Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Not for me to say Richard (not presently anyway); I know a chap who has some great ideas for the market.
I also know an influencial man who has some even bigger ideas for it and has asked me to call him next week.
With the right people managing/running it (not me) the market could well make a hell of a difference to Dover and the businesses here.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
getting back to the point made by our town clerk about town centre management, folkestone has one and leaving aside that there is more money there the town is generally thriving.
sandgate road took a bit of a hit with the opening of the new shopping centre but is recovering well, many new attractive enterprises opening or have opened in rendezvous street and at the top end of the creative quarter.
i will go down in the next few days and take some shots as i can never remember exact details.
Where is the Chamber of Commerce etc....in all of this.....?
You need successful businessmen/women and expertise....money and clout....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
forget the chambers of commerce mr norman, there is no evidence of a desire to lift the town out of the doldrums.
maybe they have a master plan but the townspeople are unaware of this.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
Yes that is true Howard, however we are seeing a number of new independent retailers opening up in Dover, particularly in the London Road area without the assistance of any central body. Oh I admit that I would love (on behalf of LRCF) to have more time to badger and pester landlords and property owners (both commercial and residential) to tidy up their frontages, repair/maintain their properties etc. but sadly I have to hold down a job.
I do think the town needs some sort of co-ordination and organisation
"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
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i must admit to surprise at some of the success stories in the london road, every time i think that the stretch has its best retail times behind them another business opens.
the shoe shop looks good and the small specialised sector is booming with the model shop, reptile outlet and the mascerada costume and fancy dress hire.
very difficult to be successful on a busy one way road with limited parking in the side roads.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
Totally with you on that Ross. I would comment further as I did once before, but again I would get shot down by the establishment closeted in their ivory tower. They rarely got out but said that I, who daily spoke to the traders, was "out of touch".
I now just shake my head and despair.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Wasn't the government money given to East Kent last week to be used for such schemes? I would happily see a slice of it go to Roger's salary as the returns for the town would be many times greater.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
It has not worked in the pass it needs more then one person with alot of passion to take the town back to what it was.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
What exactly is it that you feel has not worked in the past Vic and how far back do you want to take the Town ?
I agree that it needs more than just passion to move Dover forward Vic; it needs a Plan of Action, A Tourism Strategy and a set of projects and initiatives that are achievable.
I believe that such money Mark, wouldn't go to ground-floor initiatives, but on quite major regeneration projects and none of the scheduled regeneration projects would make much difference to the current Town Centre.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
have to disagree roger, the amount to be given to each district council is not very large.
i would have thought the dosh could be spread across many smaller initiatives that could be spent without incurring consultants fees.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Perhaps you're right Howard, maybe I should not have used the words "quite major".
I understand that there's a pot of about £40 million to be split amongst a small number of East Kent Towns. I don't yet know if it is for specified projects or who decides what the money will be spent on.
A couple of years ago or so, we (Dover) were awarded some money and it was to be spent on specific projects - we had some for the seafront and EH had some for the Castle; we could only spend the money on those projects and many people said it should go on other things, but we had no choice - I think we're all very pleased with the seafront now, but not the Town.
Roger
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Posh seafront just right for the tourist
.......... then they visit the rest of this (in places) run down town
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Just stand by Cambridge Terrace and look across the Underpass
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Sadly Jan, that is very true and I really can't see the Town Council and Town Councillors being able to be as successful as a full-time Manager would be.
There is no disrespect towards the Town Council, or the Councillors in this statement, just being realistic.
Charlie, your comment about that view is so true, it is an absolute disgrace and one of, if not the most awful "views" of Dover.
I do know there is a planning application being worked on, but have no idea when that is likely to come to the Planning Commmittee.
Paul (Scotchie) advised on here a while ago, that the building on the left (just in Bench Street) used to be Shakespeare Hotel and was very grand indeed.
The building should never have been allowed to fall into such disrepair; section 215 should have been invoked years ago on many of Dover's buildings - it wasn't sadly, so we have what we have, resulting in areas of our Town needing serious work on.
I don't think it can just be left just for an enterprising developer to eventually pick up on a run-down building and area; the owner should not/cannot be allowed to just leave it.
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
roger,if a lot of money is needed to refurb the building/s wouldnt it be cheaper to demolish and have a compleat rebuild in that area.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I don't have control over that decision Brian; if it is in good structural condition and depending on what the developer has in mind, it could be refurbished to its former glory.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i see that the town council is putting pressure on the district council to issue 215 notices to landlords of rundown buildings.
new councillor pat sherratt and the town clerk visited hastings which has issued 500 such notices since 2000.
knowing pat he will not let the matter rest.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Yes the interesting thing is so I am told 90%+of the properties are done up with any further action than the threatening letter.so very few are taken further action
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
exactly john just the cost of postage.
have to be done very quickly - only 9 months before the torch and the crowds arrive.
