Select Committee

[Lou]

Hi Sarah, how did you get on with the Select Committee for Communities and Local Government?

[Sarah]

Very well, I think. The MPs had obviously done their homework and asked pertinent questions.

Only a very short meeting, but managed to squeeze in the Local Plan, the Inspector's Report, Phillip Miller's interest, the importance of the Scenic and some info on Margate's tourism economy.

The interview was recorded so I expect a transcript will appear on the committee's web site. I'll keep an eye out and get Nick to post a News item if it does.

Sarah

[EAS]

Here's the page - the written evidence is here, from April, if you scroll down, and the oral (uncorrected) evidence from Tuesday's session, so the Margate one should appear here in the next day or so. It's usually fairly rapid.

It will all be published in due course, then the report of the Select Committee, then the Government will respond.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... htm#uncorr

Interesting to read EH's submission, about heritage-led regeneration...

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 23we38.htm

[Bob]

Here's the page - the written evidence is here, from April, if you scroll down, and the oral (uncorrected) evidence from Tuesday's session, so the Margate one should appear here in the next day or so. It's usually fairly rapid.

It will all be published in due course, then the report of the Select Committee, then the Government will respond.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... htm#uncorr

Interesting to read EH's submission, about heritage-led regeneration...

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 23we38.htm

It is pleasing to see that EH backs the approach being taken for Dreamland and rethe refocusing of it to meet current needs.

Quote " It is generally acknowledged that coastal towns need to move towards sustainable, all-year round economies to be able to provide better employment opportunities and address the issues that currently beset many of them

[EAS]

That's a selected quote from that which can also be countered by other aspects of the report.

Not all sites have important listed structures as at Dreamland... so I wouldn't get too excited about EH.

'We further believe that the most successful heritage-led regeneration schemes in seaside towns offer valuable lessons for other organisations and individuals engaged in similar projects elsewhere.'


However, interesting to know that there are plans for Dreamland then which you obviously know about?

So are we to assume that the current supposed public consultation is a sham?

Dare you answer, or will you continue to ignore this as you seem to ignore anything which is an awkward question?

[Bob]

That's a selected quote from that which can also be countered by other aspects of the report.

Not all sites have important listed structures as at Dreamland... so I wouldn't get too excited about EH.

'We further believe that the most successful heritage-led regeneration schemes in seaside towns offer valuable lessons for other organisations and individuals engaged in similar projects elsewhere.'


However, interesting to know that there are plans for Dreamland then which you obviously know about?

So are we to assume that the current supposed public consultation is a sham?

Dare you answer, or will you continue to ignore this as you seem to ignore anything which is an awkward question?

A number of posibilities for the site have been reviewed and costed and the poential viability of them looked at. This are just ouline proposals and not detailed plans and costings.

[EAS]

18. It is generally acknowledged that coastal towns need to move towards sustainable, all-year round economies to be able to provide better employment opportunities and address the issues that currently beset many of them. While the Government continues to make strides in addressing the prevalent socio-economic issues, the underlying causes are unlikely to disappear over the next few years. This means that local planning authorities and other public sector bodies will have to innovate in their strategies to stimulate local economies.


19. A focus on the local historic environment provides an excellent method of doing just this. Almost every single coastal community in the country has a distinctive and important local character, whether this is based on its role in supporting fishing fleets, the navy or trade with other countries. Many have a rich architectural heritage created through times of prosperity as a result of their coastal locations. At a time when domestic tourism is undergoing something of a renaissance, we believe a renewed focus on what originally created local character and prosperity can play an important role for coastal towns.


20. In order to ensure that such an approach leads to long-term benefits, local planning authorities need to adopt a similarly long-term vision for the development of their area. Character appraisals of their historic areas should be undertaken to develop understanding of local character, and this information should be used to feed into strategic forward planning documents.


So - how do you know this then?

And isn't this all a tad cart before horse, with regard to the 'Text Margate' farce?

I'm always deeply suspicious of viabilty claims when they are made by those with a vested interest.

