 9pm.
Dover deserves and needs more than this. I think we should be made a spectacle for the right reasons.
Mary Portas knows a lot about retail and worked for many big 'high street' names. These are the same names that choose not to set up in most town high streets but concentrate their efforts on out of town shopping centres. She knows this.
Our problem, illustrated in part of the excellent bid we made, is one of town planning and this is something Mary Portas knows nothing about.
Personally, I think future efforts should be placed on sorting out the flow of our town, not just superficial elements such as shop fronts and parking prices.
I think one of the many reasons Margate and Dartford got the money is they both have large new shopping centres built nextdoor so to speak , and the impact of these developments is a key part of Marys campaign .
Its a pity that the publicity that would innevitably come with such funding wont come to Dover . There are really good parts to the Town Teams bid and hopefully they can be rolled out across the town .
Mind you given the historic issues re the various groups and alegencies ,who in my opinion appear to be more focused on who did what to whom years ago.Couple that with an inability of many parts of the council(s) structures to communicate effectivley with the electorate , I am not hopeful
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
That's a shame for Dover and all the work that's been done. Hope it doesn't mean the end of the Town-Team initiative.
The video looked pretty good, but of course I have no idea about what was put on the application form.
Perhaps the Tourism Strategy, Plan of Action for Dover Town and the discussion paper on how to have a successful market in Dover that I've written, could be included in the next round ?
We'll see.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Very disappointing news, we'll need to regroup and decide what to do next.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Yes, disappointing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
as said above a quick look at margate town centre says who needs the money more.
good effort by the town team all the best in their future efforts.
#3 says it for me, I am afraid.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
I did not hope to use this. (but I kept it handy, just the same)
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
You never know when you will need it, Tom.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
I see it in a different light, its an opportunity for the town itself to dust itself down and look forward and try and drive it forward without government funding...
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
I agree Jenni. Dover needs to big up its heritage not its shopping centre. If we can get 1m+ visitors to the area's heritage sites in say 5 years time, the town centre can afford to sort itself out.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 750- Registered: 12 Apr 2012
- Posts: 72
Over the moon that Margate was successful in the bid - it was a fantasitically well thought out campaign that put what Margate and its people need and will use.
Margate after after years of being in financial and buiding disrepair, loosing Dreamland and the town centre being caught out with WWX have taken great steps in strategically planning for the future - using the Turner Contemporary an artists quarter, many sporting activities on the beach to bring the profile of the Town to ore prominence.
Guest 699- Registered: 3 Jun 2010
- Posts: 292
as someone said the turner building in margate has attracted 1.5 millon people to margate over last year , after visiting the building they then look at the town and what an embrassment
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I couldn't find out what the other Towns are that won the money and why; here is a list of them and a brief explanation why they won:
The 12 towns include
Bedford, Bedfordshire - offering mentoring support for High Street businesses and community use of empty properties
Croydon, Greater London - transforming the riot-stricken area's historic Old Town market into a thriving market, food and cultural quarter.
Dartford, Kent - opening up central spaces for use by classes and clubs, from the Scouts to Slimming World and starting a 'school for shopkeepers'.
Bedminster, Bristol - putting Bedminster on the map for Street Art and Street Theatre. A bicycle rickshaw service and a review of parking will also tackle the traffic environment.
Liskeard, Cornwall - competing against the edge of town supermarket with a vibrant arts scene, guerrilla gardening and yarn bombing to inject fun back into the town centre.
Margate, Kent - putting education and enjoyment at the heart of the town centre's transformation with courses, 'job club' services and pop up shops.
Market Rasen, Lincolnshire - drawing customers in by restoring the market town look and feel, advertising free parking and mentoring new businesses.
Nelson, Lancashire - attracting local students with a young persons café, sports activities, and a new art and vintage market.
Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland - better branding of the town to draw people in, improving local transport and hosting pop up shops.
Stockport, Greater Manchester - realising the character and potential of the Markets and Underbanks area with a creative arts complex, outdoor screenings, a new parking strategy and street champions.
Stockton on Tees, Teeside - live entertainment at the Globe Theatre to boost the evening leisure economy alongside specialist High Street and evening markets.
Wolverhampton, West Midlands - bringing the city will to life with modern day town criers and on-street performers and a 'dragon's den' style competition to support local entrepreneurs.
The 12 new pilots will now start work to bring their high streets back to life. To help them on the path to success they will receive
£100,000 in funding to put their ideas into action
A dedicated contact point in Government to provide advice and support in identifying and overcoming challenges to local business growth
Free support from retail industry leaders including Mary Portas
Opportunities to meet and discuss with fellow pilots to share their experiences and lesson learned.
Over 370 applications to be Portas Pilots were received with many civic groups joining forces with local partnerships to bid to become a pilot.
Roger
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I am surprised that there were not that many entrants thought there would be at least a thousand. Surely all the towns that entered should have access to that " dedicated contact point in Government" to receive some advice.
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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 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Perhaps all could learn from these successes by comparing these people-centred ideas with the message Dover's video put forward?
[I couldn't find the thread with the video link - Howard, hint, hint.]
"community use of empty properties "
"transforming the... historic Old Town market into a thriving market, food and cultural quarter"
"opening up central spaces for use by classes and clubs"
"Street Art and Street Theatre"
"competing against the edge of town supermarket with a vibrant arts scene, guerrilla gardening "
"putting education and enjoyment at the heart of the town centre's transformation with courses, 'job club' services and pop up shops. "
"free parking and mentoring new businesses. "
"young persons café, sports activities, and a new art and vintage market"
"improving local transport and hosting pop up shops. "
"creative arts complex"
"live entertainment... to boost the evening leisure economy"
"on-street performers and a 'dragon's den' style competition to support local entrepreneurs. "
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Wow... how to make the team feel pants?
They did a really good bid, better than not doing one at all.
Each town has its own issues to deal with..
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
The Dover Town Team bid include
Community use of empty properties
street art
promoting the art scene
use of the town centre for events and activities - i.e. putting enjoyment at the heart of the town
They have been working with both councils to
introduce reduced price and/or free parking
improve transport
They are working with Charlie Elphick and others to seek out mentors for local businesses and to assist community groups with grant and lottery fund applications
Frankly they are doing loads of the things mentioned by Tom and others - perhaps if you went and asked them you would have known this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
The Dover Town Team did a brilliant job in under 3 months and they continue their work to pull businesses together to create a better town centre. They are also working closely with both councils and many community groups to make the most of what we have and build on the great things our town and community already offer.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
