tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post7315553591982731264..comments2024-03-13T10:32:22.656+00:00Comments on thanetonline: GB Pizza Co Margate, windsurfers at Westbrook and a ramble about The Royal Sands development on the Pleasurama site in Ramsgate Michael Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-66844986000873906442013-07-14T20:28:28.756+01:002013-07-14T20:28:28.756+01:00Yes, but I am not going to share it.Yes, but I am not going to share it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-58901965067113209462013-07-14T20:09:15.022+01:002013-07-14T20:09:15.022+01:00"Farnie out of all the people on this blog i ..."Farnie out of all the people on this blog i am a real time Nemesis!<br /><br />Trust me Farnie if i am investigating anyone, i will turn their whole life upside down and it will be legal, unlike a certain news group who stupidly turned down my offer to work for them?"<br /><br />HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA what a dumb cock!<br />John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-65976361441680671432013-07-14T20:05:47.526+01:002013-07-14T20:05:47.526+01:00You shouldn;t write it anon 5:22, you just look ev...You shouldn;t write it anon 5:22, you just look even more stupid ;)<br />John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-50123721285393537292013-07-14T18:53:56.034+01:002013-07-14T18:53:56.034+01:00And you, 6:46, do not know your James from your Jo...And you, 6:46, do not know your James from your John. That must cause you problems, ha, ha, ha, ha!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-78801780203076624882013-07-14T18:46:02.240+01:002013-07-14T18:46:02.240+01:00James Hamilton criticizes someone else for making ...James Hamilton criticizes someone else for making statements which cannot be backed up with evidence. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. You couldn't write it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-1455063984783808012013-07-14T18:36:44.012+01:002013-07-14T18:36:44.012+01:00Yes, I seriously think that TDC has not taken exte...Yes, I seriously think that TDC has not taken external legal advice. Do you have information to the contrary?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-54404425496385599302013-07-14T17:30:34.568+01:002013-07-14T17:30:34.568+01:00Pleasurama's TDC legal advice is only Harvey w...Pleasurama's TDC legal advice is only Harvey who's a TDC civil servant: unsurprisingly his advice is TDC have been excellent and should do nothing to rock the boat. Continue collecting monthly paycheck and pension while councillors scrabble around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-3394977403645228002013-07-14T10:16:38.820+01:002013-07-14T10:16:38.820+01:009:47, do you seriously think TDC have not already ...9:47, do you seriously think TDC have not already taken legal advice. Of course they have, but you have a situation here where it looks increasingly like the developer is deliberately trying to push TDC down the legal road knowing that the end result will be huge compensation coming their way. That was probably the plan all along. TDC are in an insidious position, albeit of their own making by not doing their research thoroughly when first granting this developer the lease, but there are no easy answers now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-81898260976663363012013-07-14T09:47:29.369+01:002013-07-14T09:47:29.369+01:00I see the anonymous developer's friend is tryi...I see the anonymous developer's friend is trying to muddy the water with spurious tittle-tattle which a court would not entertain. I agree with the earlier poster that TDC ought to seek legal advice,and sooner rather than later. For me, the key was Painter's ill-conceived remarks to the public meeting in Ramsgate. In essence he was saying that the developers had the funds to proceed with the development but were reluctant to do so because they were worried that TDC might be able to take legal action to reclaim the site. You don't have to be a genius to see that this directly contradicts Alan Poole's view of the situation: TDC is not in a strong position to reclaim the site and that the position is so weak that it isn't even worth taking legal advice. Alan Poole has no legal experience and I can only assume that his view of the situation is coloured by advice given to him by council officers. However, for an issue of this magnitude, where veiled threats are being made (e.g. the posting above where anonymous poster invents a figure of £10million) it is clearly worth the few thousand it would require to establish what your options are and how strong your case would be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-43953439840851395892013-07-14T07:23:43.352+01:002013-07-14T07:23:43.352+01:00Add about 5 years before it would be resolved thro...Add about 5 years before it would be resolved through the courts<br /><br />If the devloper has the funds, and wants to build, which appears to be the case, why dont TDC just get off the pot and let them build it. Problem solved???