Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,231
If i was to solicit a prostitute who turns out to be a police officer i still get charged for the intent.
surely then i am just as guilty: if I snort cocaine that turns out to be sherbet?
Allegedly sherbet!
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Arte et Marte
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
Dear Lord! When are people going to realise these grand schemes like cable cars, lazer water features, big screens, DTIZ etc fail dismally because the fundamental problems in Dover are never addressed.
Why are Dover Town Council involved in a Limited company which isn't registered? Mind boggling.
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Jack of Hearts
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
Jack, how about you join the people who are trying to make something work, your energy would be far better channelled?
No one will agree to bulldozing Dover form the seafront to Buckland Bridge which is what we really need, so we have to make the best of what we have, howsoever we can.
As for a not registered company. It is going to be a Charity, which takes rather longer, but it does not stop them making plans so that they can get on with it when it is registered! I would call that forward thinking and useful use of "meanwhile time". Councils tie themselves up to such huge amounts of red tape that nothing much happens quickly because of it. Some councils around the country have realised this and have set up trading companies so that they can actually do the work that needs to be done. DTC, are doing it in a rather better way in that they are not trying to compete with other businesses, but aim to deal with the rubbish that no one else wants.
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Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Iagree that what needs to be done pull the lot down and build a new town, but as already said that will never happen,so anything is better then doing nothing so I wish them luck with it but I am to old to help out even if I wanted to.
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Guest 1385- Registered: 27 Oct 2014
- Posts: 322
Why don't people on this forum get off the computer and help this town instead of just sitting slating the people who are make a go of things.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Are you having a bad hair day Stu?
Guest 1831- Registered: 1 Sep 2016
- Posts: 395
I swept the driveway of my Town Centre House today. Is that making a go of things?
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Some of this post has been removed by forum admin due to inaccuracies. Posts below may refer to the removed content.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Please be so kind as to clarify whether it was the human or canine that was fierce Christine? Incidentally best not to engage with the Town Clerk as many people are walking around town in a daze with two puncture marks in their necks. Probably a coincidence but one can't be too careful.
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Guest 1831- Registered: 1 Sep 2016
- Posts: 395
No one will agree to bulldozing Dover form the seafront to Buckland Bridge which is what we really need, so we have to make the best of what we have, howsoever we can.
#23
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#24...Iagree that what needs to be done pull the lot down and build a new town,
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If you care to have a good look at Dover History Pages on F/B. You will find that Dover was indeed a really beautiful Town. The buildings were 2nd to none, and we were blessed with wonderful Flint and interesting architecture.
I find the above remarks, one from a person who is supposed to be employed to let to businesses in this Town. Indeed it would appear Terson's has the grand monopoly on letting retail businesses. The state of several shops, in the precinct does not put this Terson's monopoly in a good light.
Next to the Gala Bingo Hall, are two and now three shops which have stood empty for a long, long time. There is green algae on the windows, plants growing in crevices etc. A To Let Terson's sign in the window, and the three shops look like slums. Surely, if you are wanting people to take these shops on, they should look at the very least, clean and presentable.
The High Street of Dover, has some wonderful buildings and shops in it. Not the plastic, air-craft hanger type buildings, that will not last the test of time. Look up in Dover, and appreciate the wondeful architecture, intricate building structures we have, look at the details in these old buildings.
The High Street is full of character, it could be humming and buzzing. However, it is run down, and uncared for. Two shops in Cannon Street, the ones boarded up, next to the Pawn Shop etc. have been empty for 15 years.!!
Many are very disappointed in what they thought would be a local Mayor, a born and bred Dovorian made good. Admittedly from demolishing the buildings of Dover!! but, made good. He will not move without the Town Clerk, controlled yet again.
It does not take a lot for plants to be removed from the upper buildings, a decent clean up etc.
I take the time to talk a lot to the small business owners, how they are, what is happening etc. The Men's Outfitters next to St. Mary's Church, is a lovely business. Their shop windows always look wonderful. They are outside sweeping and cleaning their premises. All shop and business owners, whether they be out of Town, or in Town should make sure their individual premises are proud and clean. This would make a great deal of difference, and would not take much.
It is all very well for these great and wonderful schemes to fill up the Dover Express on a Thursday. Dover Pride, Love Dover wear a badge. The frustration of all of this, comes across fully on these pages. They just do not come off. The Town Team got £10.000.00 from The Mary Portus Scheme.
They did spend out on Huge Hoardings Welcome to Dover they say!!
I say improve on what you have. It would make a great difference.
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Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,935
christine.a wrote:
I say improve on what you have. It would make a great difference.
Correct. Dover will start improving when it stops trying to be like everywhere else with a sodding Nandos and a multi-plex cinema and starts marketing itself on what makes it unique and what it has in spades.
History, history and history.
