Some Ideas....
Reality One
It was announced in a public meeting on Friday that "B & Q are working on not moving to their new building in Whitfield because the new superstore at Folkestone is not doing enough business".
I wonder if Asda might think similarly and whether our earlier predictions are to come true?
Reality Two
Dover needs a new hospital. Our MP tells us the Health Authority is about to consider spending £11 million on Buckland Hospital including building on the car park! The obviously have the parking issue under control. Obviously they have neither visited William Harvey or Buckland hospitals by car!
I am in the business of building developments. I attach a C.V. so you who don't know can see some of my track record.
If the rumour about B & Q is true, what an opportunity. Because I also understand that further green field industrial land next door is about to become available.
What Dover needs is an overlap provision from the run down of Buckland. A site with plenty of expansion, car parking and central for the whole district is thus potentially available.
By moving quickly with minimum cost the B & Q building could be purchased together with a large area of land (by CP if necessary) sufficient for parking and expansion over 20 years. B & Q might also be persuaded to donate the building (what good PR and publicity).
Turn it into the first stage accident and day care unit. Not so silly - the structure is there and the rest could practically be afforded easily with windows and intermediate floor. It would form the first of a planned expansion in stages as money is released by Government, and the gradual sale of parts of Buckland to build replacement stages on the new site.
Buckland is no place to put a new building to serve the whole district. With the traffic and parking released for a new housing development it takes pressure off green field development plans (Whitfield etc). A new estate and shops etc at St Radigunds would improve the area and provide better facilities.
A new hospital at Whitfield would bring in highly paid workers as well and the construction would provide employment locally for many years. Employment in construction does not harm our balance of payments and would mean wealth spent locally.
Anyone think this could happen?
David Hannent C.V.
1. Chartered Surveyor
2. 10 years Chief QS for DDC. Private practice for 25 years. Was Vice Chairman of Chamber of Commerce for many years.
3. Devised, proposed and project managed the centralization of DDC to Whitfield.
4. Spearheaded the purchase and renovation of Maison Dieu House. An asset of over £500,000 now to the Town.
5. 20 - 50 steel framed buildings currently in portfolio.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
A wonderful reality, that really shows the kind of thinking that so much of our planning in this country lacks. Although I must say I'm hard pushed to think of a hospital that utilises such a lump of a plan, but I'm pretty sure this is what so many desire. The kind of spans given in these warehouse structures allow for the flexibility that institutional buildings like hospitals require, although I would say light in such a deep plan would be scarce, especially with intermediate floors, which is why contemporary hospitals land up with the rabbit warren sprawls we see at the Harvey and Conquest.
I think it's a really exciting, good idea; although so many would argue that Hospital design is a relatively specialised discipline and not one that could be achieved effectively using a Cedric Price type 'plug-in' approach. This is not to say that I would agree with these ideas. I'm obviously more than up for this kind of innovation for Dover and as you rightly say, such a development would be of benefit to the community, socially and economically. The same cannot be said for B&Q (or Asda for that fact) that are more a descriptor of current demographic rather that an unpinning fulcrum of future development. A hospital would be something that created jobs and prospects with an idea of longevity, rather than just a big overpriced shop that just facilitates the latest fad of popular society, from stupid ground-force decking solutions to pointless patio heaters (We do not live in Spain therefore if it's cold in the garden go inside, or put on a Jumper!)
A slight tangent there, needless to say I think it's a good idea. B&Q handing over the space as an act of philanthropy though may be a bit of a stretch and suggesting that hospital needs are robust enough to be satisfied by a multiuse space may be a point of contention.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
dt
congrats, you have exhausted the list of long words ever used on here.
i thought that posh barry was bad enough.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Great postings there chaps and fascinating vision showed. It would be just fantastic to have such vision kicked into reality. The person to achieve such a thing would be written into the history of the town in no small measure. Quite clearly the local heart bleeds for decent medical facilities and David Hannent has come up with a potential solution, a solution with imagination. Is there the drive and imagination out there to make this happen?
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
I went to a meeting at the Darenth Park Hospital a couple of years ago and, apart from the colour, it looks just like a B&Q!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
You'll be running people down for using punctuation next.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
Heaven forfend!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?