Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#1
Yes both ends of Dover are doing well with lots of new builds and shops BUT the middle is not going to meet up with them.The town which would join them up will be dead once M/S move out and what can be done to stop this happing ?well nothing in the short time left, but what needs to happen in my view is the town needs to be made smaller with the top end going all to housing and the shops up there move more to the middle IE-Town hall down to join up with the new builds in townwall St, but the only way that could happen is if the small shop holders get a lot of help in funding and a lot of very low rents for the first 5 years of the move.
This will never happen in Dover ,but other towns have done just that and it has worked out for the better.
This is just my views as I see it. Thank you.
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
#2
Lobbying and planning has been going on for some time to help the traditional town centre and it is hoped (and planned) that improvements can be delivered alongside the other new developments. Dover Town Team have been VERY active in this respect and remain so.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
I think that we all agree that town centres will never be as they were before out of town shopping and the internet moved in. My view is that Dover, as well as other towns, should be more compact. Easier said than done of course because rents are so high in the centre of town and business rates reflect this. In a perfect world a lot of businesses at the end of the High Street and into London Road would fill empty units in the town centre and Market Square and on the periphery micro pubs and voluntary organisations would inhabit small units.
Good luck to out Town Team and others elsewhere in making it happen.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#4
Yes Neil is correct a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes. When DTIZ is completed maybe Market Square and Castle Street will become the hub again.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#5
As Sue said , lots going on in co-ordinated way with all major players & relevant local groups at this stage.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#6
I do not have more to say only to wish the local groups good luck, but I think it is going to take a lot more then them, it will take lots funding and good will from all that are trying or taking part.is there funds that can come from the EU,? there was a fund years go put by for projects like this.Again only my own view as a outsider.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#7
Vic, you are right about funding & that is why it needs the co-ordinated approach to make bids for different funding/grant streams. Work is in progress but at early stages.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#8
Thank you sir.
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
#9
Paul Watkins sir, you have had over TWELVE years now to do something and yet Dover has been run into the ground. Your council is treated with contempt and ridicule by the rest of the district you so blatantly neglect. In fact the only place you seem to get a warm welcome is this forum. The Western Docks development has huge opposition which you ignore and your DTIZ development is nothing more than a mini Westwood Cross with additional parking charges. Perhaps you are not up to the job?
Jack of Hearts
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#10
Always lovely to hear from you.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#11
Sorry but I do not agree with the above post,the pass is the pass At this very time Dover is moving up wards ,yes it has taken along time but you can not put all the blame on one mans head that is very unfair over the 40 years that Dover not moved on. has been under more then one leader and party both reds and blues have been in power. Mr Watkins has been there some years now but he could have walked away from it all. but I feel he has showed us all what kind of person he is by staying on even at times the public have had ago at him and yes I have been one of them in the pass but he let it go over his head and at this time he is doing OK.
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
#12
Strangely, I agree with both Paul and Jack.
Dover is largely a dump compared to the town I was born and grew up in, and I don't think the DTIZ plans will do anything to change this, they are unimaginative and uninspiring.
In saying that, I'm not decrying the efforts of those who are trying hard to improve the town, it's current state has been caused by bad planning over the last 70 years, not just the last 12, and all that can be done now is play catchup.
Anyone who saw the first episode of Hairy's Bikers Northern exposure will have seen how it could have been done
(it's still available on iPlayer).Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#13
When I moved here nearly 50yrs ago the town was clean and vibrant and has slowly gone down hill ever since, this must be partially because of past decisions made by previous councillors, if it also coincided with when DTC was formed they must also be to blame.
DTIZ will do nothing to improve the town in general only that neglected area, by the way access via public transport will need improving.
The rest of the centre of Dover simply looks neglected, with tatty or boring shop buildings so I sincerely hope the the plans and lobbying mentioned previously come to fruition
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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
#14
I would just like to thank you all for giving out your view about this we might not agree with each other but putting your points over in the manner it is being done is good.