[Susan]

This really is getting very silly, we have a consultation exercise that fails to mention Dreamland but is funded and organised by the company who owns it. Now we have 'Bob' speaking on their behalf telling us that the plans are already in hand.
Maybe someone from MTCRC would like to post on here, in their own name, and explain to us what is really going on. Perhaps they could also answer some of the questions 'Bob' ignores.

[Bob]

This really is getting very silly, we have a consultation exercise that fails to mention Dreamland but is funded and organised by the company who owns it. Now we have 'Bob' speaking on their behalf telling us that the plans are already in hand.
Maybe someone from MTCRC would like to post on here, in their own name, and explain to us what is really going on. Perhaps they could also answer some of the questions 'Bob' ignores.

There is nothing at all silly about it. One cannot make sensible decisions without knowing the facts. You do not start a Business without a business plan, well unless your are stupid. You also look at all the potential options. You also see the views of the public. In some cases what the public may want may not be finincially viable so you need to look at what the best comprimise is You also need to establish where you real market is. At present the response to the consultation is mixed with some wanting Retail, some sports and leisure, some arts a relatively small number want to see Dreamland as an Amusement Park Only. With the results to date a mixed redevelopment of the site would appear to be the best approach.

[dave771]

Well Bob, according to your boss or whatever you want to call him, Toby Hunter, a third of responses stated they would like to see an amusement park remain on the site. Considering the fact that the Dreamland site has not been mentioned in this so called "consultation" I would say that was quite a relatively large number !

I dont really expect a response from you that wil make sense but who knows you may stop talking out of your rear orifice one day ! If Toby decides you are a waste of time like I have maybe you could come and work for me as someone to fetch and carry at one of the many seaside resorts that are interested in siting the ride I have just purchased for next season?

[Sarah]

The consultation asks for ideas on the future of Margate Town Centre. It conspicuously fails to mention Dreamland (which does not form part of the town centre anyway) so how this:

At present the response to the consultation is mixed with some wanting Retail, some sports and leisure, some arts a relatively small number want to see Dreamland as an Amusement Park Only. With the results to date a mixed redevelopment of the site would appear to be the best approach.

can be the case is a mystery to me. You can't carry out a consultation on one part of the town and then impose its findings on another part of the town altogether. It's a nonsense. Or a charade. Or probably both.

Whatever, as an expensive exercise in finding out people's views about Margate Town Centre it may hold some interest. As a consultation on Dreamland it's worthless.

Sarah

PS I see we have the version of Bob online tonight who cannot spell or punctuate. There's more than one of them you know...!

[vince69619]

There is nothing at all silly about it. One cannot make sensible decisions without knowing the facts.

So Bob instead of being silly, spill the facts...

1) Real name.
2) Connection to Dreamland.
3) Connection to Waterbridge.

Please try to answer these simple questions, we will even forgive the spelling and puctuation mistakes you are bound to make.

Vince.

[EAS]

Yes. I realise that 'Bob' has multiple personalties, all of which come under the category of 'troll' and talks out of rear orifices.

The consultation was supposed to be about Margate as a whole - I listened to the radio interview - and the consultation specifically failed to mention Dreamland. Dreamland isn't in Margate town centre of course. Nor does the company concerned own anything but the Dreamland site.

It needs to remain an amusement park, with the regeneration of Margate centred around that. It's called heritage-led regeneration, Bob ... and Bob... and Bob...

[Alan]

However many BOBs there are, whoever and whatever they are
History degenerated hot air and lies generated
Thats what they are
But they are not going to help Dreamland or Margate
These sort of people only help themselves.


Alan

[EAS]

This is worth reading:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 23we44.htm

Here's an interesting snippet from that:



5.4.1 First, and perhaps most surprising of all, there has actually been strong employment growth in seaside towns. Between 1971 and 2001, total employment in seaside towns grew by around 320,000, or more than 20%. A great deal of this growth took place in the sectors most closely linked to tourism as well as in the rest of the local service economy. This employment growth occurred among both men and women, and among both full and part-time workers. It indicates that the assumption that the rise of the foreign holiday has led to severe economic decline in British seaside resorts is well wide of the mark.