Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Howard, if a group of people agree to meet at 10.00 on a tuesday to collect littler its nothing to do with DDC, DTC, KCC or any other useless politicians. These people stop things happening, they think of reasons it cant be done.
The power of people overcomes everything, as Paul Scotchie points out, if we alll do a little bit everything falls into place.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
david
if someone goes into the park and starts gardening they would be treated as vandals.
it is owned by someone so permission has to be granted.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Why does it need to be a community group in the ward?
With WHPS the majority of the volunteers and committee live outside of Dover, in fact we have people travel from Medway and even someone Hemel Hemstead to help out.
It merely needs a few people to sit in a pub and come up with a plan of action for approaching DDC
Trouble is I just don't see the people lining up to say they will lend a hand even if there was a 'body' in place to arrange it.....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 752- Registered: 21 May 2012
- Posts: 25
Maybe DDC will use some of their proposed council tax increase to renovate this beautiful park. Ooops is that another pig flying over.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Howard, gardening is one thing, tidying up is another. I'd love to see the public response if DDC prosecuted some local folk for planting tulips in a park!
As Paul says, where theres a will theres a way, if people feel strongly they'll act, if not they'll sit indoors moaning about it.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Just catching up today as have been away for a few days in London on business.
So the Castle Forum is defunct Howard, that's a shame, as an existing organized body of people already working towards improvements in the Castle Ward area would have been a real bonus and a good starting point for discussing ideas to improve neglected areas of Connaught Park, at least I now know why they didn't answer any of my emails.
Just waiting now for a date to meet up with Nigel, hopefully he will be in touch shortly. Some interesting posts over the last few days, the positive constructive ones are food for thought, I was thinking along the same lines as Phil's post #208 re setting up a committee and so on, here's hoping we can make inroads into making it happen .........
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
It does not have to be a community group of the area to take this on, and work does not need a councillor to liaise. On the contrary, Connaught Park is an asset to all of us in Dover and no-one should feel excluded. It just needs a determined person to take lead and organise like minded individuals into a working group. Look at all the other groups that work in Dover - they do not necessarily work in the areas they live in.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Are DDC proposing to increase their part of the council tax in 2013/14 ?
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
I was at the Castle Street Society meeting yesterday, they are looking to expand membership Colette, contact Adeline Reidy or David Hannent.
But Phil is correct, all it needs is a group of willing people, theres no need to formalise it
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
I too have just been catching up with this thread. The forum is so busy that, when I am away for my two weeks on the hoggin, I leave a lot of threads for reading when I get home on leave.
Sorry to hear that you have not received any response from Castle Forum, Colette. There have been changes at the top so perhaps your emails are not getting through.
Have just had an email this morning from Denise Smith, the secretary, re the November meeting:
"Just to remind you there is a meeting next week, Thursday 15th at 1900. Usual place, Dover Community Centre. I have asked for a police presence. I note it is a voting day, so Councillors will probably be busy elsewhere. Great news is that Les Richmond is going to tell us about the geology of our area, which is amazing ! (Les AND the geology I mean!). Other news - Castle Street Association had their AGM this week, and we would like to discuss working more closely together."
The Dover Community Centre is the last building on Maison Dieu, on the corner of Dieu Stone Lane leading into Pencester Gardens. Sale of the building is being discussed which is possibly where the idea that Castle Forum is defunct has come from.
You are very, very welcome to turn up to the meeting and join in. There are only a handful of us and the more the merrier. Membership is open to anyone living in Castle Ward, as you yourself are. I shall not be there myself as I shall be back on the Dover Seaways for my two weeks.
I would not like to exaggerate what results you might get concerning Connaught Park. Most of us are ready for our bath chairs and ear trumpets and not up to much more than a spot of light weeding in a plant pot. Nevertheless, it is an opportunity to network with like minded people. Also Nigel Collor is the DDC councillor for Castle Ward and usually gives us a rundown on what is happening locally, unless the election interferes this time. DTC councillor Pat Sherratt is also a member and is another useful person to have on your side.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
Just a thought that could easily be useless.
The Girls Grammar is fairly near maybe would they be able to help by adopting a small area.
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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
let's have a look at the logistics here before we go cavalier and guerilla garden.
ddc have a contract with english landscapes the details of which are known only to those two. what if a group decided to do some planting in an area that was covered in the english landscape contract without knowing?
just wading in without going through proper channels is asking for trouble, richard mahoney will confirm that.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Bit of mud in a flower bed is a rather different to a Grade 2 listed building
Again as with the Heights you start with simple thinks - it won't need permissions, just a courtesy e-mail, just to arrange a litter pick once a month to start raising the profile and gain more interest from the public. From there you can then discuss other projects...
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
connaught park is in need of a lot more than litter picks, the shelters are in desperate need of a coat of paint, flower beds need to be planted, tennis courts and toilets need to be maintained.
from my experience of clean ups the bureaucracy is a nightmare, roger posted on here the application form for an alleyway job, i couldn't even understand it let alone fill it in. we then move on to anyone injuring themselves broken glass/syringes etc.
we live in a litigious society someone will always have to take the blame and cough up.
the recent shakespeare beach clean up needed a lot of prior organising to ensure they had such a good turn up of volunteers on the day, they needed various quotes for insurance before the harbour board gave them the go ahead.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Small steps Howard - start with the simple, build some momentum and trust from the authorities, and move on from there. A lot of other people do it.
Basic risk assessment and go under the umbrella of another group for some public liability insurance
WCCPS, WHPS and a lot of other people do them all the time so it isn't difficult
Still why does it need a formal group. Get a group of people together buy (or beg) for a couple of hippobags and tidy to their hearts content
I am sure if DDC moan then run to the press and get some publicity (or more likely some letters moaning about red tape and the council and no-one joins in to help!!)
Been nice knowing you :)
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
I think you are being a bit negative Howard, nobody has suggest digging the place up just a bit of tidying up and so far that is all it is a simple idea.
With my negative hat on I doubt anything will happen in the near future if at all.
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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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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,928
The points being made was posters are able to have a view without being questioned as to there own imput into events/places.
yes it would be great if a group of volunteers got together
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
Not sure what you mean Keith, we are putting our view.
By the way what does the recently attached 1 after your name and Howard's mean?????????
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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 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
After reading the posts above,my way would see it all done and would stay like it,+a five star hotel across the road in the old water pumping station,come on,Dover wake up and move with the times.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
lost passwords jan, in the early days paulb did not keep a record of them so had to set up new accounts when he issued new passwords.
there are a couple of others with "1" after their name but suddenly remembered their original one so have two accounts.
