"GREAT COATS ON! GREAT COATS OFF!"

Some might be familiar with the title! In regards to Bonanza Express, it might be "Paint job on! Paint job, off!"

A reader has already told me, in commenting on last night's post (see below), "Bertie, got it wrong again." My answer is "Sir, I will wait and see".
.
Here is yet another glorious press-release about Euroferries coming to Ramsgate not just with one boat, but TWO and by end of August!
www.thanet.gov.uk/news/latest_press_releases/ramsgate_ferry_deal_31-07-09.aspx

The picture above was recently taken in Tenerife with Bonanza Express tied up alongside the quay. At least it is nearer to Ramsgate than when in Las Palmas and it's lighter with its Euroferries logo missing.
.
I made it clear when this whole saga began early this year, that I thought a thriving passenger ferry service from Ramsgate would be excellent news if it could be delivered. I was sceptical then and I still am. Recruiting and training harbour and reception staff has started? Services and ticket sales are on-line? Isn't tomorrow the 1st August?
.
Until I see Bonanza Express arrive and begin zipping backwards and forwards across the briney, I remain a 'Doubting Thomas'. We have had enough of up-beat Press Releases that have proved worthless; let's hope today's latest Press Release isn't just another one.
.

IS THIS WHY EUROFERRIES NEVER STOOD A CHANCE WITH TDC?

Here is PRC Architects concept for the commercial harbour at Ramsgate.
See http://www.prc-group.com/projects/projects.php?topx=2&codex=2&sub_code=40.
.
My thanks to SMEG and Than.net for drawing my attention to the 'concept' plans. The question begging, is who has asked them to draw them up; TDC?
.
Bertie is not that familiar with Ramsgate Harbour but it seems to me that with an expensive, up-market residential development like this with fine sea-views on the harbour frontage, close to one's expensive yacht moored in The Marina harbour close-by, there is no room for a working commercial port and much money to be made by someone building it.
.
Could this be why TDC has been in no hurry to renew a contract with TransEuropa that expired in 2006 and why, according to quay-side gossip merchants, Euroferries were being 'beggared around' recently by TDC in terms of a contract signing? Does Thanet South MP, Steve Ladyman know anything about PRC's pretty drawings, having gone to a lot of trouble supporting Euroferries bid to get a high speed catamaran link going?
.
Having seen TDC's EKAP audit reports about the shambles of financial mis-management at Ramsgate Harbour and its Maritime Services, is TDC contemplating the asset disposal to beat all previous asset disposals? I hope not. Let me explain why.
.
I rather like PRC's ideas. Is Ramsgate ever going to be a serious cross-channel port again? In one fell swoop, PRC's project tidies up a bit of an eye-sore and will remove all those dreadful parking problems down by the port and those littering, peeing and defecating drivers up on Manston Loop at week-ends.! The problem that needs addressing though is how is it to be done?
.
I would hope that any development could be a 'joint-project' with the Thanet Council Tax payer benefitting from a very healthy income stream for years to come and not be a quick asset sale to get some 'readies' in the short term, leaving a developer to make an enormous profit on the project. Should Ramsgate Council have some input and should the residents of Ramsgate themselves be involved and consulted?
.
This of course is idle speculation. This could be PRC flying a kite of course or has TDC got some serious ideas in mind about its Ramsgate Harbour? We will wait and see.

THE FIRST CROP FIRE IN THANET THIS YEAR?

A crop fire in wheat growing between Broadley Rd in Millmead and Northdown Hill was started this afternoon at about 4.30pm. I am glad to report it has been put out.

.

When I left the scene Kent Fire Brigade were still monitoring the situation to ensure no further flare ups ocurred from any hot-spots. The gusting wind and predominantly stiff westerly breeze meant that not only was the fire moving quickly but jumping, with flare-ups being started by hot embers blown down wind. The gusting shifts in wind direction were hazardous to fire-fighters beating the fire down from behind the fire-line as the fire was blown back on them. Not a nice job.

.

I suspect that either a carelessly thrown cigarette or deliberate arson was the cause. Farming on the urban fringe, as most farmers do in Thanet, can be a soul-less task with litter, fly-tipping, car-burning, 4x4 offroading, moto-cross and arson of barns or ricks being a regular feature. Many ignorant Thanetonians seem unaware that plants growing in fields are 'food' and represent hard-work and investment to make a return.

.

The dry weather in June has lead to early ripening wheat and barley that will need to stand until potato crops are gathered. A ripe field can dry out quickly in stiff breezes on a sunny day like today and I suspect this will not be the last crop fire this harvest season.