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-16030757848449138622013-07-14T07:19:26.953+01:002013-07-14T07:19:26.953+01:00I think a court may have some sympathy with the de...I think a court may have some sympathy with the developer when the judge reads the evidence<br />1). TDC Councillor has been working behind the scenes to stop SFP's funding sources<br />2). Considerable delays on the site caused by TDC and the Cliff Face works<br />3). Global economy crisis for the last years (I think the judge might already be aware of this one)<br />4). A catalogue of admin errors by TDC executives<br />5). Slander and defamation of character claims<br />6) It wouldnt be hard for the developer to give many other examples of developments in Thanet which TDC have helped to stall<br />7). TDC sold the site on the basis that it was deemed suitable for the development irrespective of the position on FRA<br />8). The claim from the developer could add up to a few bob. £5million invested, interest on those monies over the last 5 years @£500k per year would grow the sum to £7.5million, plus legal costs, plus settleemnt claim from Cardy. I am sure it will be growing to closer to £10million by the time it is finished<br />Not sure TDC can be as confident as Anon at 10.37 seems to beAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-13194414292573712072013-07-13T09:30:36.738+01:002013-07-13T09:30:36.738+01:00It’s a tricky one William, underlying all of this ...It’s a tricky one William, underlying all of this is the question, does/did the developer ever intend to build the development, or was it all some landbanking operation? What is evident is that the initial plans which were granted planning consent by the council were for a building that couldn’t be built. The mutually exclusive below the cliff top in one planning document and far too high in another planning document, suggest either a very high level of incompetence, or no intention to complete. <br /><br />While the impending legal battle builds I don’t want people to lose sight of the difference between the very real limitations of the site and the developers plans. <br />Michael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-50099224441903822722013-07-13T07:21:34.049+01:002013-07-13T07:21:34.049+01:00You strongly suggest anon 11:51? What will happen ...You strongly suggest anon 11:51? What will happen if it chose not to, will you perhaps simply post yet more BS?<br /><br />You do that anon. As the work wasn;t carried out or paid for by KCC or TDC, they will have no details or costings, and the accounts from Cardy's are unlikely to have enough detail of individual works to make a costing from that source. It seems that your available time clearly exceeds your talent or ability in this area, but I look forward to seeing your guesswork that you will no doubt try to pass of as fact in the near future :)<br /><br />A letter to the Bank of England....<br /><br />Now that really is funny! What would that be for, perhaps a request for them to explain the most simple business practices and you clearly have little to know knowledge in this area...John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-38916451765874720792013-07-13T07:16:29.594+01:002013-07-13T07:16:29.594+01:00Digging holes does not impart any knowledge of the...Digging holes does not impart any knowledge of the building trade 10:40, I would suggest you go polish your shovel ;)<br /><br />Clearly Anon 10:40, you know even less about me than you do about the building trade.<br /><br />John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-22293977612072212502013-07-13T07:13:23.903+01:002013-07-13T07:13:23.903+01:00Unfortunately, 10:37, there were no time clauses a...Unfortunately, 10:37, there were no time clauses and thus no consequences for failing to deliver. It is, therefore, far from an open and shut case and it would seem that SFP's lawyers have been a lot smarter than those of TDC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-43000675314704804982013-07-13T07:12:08.807+01:002013-07-13T07:12:08.807+01:00What do you exepect Michael! you clearly bombard t...What do you exepect Michael! you clearly bombard these people with irrelevant, repititious and ill onformed emails, letters and phone calls, as you do councillors and council officers. <br /><br />The difference with Cardy, is they are a private company, and under no obligation, percieved of actual to keep spending time and money continuing to answer pointless and irreleavnt enquiries, the answers having been provided, then to be subjected to further ill informed online pillory!John Hamilton - talking sense and cutting through bullshithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04286883736579945122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-44364430299991794112013-07-13T07:09:57.050+01:002013-07-13T07:09:57.050+01:00Michael, I think the developers concerns, accordin...Michael, I think the developers concerns, according to the agent, are more over the terms of the lease than anything else when it comes to financing the development. In all honesty, I am not disagreeing with you, just wondering about the justification for spending council tax payers money when, at least for the time being, TDC have no redevelopment rights over the site having effectively signed those away a decade ago.<br /><br />That said, as an agent, I would not want to have to try and sell units in the proposed development knowing that surveyors are almost certainly going to want to ask the same questions you are and mortgagees are going to be looking for buildings insurance as a condition of the loan. It is all a bit amateurish all round.