An interesting exhibition this one, portrait sketching with
cotton is something I have never tried but will aim to have a go at.
Here is the bumph: “NOVEMBER 2013: my first ever solo
exhibition in my home town. 'Past Present' will be on display at York St
Gallery 27th Nov - 4th Dec. Gallery will be open daily and I will be there
every day stitching away! be lovely if you came by and said hi.” And the link
to her website http://emilytull.co.uk/
which I had some technical difficulties with.
I went to the town of Deal yesterday, one I compare with
Ramsgate, on the whole Deal seems to have fared better being governed from
Dover, than Ramsgate has being governed from Margate.
It’s a sad historical fact that from medieval times Ramsgate
was governed from Sandwich and suffered as a result until Victorian times when
Ramsgate gained the right to govern itself and seemed to do very well until in
the 1970s from which time it was governed from Margate. When a town is governed
from its main rival town then it would appear that often that town suffers as
one would expect.
As you see from the pictures Deal is getting another dose of publicly funded sea defences and Margate has, as most of you will know, just had theirs completed, yet here in Ramsgate we don’t seem to have been part of any of the major surveys, let alone had any of the sea defence work done. I think this is probably because of the council’s desire to balance some of their budget with proceeds from selling the Pleasurama site. I guess with a major foreshore site with a history of tidal storm flooding and no investigation into what sea defence work needs doing, along with The Royal Sands developer still failing to come up with the readies the council will soon be looking out for a developer who is a bit of a gambler.
As you see from the pictures Deal is getting another dose of publicly funded sea defences and Margate has, as most of you will know, just had theirs completed, yet here in Ramsgate we don’t seem to have been part of any of the major surveys, let alone had any of the sea defence work done. I think this is probably because of the council’s desire to balance some of their budget with proceeds from selling the Pleasurama site. I guess with a major foreshore site with a history of tidal storm flooding and no investigation into what sea defence work needs doing, along with The Royal Sands developer still failing to come up with the readies the council will soon be looking out for a developer who is a bit of a gambler.
Market day today, with the rubbish and recycling changes
having a considerable impact on pedestrian flow in the town centre, I wonder if
this is some sort of deliberate ploy by TDC and whether any other towns in the
UK have this sort of thing occur at midday on their busiest shopping day. I
guess the photo taken today says it all really.
I will ramble on, but had better get the first lot with its
associated photos published or I will get more than a little confused.
Onto the various surveys, starting with “Is TDC fit for
purpose?” which is all about the Thanet District Councillors shooting the
messenger. I was talking to a long term labour voter yesterday who was trying
to express his frustration with the current Labour cabinet. Apart from this
being most reminiscent of long term Tory voters talking about the council’s
Conservative cabinet, particularly around the time Steve Ladyman got elected,
here is what he had to say to a member of the current Labour cabinet. “Don’t go
out and ask a dozen people on the street if the think the council is fit for
purpose or corrupt, just go out and ask what they think of the council and tell
me how many of them tell you it’s unfit for purpose or corrupt”
There is an encouraging article by Bob Bayford leader of the opposition in today's Gazette, see http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Opposition-View-experts-speak-s-time-listen/story-20239812-detail/story.html#axzz2m3RL7hPt
There is an encouraging article by Bob Bayford leader of the opposition in today's Gazette, see http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Opposition-View-experts-speak-s-time-listen/story-20239812-detail/story.html#axzz2m3RL7hPt
Get super MP Laura to sort out the Friday rubbish collection fiesco in Ramsgate before she goes.
ReplyDeletedisorganised chaos or the Law of unintended consequences
ReplyDeleteBob Bayford is right. Purblind tribalism is rife here. I discovered this for myself when I was conducting a survey in Ramsgate for GFK NOP in the 90's. Setting this aside, Thanet will never prosper until a time comes when young people no longer need to leave the area to find a career. It's been this way since the late 60's. Thanet has some good schools that turn out well educated and talented people, but where can they find a career in Thanet?
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved back here with my family in 1970 I searched the area for jobs over many months. There was nothing on offer which would pay me well enough to support a wife, two toddlers and a mortgage. Among the many jobs I applied for was one as a Bouncer at Neros. Not well paid I reasoned but could be interesting, exciting even. The two burly and polite interviewers explained that I would not be suitable, in their opinion. On reflection I'm sure they were right. I had to look further afield. Then all of a sudden I was offered two jobs in the same week. One was on the bacon slicing machine in Ramsgate Woolworth and the other was to join HM Diplomatic Service. I chose the latter. Thanet school leavers face similar choices.