IS TDC GETTING TO GRIPS WITH ODD FINANCIAL GOINGS ON AT RAMSGATE HARBOUR?

Is there a bigger financial bad-smell emanating from the TDC run Ramsgate Harbour than from the gunge floating in the harbour?
(My thanks to ECR for the pic above and to Michael Child for the pic below.)
.
I love Auditors. When they are unhappy with something they couch their language carefully and talk about 'levels of assurance'. For the average Thanetonian, a Limited Assurance rating, is probably interpreted as room for fiddling, graft and corruption, let alone that much repeated cry of 'brown envelopes'. A 'nil Assurance' rating presumably means we haven't got a clue if the tax-payer is being ripped off!
.
The picture below shows the main uses of Ramsgate Harbour; the commercial port (Trans Europa Ferry Service and now Wind Farm support); and The Royal Harbour with the marina packed with expensive private boats and Ramsgate's fishing boats. The Business Objective for TDC is ' To ensure that the main services at The Marina are administered effectively and are cost efficient and provide a strong income stream to the Council.
.
Despite what looks like a thriving set-up, Ramsgate Harbour cost us all £750,000 last year!
.
Now I do not know enough of the details as to why Ramsgate Harbour made such a loss but perhaps the East Kent Audit Partnership report in the last quarter of 2008 might start to give an inkling. For those with time on your hands go and look at this link:

http://tdc-mg-dmz.thanet.gov.uk/Data/Governance%20and%20Audit%20Committee/20081209/Agenda/$Agenda%20Enclosure%205.doc.pdf

I have tried to precis the scandalous findings of EKAP and they are as follows:

.

1. There has been lax charging or no charging for electricity and water supplied to rented properties at The Harbour. (In simple terms, TDC Council payers have been paying other businesses electricity and water bills for years! How much has this cost us?)

.

2. Rents were not being reviewed and not being paid up to date.

.

3. One lock-up had a TDC Cllr's car in it with no contract or charges being levied.

.

4. A Port 'let' had no lease agreement or licence entered into or even a simple written agreement that led to a £10,000 debt. ( This probably cannot be enforced as a result!)

.

5. 350 litres of gas oil has disappeared and not been investigated by anyone.

.

6. Contrary to TDC's Contract Procedure rules, £138,000 was spent with a single gas oil supplier without market testing (i.e finding the cheapest supplier) when during the same period the Port purchased oil from another supplier at a cheaper rate.

.

7. TransEuropa Ferries contract expired in Dec 2006! They are still paying charges (at the 2006 rates?). There appears to be a debt history with Trans Europa with the oldest debt being £73,000. (So what is the total debt owed by Trans Europa?)

.

8. The technical dept at the Port is reported as having a distinct lack of awareness of TDC's purchasing rules. ( Considering the steps TDC has taken for a number of years to train staff about compliance with CPRs, this is amazing. Is it perhaps 'Audit speak' for ignoring the rules completely?)

.

9. Electrical work and maintenance was carried out by Holbrook and Revell Electrical Ltd (HRE Ltd) for years without a CPR contract tender until presumably Audit stepped in, in Sep 2008 and it would now appear to have a 4 year contract.

.

10. No checking or certifying of work invoiced to the Port by HRE Ltd , that was either emergency or planned work, ocurred. In other words, no checking if the work had been completed took place as invoices were presented and just paid.

.

11. The Port seemed happy to pay general labouring rates of £19.50 per hour for jobs like cleaning leaves from gutters or sweeping up bird droppings. ( Are there that many trees in the Harbour?). This was done without seeking competitive quotes from other general labour suppliers. ( Audit speak for giving the work at inflated rates to mates?)

.

12. Aggregating contracts to bypass TDC Contract Procedure Rule (CPR) Compliance. This was not only a problem at The Port but the EKAP report lists upto 30% of all TDC contracts might fail to comply with its own CPRs. (This will be looked at in another posting shortly).

.

CPRs perhaps need explaining. Basically, any contract payment can be made below £10,000 by a TDC Officer without reference to Cabinet. So if you make 3 payments of £9, 999 for what is essentially one contract, you can handle £29, 997 of business without reference to Cabinet at the officer level and avoid tendering etc! CPR's are thus designed to stop unfair contracts and prevent in simple terms, bribery and corruption. Wilfully ignoring CPRs should be an instant dismissal offence, such is the potential for corruption. The Port spent £134,000 for one service alone by aggregating in this way. How many others were aggregated?

.

