howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
interesting article, what caught my eye was the statement from our town clerk on the role of town centre management.
they have one in folkestone that appears to be pro-active and successful.
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Calls-town-centre-group-turn-underachieving-Dover/story-13810493-detail/story.html#2
Nice one Roger - this is tweeted and facebooked and linked-in-ed and I am about to Digg, Reddit and stumbledupon it, so let's get the message out there. Go, Roger!!!!
#3
The article shows a rather stubborn Town Council/Clerk...
I reckon if she had someone of the ilke of Roger da Haan, she would stop and have a cup of tea and listen
Too many little cooks here.....a DHB who does not know if it will be there...and no major Chef...............
Flowers and paint will not turn Dover around.....
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#4
.....and a town clerk making statements as if she were an elected member of the council. Inappropriate in the extreme.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
some truth there mr norman - but with regard to next summer there is not much time left to do anything more than spruce up the place with paint and plants.
it is desperately important that the town looks the best it can when the torch comes through.
don't forget the fireworks display will bring people in from far and wide including across the channel.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#6
Well said Roger
Shame about the negative Dover Town Council response, they are not doing a brilliant job at the moment much to complacent or should that be lazy.
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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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Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#7
Howard, I wonder if the planters and tubs will get done next year or will it be weedsville 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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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
hopefully everything is under control regarding the plants jan, can you imagine what all these visitors would think knowing how important the event is?
important point made by peter earlier, very disconcerting.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#9
I dont have a problem with a Town Centre Manager if it is given power and finances and if the right person could be found.Now I dont have a problem with Roger but..........he seems to have been pushing for the job for along time when there is no job,and if he didnt get it again this time he would call for whoever got it bo be sacked.I know that sounds hard and it possibly is and I like Roger but he has been on about it for months no years ever since he was not given the job and then was given a job and no money.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
fair points made john but do you know anyone else with the drive to turn the fortunes of the town around?
there are many good town and district councillors but they have enough on their collective plates and would not have the time to concentrate on such a major project.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#11
I agree Howard but if the funds are found to make the job with some funding then others will put in for it,Roger will of course have a problem,lets say DDC and DTC put up some money,If DDC gave it to Roger it would cause an uproar,and I cant see DTC giving it to him,I suppose if the funding was found which is unlikely they would decide between them but I couldnt see Roger getting the Job,not because he is not passionate about the Town but he is a Political figure and that dont go together.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
#12
As I have gleaned....
The Olympic Torch is actually not coming through the Town, why should it?
It will mainly be along the Sea-Front....and you can watch it all on the tele in the
Market Square
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#13
people wil go through the town en route to the seafront mr norman.
good point again john but if the post was made permanent i.e. at least a year maybe roger might reconsider his councillor role?
not that i have any idea what roger would choose to do of course.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#14
Yes Charlie that might be the route but hopefully there will be a lot of visitors and media.
We need to create a good impression.
John, we all know Roger thinks he is right for the job he tells us often enough.
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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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#15
Dover District Council's Tim Ingleton, head of inward investment echoed DHB's feelings and tentatively welcomed the ideas.
I find people are popping up everywhere....Who is this Chap?, what does he do?
How long has he been doing this job of Inward Investment..and what does that terminology mean?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#16
Tim used to be in charge of Regeneration. I don't know him well but he seems a pretty decent bloke.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
#17
Not sure why, just because you haven't heard of a council employee, he is seen as "popping up", Charlie.
#18
Just identifying............
Surely Inward Investment is the same as Regeneration....
I mean they are not getting anywhere......there are just so many layers...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#19
A couple of points if I may; Adam from the Express called me a couple of weeks ago to ask if I had any news or stories for him - a fair enough request I thought, so I told him that I felt that Dover needs direction and it isn't getting any at the moment.
I do think that Adam has written a good, balanced article and got everything about right, including the suggestions I had made to him.
I didn't say it must be Town Centre Management - as was, but recommended a similar type of set up.
John's comments about DDC not being able to give money direct to me (if I was given the job) is correct, but if a body was set up, the money would go to that body not me and the body would then pay the salary to whoever they feel is the right person, so that me being a District Councillor would not be a problem.
I have made many postings on here about what I think should be done; I haven't said I must have the job - and John is absolutely WRONG to say I would grumble and grumble if I didn't get the job.
When TCM was in existence, the last incumbant was the wrong person - a decent person, but the wrong one for that job and that's not me saying that, he was a fish out of water and totally unsuitable for job - he had lost over a 100 members of TCM and the two councils lost faith in him, so stopped the funding.
I am not conceited, but I know what should be done to move Dover forward; I also know what should be done to make Dover a destination, changing it from a to-it-and-through-it Town, to a destination and one that Dover residents could and should be proud of.
There are many people who are passionate about Dover and I am just one of them. No one person has all the answers, so a certain amount of consultation with people and businesses - I have already drawn up a survey for local businesses to complete and I think that is a good first step, but it would need an holistic approach as Dover's ills are many and various.
I was disappointed, although not surprised to read Allison's comments and without the financial and moral support of the Town Council, nothing will be done.
Being a District Councillor is very important to me, but Dover is more so.
Roger
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
#20
Will Roger and the new TCM team be considering input into boosting the market. The TCM at Folkestone run their one in Sandgate Rd and it works brilliantly!
Never give up...