See the Town Council Debate the Toilet Issue Jan 20.
- 14 January 2010 13:1637534This thread is just to promote the Meeting Jan 20 more below.
We have all seen upclose the massive debate the toilet closures have caused. There was an interesting item about this today, again in The Mercury, which showed all the toilets that have closed in recent times right across the town. It shows it in alarming perspective. Many have closed and only two are left..Stembrook and the Seafront.
The DDC have tried to push the responsibility for the recent closure onto the Dover Town Council..herein lies the debate and the uproar.
The Dover Town Council are meeting at Maison Dieu House to discuss this item on Jan 20 at 6pm....and would like to see those who have an interest turn up and see the Council's next course of action with regard to this situation.
Information through from Dover Town Council.....
"
....I think that you can see that we are attempting cooperative working with DDC. To that end, as you were previously informed, a TC resolution from November meeting promised a public consultation before end Jan 2010. All are welcome, as is maximum input of views, so that the Town Council can base difficult future decisions on the full will of the local electors. Dover District Council has already started closing local toilets, and other difficult economic decisions will be made soon, covering tourism, amongst other matters. So we need the views of the public at a public meeting.
This meeting is now set for 20th January, at 6pm, in the Council Chamber, at the Town Council.The maximum coverage that you could give to publicise this important event would be most welcome."email: dover7@msn.com - 14 January 2010 22:2737607All of you be there
- 14 January 2010 22:3837610I will be there mate.
- 14 January 2010 23:1537617Vic ,
Are you a council tax payer of Dover .This meeting has been called to ask Dover Council tax payers What they want their council taxes spent on .
We pay to River .
If you feel the proceedure was wrong then you would be better off listening to the scrutiny committee ,at Whitfield the same night .6.00pm - 14 January 2010 23:1937619the debate will be hosted by DTC and attended by the public that will only hear one side of the argument.
i do not see the point of it until negotiations with the fuhrer at DDC have reached a conclusion. - 14 January 2010 23:3237625Howard I agree with you .There are two sides to this story ,.and two issuies .I was talking to someome in town today .They said at Walmer they have to pay through the Parish precept for toilet facilities .
I have been trying to get the negotations to recommence .If only they DTC and DDC would speak we might see the toilets reopened .
What we dont want is a slanging match .Several DDC councillors and that includes those who are DTC councillors will be at the meeting being held at Whitfield on the same night .
Bern they could not even get that communicat right . - 14 January 2010 23:5837631cannot disagree with a word of that susan.
maybe personalities take precedence over the good of the dover district? - 15 January 2010 07:4637634No I dont agree at all guys, the meeting very much has a point to it, because it allows the voter to speak out, it allows the DTC to hear how the voter feels. It is democracy in action. From this meeting the DTC will decide on a path.
Cripes if the public werent allowed an input it would be another story!
There is much anger over the toilets and no doubt those feeling the anger the most will turn up at the meeting, so the feedback the Town Council gets is likely to be of a certain nature, but then thats animated democracy in action. The loudest voice gets heard.email: dover7@msn.com - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 January 2010 07:5237635will the dtc listen to public and take reconadations from the public,or is it more lip service from those who supposed to know better. - 15 January 2010 08:2037639Brian
To be fair to to the Town council they have been up front and honest on where they are and at what stage.
Shame NIGEL didn't do same.
We still wait for Nigel to explain his newspaper article and why he cl;osed the toilets whilst talks were ongoing.
SUE
If Vic wants to attend thats his choice, i would like to be at both shame there same day.
I agree with you paulb the Town council is giving us plebs an opportunity to have our say Please use it - 15 January 2010 11:0137655Sue
I think Vic has every right to be there. He is, after all, standing as a Parliamentary Candidate at the forthcoming general election. I wonder if Gwyn and Charlie will be there - they ought to be, if only to gain the feeling of the public.
Brian
I don't think DTC will be paying any lip service to DDC over this one. Feelings in Maison Dieu House are running too high over the latter's attempt to lay the blame for all this at their door.True friends stab you in the front. - 15 January 2010 12:0937669Sue
David H has gone to great lengths to point out that DDC and DTC are talking and that is not the problem. For DTC to take this over they need to go through the correct procedures and i'm sure we wouldn't want it any other way. The problem has only been caused by DDC shuting the toilets before DTC could possibly be in a position to take them over. - 15 January 2010 12:5437670Thank you for that Andy but I do also use both of them and we are in the town alot so I will be at the public meeting as for the one at D.D.C. yes I would like to be there but I would not get a say and just to sit there in this case is not for me.
- 15 January 2010 13:3837673Thank you Paul H - some sanity - anyone is welcome to our meeting - it does affect all DDC ratepayers after all but we are most concerned with our ratepayers of course. The debate here has been most usefull and we are noting ALL points.
As to how many will turn up - well its anybodys guess so we have made provision for comments via e-mail and we will have comment sheets available. - it must be first come first served as we are legally limited to how many we can accomodate. I havent yet been overwhelmed by the interest in attending DTC meetings - I hope it is full.
I repeat that the meeting must also address the other issues like Tourism which is in the same boat as well as horticulture and other issues being passed down. - 15 January 2010 17:3537716I can not add anymore, but to say the town council have got it right this time but the D.D.C. or should I say cllr collor jumped the gun this time,we can all talk till the cows come home and in deed we all have all the stones have been turned
over and over again and it will be all done again at the meeting. - 15 January 2010 18:2037738Its true some of us wear two hats I myself on this occasion will be at town and some will be at district, as this issue has been called in it is important that those members who are on that particular scrutiny committee be there.
So it is up to the public to be at Maison Dieu if they wish to air their veiws and as David has said not only on toilet closues.
Vic its true alot of what has been voiced here we will hear again I'm sure, but that was why the Town council called this meeting to hear the views of those who do not belong to this Forum although I know most Forum contributors will be there.
And it give us the Town Council some idea of a way forward and with the information the Town council members who belong to that particular Scrutiny committee pass on that will help us as well So if you want your say be there.
- 15 January 2010 18:2537741I will be there just to see you Jan
p.s. and the looes 
- 17 January 2010 08:5537995When I emailed out to all those on my email address groups, I had comments back about some not being able to attend but would like to voice their opinion; they were asking if there's an online petition.
I have been advised by the Town Clerk that there isn't an online petition, but there is an email address:
Here is Mr. Webb's reply.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION NOTICE
Wednesday 20th January 2010
DOVER TOWN COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Dover Town Council continues to attempt co-operative working with Dover District Council. To that end, a resolution from November's meeting of the Full Town Council promised a public consultation before the end of January 2010.
Dover District Council has already started closing local toilets, and other difficult economic decisions will be made soon, covering tourism, amongst other matters. So we need the views of the public at a public meeting.
This meeting is now set for 20th January, at 6pm, in the Council Chamber, at the Town Council Offices, Maison Dieu House, Biggin Street, Dover, Kent CT16 1DW.
The Town Council would welcome views from as many members of the public as possible.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to attend the meeting and have any comments, please send them in to us at:
council@dovertown.co.uk.
Mr Michael Webb - Town Clerk
So please, if you can't go, send them your comments on the devolvement of responsibilities.
Roger - 17 January 2010 14:0938027Lets hope everyone who has concerns wil use every opportunity given to them by the Town council,
- 20 January 2010 09:0338336Well the meeting is tonight at 6pm. Should be interesting. Will be popping over there to see developments. Hope to see some of you there.email: dover7@msn.com