The present Conservative Administration of TDC has been in charge of Ramsgate Harbour since 2003, with the Deputy Leader having responsibility for Ramsgate Harbour until May this year when Cllr Kirby took over responsibility. Whilst I am informed that the 'cess-pit' of maladministration at Ramsgate Harbour is being sorted by TDC, 6 years into the present regime, it strikes me that Cllr Latchford needs to shoulder some responsibility here, and perhaps his resignation from the Cabinet might be in order? I am more worried by this catalogue of inept management of our Royal Harbour than I am by his hilarious 'leaping salmon' antics in The Edinburgh Woollen Mill last summer. There is a time when all 'old warriors' need to enter retirement gracefully and perhaps that time has passed.

FLYING ANTS IN THANET

Today was an insect day for Bertie. I have seen more bumble bees, honey bees, butterflies, hover-flies and grass-hoppers in the past few weeks around the Thanet country-side than in in the past few years. Perhaps a colder winter and a drier and milder spring has helped?
.
Today however, produced that combination of humidity (after last nights rain) and rising thermals when our common black ant nests all over Thanet let their winged 'queens' and males take to the air. At about 3pm, you might have noticed a swirling cloud of over 300 of our 'rats on wings' (herring gulls) above Margate and Cliftonville darting and turning in the air as they tried to join in with the swifts in an aeriel feast that made an interesting change to black dustbin bag tearing.
.
A small flock of feral pigeons gathered on Wilderness Hill on the pavement to grab a quick meal as a large ants nest began releasing its larger 'queens' and smaller males. Why fly around when your 'take-away' pops out between the cracks in the pavement?
.
By about 5pm, the 'queens' with or without little males still attached in coitus, began to descend as thermals died out, all over my back garden, providing further snacks for our young sparrows and driving me in doors! The swifts were noticeably absent until dusk and I suspect that the young screeching broods were resting for an hour or two with distended guts and indigestion!
.
Having had a great 'Painted Lady' summer , and a good flying ants day today, I suspect that our next noticeable insect 'infestation' will be lady-birds. I saw hundreds on just one aphid rich weed on a headland near Birchington this morning.

YELLOW LINES IN ANOTHER VILLAGE - THIS TIME IT'S ST PETERS TURN!

It's that time again for 'Our Ken', Zita and her 'Road Gang' and any other TDC Ward Cllrs and KCC Cllrs to get down to St Peter's to talk to local businesses and householders about 'yellow lines' in High Street, St Peters, Broadstairs. The poster on the lamp-post below has got another small village upset about the extinction of its businesses as the yellow lines spread around the Isle. (See today's IOTG about yellow -lines in Minster)

(Click on the pic to read details).

A local resident has reported the following:

.

"Dear Bertie,

KCC wants to extend the double yellow lines in St. Peter's High Street and remove virtually all parking spaces. There would be a handful left so residents and shoppers calling at the dentist, the hairdresser, the newsagent, the coffee shop, the butcher and the chemist will have to scramble for the few available. It is, I believe, to enable the fire service to access Alderney Gardens but do so many places have to be taken out?

The only notification for everyone is one notice on the bus stop. Sounds familiar? When the gas mains work was about to start there was no notification to traders and residents, just one notice on a lamp-post. the businesses had 6 weeks of severely depleted trade and fear this next step is one too far.

Interesting this has been announced after the KCC elections have taken place.

It is hoped the KCC councillors and TDC councillors for the area will be in talks with the local businesses and residents to see what can be worked out as the closing date for objections is August 10th.".

It seems to me that some commonsense is needed here. The minimum amount of yellow-paint should be used to make sure that a fire-engine has access if needed and discussion and consultation should now be engaged in by Local Cllrs to explain the whys and wherefores to businesses and residents and with KCC/TDC and the minimum impact on struggling village businesses should be the aim. The less yellow paint used the better!

SWINE FLU HYPE TAKES HOLD!

I begin to despair about the way we have ceased as a nation to show stoicism in the face of any adversity. Have you noticed how a swine -flu epidemic in this country is now described as 'pandemic flu'; sounds so much worse than a flu epidemic of course.
.
Should anyone be surprised that 'cases' have 'doubled' to 100,000 this week? First we have the public told what symptoms to look out for in great detail and then told to make phone consultations, giving symptoms to GPs and NHS Direct to log in for one's Tamiflu and now a 'pandemic flu' website that collapsed with 9 million hits in an hour! Who is diagnosing these cases? The reality is that if you describe the symptons accurately from information given you already, you become an official statistic as a swine flu victim and can get hold of Tamiflu, just in case you need it when you really get swine flu!
.
If you do not believe this is what has happened, then consider this little snippet from Chief Medical Officer today. He states that despite the 100,000 cases this week, the number needing hospitalisation this week has dropped below last week's figures when only 55,000 caught the bug. That is an odd trend is it not?
.
The trend in Mexico ( outbreak source) and the USA shows the epidemic in these countries is already in decline. The sad but inescapable fact is that all influenza epidemics can kill and every year thousands do die, mainly the elderly, from influenza or complications brought on by it.
.
Until, heaven forbid, we have a serious problem confronting us with swine-flu and the death toll rising into thousands, let's get on with enjoying a typical British Summer.
.
If you were put off by a picture of local hack, Saul Leese in bed with swine-flu, in last week's IOTG, the picture below illustrates a really worrying case of swine-flu for you.

