Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
8 December 2009
16:5834597Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 December 2009
17:1334598The MP for Swale welcomed the £52,000, and as he said, there are too many empty shops in Sittingbourne and Sheerness, and this should help towards a couple of them and bring more shoppers in. What planet is this MP on? Come shopping to these 2 towns, we have many empty shops, but 2 of them are going to be done up! 2.6 million pounds among 51 local authorities? Why bother. PALTRY!!!! Mind you, the time of year for Scrooge.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
8 December 2009
17:2534599Andrew
I posted that these govt grants were available on 13.8.09 on the thread headed "Govt grants available for High Streets" you may wish to read through and see the nil response.
I again raised the topic on 14.10 on the "Disney Twins" thread and again it makes interesting reading.
As an aside Swindon has been twinned with Disney thanks to a home made video by a young girl.Disney and ALL its characters will be attending the formal twinning session in Swindon later this year with obviously reciprocal visits by Swindon dignitaries to follow.Another opportunity missed.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 December 2009
18:3134600I think perhaps Swindon was chosen, as it was the town built by the Great Western Railway, which was where the Hall class was built in the 1930s and 40s, of which the fictitiously named Hogwarths Castle was built originally, and which Disneyland want to have a display of in their Harry Potter exhibit. Well, I thought so.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
8 December 2009
18:5134602that 52000 per town will not make any visible difference anywhere, take out the admin costs you might have enough left to paint up 1 decent sized shop.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 December 2009
18:5634606Quite right Howard. So as well as a stupid brainless giver, you`ve also got a stupid brainless reciever. No, I`ll keep out of politics, my blood pressure`s going up again.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
8 December 2009
19:1534607Steady chaps......
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
8 December 2009
19:2034608Thank you Bern. I`ve calmed down now. Like your new picture Howard.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
9 December 2009
08:0034626£52,000 would go some way to redecorating the worst of our shops if we were to engage the Community Pay-Back teams - all labour costs are free of course, so it would just be the materials that would cost and you get quite a few dust-sheets, brushes and paint.
I can't see many landlords saying no to having their shop/building done up for free; it would then make it more desirable to a possible tenant to open up.
When the shop frames are done, then a good artist could be engaged to make the windows NOT look like a closed shop.
We have artists at the Charlton Centre, we have schools with gifted artists and also Penny Bearman who has done some work in Deal - some of her work was featured on here I seem to remember, so there is much that could be done for a relatively small amount of money.
We have to start somewhere - I'm meeting the main team-supervisor from the Community Pay-Back team today to discuss an initiatve to brighten up Cannon Street and Biggin Street.
Hopefully just one measure of many I'm working on as Dover Business Support Manager.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
9 December 2009
11:1534632i had forgotten about the community pay back thing, puts a new complexion on things.
bets of luck with the meeting.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
10 December 2009
07:1434668Thanks Howard
It was an interesing and very useful meeting yesterday, but one thing did come out of the meeting which I can understand, but am not overly happy about, is that the Community Pay-Back team work on Community projects (as we all know) and although it will be to the benefit of the Community, they cannot paint/redecorate privately owned shops/buildings.
I guess the answer is in their title ! Shame though.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
10 December 2009
10:5634683can see the argument about private properties, great pity though.
with the old community service they were set to work doing basic maintenance work on elderly peoples houses.
this was very successful, the old people who volunteered to take part enjoyed the company, the young felons got a sense of self worth and more of an understanding of the older generation.
many went back after their punishment has finished and done odd jobs.
10 December 2009
12:3134685That is the essence of community service Howard, and it does work in many cases. It is a shame the same principle isn't at work now.