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17927801279761727020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-70259734423492524202013-07-12T22:40:17.807+01:002013-07-12T22:40:17.807+01:00Actually, I'm in the building trade myself (un...Actually, I'm in the building trade myself (unlike you). Please explain where you think £4million has been spent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-91502526655276613412013-07-12T22:37:44.504+01:002013-07-12T22:37:44.504+01:00Well, I've just read what Painter read out and...Well, I've just read what Painter read out and for me the course of action is clear. TDC should immediately pursue legal avenues to reclaim the site. SFP entered into this agreement in full knowledge of the consequences should they fail to deliver. They have failed to do so and now, they blame the agreement and want further concessions from the council to enable them to proceed. However, they haven't been prepared to share with the council any details of how they intend to finance the development. I can't see the problem for HP and TDC. This is an open and shut case of a developer who has failed to deliver over a prolonged period of time. No reason to suppose a court would side with them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-65024630731320490982013-07-12T21:44:11.824+01:002013-07-12T21:44:11.824+01:00William, I can think of no reason why the develope...William, I can think of no reason why the developer should have ignored the environment agency’s written recommendations – that is assuming the developer genuinely intended to develop the site. <br /><br />The EA recommendations are in the public domain and until they are addressed then any development there would be blighted to a greater or lesser extent.<br /><br />The developer however while not having built any developments that can be confirmed as existing, does have a record of quite legitimately extracting a six figure sum from a local authority with relation to a development that didn’t actually happen.<br /><br />As I said, my feelings are that even at this late stage actually spending a relatively small amount of money finding out how this council owned site could reasonably be used, would at least clarify the situation.<br /><br />You have to remember the original plans stated that the development was set well below the cliff but there were no heights above sea level shown on the plans, however had the top of the development been below the cliff top its height would have meant that the bottom would have been under the water at high tide. Various compromises have been made to reduce the height, but frankly it still pokes about a metre over the top.<br /><br />There is also the business at the back of the building, a 70 foot cliff and a 70 foot building with a 12 foot gap between them. I doubt I have to draw you a diagram, maintaining the cliff would be well neigh impossible.<br /><br />My guess is that if we at least got the stage of something reasonably viable then at least the finance would be a possibility<br />Michael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-20248134520522609532013-07-12T20:49:05.115+01:002013-07-12T20:49:05.115+01:00My only problem with that suggestion, Michael, is ...My only problem with that suggestion, Michael, is should the council be spending our money to do the developers research for them. If you were the developer hoping to sell luxury flats and attract in a hotel group, wouldn't you want to first investigate those risks that may effect both the insurability of the development and saleability of the units. Different matter if the lease reverted to TDC and then it may well be sensible to check out these matters before looking at alternative options for the site.<br /><br />For years Ramsgate folk have felt they are poor relations to Margate where TDC are concerned, which makes me glad I am just a humble Broadstairs town councillor, but whether that is justified or not I would not like to say. Maybe the location of TDC offices does not help, but with your own council now, you just have to make sure it's members fight your corner.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17927801279761727020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-2414589777842702122013-07-12T19:05:39.241+01:002013-07-12T19:05:39.241+01:00William Barry James has sent me the transcript of ...William Barry James has sent me the transcript of what Terry Painter said at meeting and I have added it to the post as I think it helps to clarify the situation.<br /><br />With today’s Gazette headline I think there is a problem developing with relation to how Ramsgate people perceive the council, they appear to be sorting out, or at least tying to sort out the major Margate issue, Dreamland, despite the considerable cost and yet the Pleasurama issue still drags on.<br /><br />I am certain that the key action the council should be taking at this point in time is to spend the small amount of money to obtain a site specific flood risk assessment as strongly recommended by the Environment agency. I also think that a full detailed assessment of the cliff, in view of obvious unsatisfactory nature of the repairs, needs to be made.<br /><br />Getting involved in a protracted legal battle about a development, with out first ascertaining if that development is viable, would seem to be a luxury that all parties can ill afford at this time. <br />Michael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-66082933380575834472013-07-12T17:01:34.050+01:002013-07-12T17:01:34.050+01:00Try investigating me then, hero. Can hardly wait ...Try investigating me then, hero. Can hardly wait to see a real expert, or should that be time Nemesis, at work.Farnie Barnardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-41719108647082997262013-07-12T16:58:55.203+01:002013-07-12T16:58:55.203+01:00Inclined to agree with all you say, Michael, but I...Inclined to agree with all you say, Michael, but I think TDC are in a difficult position. They cannot just go back to square one and start over without exposing themselves to legal action by the developer who was granted both a lease and planning consent, seemingly without time default clauses. The leader's report over on Thanet Labour rather says it all about the impasse TDC find themselves in on several fronts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17927801279761727020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-42565755364993541542013-07-12T15:42:02.784+01:002013-07-12T15:42:02.784+01:000% take it elsewhere will you0% take it elsewhere will youMichael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.com