BONANZA EXPRESS IS IN TENERIFE LESS EUROFERRIES LOGO

This is Bonanza Express tied up at berth in Tenerife less its Euroferries painted logos.
See:
http://sergiocruises.blogspot.com/2009/07/hsc-bonanza-nova-actividade.html

SO MUCH FOR EUROFERRIES AND THE BONANZA EXPRESS

What are we to make of this comment that was posted on 'Strife' earlier?

.

Anonymous said...

Well done Thanet Council on the brilliant organisation of the new ferry service. She has left her lay up berth and has gone to Santa Cruz with the logos on the sides for the new ramsgate service painted out.Suggesting she has a contract with another charterer. It is only fair to congratulate the council on a complete failure as is almost expected of everything they put their hands on .Lets hope the new Ramsgate council can make the right decisios and choose the right people for their future projects

.

22 July 2009 16:41

.

Well , there is no doubt that Bonanza Express is no longer tied up at Las Palmas. She left port yesterday en route for Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

.

Have a look at this link to monitor her progress:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=224768000

.

Well, is this symptomatic of TDC getting excited about dubious projects? Tomorrow, the public and press will be excluded from the Council Meeting as they discuss Pleasurama and 'bonds'. Go and visit www.thanetonline.blogspot.com for Michael Child's latest thoughts about bonds and TDC being suckered again?

EVEN TDC TRAFFIC WARDENS FIND THE NEW PARKING CHARGES CONFUSING

This is a picture of a TDC Warden in Station Road, ringing his 'bosses' in Cecil Square and pointing out to them the confusion on the plastic enveloped charges list that have been attached to ticket machines. He couldn't make sense of it, so how the general public can, is beyond me.
.
Let me explain. Mrs B wanted to shop in Birchington this morning as she feels she should support our local High Streets rather than Westwood Cross wherever possible. On this parking ticket machine, the normal charges list sticker had been removed and it took me some time to notice a plastic envelope with the new linear charges in attached at the side. It clearly stated that for 90p Bertie could park for 1hr 30 mins. So, thinking that TDC's basic grasp of Arithmetic was poor but to my benefit, I thrust in my 90p at 11.16 (which I think is extortionate anyway and must drive people to free parking at Westwood Cross) and out popped the ticket below.

So the price list was wrong. The machine gave me only 1hr for my 90p (the correct linear rate at 1.5p per minute). Back to the list and according to TDC £1.30 and 90p will both purchase 1hr 30 minutes of parking. I drew the attention of a passing TDC Warden to this discrepancy and error.
.
It seems to me that TDC needs to sharpen its act up. It rolls out this linear charge business and cannot even get the information right? So now they will have to go round and replace the information on charges. The serious issue about this simple mistake by TDC is that its Parking Wardens also issue fines!
.
TDC might like to go and see how good linear charging is run by Canterbury. Clear information and machines that do the job so that you can match your money in to exactly the time you want.

HAVE YOU HEARD GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU SING?

.

.

.

I was dozing on the settee yesterday morning after a disturbed night due to a family health crisis, when I was woken by a song being played on BBC Breakfast. I then sat through an interesting interview of a Northern Territories , Australian aboriginal musician and singer called Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.

.

He was born blind in 1970 on Elcho Island and has been a sensation 'down-under' and around the world. He is left handed and taught himself to play the guitar upside down as well as many other instruments. He had been a member of the Oz Group, Saltwater Band before releasing his own CD 'Gurrumul' in 2008. He won the Best World Music Album at the ARIA Awards in 2008 and won The Northern Territories 'Australian of the Year Award in 2009.

.

He has played all over the world; has backed up Elton John in Concert and appeared at Download this summer. Elton John, Sting and Bjork are fans of his music. Bertie had never heard of him and perhaps readers have not either.

.