I commuted to Westminster for two years and during our first posting overseas bought a house close to London. Never to return to Thanet until 2006 where I found Ramsgate much the same as when left, except a bit more run down.
It is true that there is a vociferous minority in Thanet who are against big business. But they are just a minority and can be and should be ignored by business seeking to invest in our area. Investors should not have to fight TDC.
A footnote about tribalism: if you are against what I have said ask yourself is because I am wrong; or is it for nothing more than I said that Bob Bayford is right?
From my visits to Margate Council meetings and watching them in action I think, and various councillors agree, there is a lack of an effective opposition in the chamber.
DeleteI feel that they are now waking up from their slumbers (shock) and hopefully more can be done. In Ramsgate in particular there is no Conservative presence either at TDC or RTC level.
creating a better place Environmet Agency
ReplyDeleteOur ref: KT/2007/104024/0101
Thanet District Council Your ref: TH/03/1200
P0 Box 9 Date: 08 February 2008
Margate PLANNING DEPARTMENT
CT91XZ
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING' ACT 1990
MIXED REDEVELOPMENT including 107 RES DEV, HOTEL, RETAIL, FOOD
AND DRINK, ETC. PLUS CAR PARKING
PLEASURAMA AMUSEMENT PARK, MARINA ESPLANADE, RAMSGATE
Thank you for forwarding plans for the proposed development at the former
Pleasurama site in Ramsgate. I am sorry you have had to wait so long for a
response but as we discussed in our recent meeting, I was under the impression that
there were further amended plans to follow.
According to our records the Environment Agency was initially consulted on this
application in October 2003. At that time our indicative flood risk maps did not
identify the area to be at risk from tidal flooding. The maps were based on a
predicted ~1 in200Yea( tide and ground levels along this part of the coast were
shown to be above the “at risk~ level. Therefore no specific flood risk comments
were included in our response. In hindsight this is regrettable as the proximity of the
site to the frontage does mean that the area is likely to be susceptible to wave
overtopping and could be subject to flooding in extreme storm conditions.
Since 2003 we have had both a policy change with the publication of Planning Policy
Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPS25) and, publication of our
updated flood maps which now show part of the site to lie in Flood Zone 3a (High
Probability). Although we might not object in principle to some form of development
here, if we were to receive a similar application under the current guidelines, we
would require a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) to identify the risk, look at flood
resilient construction and address the issue of safe, dry access. Without this
information it is difficult to determine whether the development can be considered
“safe” (PPS25 09 The Exception Test).
We are aware that there have been amendments to the original application but
ReplyDeletebelieve the Agency was not asked to comment following the initial consultation in
2003. It is difficult to say whether our response would have changed at the times of
these amendments. We are certainly disappointed that access from the
development to the top of the cliff, which we believe to have been in the original
layout, has since been removed. In the event of the esplanade being impassable,
access from the cliff-top would ensure a safe dry route to and from the residential
units. As the proposal stands, a serious flood could potentially leave resident'
stranded in their homes without a safe means of escape, for the duration of the
event,
As a guide, we would currently recommend all residential accommodation ~n the
Ramsgate area to be set at a minimum of 5.6m above Ordnance Datum Newlyn
(ODN). This is following the predicted sea level rise allowances in PPS25 until the
year 2110. Unfortunately the plans do not show floor levels relative to ODN.
However the site survey (Drawing No. PL 10-101) indicate average ground levels to
be approximately 5,8m (although not shown I am assuming these levels to be ODN).
With the ground floor proposal for commercial use only, it can be concluded that the
residential accommodation, all on the first floor and above, will be set well above the
recommended 5.6m ODN. It should however be made clear that this is a static tide
level which makes no allowances for wave action, This static level would be deemed
safe some distance from the frontage where wave heights would be expected to
dissipate. Areas immediately behind defences lie in the High Risk Rapid Inundation
Zone (RIZ) and are particularly vulnerable due to the risk of the defences being over-
topped or breached, resulting in fast-flowing and potentially deep water with little or
no warning. Again,
if this were a new application we would expect an FRA to identify
ReplyDeletethe RIZ and predict potential wave heights. For example the FRA undertaken by HR
Wallingford for The Turner Centre application identified wave heights to be
significantly different from the predicted “200year”static tide level for Margate.
Whether this development is sufficiently set back to be outside the RIZ is difficult to
say without further investigation in the form of a detailed FRA. Although the
residential accommodation may well be set high enough above the static extreme
tide level, we don't have sufficient information to confirm whether or not the site is
vulnerable to waves of a much greater height and if so, if this could undermine the
structural integrity of the proposed buildings. A site specific FRA would assess the
potential for wave damage and recommend suitable mitigation measures.
