Hello all,
Yes, I enjoyed the WW2 event at Pencester Gardens too; good fun and a good effort by everyone involved.
Right - jollity and general backslappery aside, and on to weightier Dover (with an 'e') matters again: when are we finally going to see evidence of wrecking balls wreaking their splendid revenge in the close vicinity of Burlington House, the bus depot, the County Hotel, the multistorey and...why stop there?...may friendly JCBs rain down on all of Bench Street and most of King Street, the wilderness formerly known as The Crypt and its environs...'Damages' (stunningly offsetting the gay-sounding 'Dover Pride' offices at the moment, each oozing architectural splendour at each other) et al?
As myself and Keef mused a while back on this very forum, 'Chavsda' and Co all seem to have fallen very silent of late regarding the regeneration zone, as have our noble town burghers.
Is that the sound of crunchy credit I hear?
Regards all,
Andy Stevens (DAFC and bar)
PS - an open question to the council/any bugger who'll listen: Is the former Images/ABC/Granada building in Castle Street an Emin-esque example of post-modernist coastal town angst, perchance? Perhaps I'm missing something. Maybe we should go all De Haan-like, re-badge it as the centrepiece of the 2008 Dover Triennial and coax down all those DFLs from up the line to mull and muse over its edgy blight.
Cheap at half the price, innit?
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
I don't think you will get any answers from the Council Andy, after all we only live here.
If I was Asda and Wetherspoons I would abandon Dover altogether on the grounds it is taking far too long.
We don't need to advertise Hellfire Corner if you go down to the Market Square you can see it for yourself, little wonder that cruise ship passengers are encouraged to go to Canterbury.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Ah jeez very good posts.Very amusing. Im afraid the council have gone very quiet on this and everything else on Doverforum. Some of the councillors who used to keep us up to speed are now hiding in the long grass..either that or they have been abducted by Martians.
The politicians at DDC need to either speak up on here or get a spokesperson to do it. We are too significant now to be ignored.
I can give you an update as I live right beside it.
Update : none
Progress : none
Much vaunted archealogical dig : none
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
There are Councillor on the Forum Paul, generally those who don't mind taking a bit of stick occassionally and stand their ground if necessary.
From what I see those who do not contribute are the ones who cannot accept criticism but would rather be seen with their smiling faces in the local press. It is what I said, we only live here and are not worthy to ask questions and therefore are not entitled to an opinion.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
The DDC forward plan says the decision to demolish the bus station will be made in July/August one the Tender has been awarded:
http://www.dover.gov.uk/councillors/key-decisions/forward-plan.pdfBeen nice knowing you :)
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
I've heard rumours to the effect that ASDA still has not been confirmed, despite all the loud huzzah-ing from various councillors and other bodies a few months ago. The more time rolls by with no official announcement, the more I am inclined to believe we've all been led up the garden path.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i have to sadly agree with all the above, the excitement i felt when we had all the promises, dates and great pics of the timeservers in the press has now fallen away.
the councillors have disappeared when the flak started flying.
apologies to roger, who puts his head in the lions mouth and keef if he was still a councillor.
asda and wetherspoons must have had enough now, even the statue of the miner has found himself a new home.
the people i feel sorry for are the long time residents, who are always being told that things will improve and locally owned shops that cannot afford to take a loss waiting for the good times to roll.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
First off - whatever happens, people have not been lied to.
The bus station should be knocked down early July (I think it should have been organised that it was demolished straight after Stage Coach moved out).
I've no idea why the old multi-story is still standing too, that should (not saying will) go at the same time.
Some of the people who are delaying progress are the landowners who are saying no to their piece of land being bought - a CPO takes longer than a straight forward sale.
Those who are holding out, knew when they bought their particular property that this was coming on stream and so are wrong to hold it all up - they may actually receive less than if they'd sold it first of all.
It's not the District Council's fault at all.
Roger
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
Well said Roger
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
This is what the Local Govt Office South East region has to say about CPO's
Compulsory Purchase Powers are an important tool for local authorities to use as a means of acquiring land needed to help deliver social and economic change. Our role is in acting as the Secretary of State's representative.
Once a local authority has decided to exercise a compulsory purchase power, granted by housing, planning or local government legislation, it submits the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to us for assessment and decision.