I have not been able to master how to embed a You Tube thingee in my blog yet, so the best I can do is suggest you go and look at You Tube. There are four tracks from his album shown: Djarimmiri, Wiyathul, Wukun and Bapa. I was unable to understand a word of his songs as they are sung in the Yolngu aboriginal language but I was struck by the sadness expressed in Bapa and can put this link up for readers:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ98MAxUczw&feature=related

.

Go and listen to it and enjoy.

THESE EYES SAY IT ALL

I could not help noticing the '1000 yard stares' in this picture of a recent briefing of Ist Battalion The Welsh Guards officers and NCOs. in the field in Helmand, Afghanistan. It appeared in last Saturday's Telegraph in an article by Thomas Harding. (Click on the picture to see what I mean.)
.
These are the faces of those who pay the price for insufficient manpower, inadequate resources, too few helicopters and see friends and comrades killed and maimed. When they return home to their sub-standard Army Quarters , some will fall apart mentally and a disproportionate number will committ suicide over the next 15-20 years.
.
They do not need the cheering crowds on 'Welcome Back Parades''; nor the dignified silence in Wooton Basset as their coffins are borne through the town; nor even a national Armed Forces Day.
.
Like Queen Victoria's soldiers in The Crimea, 150 years ago, they need public outrage and a new Government that will not leave them, after 8 years of fighting, still under resourced, under manned and lacking the means to carry out the mission given them by their political masters on our behalf.

WELL DONE SANDY EZEKIEL - COMMONSENSE AT DUMPTON PARK DRIVE!

Readers might be surprised to find Bertie congratulating 'Our Leader' but in this matter, credit where credit is due! (By the way my thanks to IOTG for their pic of last weekends 'Summer Fete' at Dumpton Park Drive Village Green.)
.
It would seem that Dr Steve Ladyman, on behalf of his constituents, has been in correspondence with Mr Brian White at TDC concerning a 15 page legal report prepared by solicitors acting for residents at Dumpton Park Drive that would appear to show that historic access to the TDC owned land was actually through 130 and 132 Dumpton Park Drive. When this land was sold to build the two houses (a Council asset sale in the early 1970s)) no deed of variation was submitted concerning access and it is quite clear that vehicular access has not ocurred for more than 30 years at least,across the 'village green'! Suspicions that TDC owned land is now 'land-locked' appear to be upheld; perhaps was that why a 'land-grab' effort was made by TDC for open land?
.
Since the successful 'Fete', it would seem that events have moved on quickly, with 'Our Leader' getting to grips with things. Last Wednesday he held a meeting with Cllr Judith Russell, a ward Cllr for the residents, with Mr Brian White and a Planning/Legal Officer and Cllr Russell has been asked to assume the 'link' role between TDC and residents but most importantly TDC has now asked residents to get an independent valuation on TDC's land-locked scrubland. Bertie believes that this will be a serious precursor to negotiations between residents and TDC for a sensible asset sale that will benefit both residents and TDC alike and achieve a 'win win' situation for all involved.
.
I am delighted that Sandy has taken a grip on the matter and that the situation prescribed in the Cabinet Minutes of Aug 2008 is now at last underway. He might like to consider the 'shabby' treatment that TDC has meted out to residents so far; why his Cabinet directive was not followed; who is to blame (his passed 'sell-by date' Deputy or dissimulating Council Officer) and how TDC is going to deal with a Local Government Ombudsman's Investigation into the issue?
.
I am delighted to report, however, that the residents (despite being £15,000 out of pocket due to legal fees) would appear to be in a positive and conciliatory mood. The new 'community spirit' that has been engendered is excellent news with the possibility that not only will the Village Green Committee take on maintainance of the 'green' but might even offer TDC the opportunity to add the 'possessory title ' land to the Village Green to enlarge it and support their application to KCC! That would be an outcome!
.
I wish everyone concerned the very best with this issue now that commensense has broken out at last and wouldn't it be great to see a tree-planted, maintained village green looked after by residents leading onto gardens tendered and cared for by owners rather than scrub-land. TDC might even be able to re-open a public toilet or two with the money obtained from an asset it hadn't realised it owned, with much relief all round?

IN THE BLUE/GREY CORNER AND IN THE RED CORNER?

What a nice storm in the proverbial tea-cup! A report on Mark Nottingham's blog attracts some hilarious comments that contain more than a grain of truth, according to Bertie's sources and before you can say 'Standards Board of England', a complaint (since withdrawn) is made by Cllr Worrow about Cllr Nottingham!

.

