DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
I look forward to seeing this new scheme. I really want it to bring new hope to this rather sad part of town.
It has to be said the last one (asda) was poor in conception and this (in my opinion) can only be better.
I can't wait to see it and hope they do not patronise us with the sort of images shown in the news report.
I hope other people, along with DDC find this type of image hilarious, otherwise we are all doomed.
It will be interesting to see if Burlington House is included in the images
However, Ross Miller....I drove up London Road today....
Oh Lord....what a shame.....but there are some interesting new shops along the way....I say best of luck to them for trying....it has to be a complete
nightmare for them to hold it all together......
town development aaaaaaaaaah.....
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
That's my point Charlie. Surely the view at the top of the report is supposed be from the top of Flying Horse Lane, looking at what would be Burlington House. Which is what I find hilarious.
Unless the viewer has forgotten: what colour the sky is; what a tree is; or what a group of happy shoppers could look like, the image shows little other than 'no Burlington house' ...which is my point of amusement.
I hope DDC don't fall for this kind of visual gag.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
we have had all the artists impressions walkways, obelisks, landscaped gardens et al, maybe this time something will come to fruition.
sadly burlington house and the derelict car park are here for the long term.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
In which case Howard this image is nothing more than wild speculation, as both structures you mention are seen here replaced by new buildings.
I might knock some of these images up myself and call myself a prospective developer.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
there is money in it darren, much better than throwing chalk at the pupils.
the owner of burlington house is on an earner from the mobile phone masts and does not pay business rate and the car park is the subject of something intertwined that precludes any real development of the area.
should parcels of land be sold seperately then we could see some improvement.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
All projects start of concept drawings, you don't want to go through the costs of complex drawing in the early stages of consultation.
Laker have a good history of developments including Fremlin Walk at Maidstone so that surely is positive ??
http://www.lakerdevelopments.com/Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
"Laker Developments has joined forces with Bond City to develop the St James' retail scheme in Dover town centre. Commenting on the tie up, John Laker said "We feel this is a great opportunity to create a vibrant retail environment in a currently under shopped location." The development which is currently in the design stages is due to be complete in the spring of 2014."
Been nice knowing you :)
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
The last thing Dover needs are more shops, the ones we have are struggling.
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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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DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Totally agree Howard, smaller chunks of the land contributing to A whole master plan that is defined by these smaller parts.
Synergetic, as Buckminster Fuller would call it...not that he would know anything about planning or architecture!
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
As I have said many times before and at public meetings that Dovers Planning dept as been and still is, playing a big part in the holdups in Dover, Sort out that dept and we could see Dover move on but not till that happens. That is all I have to say about the matter.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,890
let me just add
many towns around us are thriving
why is dover still not
is it anything to do with the backward looking planning dept
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
As ever Vic you fail to give any up to date examples - if there was something to back it up people can agree or disagree with you.
Planning goes through a process via the planners, then to committee which make decisions - I am not aware of anything that has been turned down that shouldn't have been.....
You may be talking about allowing out of town developments, but Thanet has the same problem. Do you turn down large 'Names' because they want to be at Westwood Cross or not at all?
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Keith - are many towns around thriving? Lots of empty shops in Ramsgate and Margate caused by Westwood X, Folkestone isn't exactly great. Canterbury/Maidstone = very major towns/catchments
Been nice knowing you :)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,890
paul(scotchie)
i think im missing something here?
take a look at folkestone, or margate
or ramsgate
then look at dover
the first 3 may have issues, but are certainly way ahead of dover.
only a couple of weeks ago i was in ramsgate and the town and seafront you couldnt move for all the people
seen the same in margate and folkestone
now dover,,,, theres a different story
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
The first three are always seaside towns, the sun comes out and people go there.
That stopped in Dover in 1909 when they opened a naval harbour encasing the whole seafront
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I spent 6 days in Canterbury hospital in July and on one of those days - late morning, I felt well enough to walk in to Canterbury City centre.
I sat by the Cafe Rouge, near to M & S and looked around, listening to the live music being played by a chap.
The place was heaving, all different languages could be heard and it was a big eye-opener.
It's wrong to compare Canterbury and Dover, but what was striking, was that the buildings in Canterbury were clean and smart, none were in need of urgent repair or refurbishment; the streets were clean and everywhere looked welcoming and smart.
Sadly, the same can not be said for Dover; this is where a Town Centre Management/Business Support Manager is needed.
I have tried really hard over many years, to work on ground-floor initiatives, but no one (in authority) was then, or is now, listening - or even wants to listen.
The Town Council can't/shouldn't do this on their own; the District Council have no money to; the two Chambers of Commerce don't have a clue about Town Centre Management or supporting local retail businesses, so the Town continues to struggle and so do the businesses: surviving instead of thriving.
As I've said many times before, Dover needs to be a tourist destination - we have enough here for them to stay a few days, including the must-do day trip to France, so working with one or more Ferry companies would be essential.
Lots to do and it wouldn't take a fortune, just organising, but like a rabbit in the head-lights, they (the real stake-holders) are all stuck rigid.
Roger
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Here are some of the things this island does during the winter months to keep the town alive.
Food and Beer festivals organised by the Portuguese,Poles,Thai's and Filipinas. They usually consist of about 20 stalls selling traditional food,imported beer,music dancing and arts and crafts. They are held on a paved area about the size of the market square and attract a large number of visitors. There is very little outlay by the states as the different organisations shoulder the burden of the work.
Art and Film festivals, Free films in the park during summer and a winter festival showing new and old classic films in the local cinema and theatre some free others with small entrance fee. Christmas time showing Wonderful Life,Christmas Carol,Seasonal Cartoons are all popular and tickets go very fast for all these family favourites.
Schools are encouraged to put on choir,song dance and music shows. A great showcase for local young talent at little or no cost to the States but it attracts families into town for a coffee,meal etc
Charity Christmas Soup festival where restaurants,cafes organise stalls selling homemade soup in plastic cups as they compete for the best island soup award.Mulled wine and mince pies flow freely. This weekend festival is a great draw and accompanied by different schools singing carols throughout the day and the Sally Army belting out music round the tree and crib.
These fetes don't cost a lot but they draw people into town from the parishes and keep it buzzing.There are under 100,000 residents on the island and sometimes during the winter months you would think that most of them were in town.
I am sure there are a myriad of reasons (excuses) why Dover can't do some of these things to attract folk into the Market Sq but for the life of me I don't know why.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
#58...
That is more like it....a very positive/excellent posting.....
Broadstairs does some cracking stuff....Thanet is not exactly wealthy....
There was, I recall, a very positive lady, who tried to liven things up with ideas....the French Market.....(I know that was expensive)...but the then
Indoor Market complained............but that has gone now......
We need vibrancy and activity........What happened to DocK Rock this year?
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Charlie there may be a sort of Dock rock being organised as I understand it,Mike Mcfarnall and the Vet are having discussions at the moment.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
