Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
1 January 2010
14:5836069I`ve said before about the multi-million pound success of the preserved railways in this country, (and Germany), and alot is down to volunteer`s, who, without them, most would not exist. Forget the drivers/fireman, track workers, signalmen and station staff, who do a fine job, but also remember the unsung volunteer`s which include, plumbers, electricians, structural engineer`s, solicitor`s, in fact, all volunteer`s from all walks of life. All part of the lifeblood of keeping the whole lot going. Last, but not least, the general public, enthusiasts, council`s and lottery grant people, all of whom supply the essential cold cash, which pays for all the infrastructure on the railway. So, could not the council, take over a building in Dover as an experiment, give it charitable status, offer shares in it, and give the shareholders, (or any other parties interested), the chance of restoring it voluntarily? All profits made, ploughed back in to the building, or take over another one? It`ll give locals a source of pride as their own. This is the success of the steam railway. Why not apply it here?
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
1 January 2010
19:2936075interesting thought colin, would be enlightening to hear the pros and cons of the idea.
come on forumites, especially roger, what is to stop something like this going ahead.
the only problem that i see is that dovers many volunteers are up to their neck in their own activities.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
1 January 2010
20:4236077Thank you Howard. Alot of these volunteer`s have commitment`s, but the workload would be no where`s near as great as those bigger concerns. It would also make Dover front page news for perhaps being the first(?) to do such a project, and other council`s would be watching. If such a project was considered, it would of course have to be debated what building was used, and what it might contain to draw some revenue. I`d put money where my mouth is.
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Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
1 January 2010
21:5236079Interesting concept Colin, but it has been done before - or sort of. Crabble Corn Mill is owned and operated by a charity, the Crabble Corn Mill Trust, who are all volunteers. Exactly how ownership was transferred from DDC to the Trust I'm not sure as this was before I became involved with it. A fairly sizeable sum of money had to be raised to rescue the building from demolition in the first place and fundraising continues to this day, as many of you are all too aware, just to keep the building in a safe condition to enable the public to visit this small but important part of our local heritage.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
1 January 2010
22:0236081i think that the difference is that crabble corn mill is attractive, historic and everyone likes it.
should the building be a right dump near the centre of town, just left to rot, then the media .would take a keen
interest in the project.
just to add to colins idea, would it then embarrass other owners of our derelict buildings to do something about their "investments"?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
1 January 2010
22:1036083Thank you Phil, I didn`t know all that about the cornmill, but it does show what can be done, and it looks successful. Good point Howard about embarrasing other property owners.
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Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
1 January 2010
22:1236085A good point Howard.
How about some suggestions for buildings to "save" and to what use they could be put?
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
1 January 2010
22:4936089while we are all being positive here, what about the recently disused beautiful buildings after the underpass and before the seafront.
1)tourist information centre for people coming from the cruise terminal, allied with gift shop.
2) bar/restaurant, the hungarian people seem to be doing alright a few doors down.
3) merchant chandlers for the yacht club users who have just berthed in the marina.
my understanding is that the harbour board own those buildings, i would imagine that they would need little pressure exerted to off load them.
that walkway from the town to the seafront is the jewel in dovers crown.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
1 January 2010
22:5436090You`re right Howard, and let`s not forget the awful state the river get`s into with those appalling metal railings to trap all that eyesore material that comes floating down and accumulates. It`s very poorly designed round there anyway, with all that bare, featureless, concrete slabbing. No thought went into that design at all. The railings and scum just add to it.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 January 2010
09:1136107The answer to your first question Colin, is probably money. DDC don't have money for such a venture - to buy a shop building and pass it over to a board of trustees to run.
I don't think there are any run-down Council-owned commercial properties in Dover - if anyone knows of any, please do let me know.
The idea is good, but it may be that it would be easier to "borrow" a privately-owned building for 3 or 6 months; tidy it up and use it for young people - maybe just somewhere to go to hang out - maybe a youngsters coffee shop kind of thing, or a youngsters internet cafe ?
Maybe volunteers could take over a closed shop and do it up for local artists to show their works - some of the money could go to the artists, some to run the shop. It would reduce the number of run-down shops and buildings in Dover, without any enforcement.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
2 January 2010
09:1536108Iv always been for his volunteer concept.
To this end, Together with priory forum we did a clean up of theFolkestone Road, I was attacked by a certain individual who at the time lived across the road having a go at every volunteer for cleaning the area up, when in her mind it was the job of the council.
I did try to explain to her that voluntary work is good, and whilst she is correct it is the councils job, theres nothing wrong in taking pride in an area and make people sit up
A good job was done that day as were many others, but hat was the first and only time we got a negative comment.
What amuses me now was that I thought at first this person had come across to congratulate us all when she had a go at everyone was dissappointed
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
2 January 2010
20:3436182i remember that day very clearly keith, i called her a nutter thinking she was further away than she actually was.
when she challenged me, the whole of my past life flashed before me.
i lied my way out if it quite well, was she not an independent town councillor at one time?
i seem to remember her standing.
2 January 2010
21:1436189Don't tease me lads - I am a newbie and need names and information............
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
2 January 2010
21:1836191She could have thoughts of people being done out of a job perhaps? But then, is any council, or river authority etc, going to employ a dozen extra staff to have a good clean up? Of course not, and as I already mentioned, volunteers put more into it.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
2 January 2010
21:1836192im not afraid to name her, as i told her to her face what i thought of her.
Her name being Mary Davis
DON;T think she ever got toi the dizzy heights of being a councillor although she did stand.
And yes she was part of the INDEPENDENT PARTY.
I will say no more on her as I could go on for pages and pages, times have moved on
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
2 January 2010
21:2536196Move along there Madam.Or dont you say that these days Keith .
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
2 January 2010
21:2736199Sue
you confuse me
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
2 January 2010
21:3336205Well you said Move on .Dont PCSO say that ??
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
2 January 2010
21:3436207not where i come from
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
2 January 2010
21:4036214that is the good lady, used to terrify me, slept with the light on for days after.
remember when she ran that cafe in kwik save, sitting with her feet on the table, cigarette dangling stylishly from her mouth, that is what i call class.