What I find extraordinary is that we have since had huffing and puffing over on BigNewsMargate from Cllr Worrow about 'cyber-bullying' and even a veiled but awfully well informed 'TDC type' comment on ECR about Cllr Nottingham's desire not to waste his valuable time attending TDC's training for Cllrs on respect and standards etc! (Forgive me, but I would have thought of all our Cllrs, Mark Nottingham is probably the most trained in these issues, by bigger organisations than TDC!).

.

Having been a keen observer of the Thanet Blog Scene for three years, I am amazed at the short memory some seem to have! I can remember some hilarious and quite nasty posts on Thanet Life concerning the demise of 'The Greys' in Birchington and the sudden change of allegiance in respect of Cllr Worrow, or to follow the precedent set then, Parish Cllr Worrow.

.

Readers must appreciate that these distinctions are important in the world inhabited by Councillors. A Parish Councillor is meant to know his place. He should look up to District Councillors like Simon Moores, who as a District Councillor and now Cabinet member can look down on Parish Councillor Worrow. Parish Councillor Worrow aspires to be a District Councillor for the Conservatives, despite his odd posture some time ago when flirting with The North Thanet Labour Party, who sussed him at the time as a closet Conservative despite his 'Grey' credentials!

.

But I am afraid, that both Parish and District Councillors need to know their place, when it comes to that exalted being, The County Councillor. Many District Councillors aspire to being a County Councillor, so they can look down from their lofty position at County Hall on mere District Councillors; lowly forms of Parish Councillors are barely acknowledged by these Councillors.

.

Well, poor Parish Councillor Worrow, can complain about cyber-bullying as much as he likes, but will have to wait until 2011, to get the chance to rise above his lowly position. He, like Ronnie Corbett, must 'know his place'.

.

All those who run a blog, need to be wary about what they say and more importantly, what some 'creatures of the night' are likely to post! Councillors , running their own blogs certainly need to be cautious, but I am concerned that there has been a recent shift at TDC that is attempting to curtail open and free comment on blogs administered by Councillors, in particular Labour Councillors! As a simple observer, I can read more personal and outrageous attacks on public figures in national papers and magazines than I have ever seen on local Thanet Blogs.

.

So, Cllr Worrow, if you want to get on with the climbing from the lowly position of a Parish Councillor and aspire to the giddy heights of a Conservative District Councillor for Birchington, and in due course , elevation to Cabinet or even those giddier heights at County, develop a thick skin; sublimate your ego and get on with serving your future electorate, as I am sure you are doing and ignore most of the flak! Take the example of Cllr Bill Hayton's relaxed approach to a posting that appeared on a fellow Conservative Councillor's Blog earlier this year!

.

As a late night observation, could we have more sophistication from 'Anon' comments on Big News Margate please from a certain 'Anon'. I find it fascinating that there is a string of 'pro Worrow' and 'Anti- Nottingham'Anon' comments on "Press Release from John Worrow" on 13 July: 09:38, 09:48, 10:08, 10:23, 10:54, 11:39 and 11:52. The pattern repeats on 14th July: 09:12, 09:20, 09:45 and 10:55! This is contrary to all observed comment patterns on any Thanet Blog in the past 3 years, so I would suggest that the 'Anon' doing a John Worrow 'glee club' act, avoids being so obvious!

