Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,927
Well thanks for your honesty chris p hope that was noticed(howard)
with regard the thread, the last thing we need is building on connaught park, we need to keep our valued green spaces
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Thanks Roger, it's good to hear that the pond will be repaired as it's in such a sorry state right now. So the maintenance contract has been reduced, no surprises there, obviously its been drastically reduced as to my eyes less than the minimum is getting done which makes me very suspicious as to what exactly is in store for the most valuable green space in Dover.
Also grateful thanks to Mr Graham Tutthill for highlighting this issue in the Dover Mercury last week. Hopefully the District Council will sit up and listen.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,927
Part of a bigger picture would be the marketing of places like cannaught park
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Frankly, what needs to be done is to discover which Council seats are up for grabs at the next Local Election...and target those Councillors. Being reasonable is a one-way street as far as Local Politics is concerned, not that different from National affairs in this regard.
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
one of our members - nigel collor - represents the ward that the park is in, maybe he can fill us in on the planned future?
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
My way is the only way that the park or part of it can be made safe, and it would end up looking great again,Like it was in the 1950.Most of you have only seen photo of it but as old ones were there.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Please don't set hares running about developing Connaught Park, absolute rubbish.
It's pretty straight forward , you can't have government cuts that take 40% of grant , freeze council & place more responsibilities
on local government because that can't solve them centrally & nothing changes. It's no secret that horticulture has been hit. Grass cuts have been reduced, flower beds planted with alternative planting schemes, some being laid out to grass.
If communities want to take on parts of the planting etc, similar to what has happened in Dover centre, we'd like them to put their proposals forward. It is another year of cuts to come with council tax freeze so pitch in if you want places that you aspire to.
White Cliffs Countryside Projects & Westen Hts Preservation Society are prime examples.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
with all due respect paul ddc could have issued a statement when they knew that the horticulture budget was cut and put out an appeal for groups to get together and help out.
this summer we had the prospect of a plantless town centre until some volunteers got together and planted stuff supplied by ddc.
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
Howard I have to say I totally disagree with your #9 post. The top part its only used by dog walkers. I walk my dog there almost everyday and there is a huge mix of people using it without dogs. What about this years snow fall, I have never seen the park so packed with children having fun. The summer has been busy there too with lots of picnics. Why lose more greenery from Dover?
I just want to add to this discussion that I often speak to one of the men who keep the park. He does a cracking job and is very passionate about it. Unfortunately it is down to lack of staff and funding that it is the way it is. Although personally I don't think it's that bad apart from the green pond
Keeps politics to myself
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
In Ashford there was a consultation and it was agreed by the public that grass cutting should be reduced in order to preserve other services, but then they compain to the papers about the verges getting overgrown!!!
With one of the lower council tax levels in Kent it is an ever worsening situation, and I have said I for one would be happy to pay an increased DDC precept if it were to help improve the tourism potential of the area as it can only work to everyones benefit,,,
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Mr Watkins.I did not nor never would I say it was the a plan by your council.I said it was the way to save the park My plan.And I still think the same,as I said think outside the box.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Not you Vic, the usual stirrer.
Watty
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,927
I'v also seen the park packed, would/is a shame to see it going backwards in parts
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Much as though I agree with Colette's original post, the pragmatism in Paul W's post says it all. Like it or not, money is the overriding consideration and always will be.
What I would like to see is Castle Forum taking it on as London Road Community Forum do in their catchment area, but sadly I don't see much coming out of there, which is a crying shame because it wouldn't take much to get the park looking great again. The great irony of it all is that English Landscapes are actually based there! If I were running that company, I'd be sorely tempted to do as much as I could for the park free of charge as a 'grace and favour' assignment to show the town what the park means to them. Unlikely though
.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Apathy apathy apathy, as I said elsewhere too many people keen to shout from the sidelines and too few that are happy to get their hands dirty.....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
if people decided to go in there and start weeding and planting they could get arrested, ddc have to make an announcement that voluntary groups would be welcomed and then go down the paperwork route.
there would have to be an agreement with english landscapes about who does what.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I do not know who you mean by that Mr Scotchie.And thank you Mr Watkins for saying that sir.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#56 - can all be done through people talking (if only there were more people willing to do their bit for the community, and the rest of the community respected what is done
)
Been nice knowing you :)
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,878
Paul, I cant see much change too many prefer to do nothing because it is someone else's job (paid or volunteer) to get it all sorted and the complainer's task to sit and watch from the sidelines.
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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 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Definately is Jan, that's today's world's biggest problem, everyone wants everything for nothing and there isn't enough of anything to go round !!
Been nice knowing you :)