howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i think sid is right about the lanes idea, great concept, just cannot see any developer taking a risk on this.
Dear Mr Watkins,
I do not know if you remember the interview you gave me in October 2008 at fort Whitfield.
I was with you for over an hour in which you gave me an undertaking that within the next three years (from 2008) over 3500 jobs would be created on the honeywood estate.Can you tell me 3.5 years down the line where are those 3500 jobs?? I will also add that the next year 2009 I met your assistant
Mr Ingleton who gave me the same assurances, but further, plans were in hand for a substantial jobs boost for the town. Including a "Spinacre" similar to the one in Portsmouth to be built outside De Bradley Wharf
So lets take a look at where we are shall we. Since our meeting we have a new BQ, paid for by BQ also the road network leading to its store. We also have some tin boxes masquarading as industrial units in Honeywood road
We have a New Morrisons on the site of the old BQ not an investment that DDC has had to plough any money into. So my question is still the same "When can we expect those 3500 jobs??
When I wrote to you initially in 2008 I expressed the wish that I would like to see what plans you had for the town, and hoped that some action would start this century as there was only 92 years left before the 22 century. I added that remark as a cynical joke at the time, now I am not so sure that I was wrong
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I suspect the answer there Jimmy is in one word, recession - the longest and deepest for 80 years.
Paul Watkins,
I must apologize to you as I have made a mistake in the years that I quoted. It was in fact the year 2006/2007. However that in its self alters nothing and the Questions I ask are as relevant today as they were then.
Jimmy, I think BarryW has answered the question for you mate.
Barry W, Do please behave your self. Were you not aware that every body who has an ailment or complaint blames "The Recession" It is Ok for the likes of you and I to blame the recession for things they do not understand. It is hardly appropriate for the leader of the council who has had his hands on the facts for years to adopt that excuse. And what of the recession?? the country seems to have slid into recession over the last 8 years approximately. However Dover has been in recession for the past 22 years that I am aware off so what makes Dover so special that It was able to fire the gun before any one else?? and more importantly when is Dover,s unique recession going to come to a close??
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Jimmy - economic activity in the UK has fallen by a record amount for a record period. That is what happened, no excuse a simple fact and to expect over this dreadful period Dover to buck this appalling scenario, brought about by the incompenetence of the government, is stretching the imagination.
Do you really want an explanation of what a recession is? I know exactly what a recession is and need to connected with my profession.
PaulW did not blame the recession, I did. But it is what happened, it is a fact and we cannot escape it.
Barry W,
I do not wish to get into a slanging match so may I suggest we try and keep this discussion civil.
I am fully aware of the recession and its consequences. It would be full hardy of me to have suggested for one moment that Mr Watkins caused the recession
and I am sure you would agree that I did not.
I have been analysing Mr Watkins replies to the various questions put to him in the past posts.
They comprise the following
1 "Not the right package"
2 "DTIZ and Buckland mill" not planning issues
3 " and the panacea for all ills" "Commercial sensitivity" well with excuses like that there can be no opposition and not any incentive for Mr Watkins and his council to come clean and tell us the truth .
Barry you seem to have conveniently forgotten my previous posts where I explained what Cllr Watkins and his deputy told me face to face (okay I got the dates wrong) but the facts are as stated.
Even your good self must agree that the council and its associated "planners",(and I use the word advisedly) cant believe there luck now that we are in recession as they now become accountable to no one,
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
a bit unfair there jimmy, the council can only facilitate movement on the dtiz and buckland mill, besides the mill was under the auspices of seeda for many years.
incidentally the spinnaker at de braddeli wharf that you mention was never subject to a timescale, and dependent on the dtiz coming to fruition.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Who is getting into a slanging match Jimmy, not me, no need for it - just telling it straight. I do think you have actually mis-read what I have said as well but never mind.
I do challenge your interpretation of events and have not 'conveniently forgotten' anything. PaulW has no crystal ball and can only speak about the situation as he had seen it at the time. he was not to know the sheer length and depth of the recession and its impact.
You cannot buck commercial matters. Councils have far less power and influence over events than many people imagine and certainly have far less money (even in normal times, let alone the present situation).