BOOTS ON THE DECK AND GOVERNMENT HYPOCRISY

As an ex-infantryman, I have been un-impressed with this Labour Government's blatant incompetence and hypocrisy concerning its Armed Forces in recent years and failed to get excited about the Government inspired Armed Forces Day last month, whilst British lives continue to be lost in Helmand Province, Afghanistan due to penny-pinching policies.
.
Casualties are the hazard that those at the 'sharp-end' accept and we should not become too emotional as the media uses the corteges from Lyneham to bring home the stark reality of the price being paid by servicemen closing with the enemy. What the media ignores however are the non-fatal casualties ( 3 severely wounded per one death is a conservative figure).
.
The present generation has forgotten the IRA successful double IED booby trap ambush at Warrenpoint that killed 18 soldiers including Lt Col david Blair and a Saracen APC on an Armagh country lane rendered to bits of scrap metal , killing 4 RGJ soldiers, when a large culvert bomb was detonated under it. The Brigade Commander of 3 Inf Bde was able to stop all military vehicle movement in South Armagh and then in his whole country-wide TAOR because he had helicopter resources. If I remember, his thinking was that giving the IRA a local tactical success and the resultant publicity, by killing his soldiers so easily through IEDs was just unacceptable.
.
Whilst readers listen to the posturing of Brown, Milliband or The Defence Secretary try and remember that this Government went ahead in 2003 with the biggest cut to Infantry Battalions the Army has seen in the past 40 years whilst committing the Armed Forces to Iraq and already having comitted them to Afghanistan. You will be amazed to discover as I was that last month, our Labour Government is seriously thinking about cutting another 3 Infantry Battalions and cutting back on drones, intelligence gathering equipment etc to save another £1.5 billion pounds.
.
Listening to Brigadier Ed Butler tonight, he argues quite correctly that we need boots on the deck occupying and holding ground. A former colleague of mine, Charles Heyman (ex Jayne's Editor and Editor of The british Armed Forces Guide) has described the present idea to cut Infantry Battalions as " stark raving mad" and "sheer lunacy".
.
The past few years in Helmand have seen operation after operation into areas followed by withdrawal (lack of resources to hold the ground prised from the Taliban). With the US now involved and with Afghan Government Forces coming on stream in trained numbers , hopefully this will be a thing of the past. I will not even get into details about why only now 20 Chinook helicopters are available in Afghanistan when we as a country are meant to have 80?
.
I leave you with an extract from a letter I received from a friend in HQ Helmand Task Force, Lashkar Gah in December 2007.
" There is hope in Afghanistan. We have the support of the majority of the population for now. There is a great deal of investment, this is countered inevitably by the corruption at all levels of Afghan life. The force levels are improving but are woefully inadequate, as you point out, for the successful prosecution of what we understand as counter insurgency. At the moment the Taliban remain technologically immature but this will change ......"
.
Force levels are still woefully inadequate; the Taliban is learning fast and whilst Brown et al posture and dissimulate whilst cutting Defence spending, those corteges through Wooton Bassett from RAF Lyneham will become longer and more frequent.

A LOVELY FETE!

A big well done to the Dumpton Park Drive residents who had a clear spell between the showers to hold their Summer Fete this afternoon on the 'village green' that TDC failed to get adverse posession from Land Registry.
.
Over a hundred people turned out and it was good to see at least 6 Councillors there and of course the residents' MP, Dr Steve Ladyman. In a brief speech he declared his support for the village green and open land case the residents are making and was disparaging about TDC's handling of the situation so far. Like many he clearly thinks that TDC needs to re-think and go back to their original idea of selling the probably land-locked scrubland by the railway to residents.
.
I am delighted to report that not only has a point been made to TDC, if it has the sense to see it, but perhaps more importantly, £187 was raised for Guide Dogs for The Blind.

THE MORE THE MERRIER?

Please click on the 'flyer' for details.
.
I must congratulate the residents of Dumpton Park Drive for their initiative to publicise in such a great way, what many perceive to be an erroneous and wasteful effort by TDC in pursuing its asset disposal in the way it has done. Who is to blame for this?
.
From where I sit, it seems to be Mr Brian White leading Cllr Latchford by the nose, with the Leader acting the part of the organ grinder. All TDC has to do is to follow its own Cabinet decision of August last year and re-start discussions with residents to dispose of its probably 'land-locked' piece of scrubland!
.
I suspect this whole business will be viewed by many Conservative Councillors as yet another unmitigated PR disaster concocted by their Leadership and senior officers. What they also need to realise is, that whatever the eventual outcome, this is yet another instance of losing the support of the electorate in a ward that used to be solidly Conservative. The Conservative Party in Thanet needs to wake up quickly to the possibility that in 2011 its natural supporters might teach it a sharp lesson by supporting Independent local candidates as a protest at the continued poor, discredited administration in Cecil Square led by Councillors who clearly failed to maintain 'Standards'.
.
So go along tomorrow to The Village Green in Dumpton Park and join in the Summer Fete! By just poling up at 2.00pm and being there for a while, you will demonstrate to TDC that you do not approve of its present conduct. In addition you can support the charity Guide Dogs for The Blind, to whom all proceeds will be donated.
.
The more the merrier and the bigger the message to those who seem unable to run Thanet's affairs competently any more!

WHEN DID PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THANET BECOME VACANT LAND?

