howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
In fairness Councils don't have the personpower anymore so it is up to us to report problems for them to deal with. My grouse is that they have made it very difficult to report anything nowadays with interminable forms that people give up on after a while because it is impossible to tick all the right boxes.
In the case of the Tram Shelter is now under "assets" rather than "property services" so really the website should have redirected me. I was told that a local Councillor reported this 6 weeks ago but that doesn't appear to be the case.
Guest 1292- Registered: 23 Jun 2014
- Posts: 23
Mr McSweeney. I have to disagree. You have already reported it, even as you chased them up. They are now aware. What do photographs actually do, apart from proving you are being truthful? Will they act merely on the strength of your pictures and not send anyone to inspect the damage? It should be enough to report the damage. It should not be incumbent upon the reporter to provide photographic evidence.
In the past, I have reported racist/obscene graffiti to KCC and have never been asked to send photographic evidence. before action was taken by them.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Incorrect Mr Billy Bobby Bambi I have never been able to report the damage as the department appeared not to exist as I explained earlier. Intrigued that you reported graffiti to KCC normally local councils deal with it.
Guest 1292- Registered: 23 Jun 2014
- Posts: 23
I know that damage has been reported to DDC about the shelter in the past, even if not by you!
I have made reports to KCC because of graffiti on their property, not DDC's. Naturally, I would report to DDC when it occurs on their property and BT if on theirs etc. etc. etc.
By the way, Happy New Year!
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,038
Mr McS, perhaps millymollymandy was picking-up on your use of 'reply' in post 19.
(Not my real name.)
Guest 1292- Registered: 23 Jun 2014
- Posts: 23
Mr McS! Just re-read (again) your posts. Perhaps I have misunderstood what you have written and if so, I do apologise. You say that you had a reply from DDC stating that they weren't aware of any damage. That infers that they were replying to you about the damage! Either way, they know now!
Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,013
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:...they have made it very difficult to report anything nowadays with interminable forms that people give up on after a while because it is impossible to tick all the right boxes.
Have you tried the personal touch, HM1? That is, find the name of a responsible person in DDC offices (difficult, I know, but possible), then email him or her directly (email addresses within organisations normally have a formula that applies across the board). Then gradually work up the line, copying in your previous correspondent(s), until you get to someone who gives a damn, or at least to someone who acts out of embarrassment. It's worked for me in the past.
I'd guess your area of concern comes under 'Community Services' (at least that seems to be where the 'Report a problem' link is situated), which is ultimately in the charge of Mike Davis, Director of Finance, Housing and Community.
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
All sorted now, had an E mail from the Corporate Maintenance Inspector advising that an order has been sent to the sub contractors who will complete work within 14 days. Impressive stuff since they were only aware yesterday afternoon of the damage.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Just had an E mail from head of Assets and Building control noting that I had difficulty in reporting the vandalism and asking what could be done to make it easier. Someone must have been reading the Forum, good to know that they are looking to improve on the system of reporting, most councils are stuck in their ways.
Judith Roberts and Jan Higgins like this
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,747
Unfortunatly most councils dont understand common sense or easier anything,its like witchcraft to most of them.Organising a p""s up in a brewery would be asking too much.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Not so in this case Andy, after the head honcho asked me about problems reporting things I rambled on about fly tipping and missed rubbish collections(not his responsibility) and an hour or so later another E mail arrived to say he had met with the website editor and agreed that a simpler, user friendly way of reporting things would be worked on and in operation shortly.
When I have had problems with the utilities like Brutish Gas, BT and the Water chaps I have got nowhere.
Andy B likes this
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,865
there you go howard one step forward
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Tram shelter now repaired within the allotted 14 days.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,826
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:Tram shelter now repaired within the allotted 14 days.
All ready for the next moron to vandalise.
I know it is a local treasure to some but how many more times will we the DDC taxpayer have to waste money repairing it before it is moved to a safe place. This lovely bus shelter will need a bottomless purse if it stays where it is.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,865
Jan;
My understanding is because it's so complex it would cost probably hundreds of thousands to move it, many saying it wouldn't survive a move.
There are those that also say do we just hide away all our treasures because of vandals? would it be better to find a way of sorting the vandals out?
not much been done in this direction.
Andy B likes this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 4935- Registered: 3 Nov 2022
- Posts: 1
I am so pleased to see that the former tram shelter has been beautifully restored. I lived in the area during the 1950s/60s. It was used a lot at that time as there were 4 bus stops close by on both sides of the Folkestone Road and on both sides of the Elms Vale Road. Bus services 97 and 97A. Plus buses to Follestone and Hougham.
I am sure the shelter had wooden benches with cast iron trestles. I cannot find photographic evidence of this.
Judith Roberts and Jan Higgins like this
Button- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,038
Reginald Barrington and Jan Higgins like this
(Not my real name.)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,865
Its looking lovely brightens uo the two wards
ray hutstone likes this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS