Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
In order to have an affluent population there need to be highly paid jobs that can provide a high level of disposable income. Unfortunately Dover doesn’t have that type of employment. It’s a pity DDC didn’t try to tempt Canterbury Christ Church University to extend part of their campus onto the old Connaught Barracks site ( perhaps they did?). Towns and cities that have universities are on the whole much more affluent. Canterbury has little space left for expansion.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,926
Arthur wrote:In order to have an affluent population there need to be highly paid jobs that can provide a high level of disposable income.
According to the Office for National Statistics (Oct 2020) 24% of employees had been working only from home since 22 September. For many people commuting daily to an expensive office space is over.
One question DDC should be asking is how to attract these people, many in extremely high paid jobs, to make their home in Dover.
Who wants to live in London any more, saddled with an enormous mortgage, when you could live near the sea, AONBs, Grammar Schools, Golf Courses and cheap housing with great connections to London by HS1 for the odd occasion you really, really need a face to face meeting?
They could be enjoying a much better life down here surely? At least until the bean counters realise that if a job can be done 'anywhere' it's a lot cheaper to get it done in Bangalore (India produces over 160,000 computer science engineering graduates each year, the UK produces just over 30,000!)
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"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
There are many affluent people living within the DDC area already. The lack of quality, family sized houses in Dover town is a major reason they choose to live elsewhere in the district. Most people don't live within walking distance of their work place. Commuting is usual and working from home all or part of the working week will be more common.
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
Respectfully disagree Judith, don’t think people with cash to splash want town living, they want lots of space and fresh air around them. Places for peace and quiet.
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 344
Arthur wrote:In order to have an affluent population there need to be highly paid jobs that can provide a high level of disposable income. Unfortunately Dover doesn’t have that type of employment. It’s a pity DDC didn’t try to tempt Canterbury Christ Church University to extend part of their campus onto the old Connaught Barracks site ( perhaps they did?). Towns and cities that have universities are on the whole much more affluent. Canterbury has little space left for expansion.
Not necessarily Arthur, I would argue the population in Deal & Sandwich are far more affluent than Dover even though there are far fewer highly paid jobs in those areas. Personally I think they have their own unique selling points to attract affluent people and with a reported 1m+ people leaving London and the work from home dispersion this will probably accelerate. Unfortunately DDC has never understood Dover or what it strengths and opportunities are. A multi-million low grade shopping centre, leisure facilities miles away next to a lorry park or fancy market square arches are never going to improve affluence.
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Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,798
If half a family unit is having to go to a workplace while the other is working from home, a move nearer to the workplace is what many will do if finances and available property allow.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
Wouldn’t disagree with the points you make, however Deal and Sandwich are much more attractive places to live, they don’t have HGV traffic for a start! Friends have recently sold property on Deal seafront to partner in large firm of London lawyers for 1m+.
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
Arthur you are right that a lot of people want to live in rural areas, but not all. The popularity of town living is evident in towns like Deal and Sandwich where houses close to the centre with little outside space sell for a premium.
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
A very different population demographic to Dover.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Agree .You need specialist shops .Why do people with money go to places like Tenderten,Canterbury and Sandwich .Places Where window displays say come on in ,not packed high to the ceiling with goods which are in your face.We used to have delightful shops in Market Square .
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Who recalls Contessa in Biggin Street where your under wear was delightful wrapped in tissue paper and coloured beads .Shops in Sandwich where they place even a small gift in a muslin bag .These are shopping experiences .Where you can sit in a cafe and refreshments are served in proper cups and brought to your table .
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,028
Sue Nicholas wrote:Who recalls Contessa in Biggin Street where your under wear was delightful wrapped in tissue paper and coloured beads. These are shopping experiences .Where you can sit in a cafe and refreshments are served in proper cups and brought to your table .
I'd forgotten Contessa!
Nil desperandum, our MP is on the case: "...enjoyment is what it is all about—it is fun on the ferries. The [Duty Free] regulations we are debating today will do so much to restore those simple and accessible pleasures. They will help to reboot our beleaguered hospitality and travel industries." For as she says, "Shopping at Costco is but nothing compared to the delights of a Calais supermarché." Perhaps we can look forward to the odd ra-ra dress shop in Dover.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-02-03/debates/BD5E055B-B351-46CE-A0CD-6E3D43D10F11/details (4.10 pm).
(Not my real name.)
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
Obviously Deal and Sandwich have many advantages but Deal wasn't always as affluent and desirable. My point is that to attract more affluent people to Dover attractive, family homes need to be available. Prices would be competitive compared to nearby towns. Gradually over time good quality shops etc would be able to open to cater to the newcomers and the rest of us.
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
We may have to disagree, Sandwich and Deal are attractive towns in which to live. Easy access to the seafront at Deal and no thundering traffic. At the risk of being shot down in flames I would suggest that Dover isn’t a particularly attractive town and building family homes in the centre isn’t going to change that.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,857
I think Dover town centre won't change
Arthur likes this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Well Park Avenue used to have real family homes ,Castle Avenue sailsbury Road,however with so many being converted into flats there are very few remaining ..There are. A few left in Folkestone Road..
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
Arthur. I don't disagree that Dover has many disadvantages. I do think the housing offer in the town should include options for families and the better off. Catering only for the elderly and impoverished is one of many reasons the town centre is failing. Ridiculously high commercial rents and poorly maintained property are another along with the traffic issues you mention.
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Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,798
I have just read the following on FB the Dover for Delighted page.....
Age Concern Shop is moving.
This is to inform you that the Age Concern Shop in the High Street will be moving shortly to new premises in Biggin Street.
The reasons for the move were as follows:
1. The new premises will be more spacious, have better lighting and have better facilities than the old shop.
2. The shop is run by volunteers and the new premises will be better both for Health &Safety reasons but also their wellbeing.
3. The shop we believe will be more accessible to a lot more customers.
4. The lease was running out on the old shop and the decision to stay or move needed to be made.
We are unsure when the new shop will be opening as it will be dependent on Government guidelines and also whether the old shop will have a closing down sale before we leave.
We hope you will like our new premises and understand why we have made the decision we have for the future. We will continue to inform you about future developments with the shop. Thank you for your continued support both at the Centre and the shop
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Button- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,028
Sue Nicholas wrote:Well Park Avenue used to have real family homes ,Castle Avenue sailsbury Road,however with so many being converted into flats there are very few remaining ...
If you go back far enough, I guess. Salisbury Road (and Victoria Park) had started becoming bedsitterland back in the 70s.
(Not my real name.)
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
When I moved here in the late sixties ,River is where we settled never looked back,After my husband died I moved to a spacious flat in Lewisham Road .When we were looking at houses we were told Coxhill Gardens was the place to live .Of course we could not afford it ,however my eldest Son has worked and studied hard and he lives with his family in a lovely house in Coxhill Gardens .The younger Son also studied and worked hard lives in Large house in Kingston Close.I meanwhile decided that I wanted a garden again and moved to a small but cosy semi very close to the Abbey.Some times it’s the location .A lot of my husbands collegues chose to live in St Margrets .Now that’s where you can spend a fortune on a detached house .
I think Dover needs to look at the shops on offer .Crying out for a fishmonger ,decent wine shop .Etc .