tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post3995818964779241381..comments2024-03-13T10:32:22.656+00:00Comments on thanetonline: Thanet District Council Cabinet Meeting and Ramsgate’s Royal Victoria Pavillion Michael Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-40707257880717946002013-06-25T01:57:42.185+01:002013-06-25T01:57:42.185+01:00Still no proof recieved from James via Email, not ...Still no proof recieved from James via Email, not sure why i'm surprised...John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-49405936533893843392013-06-24T23:37:44.326+01:002013-06-24T23:37:44.326+01:00Anonymous 10:08,
Are you able to tell me how long...Anonymous 10:08,<br /><br />Are you able to tell me how long Pfizer occupied the site and why you consider it to be short term?<br /><br />When was the decision taken to close the site?John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-20764528929687817062013-06-24T22:08:30.839+01:002013-06-24T22:08:30.839+01:00Anon 9:26 But what evidence do you have that Pfiz...Anon 9:26 But what evidence do you have that Pfizer did have long term plans? Are you just blindly supporting the company with no direct evidence? You can't imagine that the decision to close the site was taken overnight and, if you watched the parliamentary sub-committee which investigated this subject, you would have seen that the answer on when the decision was taken is as clear as mud.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-28878920283323974842013-06-24T03:48:04.243+01:002013-06-24T03:48:04.243+01:00Clearly James the reality of the situations are il...Clearly James the reality of the situations are illuding you. Please feel free to email me whatever you have to johnhamilton33@hotmail.co.uk and I will then be more than happy to explain to you how commercial letting works, like your name sake, you make a lot of assumption and claims that are simply factually inaccurate, let alone being with the benefit of a shred of evidence. <br /><br />You write nearly a whole post based on a road which can simply not be built without leveling some houses somewhere. Whose house is going to be flattened? As for the carpark, there is not a snow ball's chance in hell of success for TDC in enforcing it's opening in court. Any action would be laughed out of court, costing TDC even MORE legal fee in pointless fairy story legal adventures. The world of commercial long term letting is clearly a total mystery to you, as is running a large venture such as a port. <br /><br />Tell James, what would YOU have done at the port, and how would you have saved the £3.4million that TDC would have inevitably lost.....<br /><br />SG, couldn't agree more! I was stunned when they built those houses, I have to wonder where the nimbys were when that particular decission was made..John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-44720290090407573602013-06-24T00:06:33.073+01:002013-06-24T00:06:33.073+01:00Manston Aquifer Man @ 9:56,
This was one of your ...Manston Aquifer Man @ 9:56,<br /><br />This was one of your more stupid comments. You simply do not understand. You couldn't tell which way a lift was going if you had two guesses. John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-50932076309591047382013-06-23T21:56:47.169+01:002013-06-23T21:56:47.169+01:00Thank goodness Infratil has the community fund to ...Thank goodness Infratil has the community fund to help cancer victimsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-29225891037170578602013-06-23T21:12:14.612+01:002013-06-23T21:12:14.612+01:00For once we agree on something... it's also a ...For once we agree on something... it's also a shame about those new houses opposite Arlington House, as that would've been useful for widening the road there. <br /><br />It now seems that it's impossible to build a bypass without going to the extremes of my suggestions earlier (the only other way is to send traffic past Hartsdown Park and via Victoria traffic lights, which would cause massive chaos with or without Tesco!). Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-51009036061242709922013-06-23T20:25:55.240+01:002013-06-23T20:25:55.240+01:00Whenever I go past those recently built flats that...Whenever I go past those recently built flats that block that back entrance to Dreamland in Eaton Road(just prior to the junction with Queens Avenue and Tivoli Road travelling away from the seafront), and which could have accommodated a bypass, I think, what a shame!Solo Gayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11633808604885716801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-36897470311417689202013-06-23T19:50:30.081+01:002013-06-23T19:50:30.081+01:00You took so much interest in the area beforehand t...You took so much interest in the area beforehand that you can't even name the shops that were there and didn't even know when the car park closed down. You also chose to listen to your "reliable" source over someone who worked there and personally knows the owners of every store that was there. <br /><br />They can't run a bypass road around the back of Dreamland because houses have since been built at the Margate end. The only way to do it now is to (a) Demolish Arlington House, & (b) widen the existing road behind the seafront buildings, taking part of Dreamland. Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-57129353983556150492013-06-23T19:44:43.080+01:002013-06-23T19:44:43.080+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-77204525479192754932013-06-23T19:32:52.753+01:002013-06-23T19:32:52.753+01:00Peter, It would appear that you find it very diff...Peter, It would appear that you find it very difficult to be civil. Why is that? Have I upset you somehow? Can I invite you to try and imagine dreamland open, the car park open, Arlington House maintained and looking much like it did when it was constructed. The shop complex managed by someone who would agree reasonable rents and perhaps a Tesco Metro taking as many of the current units as they would need. That would result in more footfall, somewhere to park whilst shopping, (unlike Westbrook and Hereson Rd), and car parking for the Turner and Dreamland. What more could you ask. That could also mean that the plan to run a by pass road along the back of Dreamland could still go ahead and the seafront could be closed to traffic at least during he summer, allowing cafes and restaurants to open on the front and use the outside space next to the beach for tables and chairs. Exactly as they do on the continent. <br /><br />Your views pleasePaul Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12539438249574006700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-9802196724917406522013-06-23T15:58:36.282+01:002013-06-23T15:58:36.282+01:00Well MY information is obviously more reliable tha...Well MY information is obviously more reliable than yours, as I knew ALL of those shop owners personally during the last few years. The only ones forced out were those handful of shops that still remained after 2007, when Dreamland finally closed. <br /><br />No matter how successful the TC is, it won't make people use Arlington Arcade; even when Dreamland was open and coaches used the car park people STILL largely avoided the place! So get real.<br /><br />YOU are obviously one of those vast majority of people who didn't go near the place for years, otherwise you've be able to tell us what those last few remaining stores were since 2002. Wouldn't you? Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-4275862339407692162013-06-23T13:44:47.983+01:002013-06-23T13:44:47.983+01:00Peter,
I have watched Arlington deteriorate and t...Peter,<br /><br />I have watched Arlington deteriorate and the few number of shops eventually close. I am reliably informed that the deceision to leave was not by choice. You are right that the economy of Margate is extremely poor, but this is due to there being far too many disadvantaged residents who have no money to spend. No district can support such an imbalance, but both Margate and Cliftonville have become so socially imbalanced that both are designated deprived wards as we are all well aware. This situation has become much worse recently and did not apply when the Arlington shops could have been viable if the Lessee wanted them. That is all water under the bridge and we now have Turner which has been an overwhelming success, Dreamland hopefully opening in 2015 (not 2014 now that the Council have cocked up yet again), and plans to turn the sea front into an extension of the old town with reduced or no traffic. We desperately need that car park opened. Incidentally, I do not require you to enlighten me thank you. I remember the shops at Arlington and indeed a member of my family rented one way back in the 70's. Paul Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12539438249574006700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-6964218799889956812013-06-23T13:24:45.929+01:002013-06-23T13:24:45.929+01:00And I know for a fact that at least two of six tho...And I know for a fact that at least two of six those shops were running at a loss for a long time (remember, I worked in one of them!). Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-65281722179835536172013-06-23T13:23:41.233+01:002013-06-23T13:23:41.233+01:00Paul James, you claim that those shops made money,...Paul James, you claim that those shops made money, yet you can't even tell us what those shops were! Come on, either confess that you don't know what you're talking about, how describe those handful of shops that were still there a decade or so ago. Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-68776770724596537182013-06-23T11:39:11.697+01:002013-06-23T11:39:11.697+01:00John or Martin and various anons, or whoever you a...John or Martin and various anons, or whoever you are, why are you so defensive and angry? Why are you so desperately supportive of such a corrupt and incompetent Local Authority? Why do you keep denying the obvious. To be absolutely precise as you clearly prefer, on 10th April 2008 TDC served a section 146 Notice under the Law of Property Act on Rank Group Gaming Ltd, with a list of 163 delapidations running to 26 pages. Perhaps you would like to explain why each and every one of those delapidations were not addressed at the time. If you still doubt my word and care to disclose your email address, I will forward a copy of the notice and the 26 page list of delapidations which are far too long to display on this blog. You may then consider retracting your allegation of my posts lacking in fact. A response with a civil tongue would also be appreciated. <br /><br />Arlington is a similar situation, The shops that Freshwater allowed to operate did make money but were forced out to support the long term plan for a very lucrative redevelopment. TDC's lawyer say permission mustn't be 'unreasonably withheld' but that does not apply to the car park which is covenanted to be permanently open to the public. If the development goes ahead, and I would prefer that it doesn't, the Council or rather you and I should benefit from a considerable injection of cash that could bolster the Council's reserves after having to rob monies from housing benefit and other funds into order to prop up a ferry company that was trading insolently, together with running a ferry port with no income to boot. Paul Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12539438249574006700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-7426332502164733802013-06-23T09:26:54.349+01:002013-06-23T09:26:54.349+01:00Anon 7:01, if you refer back to Anon on 22 June @ ...Anon 7:01, if you refer back to Anon on 22 June @ 10:00 am, it is claimed that Pfizer had no long term plans for the site and even used sub standard materials. It was to that post I was responding.