It is appreciated that this proposal was submitted over 4 years ago, prior to the
publication PPS2S and before our maps highlighted the area to be at risk, Certainly
in terms of flood risk policy, things have some-what moved on. In light of those
changes and without further information I regret it is impossible for the Agency to
confirm whether or not the proposal as it stands is wholly consistent with current
policy. And whilst we accept that this development already has planning permission,
we would highly recommend that a full FRA is undertaken which could inform
appropriate resilience and resistance measures. The assessment could also inform
the production of a suitable flood warning and evacuation plan, for both the
residential and commercial parts of the development. We would obviously
recommend that all future residents and commercial units are registered with our
free Flood Warning Service,
I hope this letter has been able to clarify the Agency's position however should you
wish to discuss the matter further please don't hesitate to contact me again.
Environment Agency
Orchard House, Endeavour Park, London Road, Addington, West Mailing, Ken, MEI9 5SH.
I think Peter the EA already said it, the result has been ten years of Ramsgate's main leisure site derelict
ReplyDeleteCorrection to above: It was not the 90's but some time in 2003.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Michael and Peter are up on this Sunday morning, thought it a good opportunity to run a new story past you both.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I was having a meal at the George & Dragon and the conversation with a few folk there centred around Laura Sandys standing down and rumours of Labour's reaction to it. One thing I have noticed since moving out of Thanet District is our Canterbury neighbours mix of fascination, disbelief and horror at Thanet politics.
To get to the point, the suggestion was that with Labour now facing a much improved prospect of taking Thanet South, that Will Scobie would be moved aside for a tougher campaigner. The return of Steve Ladyman was also rumoured as a possibility. Returning home, I got on the PC quite late and found the same rumour on Thanet Life and in the comments on Eastcliff's site, but no denial, other than a lone anonymous, from Labour officially.
Whether or not this rumour is true, it has certainly spread far, and one would have expected the Thanet Labour leadership to make a pretty swift response, if only out of respect to their selected candidate. Yet again we see leadership in Thanet sadly lacking.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the EA statements. They are intersting and explain much about the stumbling Pleasurama development.
Peter there are some in Ramsgate who would say the devastation caused by the Pleasurama fiasco is enough. But the key point here is about being trapped between the sea and the cliff, I would doubt I need to draw you a diagram.
ReplyDeleteAllan I guess the key point there is that this election is about – from Labour’s point of view – is about beating UKIP and a strong Tory candidate, didn’t Will do this in the county elections?
I would think it highly unlikely that one having found a candidate who has beaten UKIP in the largest ever swing towards UKIP that Labour would change that candidate.
It reads as though we are doing the environment Agency s work for them while paying them.
ReplyDeleteMy dear, Peter, do you normally cross examine people you are having dinner with, some of them were not drinking because of driving home and you are missing the point. A rumour, which may well be nothing more, is spreading fast. Where is the official Labour denial? How long does it take to put something on their blog site?
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I do not care either way, but it is again reflective of the shambles that passes for political leadership in Thanet.
And since when was mallinsons view on thanet politics of any great relevance
ReplyDeletePeter, let me spell it out for you. Eight people, all living in the Sturry, Fordwich area, gather for dinner and one of them says he has heard this story about Labour's candidate in South Thanet. One of the others says he heard the same thing from a customer in his car show room in Canterbury. The conversation then goes into one about the shambles of Thanet politics. Apart from the good lady and I, none of the others have lived in Thanet.
ReplyDeleteThe source of the rumour is fairly irrelevant, what is important is dealing with it promptly if it is untrue. Hence, I say again, where is the official Labour denial?
Mallinson has a pub lunch and random rumours have to be denied because he says so?
ReplyDeleteRumours spread, Peter, and whether one believes them or not they can be damaging. I agree with Allan that the party should deal with this immediately. You hit the nail on the head with your comment about gullible people, there are a lot which is why rumours can hurt.
ReplyDeleteDoubt Conservative ones would know and Labour ones would hardly be telling before an official announcement. Gut feeling is that this is a malicious rumour probably started by a Labour PPC waiting for a constituency who is jealous Thanet has been given to someone so young.
ReplyDelete"We would obviously recommend that all future residents and commercial units are registered with our free Flood Warning Service," i tried to get the warning service, for my shop but they said we wasnt on the at risk list. so i tried for the harbour. nope, we are now an interested party, what ever that means!
ReplyDeletethe boatmen and yachtys will certainly be wanting the alert, the mooring girders only go so far then the walkway slips off! these boats are worth alot! dont think the insurance, if they have any, would cover that! ;-)