Portas Town Winners announced
- 1 June 2012 09:51175992All of us must learn as we go, Jennie.
Someone may have read the brief wrong or the results maybe run counter to the original brief. There is nothing amiss is learning from the process.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
1 June 2012 09:55175993Of course we learn from setbacks
I am sure that what was submitted by the Dover team with the support of both councils and many community groups was an excellent bid, unfortunately there were 12 bids that were found to be better/more deserving - that is life.
The government has agreed to a second round of this where a further 12 towns will be selected, so we have every chance to succeed - but notwithstanding that the Town Team will continue to push its agenda and seek out other funding sources so it can deliver its goals."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 - 1 June 2012 10:08175996this is what i love about dover... we all have such a positive view on things..
Tom maybe you can speak to the chair of the Dover town team if you have a business and see what help you can offer... - 1 June 2012 10:09175997Well said Ross.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
1 June 2012 10:18176000I have just edited my post to read 'surely' not 'surly' which could give an entirely different impression and for that I apologise.
I also thought the bid was very good maybe we did not hit whatever agenda was thought of behind the scenes. For example Dover might not be bad enough or we have too low a population.
Yes we must learn but sadly Tom's post must have been a bit of a slap in the face for a team that had only just been formed for this bid.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1 June 2012 10:37176002I too was more that a little surprised to read about the aspects of the winning bids that were thought worthy. Perhaps the process had less to do with the Conservative Party Ethos, that the Dover Team's bid seemed to focus upon, and more to do with Mary Portas' take on things? [I have no knowledge of this lady or her TV programme.]
I will stick my neck out and say that, as I recall, the Dover bid did come across as 'Conservative speaks unto Conservative.'
It may be that the next round will be run in a way that sees the Dover approach win through for the same reasons that it was unsuccessful this first time around.
P.S.
Even on these pages it is often more Party-focus than people-focus that 'hogs the stage'.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 1 June 2012 10:45176004sorry tom had a look for the video link but there are so many threads on this subject it is needle in a haystack time.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
1 June 2012 10:55176009For Tom, on the 'And they said it couldnt be done' thread.
http://www.doverforum.com/letters/viewtopic.php?id=9932
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1 June 2012 12:03176026Thank you Jan.
I managed to look at three videos. Two unsuccessful and one successful. That is 'successful' and 'unsuccessful', NOT winners and losers.
Folkestone:
The Town is beautiful, but has gaps.
A big anti-Dover message, 'the world wars happened here too!'
Loss of channel link
MP filmed in London...Business, business, business [perhaps this is something in the local water?]
Bedminster:
Few empty shops
Lots of past investment
No need to go out of town to shop
Positive community attitude!!
Successful, busy market...wanting to expand
Local theatre group performing in shops, very popular...wanting to expand
A wish to have more 'colour' with imaginative graffiti on the night-time, shut shop roller-blinds
RESIDENTS, Businesses and Councillors working together for the benefit of RESIDENTS and businesses.
Dover:
Dover WAS; was this, was that...
Wants to WIN (I have mentioned the win/succeed thing above)
Lots of visitors PASS THROUGH
Fast rail-link to London
All roads not only lead out but by-pass town...
Sea front, lovely!
"Herein lies the problem."
Lack of investment!
Many shops boarded-up!
Talk of 'murals', (no art on show)
MP filmed in front of sign which reads..."This shop now closed!"
The very first thing that should be done.
Is to create MANY pedestrian crossings to link the town with the sea-front!!!!!!!
Next...
Kick the habit of 'self-harm'.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 1 June 2012 12:11176028Sorry you seem to have not read the brief, it has to be BUSINESS led according to the paperwork...
either way, it was done in a short space of time and the team did a great job. - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
14 June 2012 08:39178015There is an item about this on Radio Kent this morning, I think it starts at 9.00am.
Apparently part of the deal is a contract that says you have to take part in a Mary Portas reality TV programme.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 14 June 2012 08:40178017Looks like Margate didn't realise all they were competing for was the chance to be extras in a reality TV show -
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/portas_let_the_cameras_in_or_i_ll_leave_margate_1_1409935 - 14 June 2012 08:53178018i love that line from ms portas, "this isn't about me" !!
- 14 June 2012 18:54178139Mary Queen of Shops has since denied that winning towns have to take part. Well, she would, wouldn't she?I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- 14 June 2012 19:08178143she got well and truly rumbled as the unpleasant self publicist she is, completely unaware that a member of the public was taping her threats.
apparently she has been busy on twitter claiming that her remarks were taken out of context.
how many contexts can there be? - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
14 June 2012 20:45178156A bovine farm animal springs to mind.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 16 June 2012 19:15178469mary queen of the box is not making many friends in margate.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160180/Margate-traders-complain-Mary-Queen-shops-ignoring-poverty-making-trendy.html - 25 August 2012 18:49188496maybe it was a blessing in disguise that we didn't get the dosh,has just caused discord in margate.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coathangers-at-dawn-mary-portas-rocked-by-margate-walkout-8079568.html - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
25 August 2012 19:26188501i saw that to,its all gone to pot. - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
25 August 2012 20:03188519That was on the local news as well, I wonder if the other winning towns are also having problems.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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