howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
what a depressing site, drunks all around the library and museum, market square and pencester gardens.
cans just discarded and the air ripe with foul language all topped off with this mess by the bus stops in pencester road.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
in marked contrast - clarendon field about an hour later.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I have reported this .The rubbish was still there at 7,00pm
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
There...and there abouts?
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 bag has been taken but as tom intimated detritus has spread around.
by the by this flower bed is close by the bin and is see by some as a better rubbish receptacle.
Guest 937- Registered: 12 May 2013
- Posts: 145
As if it weren't bad enough that on a glorious summer's day we are confronted with such litter and the usual resident drunks, but within the windbreak confines of the Eight Bells, inebriated yobs were shouting out to passers-by to the disgust of all. Why can't the Landlord eject such scum? Cash is King I suppose!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
silly me for forgetting the patrons of the establishment mentioned by pauline, i would argue the case that the business sitting outside is not worth having in the long run.
the wetherspoons in folkestone doesn't have an area at the front like that and is much more inviting for that.
i cannot imagine anyone from out of town willing to run the gauntlet to go in the "eight bells".
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
This is Dover, a disaster area in Townwall Street, Russell Street, Woolcomber Street and many others. Atown whose seafront is dominated by a block of ex council flats, like those in Poland, no character, no natural beauty and do nothing to enhance the boring seafront,which apart from the sea, floating butlins and ferries offers nothing. A town which has been neglected since 1945 and declined still further from the 70's to the current day. A town with a council that would do more good sweeping the floors of the Palladium, for they can't do much more.
a town where the 2nd world war is still paramount, you can't bring back yesterday but unfortunately nobody can look forward to tomorrow, they've been waiting over 2o years for the regeneration. With little to do its no wonder people get drunk in Wetherspoons,, at least it keeps the staff in work.
Dover thinking of the future but still living in the past, such a terrible shame so much could be done.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Dave 1
What a depressing negative post.
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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
the last thing i would call the seafront is boring, the various awards won say differently.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Agreed Howard.
For a port seafront, Dover's is great. It is only the separation from the town which is a shame.
Dave, although I can feel your frustration, I don't think all you say is true. One of the things I often defend is the Gateway flats - not to everyone's taste, but what do people want? Hardly Polish, infact I'm pretty sure if anything, they were Dutch in conception/construction. I wouldn't mind some clarification on that!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the gateway flats indeed, loathed by many who do not enjoy the spectacular views enjoyed from them.
anyway i remember our honourable member slagging of our run down seafront a couple of years back.
a quick look at the facts suggests otherwise, the seasports centre with its design awards, the promenade again award winning, the statues/sculptures of various heroes/heroines, the floral displays of the harbour board, dover marine hotel and yes the gateway flats.
two top of the range restaurants looking out over the channel to see the non stop happenings on the ocean wave - i wouldn't swap dover seafront for any other - the photo montages from members here suggests they think the same.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
The idea that without The Gateway there would be sweeping views of the habour is a misnomer. There would have been huge pressure to build on such a piece of land and we could well have ended up with something which would have destroyed the character of the seafront. As it is, it has remained a popular residential area with beautifully maintained gardens, You only have to look at what's happened in some areas to see what can happen. Bournemouth built a monstrosity of a cinema on their seafront which ruined the view. Sure enough it was pulled down recently. You could have ended up with another Burlington House!
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Yes Kevin.
Many people (Hugh Grant included) seem to think that the flats in some way block a view that, from the town, would be blocked just as much by a two storey building.
And in terms of precedent (for what it may be worth for the sake of any planning bores) we should remember the height of the hotel that stood on part of the site before.
As for the flats themselves, they are in fact of a good example of what public housing can be (so good they fetch quite good prices). The flats have a double aspect, some lovely details in and around the building/gardens (I miss the fountains) and the whole thing is well thought out. Don't get me wrong, they aren't the most amazing lock of flats ever, but I think most critism of them (my partner included) is a little ignorant.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
The fountains were indeed a lovely feature, DT1. This photo from this morning shows how well maintained the grounds are.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
beat me to it kevin, saves me walking down there later to get some photos.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Is it true the Boss is a part time gardener .............................
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
The town could open up to the seafront only if everything from Bridge Street down was demolished and rebuilt in streets leading to the sea rather than across it. Never going to happen, so lets enjoy the seafront that we have got! Whether you walk or drive to it, it must be one of the jewels in Dover's crown?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Great picture above Kevin.
The seafront looks stunning it is the town side of Gateway that is so depressing.
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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 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
I must say it is refreshing to get away from politics and discuss the town for once. Some excellent passionate views but really only addressing the seafront and the Gateway Flats what about the broader view and some of the other points I raised.
We continually hear about the promotion of tourism so lets take a scenario. Lets say i'm Mr. Average with a Wife and 2 kids. We both of us work hard but with the economy as it is cannot afford to holiday abroad., what can Dover offer me and my family, we like a play area for the kids, eating in reasonably priced cafe bars, especially if they are situated on the seafront where we can relax and enjoy the sun and sea views.
We enjoy a drink in a decent bar, again one that is not too expensive, hotel bars for us are not our cup of tea.
This is where the seafront is boring, there is just nothing for the tourist to do, just walk up and down and pray you don't need a pee.
As a matter of interest what time was the picture of the gardens taken, not exactly overrun with tourists is it?
