Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 342
If we had a normal district council they would probably build a 'district' leisure centre with excellent transport links between the leisure centre and Dover, Deal & Sandwich. Plus also incorporate these links to the LTA Tennis courts in Deal.
What we have is a council that spends millions for a centre in Whitfield, millions for a fast bus service to homes which are not occupied and millions for a centre in Deal.
No joined up thinking at all.
Jan Higgins, The Gov and Ross Miller like this
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,225
Personally I describe the project as update & upgrading the Tides complex. Not unlike to former Dover Sports Centre was treated during its life. I’m sure some will contradict me.
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 342
Would be difficult and expensive to update Tides and conform to building regulation. Much easier to knock it down and rebuild within the budget DDC are proposing.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
Let's hope DDC with the new leisure centre in Deal use ground sourced heat pumps or even better attach a data centre next to it to provide 'free' heat?
https://t.co/P1iLfLCl4e"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 342
Plus:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/opening-date-for-adventure-golf-revealed-270158/
Exciting times if you can get investment ideas which haven't been dreamt up by DDC
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
Well here we are a year later
https://www.dover.gov.uk/News/Press-Releases/2022/New-Deal-Leisure-Centre-Proposals-Public-Consultation-20-September-to-9-October-2022.aspx
Rumours round town that Deal's about to get fobbed off with a 'dry sports facility' i.e. no swimmimng pool but a cheap shed for five-a-side and tennis and so on.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,845
Unusual to see Deal coming off worse lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
Dear Councillor,
You will recall that you wrote to me August last stating that 'A statement will be coming out shortly to keep residents informed about Tides'.
According to the EKM Nov 23 ' Plans to redevelop a popular leisure centre are set to still go ahead despite a near £9 million deficit for the project.
Councillors at Dover District Council have agreed to pay another £20,000 of taxpayers’ money for the much-demanded Tides Leisure Centre scheme in Deal'.
I was wondering whether we have any movement on the project which was of course announced as part of DDC's fully funded capital program last April (and the only 'Deal' project)?.
In passing I would be interested to know if Ground Sourced Heat Pumps are going to be used.to heat using horizontal ground loops.. The present boilers are costing a small fortune to operate and DDC, for once, could appear ahead of the curve?
https://www.thermalearth.co.uk/blog/151/Ground-Source-Heat-Pumps-for-Swimming-Pools.
Meanwhile in Dover (pop 36,363) work continues on the Creative (sic) Quarter and the FastTrack and the MaisonDieu et al to add to 'investment' in the New Leisure Centre and the Market Square and St James' and Russell Gardens etc while Deal (pop 28,992) gets some new lights on the pier.
Haddock (Capt retd)
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,016
Sorry sir but not from the same pot.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
The government has no more money than the council does.
Wether it has been taken from my left pocket (national taxes) or my right pocket (local taxes) is neither here nor there.
Arthur likes this
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,016
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
Dear Capt,
Thank you for your email dated January 8th concerning the proposed redevelopment of the Tides Leisure Centre complex.
The position regarding the funding of the project is actually rather different to that which you suggest.
The Council's Tides Leisure Centre Project Advisory Group were advised in December 2022 that: "Since July 2022, the project has moved to an unaffordable position. The option with leisure water is more affordable than without, despite the capital cost savings, as the reduction in net revenue significantly outweighs the capital cost savings. The affordability gap for the option with leisure water is between -£7.9m (historic utilities costs) and - £11.6m (current high utility costs)."
The budget papers from March 2023, do indeed, state that the capital programme is fully funded, but this statement does of course relate to the budget allocations included within the papers and this is made clear as it is noted that the Tides Leisure Centre redevelopment is subject to the outcome of feasibility studies.
The decision taken by the new Cabinet in November, which forms the basis of the EKM report, was to accept the detailed feasibility summary report, noting the challenges posed to the viability of the project by the wider economic climate, and to ask officers to explore whether there are any alternative solutions or sources of external funding that might provide a possible phased way forward for the project. This work is ongoing and a further report is due to be presented to Cabinet in the next few weeks.
Finally, whilst I note your comments regarding the Council's regeneration projects, Deal has of course had plenty of investment over the years, not least the major refurbishment of the pier and the construction of the highly successful, and award-winning cafe. We anticipate further works on the pier this year.
With regards to the projects within Dover, the new administration has been pleased to accelerate the delivery of the regeneration plans for Dover, most of which were of course initiated by the previous administration.
Best wishes
Sue
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
Dear Sue,
Many thanks for your prompt reply. The construction of the cafe was of course some 15 years ago and as to the £500k pier 'makeover' i.e. resurfacing, I was involved in it as a District Councillor, including taking the previous 'tenant' to the High Court for arrears (you don't know the half of it!) and his replacement by the present operator.
I'm seriously wondering whether we might get the successful TV Drama 'The Pier' remade by the same company which did the four parter on the Post Office Scandal with Toby Jones leaping out of the Pier Attendant's office to shout 'I thought I told you no scooters'!
Fortunately Deal has had very little 'improvement' foisted on it by either DTC or DDC over the past 4 decades plus I've lived here, which is why it keeps on appearing in the quality papers as an ideal place to live with a thriving High Street (nationally High Street vacancies increased to 13.9%in Q2 of 2023 - in Deal vacant retail premises are like hen's teeth).
A half-decent sports centre for Deal would however be a useful addition to Deal - as Dover spaffs our money on yet more half baked schemes.
I know that DDC will claim that a lot of the money being spent in Dover came from Government funding (such as the £22.9 million grant from Homes England scandalously awarded to Dover District Council through the Housing Infrastructure Fund for the Fastrack Electric Bus !) but since the government's only money is that taken in national taxes rather than local taxes that is neither here nor there.
It's all come out of our pockets and people in Deal are not getting much back for our spending.
You say that a further report is due to be presented to Cabinet in the next few weeks.
I trust that it will be giving the go-ahead for a proper replacement swimming pool which will be 'fully funded' in the 24/25 budget.
I look forward to hearing of further developments.
Best wishes
Haddock (Capt Retd)
p.s. I'm dead serious about the Ground Sourced Heat Pumps - some of us did a course in Thermodynamics at Uni once upon a time.
Reginald Barrington likes this
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,845
The assumption in part of your reply Bob that Dover wasted Deal money , is as you know the same council !
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,845
Maybe could do well for that area
But has anyone visited from top of pen ester road to market square recently?
Looks awful in parts
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,892
Dover District Council (DDC) is hosting a series of engagement events to share progress on the next stage of development for a new Deal Leisure Centre.
Engagement events will be held at Tides Leisure Centre, across Deal Town and at Dover District Leisure Centre between 23 September and 20 October 2024. At these informal drop-ins, the public can see the emerging proposals and talk through the proposed development with the project team.
These will be held at:
Tides Leisure Centre
Monday 23 September from 4pm-7pm
Thursday 26 September from 10am-1pm
Saturday 28 September from 11am-2pm
Wednesday 2 October from 10am-1pm
Deal Town
Market: Saturday 5 October from 8am-2pm
High Street: Tuesday 8 October (near Costa Coffee) and Monday 14 October (near Superdrug) 10am-12pm
Dover District Leisure Centre
Thursday 10 October from 9am-12pm and 4pm-7pm
Information boards will be exhibited at Tides Leisure Centre throughout the engagement period and are also available to view online. A short online survey can be completed at the drop-in events or on the DDC website
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,845
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
