Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
Arthur wrote:. I do hope that the people of Dover remember all this when it’s election time again.
I definitely will Arthur, for all his faults at least Charlie visited Dover for many different reasons she only comes for the TV cameras.
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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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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 438
It’s my view that our representative MP ought to be someone local to the constituency. I have no time for the “career” politicians- individuals who are only interested in climbing the greasy political pole. They don’t care to which community “seat” they’re elected. Hence why so many stand in various places around the country until they’re successful. They pay lip service to supporting their constituents. Voters deserve better, communities need representation by an MP who has a personal knowledge of and a personal deep commitment to the people, not individuals who are more committed to the Party machine.
I fear my days of making use of my vote are over as I have completely lost faith in the democratic process. As a child I was brought up to have respect for and look up to our MP, as I’ve grown older the integrity of politicians has diminished and there are very few who now have my respect.
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ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
The local party must shoulder responsibility for foisting the spineless Natalie upon us. It's a local macroscosm of what has happened nationally with Laughing Boy. I doubt that we'd now be tagged with the 'plague island' epithet if Hunt had won over the party faithful.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Garry I have written again.This time in letter format .
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Guest 3925- Registered: 28 Nov 2020
- Posts: 541
Although this will only benefit Aycliffe in the short term, I believe that all the time Op Brock is in place, TAP won't be put in place.
At least that might give a brief respite to residents whilst all who are taking up the fight can keep the pressure on.
On another matter, I had a DfT response about the Lorry site at Guston.
Just to give you an idea of how the people in power think, one of the many points they came back to me with was that they are intending to keep the hedgerows on site.
For those of you who know the area, the 3 fields to be used are separated by hedgerows, so it will be impossible to keep them!
With Aycliffe and TAP, it's quite possible that some of the people haven't even got a clue about the area you are talking about!
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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,931
Wouldn't you think all the agencies would work together to solve it
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Indeed Keith but they need a reason to do it & a lead agency to pursue the case. I come back to DHB & the Ports Minister very key to process. Ports Minister will influence others within DfT . Lead civil servant is also useful. Without DHB you’re going nowhere. Talk to Neil Wiggins who is community representative on the Board. Get him on to the case.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
AndyPol wrote:
Just to give you an idea of how the people in power think, one of the many points they came back to me with was that they are intending to keep the hedgerows on site.
For those of you who know the area, the 3 fields to be used are separated by hedgerows, so it will be impossible to keep them!
With Aycliffe and TAP, it's quite possible that some of the people haven't even got a clue about the area you are talking about!
Maybe they will transplant the hedges
, or maybe use them as lane dividers
, I am sure the wildlife that normally inhabit them will love the exhaust fumes and extra noise. It is good to know that the hedges are more important than us irrelevant humans.
Regarding TAP if the people involved with the decision making live north of Watford I wonder if they even know exactly where Dover is if they have never been to the Port.
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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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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I saw on ITV news last evening the interviews with residents of Guston.The MP was interviewed at the port entrance.Her press office not good ,That was the time to be interviewed with the residents .I think the residents of Guston s only hope is for some sort of barrier and restrictions on noise .
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 438
Guston PC remain committed to opposing this development as being in the wrong place. The DfT has written to the residents regarding the engagement period and suggesting that this will not be limited to the residents of St Martin’s Road but will reach out to the wider Dover community. It will be interesting to see how the DfT intends to engage with the wider community since information has been limited to the residents who immediately border the site. These communications have been hand delivered. The PC has been responsible for distributing information to a much wider audience. All local PCs and District Councillors have been emailed trying to elicit support for Guston. Guston PC has encouraged wider dissemination of email communication so that the Dover community is kept informed of developments but it hasn’t been easy.
