Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
This is a DDC Press Release *********
***********
SUPPORTING REGENERATION FOR THE FUTURE - INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE
As part of its ongoing work to support regeneration for the future, representatives from Dover District Council attended a key meeting of The Alliance, formally the Coalfield Communities Campaign, on 3 July. At its Annual General Meeting, The Alliance changed its name to the Industrial Communities Alliance (ICA). This organisation will now lobby on behalf of coal mining, textile and steel industries.
Dover District Council has been a member of the CCC/Alliance for more than 9 years and is pleased to continue to support the work of the newly formed ICA.
The Alliance was an all-party association representing more than 80 Local Authorities in the present and former coal mining areas of England, Scotland and Wales. Since its formation in 1985, the CCC/Alliance has played a pivotal role in promoting economic, social and environmental renewal of areas affected by mining job losses. The ICA is now working to continue and expand upon this work. It will be working on the following objectives: responding to the recession; promoting manufacturing; regional development; regeneration; education and skills; addressing health inequalities; and lottery funding.
Cllr Stephen Manion, DDC Vice Chairman, who was elected on the ICA National Executive on behalf of DDC: "There has been real progress within the former East Kent coalfields, with The Alliance actively involved in work to make progress for the future. We are very pleased to continue this good work and to support the new Industrial Communities Alliance."
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
This might be one for GaryC to comment on...and Keef too as I believe Keef was 'down pit' at one time, or of course anyone at all.
I myself am lost in a sea of initiatives!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
no-one has rushed into this, have they?
nearly a quarter of a century to get this far.
the promo has no mention of the rich seam running under st margarets, victor tipped us all off on this one.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I do not post much at this time, but yes it has been over a year when I told you that coal was coming back and in a very big way, sorry but like alot of things I have said and told you about, I was told I did not know what I was talking about this is just one of them I was talking to our own M.P and cllrs and writing letters about how coal can turn is bad time we are in to some good, bring with it 1000s of jobs etc, we have the best and the most coal in the world. and it can be got out of the ground now alot more safety than the old way.
Thats all.
I remain yours faithfully Vic Matcham
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Vic - you will find that your numbers won't add up to thousands of jobs. The statistics for 2007/8 show 48 open cast and deep mines in the UK, producing 16.3 million tonnes of output an employing 5570 people.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
I shall have to delve into ICA more deeply before I comment on them. What I can comment on is about thr regeneration in this area. I am disappointed on several points. Fowlmead Country Park had 19 million spent on it's development, yet apart from some information boards and some fossils and a few tools, nothing else is on show around the park which would suggest its connection with Betteshanger Colliery. It is not on the main sewer, it is on cesspit and it is not on the power grid, it is running on generators.
There are still empty units in the Betteshanger industrial park, mainly due to the road not being open for over a year(it is now). The fishing ponds are still in dispute and members cannot fish them.
We are probably the only mining area that does not have a Mining Museum. I know several ex-miners who have worked very hard over the years to try and get a museum project off the ground, with no success. We must have a mining museum in Kent; it would boost employment where it is needed and be a great draw for tourism and a place of education for locals and visitors. I do not know if ICA was involved, perhaps someone could enlighten me on that?
Every miner in Kent knew how much coal was still left to be mined. Just another reason we fought so hard to keep our mines open.
For you Vic, and anyone who is interested.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Minister of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change; Labour)
Our consultation document, A framework for the development of clean coal, published on 17 June (www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/clean_coal/clean_coal.aspx) sets out our proposals for supporting the large-scale demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I am certainly all for the mines having been kept open, but I think we are beyond going back - shafts are flooded, land sold off, railway links severed..
GaryC - have you been in touch with NAMHO - National Association of Mining History Organisations (
http://www.namho.org) to get the cause out to some knowledgable people over the country ?
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
GARY
yep your right maggie done her bit, and mining communities were destroyed by this evil move.
Communities ripped apart without much thought for what it would do to them or the wider economy.
Sadly we are where are and as you say GARY a lot of time has passed with few results, what a resource and history we have here on the Kent pits, why are we not like other coal mning(sorry ex) towns/villages reaping these benefits?
These villages need help, and whoever/whatever this body is was set up to to help villages like ours, but they have had lots of time.
Now lets see real action and major changes
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Paul.
Thanks for link, I will contact them and keep you informed.
Keith.
Your right our pits will never open again. The way in which they were closed meant they would not be able to reopen.
Over 6 billion pounds has been removed from our pension funds in as many years, so yes, the money is out there.
Professional people know how to get hold of this money but do not consult the communities first, which results in money being got but not able to be spent on what these communities really need.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,020
When I covered the Communitry role I sat in on some of these meetings .My understanding is that a lot of money has been pumped into the Mining Communities .I visited Aylesham on many occasions and saw the benefits of funding .They have excellent workshops on the site of the former Aylesham school lovely cafe there ,play groups etc .I also visited the cafe on the square where the old library once stood .I have been to Deal welfare club where they have IT facilities .I also gave out cheues etc to clubs in the mining community .The Community chest I think it was called .People from the mining communities sat on the board to decide where money should be spent .WE have The Miner Trail I oversaw that with my Musurm hat on .The sports clubs in these areas have benefitted .The Rugby club to name just one .
WE ha ve designated officers who deal with this .
I think I will remember more in time .
I do know Cllr Manion has put a lot of effort in to seing that money comes south and in particular East Kent .
I hope Cllr Watkins or Cllr Manion will run with this thread .I can tell you it is not all doom and gloom .
I found my work in the Community very interesting .
Unregistered User
Some further interesting developments taking in place at Aylesham,skills, education and employment based.
I do not want to comment on Betteshanger at present but there are discussions underway. Delicate.
Steve Manion has managed to position himself nicely into the Alliance structure and together with Brin Hill [DDC] have the ear of the right people.
North Deal has been allocated £2m to develop the old gaswork site and decontaminate the land. This is mix of housing, community and healthcare facilities. A deal needs to be struck with the landowner and English Partnerships [HCA] to complete the project.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
good to see you doing as you are told by our susan, paul.
you will go far at the council.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Sue,
I agree much money has been spent on Aylesham and that has been a success and many other projects have been funded, including our Kent Miners Festival, thanks to Bridging The Gap. But Aylesham is not the only mining village and there is still much that needs to be done.
Paul, I am not sure that using regeneration money to clear up contaminated land is a correct use of this money and perhaps a deal should have been done with the landowner prior to allocating this money? Lessons to be learnt from Snowdon and landowner, which I am led to believe is the stumbling block with the Mining Museum?
I agree it is not all doom and gloom, but then I never said it was.
What I said was that "there are still issues that need sorting".
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
And GARY some of these issues are big
go go sue love it when your angry
