tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post83681633356871202..comments2024-03-13T10:32:22.656+00:00Comments on thanetonline: Pleasurama Royal Sands Cliff, a conspiracy or a conundrum and other Sunday Rambles.Michael Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-17376809843113274932011-02-23T15:55:51.433+00:002011-02-23T15:55:51.433+00:00Only if she does a runner like the last one? Now t...Only if she does a runner like the last one? Now the going of her predecessor does raise some serious Audit Issues?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-19578322175837283212011-02-21T23:04:15.709+00:002011-02-21T23:04:15.709+00:00Perhaps the new ch. exec will sort it out....Perhaps the new ch. exec will sort it out....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-71709453827065511852011-02-21T18:19:06.975+00:002011-02-21T18:19:06.975+00:00I have followed your published worries regarding t...I have followed your published worries regarding the cliff face at Pleasurama with mounting concern, both from the point of view of it falling down and also with an increasing recognition that no-one in authority seems to be able or willing to do anything about it.<br /><br />As a professional you have a duty to call on your expertise in these sorts of situation. From your point of view, saying nothing is not an option. The history of this country is full of people who wouldn't take No for an answer and were subsequently proved right.<br /><br />The attitude of your fellow blogger from the north coast therefore surprises me. He too is a professional and I'm sure in a parallel situation would be banging on about his concerns as hard as you are.<br /><br />Then I recognised a common factor in all discourse with him. As soon as there's a danger that he might have to vacate an entrenched position, the argument becomes personal. You are accused of being "vexatious", of "making snide remarks", etc. Or just plain ignored.<br /><br />So, back to the cliffs. The danger is real and the biggest dangers are when either the base of the cliff is unprotected or water is allowed to run down behind the face of the cliff. Don't believe me - just go down the coast to Dover. Ask why there are two South Foreland lighthouses. Have a look at the cliffs and note the cliff falls on the foreshore. They happen almost every week so there's bound to be a fresh one to see. Don't take my word for it; ask the locals, ask the insurance companies who won't provide cover for properties there. Mind, one would have to fly down there because the Tunnel train drivers' manager has said that Cheriton is the hub for cross-Channel traffic, so the 13 ships currently plying their trade between Dover and the French coast are purely fictitious.<br /><br />All sensible bloggers know that they are generally liable for the content of their blogs - that's why Rick is so frequently chastised/deleted. However, unless the post is unlawful, removing it, editing it or asking for no further posts of its type amounts to censorship. And we don't approve of censorship, do we?<br /><br />Whenever someone in authority becomes vexed with hoi polloi it's generally because hoi polloi are right. The reaction that you are getting with regard to both the governance consultation and Pleasurama confirms me in my belief that you are right on both these issues.<br /><br />And why did so many Councillors turn out at Westgate yesterday? May 5th!Tim Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360638835659673415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-34529277857048638772011-02-21T17:08:53.916+00:002011-02-21T17:08:53.916+00:00Don the big problem will be when either we have a ...Don the big problem will be when either we have a big storm, the 1953 one swept a 12 ton crane that had been working on the beach, right over the sea defenceless and into the site, about where they intend to build a children’s play area, or when the cliff collapses as it last did there in 1957. <br /><br />If you get bored at some time have a look at the plans, particularly the most up to date ones of the ground floor. Planning ref F/TH/03/1200 planning site link on the sidebar. <br /><br />What you see with the road by the cliff was caused by the cliff wall not coming down to ground level, so they had to raise up the ground meaning that the lorries couldn’t get under the building. Just imagine a lorry negotiating around a car and catching one of the cliff wall support pillars, bringing down tons of concrete and chalk.Michael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-35629518448509650612011-02-21T16:41:25.507+00:002011-02-21T16:41:25.507+00:00My first though was regarding to Insurance can you...My first though was regarding to Insurance can you imagine the developer being stuck with the whole development unsaleable.Don Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17099505939055955603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-46251338212569436132011-02-21T16:37:11.600+00:002011-02-21T16:37:11.600+00:008.22 I think most of these were collapses due to s...8.22 I think most of these were collapses due to sea erosion, the large Ramsgate cliff collapses that don’t seem to be anything to do with sea erosion and we have had four that I know of, seem to be mostly peculiar to Ramsgate.<br /><br />And yes 1,000 people a week does sound a bit unlikely especially for the now closed TDC run Ramsgate office that they moved into Charlotte Court where most tourists couldn’t find it.<br /><br />8.54 I thought they did act on the geotechnical report that they did, hence the concrete badge, I think the problem is that it was only done in a localised area and they missed the bit that looks the worst, the foundations. <br /><br />10.08 I think the building is proceeding on and insurances will be based on assurances by TDC that their cliff is safe.<br /><br />The façade belongs to TDC and the district auditor tells me that no contingency has been made for liability. The eventual situation of the two way road between the cliff face and the back of the building which will be 2 metres wide in a 60 foot deep canyon, with the cliff façade support pillars sticking out, looks dangerous.Michael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-60401544840577298412011-02-21T11:22:05.059+00:002011-02-21T11:22:05.059+00:00I guess one of the questions which should be asked...I guess one of the questions which should be asked is: "who might be held liable should a disaster occur?" If it were to emerge that compnesation might have to be paid from the public purse, those responsible for making decisions would have duty (dare I say, an obligation) to publicly explain those decisions. On the other hand, if those making the decisions are personally liable and are carrying sufficient personal insurance to cover any claim they need only convince the Health and Safety Executive of the soundness of their reasoning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-64262064584284178292011-02-21T10:08:03.124+00:002011-02-21T10:08:03.124+00:00One thing is for sure and that is if any of the ap...One thing is for sure and that is if any of the apartments or the hotel carries with it any unacceptable risk whether from the sea or the cliff, then no insurance company will touch it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-68251480251268156552011-02-21T08:54:57.237+00:002011-02-21T08:54:57.237+00:00Very strange to commission a geotechnical report a...Very strange to commission a geotechnical report and then ignore its recommendations, especially when you want to construct a high value building next to the cliff face in question. Very Strange.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-69502820310837841222011-02-21T08:02:50.043+00:002011-02-21T08:02:50.043+00:00There was no conspiracy across the Channel when th...There was no conspiracy across the Channel when the French investigated their chalk coast from Upper Normandy to Picardy. During the investigation period, 1998–2001, 55 significant collapses were recorded. Of these 5.5% were very large-scale, 34.5% large-scale, 34.5% medium-scale and 25.5% small-scale collapses. But Michael you should know that only one man is entitled to an opinion in Thanet and if yours or any other local disagree you must all be sad, mad or bad! All of you.<br /><br />Last week KCC was banging the drum about how tourism in Kent was leading the economy in a report by VisitKent. The report uses data from 2009 and highlighted the fact that 1.4 million people visited Tourist Information centres. 50,000 people visited Margate TIC and almost the same number visited Ramsgate. Would any shop in Ramsgate with that amount of footfall close?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com