Unfortunately gimmicks like the taser fountain and the bloody cable car suggest that powers that be are more interested in turning the town into a poor mans Alton Towers rather than a historic destination on a par with Bath, Winchester or York to name but three sucessful towns, not one of which has the two millenia of English History which Dover should be shouting about.
The strap-line could be 'Dover, Too Much to do in One Day' (which there honestly is).
Instead we've got 'Come to Dover, It's a Bit Like Everywhere Else but not Quite as Good'.
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"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Interesting posts from our salty friend and Christine, besides architecture and history we have the most fantastic views. Normally one has to venture far from an urban area but ours can be be seen from central parts of town. The Western heights and Connaught park are close to many homes and St Radigunds and Elms Vale offer much beauty close by. Apologies for those that didn't spring to mind immediately.
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
So, please forgive my ignorance in these matters, once the commercial property / properties have been bought, who pays for the plans , architects etc to re design them? Who makes decisions on costs? Who lets the properties or manages them? And who pays for that? Who decides on suitable tenants ( single or young working couple, on benefits etc)? Surely costs will mount. I seem to remember a figure of £350,000 being mentioned, with the best will in the world that sum won't cover all that. Lastly , who gets the rent and pays accountants and possible tax on the income ?
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
How does one check number plates? I was wondering who actually owns that vehicle mentioned by the lady called Christine A. There are rumours that the Town Council have leased 2 vehicles and so, it seemed possible the Town Clerk was driving one of those whilst "on the job" . That then would explain the parking badge . I just like to be fair to people and consider the facts fully prior to concluding something not quite kosher is going on. For some reason I immediately thought that was what was going on and surely that would be most improper and not tolerated by our councillors? Having moved here not that long ago I am not really that familiar with local council practice.
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
The Town Centre connector and Market Square project will improve significantly on what we have. It will also capitalise on our history and heritage. Connect to new developments and planned developments, deliver tourist buses to spots where the tourists can see and directly access some of our most important heritage sites and, in the early evenings just after dusk, project images from Dover's long and interesting past through the new water feature using lasers. The project is not a gimmick, it isn't what everyone else has, it has been designed after talking with local business owners, it does build on what we already have and it is designed to utilize our heritage and history to greater advantage.
Furthermore, the project is designed to complement other initiatives from other organisations that aim to improve our town centre and support their aims of capitalising on our rich heritage as they look to get original buildings back in full use and shop fronts back to the fantastic architecture that lies behind them.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Very interesting questions re post 32.I agree with Neil on some of the proposals opening up The Roman lawn with better connections to the Musuem. Excellent.However I like the flower display in Market Square.The water feature very costly should be in Pencester.,or the sea front.
The empty shops all the litter should be cleared e.g.junk mail.Surely the letting agents have keys.
When I worked at Lukeys the windows were cleaned and the shop front area was swept daily.
Now in some of the shops you are lucky if someone is available to serve you.
Guest 782- Registered: 4 Oct 2012
- Posts: 357
Goodness me. I think I finally understand why Councillors and officers don't give out much information! I had been silent on the forum for quite along time, and I will now go back to that, it is much safer.
I am flattered that Christine.a thinks that Tersons have a monopoly on commercial lettings in Dover. It is true that this is one of the departments we have, but if you look around, there are 2 Folkestone agents, 1 London, 1 Tonbridge, 1 Canterbury and a couple of the other residential agents in Dover do a bit now and then. Also, there are no local agents involved in the DTIZ lettings at all. The properties you talk about are indeed a problem. They have Landlords who are not local and in particular, three of the properties are subject to long and protracted dilapidation claims.
Tenants do not always look after the properties as they should. Some of the buildings are in a shocking condition and will cost fortunes to bring them back to their former glory. We do indeed have beautiful buildings and I do actually hope that they will come back to life in a way that is suitable for today.
It is not the agent's job to clean the properties, although we would happily arrange it if we are put in funds. Sadly we almost never are.
Lots of other issues brought up, but I will leave you all now and look forward to seeing you all at the various groups that actually do try and DO something for our town rather than spit about those who do from a keyboard.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
I will pop in and look at your plans.I have already discussed some of the ideas with Neil
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,802
Simon, when you put yourself in the firing line expect to be fired at.
Some of us are to old and decrepit to do anything other than sit on our keyboard, that does not mean we care any less than you do about the state of the town and the buildings in it.
With regard to Tersons their boards are the most prominent and being a local name are remembered.
If I was looking for a shop I would expect the building to be in a presentable state, I would not even contemplate a building in need of extensive and expensive work unless I was buying the freehold for a reasonable amount.
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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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Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 357
Jan Higgins wrote:Simon, when you put yourself in the firing line expect to be fired at.
Sometimes people just want to let us know what's going on, rather than putting themselves in the firing line - it's a shame they don't feel able to do that on this forum!
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Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
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