You are accusing PaulW of not telling the truth and I suspect, in fact I am certain, that you are wrong in that. He may not be able to tell you everything you want to know, he might get something wrong based of erroneous predictions, he may have to keep some information back and he may not be able to give answers you want, but that is very different to telling lies, which is what you are accusing him of.
I suspect that the Planners, those working in Economic Development and Councillors are all as frustrated and even angry as anyone else that progress on many fronts has not been what is wanted or expected. The elected members themselves will have desperately wanted progress on the ground before the election, without a doubt.
It is a fact of life that everyone knows what needs to be done and what has been done wrong from the sidelines, then they get into a position, such as being a Council member, then they find they are in exactly the same position and there is a fresh bunch of know-alls (like you and me) sniping from the sidelines all knowing better than those 'in power'....
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Paul Watkins, proud to say that I am not aware what is expected to happen on the 22 nd of June! Othe than that I will be signing on!
What to Alexander? Benefits at the Job Centre or, DoverForum?
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Sid, benefits at the job-centre thanks to your millions of imported settlers and cheap-labourers!
They are not mine Alexander, they are the guests, invited and uninvited of the previous Labour Government.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
22nd June is budget day.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Also, Sid, if you doubt my capability to work or my desire to do so, I can assure you that I don't shy getting a few blisters planting trees or bushes, but here in the Garden of England, that sort of work has been practically forbidden to British citizens and handed over to eastern Europeans! You don't have to bother coming out with any remark, here, Sid, because I have made many offers to work in many ways, so may-be you should excuse the occasion to start some wise-cracks about benefitseekers, as you wouldn't know the fact! Let's keep civil, here, Sid!
No wisecracks about benefits seekers who genuinely want to work Alexander, and I don't doubt that you do. I just wish you'd stop the constant racist remarks.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
it depends which joke center you go to and what jokeseekers benifit you get.
Unregistered User
Jimmy.
The planning policies are in place to deliver the Growth over a 20 year period.
I can't believe I said that 3500 jobs would be delivered in the timescale your describe. I have no influence over the creation of those jobs, other than to provide the planning framework that allows the activity to take place in those areas and provide the lobbying to get the matching infrastructure from government/quangoes.
If I did it must have been in an unguarded moment.
The White Cliffs Business Park phase 2 is currently the subject of an advanced inward investment planning opportunity which should bring forward new job opportunities.
Commercially sensitive means exactly that. I can't reveal the business interests of developments that involve third parties.
As pointed out other sites have the benefit of planning permissions which for commercial reasons have not advanced at this stage. Those investors have spent £m's developing and obtaining those permissions. If these companies survive within the current economic climate no doubt they will wish to take advantage of their forward agreements and investments.
There is a great deal of commercial interest in Dover. The Local Plan is in place and we are well advanced to take advantage of the opportunities within that planning framework.
The challenge will be whether national/local infrastructure proposals to accompany development will fall foul of June 22nd Budget.
Watty
Dear Mr Watkins,
It is open to debate whether there is a great deal of commercial interest in Dover.
I can appreciate that there are legal obstacles, and commercial problems to deal with. I can only comment on what I see around me. Folkestone, Ashford, Canterbury, Westwood, they all have had there fair share of the said problems
and they all seem to have overcome there particular problems to push ahead with developments. Surely it cannot be that we as a town have to accept that we cannot solve our own problems as the surrounding towns have.
Now that the SEEDA has been eliminated (I think??no doubt some one will correct me if I am wrong). who takes responsibility for Buckland mill??
If it returns to the remit of the council then what?? as it is apparantly obvious it cannot attract investors on its own what is to become of something which is rapidly becoming an eyesore.
Finally Mr Watkins you state in your reply that planning policies are in place to deliver growth over a 20 period. Just how exactly do you envisage growth??
If you said all this 20 years ago or your predecessor did are you satisfied with the outcome?? as I and many people in the town cannot be.
Have to say Mr Watkins there you go again. You state that phase 2 of the
White cliffs development is "currently the subject of an advanced inward investment planning opportunity" which should bring forward new job opportunities. What on earth is that supposed to mean??