Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,483
Terry Nunn wrote:And now news from London Road. Another page in the chequered history of the Central Cafe - it will soon open as a, wait for it, kebab house! Next door is to be yet another mobile phone/computer shop much to the chagrin of Gary a few doors away.
A bit further down the road the former dry cleaners has a sign saying Costa Barber! I wonder what Steve thinks about that?
Terry
Steve's front door is boarded up, so I assume it has shut for good?
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
Steve is open for business and cutting hair! On my perambulation down the town yesterday most barbers were open and very busy. The Christmas spirit must have the hair grow!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,741
I had a look at the cable drum modern art thingy today near Morrisons.It looks horrible and a waste of good wood.I could have built a decent shed out of that lot.
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Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,803
In the distance I saw someone taking a photo of it this morning.
At least it does not show up from Maison Dieu Road and will be hidden even more when the trees are in leaf.
Andy B likes this
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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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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The shop in Market Square that bought old clothes by the weight has now closed and Market Square looking very drab with the "Port of Call" still closed and the crown gone. The sailing ships looking in a very sorry state too.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
Incidentally I've noticed that the precinct's "flags of all nations" have been replaced by triangular bunting.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
Another take away!!!
That will please Euro Chicken a few doors away.
Terry
Jan Higgins likes this
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,803
About time that shop was bought back into use but I will believe it when it actually opens.
I think it was going to be a cafe at one point in this building's extremely long refurbishment but nothing became of that idea.
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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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Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,741
Fried chicken takeaways seem to be opening all over at the moment,one in Cherry tree and another rumoured to be opening in Coombe valley road,also yet another Kebab shop opening in the old Central cafe on London road.I often wonder how all these takeaways can make a living in such a small town.
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
"Dickins corner". I believe it was bought by Love Dover, a charity , on 23 December with money out of our taxes? Who paid for the survey? Solicitors costs? Stamp duty? Who will pay for drawing up plans for conversion of the upstairs into flat (s)?who will do the renovation work, manage the letting or sale of same? Who will pay for those costs? I believe Town Clerk and Mayor Rix are directors of this project. Will they be awarding themselves a wage for doing this work? Usually charities have a CEO on a rather unreasonably high wage. Who will decide on the suitability of the tennant/ buyers for the flat? Sorry, so many questions remain unanswered. I am surprised at the way the purchase of this building ( hardly empty or delapidated ) was rushed through on 23/12/16 and at the lack of transparency on all the other info. Hoping somebody can clarify .
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Guest 1831- Registered: 1 Sep 2016
- Posts: 395
Allison Burton - Town Clerk is very adverse to Minutes of Meetings.
Very curious, as to how a Limited Company was set up with Two people only, from the Town Council.
Said Property purchased.
Quickly made into a "Charity"
BANG!!! Mushroom status for the Town Peasants.
Who was present at all these Meetings, and where would the minutes be for those?
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Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
Yes you are correct Love Dover Regeneration Ltd (LDR) did buy Dickens Corner - I understand all costs to date including the purchase price were covered by that entity from the endowment received from DTC.
I too share your concerns over the acquisition of this building and especially the apparent undue haste of the purchase, but have been told in confidence the reasons. I hope that any subsequent purchases more closely match the original stated remit of the organisation.
Whilst LDR shares personnel in common with DTC (Rix & Burton) it is a legally separate entity.
I also understand the intention is to transfer all assets etc. asap to a newly formed Charitable Interest Organisation (CIO) once that body is approved by the Charity Commission. It is this body that will fund any renovation &/or conversion of Dickens Corner from funds it has or grants it can obtain.
I am led to believe that there are proposals to increase the number of officers/trustees to 6 with 3 to be elected by & from DTC & 3 from the business community. We will wait and see what the outcome is...
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 1862- Registered: 23 Sep 2016
- Posts: 163
Indeed. Any transparency would be much welcomed. I may have missed some info, admittedly whilst visiting friends, but searches have resulted in little factual published evidence. Also, where exactly did the money (£350,000?) come from?. Out of 1 of the numerous accounts held by DTC or out of the £ million plus which is where exactly? At what rate of interest? And does that interest get added to the lump sum or banked seperately? It's totally unclear from any financial records open to the public scrutiny, which surely as it's money belonging to Dover residents, should be on public display?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,803
I certainly hope your information is right Ross and that you might post as the voice of possible insider knowledge.
At the moment with the lack of openness from those involved things do seem to have a doubtful smell about them however legitimate the purchase might turn out to be.
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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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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
The £350,000 came from Dover TOWN Council reserves and the endowment is fully minuted in Council minutes and was splashed across the local rags middle of last year when the decision was made. It is an endowment not a loan so there is no interest to pay and I am sure that this will all be fully disclosed in the Councils accounts when they are published later this year.
What is the £1m you refer to?
If you are referring to Dover Big Local (DBL) this has nothing to do with the Council.
Why not go along to one their public meetings...or pop into their hub in the Charlton Centre and find out more.
The money is held centrally by, a Big Lottery created entity called, Local Trust.
DBL agree a 2 year plan (as do the other 149 Big Local areas) with Local Trust, so they can manage the centralised funds and DBL draw down money on a 6 monthly basis to spend on the projects they have indicated; there is an opportunity to adjust the plan annually and every other year a new plan is created, submitted, approved etc.. This is all done with the full involvement of the local residents.
Local Trust invest the money held centrally and any interest generated will be added to the £1m each area was given towards the 8th year of their existence.
Financial statement are available
I understand that in the first 2 years of DBL they spent just over £235,000 of the £1m on projects but in the process attracted over £350,000 of match funding to give a total local spend of in excess of £500,000
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 1831- Registered: 1 Sep 2016
- Posts: 395
Dickens Corner.........................................................
Not doing that well, and was planning to retire and was selling. The purchase was done quickly so as to avoid it being on the open market (and a lot more expensive) so that a deal could be struck to keep it open until a new proprietor can be found. For business reasons this cannot be made public.
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Quote. Ross Miller #813
Yes you are correct Love Dover Regeneration Ltd (LDR) did buy Dickens Corner - I understand all costs to date including the purchase price were covered by that entity from the endowment received from DTC.
I too share your concerns over the acquisition of this building and especially the apparent undue haste of the purchase, but
have been told in confidence the reasons. NOTE
I hope that any subsequent purchases more closely match the original stated remit of the organisation
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The statement above is possibly what you were told "in confidence".
I would suspect there are many businesses in Dover that would like to be saved. Especially, with guaranteed public money.
However, the remit was not to save businesses. But to create new ones, affordable to give ordinary people a chance to survive and start with a chance.
What is this game the Dover Town Council has started?
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
You will understand as it was in confidence I will not comment further.
Jan Higgins likes this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
I've a feeling this one will run for some time! Something doesn't smell right about this.
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