howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I was at the opening in 2004 with Gwyn Prosser and other local dignitaries. Everything there was state of the art so I cannot imagine why it struggled.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/new-team-rescuing-community-centre-135783/Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,705
A long chequered history of mismanagement sadly is what is principally responsible for their situation
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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,919
It's good though that through all this a new beginning
Being chair of my local community assoc I understand all the tough decisions that have to be made every day
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John Buckley
- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Good luck and well done to the team trying to save this venture.
However, I’m beginning to feel a bit deprived. Can’t say that in my relatively long life I’ve ever felt the need to attend or use a “community centre “. The mere thought of it makes me shudder!

Perhaps I’ve just been lucky and fortunate in life and don’t see the need, or more likely, it could be that I’m a miserable sod and don’t like mixing?
Either way, best of luck to the new management team and the people that feel the need for such a thing.
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Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,873
Neither have I John but a well run centre can be the hub of the surrounding community, much like a pub or village hall. For the lonely it is a way of meeting people and quite often a place for children to play.
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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
They serve a purpose John, the one along by me is a pre school 4 and a half days a week the other half day is an over 50s "tea and a natter" session that is mostly ladies over 70 that go along and enjoy themselves. Evenings and weekends has a mixture of classes, many of them involving martial arts(our own John Heron goes to one so that he can beat up his constituents when the need arises). Judging by the regularity of bouncy castles arriving there are many children's birthday parties there.
The new young team at Triangles are really enthusiastic in breathing new life back, besides the events that I have posted here they have regular coffee mornings, book club evenings and all sorts. Many single parents and elderly people rely on these centres as a way of keeping in touch with the world.
John Buckley
- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Good point Jan, I suppose the local pub was my equivalent of a “community centre”! Not cheap but quite enjoyable of course!
I suppose times have changed Howard and I’m probably behind them. Perhaps years ago it was a different life, neighbours looked out for one another, popped in for a cuppa etc., anytime of the day, and the local school or church was used for any “community” activities. People took responsibility for their own lives as well.
Not knocking the concept, just saying that personally never felt the need to use one but appreciate that to some, at a cost, they are no doubt useful.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I think you are talking of another age John with all this neighbourly stuff. When I moved here 15 years ago it was mostly elderly owner occupiers in my road that probably bought their house soon after they got married. Gradually they have all left their mortal coil and their children let out the houses for income on a short term basis. Nowadays there is no permanency for those renting, just a glance at local social media shows people being told their tenancy is ending and desperately looking for new accommodation. Great for the chaps that do light removals but nothing for social cohesion.
John Buckley
- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Yes Howard, it was indeed another age, with different people, different area, and different life expectations etc., etc. In fact as I’m talking about some sixty years ago it was of course a different world as well!
“ Social cohesion “? The lack of and a subject which no doubt we could write pages on.
As I said above, I’m not knocking community centres or those that wish to attend them, just never felt the necessity to visit one myself, but each to his own of course.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
No church service today at "Triangles" the heating has packed up.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
heating packed up aye howard, allways thought church parade was full of hot air and all that.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Courtesy of the St Radigunds residents group.
The play ground is intended to open the brand new play facility located within the grounds of Triangles Community Centre during January 2018, subject to the weather conditions. An official opening event will be confirmed as soon as possible following the festive break, for which you are welcome to attend.
As you are aware construction works, including ground preparation to satisfy planning conditions were completed earlier in the year; the district council’s grounds maintenance team are now in the final steps in installing grass provision to complete the project.
Due to some recent adverse weather, the projected opening date has been reviewed to allow sufficient time for the newly laid grass to establish itself over the festive period and give a fighting chance to withstand pressure from locals who no doubt are keen to use the facility. The temporary herras fencing around the site will therefore remain on site during the Christmas period. Chestnut fencing will also be installed in some grass seeded areas once the facility is opened to the public to give extra time for the areas to fully establish.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The Christmas Fair today raised £.310 to go towards the new flooring, great effort from the volunteers at St Radigunds.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Just reward for the work the volunteers have put in over recent times.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/grants-hat-trick-186646/Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,919
Although running another community centre we always got to hear of triangles andsome of its internal issues.
but of course its enough to run your own centre without getting to involved with others.
Of course money has been thrown at st rads over the years (some with good intention) but priory got left behind.
I have been in talks with the triangles centre to see if we have any common ground as associations.
Iv also spoken briefly spoken to the new mayor to see about getting a grant for the clarendon community centre.
of course like the the triangles centre a brand new build would be better, but we have survived since the early 80's recognising the hall really needs a lot of dosh spent on it.
but as they say WE WILL SURVIVE lol
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Just a thought Keith but town and district councillors have ward grants at their disposal, maybe they could be approached, I don't know whether our county coves are in the same position to help.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,919
I'm hopeful R Walkden will be looking to get some funding for the centre
we did when Dover Big local started look there until I found out the boundary stopped at Dover p station.
one of the most deprived areas and not covered bit strange, but there you have
we are survivors though
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Good thinking from DDC, local residents benefit from more social housing and money spent on their community centre.
https://www.dover.gov.uk/News/Press-Releases/2019/Grant-Funding-Takes-Shape-For-Triangles-Community-Centre.aspxBrian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sounds like a bribe to me.
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