It’s important that this facility is moved to a different location, away from residential homes and away from the White Cliffs Business Park. A reminder.......DDC deemed this WRONG in 2014......it’s still wrong NOW.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Arthur. I know how hard it is for Guston residents .I can assure you many of my friends supported the on line petition.I feel the MP is not supporting you .I know your KCCMember has been helpful.The trouble is we just see on TV a row of houses .!however very interesting to see the green barrier between St Martins Road and BQ .I wonder how many people busy shopping at Lidells or B Q realise
they’re is the green barrier.Im aware of the district having served on the council for so many years.I truly feel the MP should have been interviewed at Guston.Now I see her down at the Discovery Centre .
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 438
The MP simply bangs on about job creation, but no details are provided. No one from the DfT or our MP has visited St Martin’s Road, disgraceful attitude towards the constituents.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Agree
Guest 3925- Registered: 28 Nov 2020
- Posts: 541
I saw our MP's television appearance yesterday and I have just emailed her.
I have informed her that As one of your constituents, what I saw appalled me, seeing my MP prepared to put their own political career before the people they represent and tow the party line. Your comments showed that you have no interest in the mental and physical well-being of those who look to you for support with their concerns.
I also wished her luck in finding political promotion and suggested she might like her party to find a safe little seat that would allow her to achieve that, but please don't make it Dover.
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Guest 3925- Registered: 28 Nov 2020
- Posts: 541
Arthur wrote:The MP simply bangs on about job creation, but no details are provided. No one from the DfT or our MP has visited St Martin’s Road, disgraceful attitude towards the constituents.
I had a response from DfT and one of my questions was about jobs. They couldn't give any figures but claimed it will be hundreds!
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 438
I read that response regarding “hundreds” of jobs but no constructive answers being provided. The PC continue to maintain that siting this facility at Guston is taking an easy option and they will continue to put pressure on the DfT by every means at their disposal. The engagement timetable needs to be increased as does the information provided to the wider community so that they can really understand what is at stake.
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Guest 3925- Registered: 28 Nov 2020
- Posts: 541
I know that in the greater scheme of things, people's lives, houses, mental health and welfare are more important, but having walked the Roman Road and back along Dover Road this lunchtime, if the DfT promise of not destroying hedgerows is like their promise of a "environmental buffer zone", I don't hold out much hope.
The hedgerows are still there, but they seem to be ignoring them when they need to drive vehicles across into the fields. Let's hope the environmental buffer zone doesn't go the same way.
Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 451
It seems that Gaston is getting all the media coverage on TV and yet Aycliffe who has to put up with Dover TAP for over 5 years hardly ever gets any media coverage... You can see why the residents of Aycliffe get frustrated....
Very rarely if ever see anyone from DDC come up to Aycliffe and find out our concerns. Yet they all seem to know where Guston is...
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Guest 3925- Registered: 28 Nov 2020
- Posts: 541
Gary39 wrote:It seems that Gaston is getting all the media coverage on TV and yet Aycliffe who has to put up with Dover TAP for over 5 years hardly ever gets any media coverage... You can see why the residents of Aycliffe get frustrated....
Very rarely if ever see anyone from DDC come up to Aycliffe and find out our concerns. Yet they all seem to know where Guston is...
The only reason I found about the IBF site being planned was due to the very active Guston Parish Council who have led the fight against it. I have known about TAP since it was started and whilst I've sent concerns in the past and more recently, I'm not aware there are any official local groups behind the complaints about TAP (forgive my ignorance if there are).
With the publicity around Brexit, anything related to that makes good media and ironically, with TAP having not been put on (yet) since we left the EU, I guess it doesn't make a good story to show in the media?
I'd also say that DDC / KCC / MP etc might know where Guston is, but I don't believe many have actually visited the area, just like Aycliffe.
Don't get me wrong, I put Aycliffe up there with Guston for what both groups of residents have to, or will have to put up with, but I think it's just circumstances that prioritise one story over another.
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Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
may be if aycliffe had a better ddc/dtc ccoveridge or have there own vocal parish council things might happen.