<br /><br />Agree with you about large corporations, they act in their own best interests, but, when lucky enough to have one locally they can provide much to an area. Nobody is expecting love and kisses though, just commercial best interests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-8633230950533798602013-06-23T07:01:39.441+01:002013-06-23T07:01:39.441+01:008:54 I'm not the person who said that Pfizer ...8:54 I'm not the person who said that Pfizer didn't invest in the site and, as far as I can see, I don't think anybody else said they didn't invest in the site either. As for investing in the community, this is a business decision, nothing else. All large companies do it to get good publicity for themselves. One reason for doing this is to buy public goodwill in advance, to counter the negate publicity they get when things go wrong e.g. when they do something unethical. Another reason is to ensure public support for plans which require planning permissions or other permissions. Pfizer is a large international company with deep pockets and so I'm not going to engage with you on a public bulletin board about the negative aspects of Pfizer. Suffice it to say, as with any large company, there are negatives and they should not be ignored. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-54850136414370588792013-06-23T05:13:05.695+01:002013-06-23T05:13:05.695+01:00Sorry James, but you are clearly incorrect, aswell...Sorry James, but you are clearly incorrect, aswell as the number of "delapidations" having been somewhat magically reduced by 3 from the number you previously claim, Seems your posts are as lacking in fact as your namesake/father's.<br /><br />Once the lease is extended, it will find a buyer that will bring it back to use. No building that needs a large amount of money spent to re purpose it will find a buyer with only a 30 year lease. The shops at Arlington never made money, nobody went there, it was an uninviting shit hole, and always has been. Have you ever actually been there? This is very very simple commercial property business practice James. Seems that your posts on the car park, aswell as the pavillion are sadly untroubled by and facts, or real world business accumin.John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-26735195451177506732013-06-23T00:11:27.593+01:002013-06-23T00:11:27.593+01:00The vast majority of the shop tenants closed up ma...The vast majority of the shop tenants closed up many years ago (even while Dreamland was still open), and were certainly not forced out - I should know, I worked in one of them! They closed because they weren't getting the custom. <br /><br />You didn't answer my question: are you a newcomer? Because if you're not, then I'm sure you'll be able to tell me which 6 shops in the whole of Arlington Arcade were open during the early 00's (if you need enlightening then just ask!). Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-1652921835750272052013-06-22T23:54:20.307+01:002013-06-22T23:54:20.307+01:00Sorry Peter, I can't find the post you refer t...Sorry Peter, I can't find the post you refer to. The post above is concerning the Royal Pavilion. If the car park at Arlington has been closed for 6 years instead of ten, then I apologise for that error. The fact remains that the car park should be open, the shops occupied and the whole site maintained to a good standard, not the eyesore it is today. You are fully aware that shop tenants have been forced out by Freshwater in order to increase the dereliction of the site, which is a developer ploy to get an advantageous planning permission. Only very recently have the Council been taking an interest in the site an have started to question the considerable number of breached,Paul Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12539438249574006700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-59446649357705776072013-06-22T20:54:31.945+01:002013-06-22T20:54:31.945+01:00Point proved then, Anon 8:47, for you said they di...Point proved then, Anon 8:47, for you said they did not invest in the site, not for whom. Actually they did invest for the community as well, supported local schools and youth organisations, helped fund new school science facilities and made their premises available for study group and conferences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-91175933795562042452013-06-22T20:47:54.121+01:002013-06-22T20:47:54.121+01:00Pfizer didn't invest in Sandwich site for the ...Pfizer didn't invest in Sandwich site for the benefit of local people. They invested because it made a lot of money for them and they wanted to make more money. When the money began to dry up they pulled out. Those who worked there will testify that this process didn't happen overnight. I remember hearing managers talking about the "patent cliff and consequent loss of revenues in 2001. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-22819832389462432322013-06-22T20:41:46.136+01:002013-06-22T20:41:46.136+01:00Paul James! You never did aknowledge my comment t...Paul James! You never did aknowledge my comment that the car park has been closed for 5 (maybe 6) years rather than 10. Any thoughts? Presumably you're a newcomer? Peter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-33098926214010153472013-06-22T18:37:39.068+01:002013-06-22T18:37:39.068+01:00Must admit - I would love to know as well John. I ...Must admit - I would love to know as well John. I have some people who understand the dark arts of servers looking into this issue right now. Wouldnt it be crazy if it turns out that you are something to do with the council!!! Imagine the headlines on that one!!! Could ruin someones carear!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16990833187526260902noreply@blogger.com