Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#1
Nothing Changes ?? - The importance of first impressions of Dover:
PIER at DOVER:
The Pier at Dover is under repair; this has long wanted it, not only on the principle of real utility BUT TO GIVE FOREIGNERS ON THEIR FIRST LANDING IN THIS ISLAND A PROPER IDEA OF OUR WEALTH AND GREATNESS.
A FIRST IMPRESSION OPERATES MATERIALLY. NOTHING SHOULD BE OMITTED WHICH CAN BY ANY MEANS MAKE IT.
(Kentish Gazette 12 - 15 August 1788, page 2)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
#2
Good to know we are still fitting the bill then Kath.
" TO GIVE FOREIGNERS ON THEIR FIRST LANDING IN THIS ISLAND A PROPER IDEA OF OUR WEALTH AND GREATNESS".
Britain is bankrupt and Dover reflects that fact admirably.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#3
SID
We may agree on many things, but your negative postings on Dover are things that we will certainly disagree on.
Whilst Im not happy with the District councils negative outlook on Dover, and I before today given examples on how negative they are.
We need to encourage those people to help make Dover prosper.
Dover has a sight on the cliffs and hills that others would love, and then theres sio many other attractions like the castle.
Dover doesn' appear to market itself very well, and at times looks tired.
but i'm a tower hamlets boy born and bred, and will always be here in Dover encouraging others to talk up Dover(and be critical with suggested alternatives) Dover deserves better, but people looking in from outside will hardly visit when we
)(some) just keep knockng it.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#4
Ah, the good old days of Empire. I wonder how many slaves (presumably they count as foreigners?) landing on this island in 1788 for the first time gave a fig for the first time impression of wealth and greatness. Thank goodness people no longer think like that.
True friends stab you in the front.
#5
Keith, I actually have every sympathy for the nice sentiments you expressed so well in your post.
However, I cannot and will not walk around Dover with blinkers on. We've been over this many times, but since I arrived here in 1986 all I have seen is decline. This is not the fault of Labour or Conservative councils or governments, it must go beyond politics as both reds and blues have singularly failed to arrest or reverse the decline that is all around us.
There can be no denying this town of ours, albeit adopted by me, is in a very sorry state indeed. It does have some super and unique attractions, but we fail to market them or make them available to the public. I picked up what appeared to be a fairly expensive to produce leaflet advertising Dover. It contained the castle, corn mill and a few other things, but failed to mention ANY of the superb events that take place here. Beer festivals, carnival, 1940's event, WH open days, multicultural events, regatta, pageant etc., etc., So, a good effort but missing the key information for potential visitors. Dover is so much more than a port and a castle!
With regard to business and jobs, very little in the way of small enterprise survives here, why is that? Visit Folkestone and Deal our nearest neighbours and they have the same challenges but are doing better. Look at Canterbury, it has one real attraction, the Cathedral, yet the place is buzzing.
I don't have the answers but maybe we should be asking the cruise companies that are abandoning us, why? We may hear something unpleasant or it might just be the DHB charges are too high, but have we asked the question?
This is a huge subject and the problems of Dover won't be resolved by a market or a supermarket for that matter. I'm sure all of us want Dover to be better than it is, but we have to accept the reality which is not pleasant as things stand. Only by tackling the problems head-on, and not waiting years for something to happen, DTIZ, Buckland Mill etc., can we possibly address the creeping dereliction we are clearly suffering from.
Now Keith, you may see all this as negative posting, you may be right, but I like to think by "outing" and confronting the issues and those who claim to have the answers, we may be able to turn a corner.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#6
Oh dear my post has gone .??
I do my bit in trying to talk up our district .I sent a letter of thanks for the hospitality I received when I was a guest on Disney Magic .I mentioned the many attractions we have within our district .
As an aside the new play area in Kearsney Abbey is now open .I have told many people about this excellent facility .
#7
Has it been advertised in the local newspapers Sue?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
good on you susan, i always tell people about the good things that are not always advertised well.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#9
SID
Me old mucker lol
I understand your frustrations, theres no one more frustrated than I at this councils general lack of vision through its planning dept.
I have posted other subjects on how the planning committee should look at ways of inviting more in Dover rather than finding reasons why things cant happen.
And yep encourage anyone and everyone for the future will help.
I still believe Dover has a lot going for it(marketed in a better way)
lets hope so
#10
When I first moved down here (C.1980) I was informed that Dover, like Thanet was an anomaly in Kent in which one had to apply the 10% rule.
Whatever statistics you look at in Kent Dover is 10% different.
Average salary, teenage pregnancy rate, number of people in high-tech industry, house price, unemployment figures, free school meals, % of pupils passing Kent Test. etc. etc.
Seems a good rule of thumb.....
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#11
I don't think there's any point in me making a posting.
It doesn't make any difference if you know what should be done here, someone will come along and stop you doing it.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#12
ROGER
Dover has so much going for it,
heads need banging together.
We have to hold the belief things will happen
#13
Roger, maybe your vision of what needs doing actually doesn't get to the crux of the problem. I don't know for sure, but clearly there appears to be insufficient backing for your ideas which rather suggests to me that there is a bigger scheme of things to deal with if we are to get the results we all want.
Who knows, once we have a workable and deliverable strategic plan for Dover your suggestions may get air time and consequently more support.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#14
SID
That's more like
sounds more positive
lol
#15
Keith, I am always very positive minded, but now and again like to kick the tyres, or shake a few trees.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#16
SID;
I think i understand
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#17
Sid.
There are people looking at the bigger picture and that forms part (most) of the future regeneration plans for Dover, but what Dover Town needs now, is ground-floor support - like tidying up the run-down dilapidated buildings around the Town, marketing and promoting the Town to a wider audience, more than just to Dover people.
Brightening up the Town with hanging baskets - the black flower-tubs I had replanted in the early part of the new year, now look very jaded and need refreshing/replanting.
Who is going to do this ? I did when I had the job, but I doubt if the current incumbent will do so; I doubt his boss will let him.
Litter, safe-shopping, new signs to the Town etc. I had a whole range of initiatives that I was working on - all at what I consider the ground-floor; of course helping the businesses on a day to day basis, on a range of things, from marketing to business rates and from fire-risk assessments to finding tenants for empty offices/business space etc. etc.
More and more shops are closing because none of them feel there is any help with their own business, or the Town, which is in fact, sadly, the case, there isn't anyone who really cares, cares enough to put themselves out, not just a 9 to 2pm guy.
None of the above is sour-grapes - sad ones maybe, but not sour.
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#18
roger,with the greatest respect i agree with your post above [17] but as i understand you are a ddc counciler may be these these should be adressed at district level rather than coc or dtc level.the ditz plan has been in the pipeline for about 13 years now but not being pushed forward at saterfactory level,its time to push that foward and then only then will the town move forwards.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#19
Thank you Brian.
DDC has done all it can with facilitating for DTIZ - it's really between the developers (Bond City Ltd.) and businesses it can influence to come here. Maybe kicking someone's arse now and again would be good.
The Planning has been sorted and section 106 money agreed, but if it changes, then a new application will be required and that will take time again.
ASDA have bought out Nettos who, as we all know, have a shop near Morrisons, so if Nettos becomes an ASDA that'll cut them out of the DTIZ.
The District Council have been working with DHB on Dover's future regeneration and that is all long-term; we (Dover) needs this ground-floor work now - not in ten years time; we won't have a Town Centre by then, if nothing is done now.
Roger
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#20
agreed roger but it depends how hard you kick those arses.maybe some home truths and being pointed in the right direction may help.