Obviously the key to the amount of tourism a seaside town attracts is either related to the amount of leisure facilities it has, or if as is the case in Ramsgate where the leisure facilities have closed, the amount of parking close to the beaches.In the case of the main sands where the majority of the parking has been removed to make way for various schemes to use the Pleasurama site, I have asked the senior councillors and council officers to let people park on the site until work begins.
It should be understood that work can’t really start on the site until plans that address the concerns raised by the environment agency about flood, storm and emergency escape issues have been approved by the council and the environment agency, this is yet to happen, so the main leisure and parking site there remains deserted but the council seems loathe to let us use it.
Then there is the western undercliff, the beach there was awarded the highest levels of water purity available, however the council has failed to stop lorries parking illegally in the car parking spaces there. As you can see from the pictures taken yesterday one lorry and trailer is even parked on the pavement. One of the worst effects of this is that the lorry drivers use the beach as a toilet.
Now here all we are asking for is bollards that allow cars to park but prevent lorries, not much to ask really. 
Michael,
ReplyDeleteRe: pleasurama.
I would expect that using the site as a car park would depend on whether the developers have 'possession' of the site yet. If so, then they will probably be able to deny access to the site and will probably have to cover public liabilty risks on their insurance.
Gerald I would assume that TDCs insurance would be able to cover it and the developer would want cooperation and support from local people, the problem here is one of a will to make Ramsgate a success.
ReplyDeleteThe work the developer has done so far, laying slabs and cobbles on sand, prior to the flood risk assessment strongly recommended by the environment agency doesn’t inspire much confidence.
I would assume that without a flood risk assessment the building will be uninsurable and blighted and any flood risk assessment would require similar work to that required for The Turner Contemporary i.e. about a meter higher base line than the road just completed.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI'm still wondering why there is part of the cliff face that hasn't been repaired or painted.
Do you have any idea whats behind that point of the cliff face? (I had a look at the surveyors report you have on your webpage, but couldn't find/identify the report on this particular arch.) Maybe this was more complex to repair than the original contractors expected ...
Gerald. If you pop in the shop at some time I have the complete survey here, if you are geographically disadvantaged let me know and I will scan the appropriate part for you.
ReplyDeleteThe problem as I understand it is the façade was not designed to take horizontal stress so where the calk has collapsed behind it, in this case probably one of the old voids associated with storage for the WW2 gun emplacements, the problems are considerable.
The survey mentions horizontal movement both at the level of the crack and at the base in this part of the cliff façade so I imagine this bit will either need rebuilt or anchored to the chalk behind.
sorry Chalk not calk
ReplyDeleteThe lack of any sort of proactive action down there is a disgrace. We have a beach which will definitely attract people and we just let lorries monopolise the parking spaces.
ReplyDeletePoor show TDC.
The core of power have an agenda (pretty obvious) and it does not involve our beaches I fear.
ReplyDeleteGerald I asked the chief engineer on the job what is going on with the cliff façade works here is his reply.
ReplyDelete“Hello Michael - The design work on this section of the wall is coming to fruition. There will be a ground anchor solution. That is the reason why it has been left unpainted. Once the anchor works have been completed, the painting works will be finished.”
Mr Friday not only that but they demolished the two story block of beach chalets down there, one does sometimes wonder if the council are deliberately trying to make it difficult for people who want to use our beaches in Ramsgate.
Matt what they are trying to achieve sometimes defies the imagination, being in business in the town one would expect some sort of support from them.