15 October 2008
12:447550Can't some Philip Green-esque retail magnate set up a megastore flogging chipboard, plywood, hoardings, boardings, plasterboard, MDF and other shut-shop materials in the heart of Dover? They'd make a mint. Oh right, they already have. It's called 'Dover'.
Before the deluded optimists and spin-meisters perennially upselling the Dovorian retail 'experience' inevitably get on my gloomy but accurate case, can I add that I take no pleasure in this joke. For joke is what it is. The joke being either my posting, or the town as it stands today - you decide. And it ain't the all-new, improved recession that's done this to our hometown.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
15 October 2008
13:067551I am afraid that until Dover attracts some quality High St shops to the town we are on a roller coaster ride that can only end in tragedy.
Another notsosupermarket is not the answer.
Lets utilise our assests and convert Dover Castle into a top of the range hotel similar to the paradors in Spain.Therefore attracting tourists to the town and using it as a base for their daytrips to London, Canterbury and further afield
The tunnels could be hired out to an ever increasing number of Yvette Fielding type Ghost hunters.Most of which are attracted to the town through reading reports that Dover was fast becoming a ghost town.
The old town hall should be purchased by Camra and turned into a spit and sawdust boozer selling cut price locally brewed dogshollocks beer-for a year in year out beer festival.
Dover Police station which never appears to be open unless you have an appointment should be converted into a block of 40 cells where the Pencester Pals drinking club could be housed overnight before being let out again the next morning on the unsuspecting public.
Anyone got any suggestions for what the cable car could be used for once the novelty has worn off or the funding stopped?
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
15 October 2008
13:087552Andrew you miss the point, this is precisely why we need a cable car. It will whisk people over the town so that tourists are protected from seeing the dilapidated state of the town.
We wil however have a nice new Asda and a hotel some time in the next thirty years, so why not let the rest of the town rot.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 October 2008
13:597553we can allways use the cable car for hanging out dovers dirty washing.
15 October 2008
14:147556Good stuff, Marek, Dave and Brian. Your biting satire made me laugh out loud.
At least we've all maintained our senses of humour against all the odds. Just wish those who wield some influence would get serious.
Say no to Chavsda-Wal Mart and the ridiculous cable car headline-grabber!
Cheers,
Andy
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
15 October 2008
14:307557Seriously though Andrew, I suggest we build Asda and the hotel and then board them up we would then have a well-balanced town.
15 October 2008
16:447565Nice one Dave! That's about right!
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 October 2008
16:487566if you want to be realy silly we can allways put a ruddy great wall around the town then nothing can get in or out.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 October 2008
20:287578does anyone know of a developer that is offering anything better?
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
15 October 2008
20:477581Well, would you want to be the developer that needs to come in and finance demolitions and major archaeology, perhaps others will come in once the site is clear and Adsa have pulled out ??
Been nice knowing you :)
16 October 2008
09:517589Archaeology, DTIZ, Chavsda Mothership and the march of the philistines:
We have an unparalleled archaeological and historical legacy in Dover. I'd like the DTIZ - whatever may be found there, which I predict will be loads - to become a permanent archaeological centre-piece for the town.
Any rapacious supermarket megalith - if they come - will presumably want to build over anything of value on the site immediately and erect their stunted Burlington-esque box before you can say 'backhanders'. And there goes another missed opportunity to give the town the historical respect it deserves for another hundred years.
Maybe the current new world order, with big businesses are being seen for the cash-crazed locusts they are, will precipitate more thinking outside the box. But whatever way you look at it, the current offering must be stopped.
Thirty pieces of silver to the philistines, anyone?
Yours, outside the Cause Is Altered, the Lanes, off York Street Bypass (could have been our Middle Street, couldn't it?),
Andy
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 October 2008
19:157628all very interesting and entertaining andrew, but do you know anyone with the money to offer anything better?
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
16 October 2008
22:427646As you say Andrew, where Dover leads, the others follow!
Seriously, though, I have long thought part of the responsibilty for the town's retail decline lies with the relatively monied denizens of the Dover-dodging suburbs. Yes, it's you I'm talking about, in your 4x4, zooming from River to Canterbury to buy that fridge you could have picked up in Dover. And you in Whitfield, buying online when you could have picked up the same product in your home town.
Can all of us say, hand on heart, that we support Dover's retail base as much as we could? Any retail recovery is indeed a chicken and egg situation, but my impression is that more people could try harder to buy things in Dover. Look upon it as a public duty. Granted, for some sectors it's a dead loss, but I feel too many people are a bit lazy and complacent about supporting their home town.
And don't bother telling me how limited shopping facilities are here, I know that better than anyone. If people really care about the town they will try a bit harder to shop here - show a bit if public spiritedness, if you will. It is the part of the equation which the oridinary citizen has some control over.
Dover is not a desperately poor town, but it looks that way as so little of its money is spent here.
The recovery, if it is to happen, has to start somewhere. Even if only 5-10% extra of people's income was spent here, it would make a difference and maybe help persuade other retailers to come in. Which would persuade more shoppers. etc etc. I refuse to believe Dover is a lost cause. Where there's a will, there a way, but does that will exist?
I recommend the book 'The Tipping Point' to see how seemingly hopeless cases can turn the corner.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
16 October 2008
22:527647andrew stucken
we do have roger and his loyalty card.
it does not cover every purchase, of course.
do you go out of your way to spend money here?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
17 October 2008
08:277656I would like to add to Andrew's posting, that part of the reason for the demise of many of Dover's businesses is simply because not enough people shop here.
Businesses need to have a higher income over their expenditure (it's generally called profit) or they go down the proverbial pan. That income is generated only through you, the resident and potential shopper, going into the many shops we have here.
People grumble about the state of the shops here, the quality of their stock and staff, but forgive me for plugging the Dover Loyalty Scheme again, but not one of our members fall into that category.
All are good quality, whether a retail outlet selling clothes, groceries, flowers or gifts, or whether a pub, restaurant of cafe.
If you want new, better shops here, you will only get them by showing potential new shops, whether independant or part of a chain, that the current ones are well patronised and thriving, not just (and in many cases, only just) surviving.
Look in Town first for things you want to buy; in most if not all instances, you'll find it - the added benefit of our members, is that you will be given a discount for your loyalty, as well as a warm friendly welcome and good service.
If you go into a shop and ask if they are a member of the Loyalty Scheme, if they say no, ask them why not - for new members, it's less than the cost of two cups of coffee a week !
Roger
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
17 October 2008
11:267667Howard Mcsweeney
Yes I do! And I encourage others to do so.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
17 October 2008
19:307692Well said Roger
I absolutely agree with you
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi