Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
WHOE is me.
Iv'e lived in this fair town now for 31 years and just lately it is beginng to get on my nerves not just a little bit but a hell of a lot.
My previous home was Hull and by god I wish I had stayed there, they have a far better system of rule and they actualy listen to people now and again.
I don't wont to move away as I have brought up my children here and this is where I choose to stay. my bad luck.
ALL of the postings that I read are all in the most NEGATIVE. from parking to ASBH
and DTIZ etc etc and even the river. the town is a S*** H****
of the worst order.
There was talk of building more houses but lets be honest, if you read these web sites who would buy one?
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I'm sorry you feel that way Ian, but I do appreciate how you feel.
The future regeneration is great and I do believe that some very powerful negotiating on our (Dover's) behalf has and still is being done. Dover (representatives - the Leader, Chief Executive, Deputy Leader and Senior Officers) are punching beyond the weight of a small Town - as we are and people are listening and bringing money in for this regeneration.
The problem that I have and see, is that there is not enough "ground-floor" concern about Dover; there is no one concerned about how businesses are doing - can they cope, do they have major concerns, is there anything that can be done to alleviate the worst of their ills.
Why are many buildings in the Town Centre being allowed to stay in a dilapidated state - many are shameful and we all know which ones they are.
Yobbish behaviour in many Town Centre flats is putting people off of shopping in certain areas; better signage of things to see and do is also required.
The people who can make a decision don't because they're working in the sky and those who know what should be done, can't and can't get the necessary support to improve what needs to be improved.
As you say Ian, the river has only lip-service paid to clearing it up; no full respect is given to it: I have written to some leading people about the river; with all the regeneration proposals, it needs a full-time river warden - they are spoiliing the ship for a ha'porth of tar.
I know we are on the edge of some great things here in Dover, but in the meantime, we (and our visitors) have to, it seems, put up with the buildings being in the state they are in; businesses struggling from day to day, due to a number of reasons, car-parking costs the main one, but there is also business rates too high, lack of tourism etc. etc.
Without being disrespectful to anyone, no volunteer, self-nominated Town Centre Manager can do anything about the above.
Organise events - great, but ask many of the businesses here about how much extra trade they do when there's an event on and most will answer, none - or very little.
Events are really for the people of Dover and visitors, very little benefit to the businesses.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
roger
re; the last bit of your post, do local businesses out themselves out enough when an event is on?
every year at the christmas lights switch on, when it finishes early evening and people are starting to feel the cold. they then traipse back to the station, bus stop or car park.
each trip involves walking past a load of closed shops and cafes, that stick rigorously to their opening hours
only the eight bells is open for food and drinks, plus last year subway around.
Absolutely! There is no real cohesion between events and the town itself. More co-operation between shops, events, services and council would pay off bigstyle. But while the council fails to reach out and the shops fail to capitalise there will be no real regeneration. People need to make effort and use their brains!!!!!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
there is a business that sells food and drink near the subway to the sea front.
they have unbending hours.
should 2 cruise ships turn out their passengers on a sunday morning, that will not affect their planning.
they will be closed.
their are other "businesses" in that vicinity that have a similar outlook.
While pointing out that I do not have a business in Dover, for the benefit of BarryW and others who may be wondering, I will also point out that it ain't rocket science......
Guest 661- Registered: 16 Mar 2008
- Posts: 241
All well and good expecting shops and the like to stay open after six when the carnival and lights have been switched on. Who is going to pay for the extra staff to man the shops, I arrive at work at about eight in the morning and finish at six on a Saturday, and by then my feet are screaming and I've had enough, I do not want to work for another couple of hours, and most people have already done their shopping during the day anyway. I should imagine that goes for most staff in shops, what about having the carnival and light switch on even later, and then maybe shop workers can see these things as well. As it is we are often stuck in town unable to get home as the roads are closed to buses and cars, so no transport to go home after an already long and busy day.
A dog is just not for christmas save some for boxing day
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Bern see my comments on the other thread. You do not know what you are talking about when it comes to business and have no idea about the businesses that you so lightly critisise.
Funny isnt it?
Everybody knows how to do it better than 'the local business' (or the Council come to that), few of these try to do it themselves and if they do they find its not as easy as they imagine. 75% of businesses fail within 3 years of starting out.
Put your money (and morgagage) where your mouth is Bern and you might be listened to in making the critisisms you do.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i suppose that all non politicians will not be allowed to vote next.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Ian are you sure,Hull is a big place and i have been there several times,and a busy City Centre,but does the Humber Bridge stir as much at the heart strings as the White Cliffs,is the River Dour prettier than the Humber,where is the lovely walks along Kingston upon Hull 'seafront' and Hull Castle......Well we win there....but I know what you mean.
On the other problem (sunday Barton Path) I called the police but they had gone when I got back.Did see a strange thing though,a Gurkha family in the River taking out what appeared to be Water plant by the sackfull.is that allowed and what were they doing with it?
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Howard, we are not in Zimbabwe!!!!
BarryW - see also my other thread. Also - I wonder how much more evidence we need of Disintegrating Dover before politicians and businesses stop stroking each other and get results. I appear to have touched a nerve here - what is it that has caused you to feel threatened?
I suggest we stop now, agree to differ and respect each others views. I don't do what you do, you don't do what I do, and there is strrength in diversity. We can learn a lot from each other if we listen.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Bern.
Hull has been regenerated more times than I can remember, it never stops, It has more museums and places of interest than you can shake a stick at.
JHG.
The picking of water cress is a common practise along that stretch, as far I am aware it is not a crime and should be encouraged.
And of course, they eat it and very nice it is too.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
hull fotball club are also now in the premier league.
until they made it, they were the biggest city in europe not playing at the top level.
I can only think of Philip Larkin when you all mention Hull......To Hull and Back......love it!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
what about that famous wednesday play from the sixties "land of green ginger"?
an absolute masterpiece.
even than big brother 4.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
From the archive`s, and two years on, Ian, has your view changed much mate? Is it getting better or worse?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Two years have passed and I'm sure a lot of people will feel not much has changed.
I re-read my posting after Ian's and apart from Dover Business Support being launched and me being given the job I had waited five years for and had made more progress in 4 months than anyone previously, then sacked and now of course, we're back to square one.
More shops closed, buildings still getting more run-down, although one or two have been done up, businesses still not supported.
It is still a Town to be proud of though and has so much unrealised potential - not sure who is going to help realise that potential.
Your turn Ian .
Roger
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
An effective regeneration of shops scheme is definitely needed in Dover - bring down Mary Queen of Shops to advise!!
I've just come back from my old (16 years) home of Lincoln where they have had a regeneration scheme in Bailgate near the Cathedral, since 1954 I have never seen the area looking so smart, and all shops doing well, in their original settings with no rebuilding and all of the old character is maintained.
Re the land of green ginger - Hull was badly bombed in WW II like Dover, and has I believe much to recommend it. The old town centre of Grimsby (town of my birth) was 'restyled' about 1970 with the old Bull Ring and Market Place completely gone, the only thing left was the parish church, everyone says this was a complete mistake. Recently on a visit to the excellent Archers Low Nursery near the white mill in Sandwich, the owner has a new dog. He was telling a group of people it was so ugly they named it after the ugliest place he could think of - which was - GRIMSBY!! Never mind, the trawlermen did produce a lot of brain food (fish).
Having seen what can be done in the old historic area of Lincoln, why can't this be done in Dover, keeping and emphasising its historical ambience and yet helping shops and shopkeepers to run successful and attractive businesses and make it more inviting to visitors? Not an impossible task, but needs experts, perseverance and determination.
Kathleen
---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Well said Kath. However, we did employ experts and they recommended selling out to Asda. Nuff said!
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Seen on the A2 this morning - two hitchhikers on the London bound carriageway just before the Duke of York's layby, bearing a handmade sign asking to go "Anywhere but here".
Are we that bad? It seems so, given Ian's heartfelt opening post on this thread. I'm bound to say that there are few places I've lived that hold quite the draw that Dover does for me, but I'm equally bound to say that the place has a maddeningly irritating small town mentality amongst some, and a District Council that I believe is blinkered and jaded, and in desperate need of new blood. Added to Ian's post, I had a very well-known and respected born and bred Dovorian saying to me at the H4H event on Dover beach a week or so back that she's had enough of the town and the people that are strangling it - and I would stress that this person was once as committed a Dovorian as is Vic Matcham.
My Dad was in the RAF for the first 18 years of my life, so I am unable to say that I am 'from' anywhere, as service personnel are inherently nomadic and therefore so are their offspring. My roots lie in The Potteries, and in the 60s and 70s that was a grim place to be from (it's a little better these days) and Sussex where I went to boarding school. To me, therefore, Dover is the nearest thing to home - I moved here in 1990, met my wife here, found good friends here, and I shall probably stay here for the rest of my life unless a lottery jackpot rears its wonderful head (!). Despite all its faults, despite the head banging people in positions of authority they frankly don't merit, and despite some appalling local and regional decision making, I'm proud to call Dover home, but I have a great deal of sympathy for Ian and agree with much of what he has to say.
True friends stab you in the front.