If a statutory objection to the proposed Order is made it may be necessary to hold a public local inquiry. If this is the case the following procedures will take place:
an inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State, will hear arguments for and against the Order
once the inquiry has been held, the Inspector will submit his report to the us and we will advise the Secretary of State whether the order should be confirmed
the Secretary of State will then reach a decision on confirmation based upon the merits of the case
an Order can be confirmed with modifications, if necessary
Use of Compulsory Purchase Orders
legislation for CPOs is under the Acquisition of Land Act 1981
local authorities advise on the correct procedures and statutory or administrative requirements to ensure that Orders go through quickly and correctly.
Advantages of CPOs
CPOs can help bring about urban regeneration, the revitalisation of communities and the promotion of business - leading to improvements in quality of life. Examples of this include where:
a local authority wishes to carry out a comprehensive redevelopment of an area where there are a number of separate landowners
or where a property has fallen into disrepair and it seems unlikely that the owner intends to refurbish it
Local authorities are therefore encouraged to consider using their compulsory purchase powers wherever appropriate to ensure real gains are brought to residents, and the business community, without delay.
I like the last 2 words of their blurb..."without delay.." their having a giraffe aren't they?..
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Can imagine one of them being L*dl who brought up the old MFI building for some reaso ??
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Roger/Sue, we all realise that this is getting beyond a joke and we all want to see some movement,can you not ask Paul W or the regeneration dept at DDC to see what if anything is holding things up,You have more chance of getting the info as Sue is on the Cabinet and has a big stick,while Roger and I are sitting on the back benches or new on the Shadow Cabinet,-me-.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Good posts everyone - keep the pressure on, for what it's worth.
Promises of 'jam tomorrow' from those in the know, as ever, and fiddling while Dover rots and Folkestone thrives.
That's not a pop at Folkestone, by the way. I am impressed by their revived civic pride and commercial/artistic zeal, and the very best of luck to our Shepway neighbour.
It's just a tragedy that Dubris crumbles on with barely a bang nor a whimper. Actually, not tragic - pathetic.
Regards,
Andy
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
I remember somebody on this Forum regarding Dover as being a world class town, I should like to know where. Whilst Folkestone seems to becoming a far more go-ahead town Dover does not seem to be progressing anywhere at all.
You are quite right Dover is crumbling it is slowly but surely falling into the abyss. The modern day tourist is far more demanding than 30 years ago, they want more than a castle and a seafront, they want decent shops, decent night life and a vibrant atmosphere.
Perhaps we spend too much time delving into a past that anybody under the age of 75 cannot remember. Yes protect your heritage by all means but without a future there is only the past, we should be placing far more emphasis on what is going to become of the town in the future, that is the way forward and the challenge, the past will take care of itself.
Spot on, Dave.
Respect the past, and incorporate it into a vibrant future for the town - but stop dwelling on it so much. Otherwise Dover will never move on and thrive.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
OK, just a few straightforward questions:
1) Is ASDA moving in? (Yes/No/Under negotiation).
2) Is B&Q moving to Whitfield? (Yes/No/Under negotiation).
3) Is Morrisons going to be moving into the old B&Q site? (Yes/No/Under negotiation).
4) What is a realistic Burlington House demolition timescale?
5) Which other companies may be interested in moving to the new development?
Can any of these questions be answered yet?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
why did mr scales, our degeneration bod, openly boast in the local press that the final piece of the jig saw had been completed?
this was a few months ago, photo in a churchillian pose.
far to many posers in positions of authority, not enough doers.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
How rude you are .I have just returned home from a Housing function.Some of us are doers.
I am a great believer in courtesy, but I do not thjnk Howard was being rude, just expressing an opinion (held by many and with some evidence to support it!!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Sue
I think a majority of forumites respect the hard work that you and others do behind the scenes for Dover.I don't want to speak upon Howards behalf as he is quite capable of aquitting himself but I also like Bern did not think he was being rude more frustrated like we all are in that we read about exciting developments that always seem to be coming tomorrow yet as we all know tomorrow never comes.
I was transferred to Dover June 5th 1978 and the St James car park and surrounding areas have deterioated over that period.
The old CRYPT burnt down just before I arrived and that area is still a mess.Surely 30 years and numerous councils could have done something in that time to smarten up the area.
Keep up the good work Sue but Dover doesn't have the luxury of being able to sit back on its laurels and look at their achievements as they are very few and far between.The town is crumbling before our very eyes and in our lifetime.We are doing to the town what the Nazis failed to do...killing it.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