With interest on Strife being focused on China Gateway this time last year, I had no time to draw readers' attention to a little application by a Mr R Vanderweele to expand Bradgate Caravan Park at Lydden by using another 1.78 hectares of prime agricultural land in order to add 51 more 'mobile homes' to the 181 already on the site. (See UK Planning and F/TH/08/0892).
.
This application was about to be approved by Planning Officers but was 'called in' to be looked at by Councillors of The Planning Committtee. It was refused. The main points of refusal were that:
1. It ran contrary to TDC policy of developing on prime agricultural land.
2. There were concerns on vehicle movements on narrow roads.
3. Southern Water had concerns that its supply and sewerage at Lydden could not cope.
.
Well it should be no surprise to readers that Mr R Vanderweele is back with another application within 12 months (no extra fee needed!) that is effectively identical! (see F/TH/09/0515).
.
It would now seem that by making a £10,000 s.106 payment of £10,000 to Kent Highways to help put in a 3m? wide cycle way and footpath along Manston Court Road from Lydden up to Haine Road and with Southern Water now saying its sewerage system will be able to cope after all, two of the objections to the original application have been got round!
.
However, as the picture above (courtesy of Bing) shows quite clearly (the land in question is within red boundary), this is yet another slice of prime agricultural land about to be built on. What might surprise readers is that Mr R Vanderweele, in his present application now describes prime agricultural land as 'vacant' land! Is this a cynical redesignation to fool our Councillors? Surely, whether you till prime agricultural land or not, it still remains prime agricultural land? Here is the rejection case for last year's application in regard to agricultural land:
.
'The proposed development would result in a loss of best and most versatile agricultural land and represent unacceptable development within the countryside that would result in an erosion of the openess of the countryside which would be harmful to the character and appearance of the landscape and the applicant has failed to demonstrate an overriding need for the development that would outweigh the requirement to protect the countryside. the proposal is therefore contrary to policies SS8, EN1, EP9 and EP10 of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan and Policies CC1, CC2, CC9 and T3 of the Thanet Local Plan."
.
Signed: B. White, Head of Development Services
.
In light of the above from Mr White, it will be interesting to see what a Planning Officer at TDC advises on the present application to Councillors, as presumably the application will be called in again to be decided by The Planning Committtee members? Is not the land the same land?
.
Another thought about a number of our 'caravan' sites around Thanet comes to mind. It is interesting that Bradgate is already larger than the village of Lydden in terms of occupants. The same goes for Quex Park caravan Site and Two Chimneys, which between them take up more space and have more 'residents' than Acol.
.
What I am also worried about is that it is quite clear that a number of 'residents' at some caravan sites are effectively full time residents with no other permanent residence even if they have to leave their mobile home for a few weeks between Jan and Mar each year. Has TDC effectively been checking that 'residents' do have a permanent residence elsewhere or has this little Planning requirement been over-looked and not enforced? It makes a farce of the 'tourism' claims for employment and income if it should transpire that many mobile homes are actually main residences, doesn't it?

WELL DONE TDC OFFICERS - NOW ITS UP TO PLANNING MEMBERS!

Michael Child (http://www.thanetonline.blogspot.com/), has put up links to The TDC Planning Committtee Agenda for Wednesday 15th July regarding 1 Granville Marina, that readers may wish to view in full.
.
Suffice it to say that after Councillors turned down Auclair's attempts to 'redevelop' the site at Planning last month, TDC officers are now recommending that Planning Committtee members:
.
' seek a Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to 1 Granville Marina as defined in the site plan (Appendix 2). Included with the order would be a request for a Direction of Minimum Compensation.'
.
This is excellent news and will be welcomed by most. The aspect I find interesting is the order is to include a Direction for Minimum Compensation.
.
Whilst Auclair Properties has the right to appeal to a Magistrates Court to stay proceedings on the grounds that they have taken reasonable steps to ensure the preservation of the building, it would appear from the briefing prepared for Planning Members, that TDC believes otherwise and the details of events surrounding the two thirds demolition back in Feb 2008 make interesting reading. Quite simply, contractors on behalf of TDC entered the property on 28 Jan 2008 to begin the urgent works needed under a Notice issued on 15th Aug 2007. The following day the owners poled up and assured TDC Officers that they were in a position to commence the works instead and somehow the building became dangerous within 72 hours leading to a two thirds demolition on 1st Feb 2008.
.
The information to Councillors in their briefing about Minimum Compensation reads as follows:
.
'Upon compulsory order of a building it is assumed , for the purpose od assessing compensation payable to the owner, that its value would be the open market of the structure and land AS IT STANDS (my capitals). However, if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the structure has deliberately been allowed to fall into dis-repair for the purpose of justifying its demolition and redevelopment, He/She may include in the Compulsory Purchase Order a direction for minimum compensation.'
.
So it would appear that instead of 'barking', TDC is now prepared to bite. It will of course be up to Planning Members to consider the matter carefully on 15th July, but one sincerely hopes that they will decide to seek a Compulsory Purchase Order with a request for a Direction of Minimum Compensation.
.
If they do, this will send out a clear message that TDC is not to be messed about with in regard to Grade 2 listed structures. Isn't it about time that they considered the same compulsory purchase business with the Grade 2 listed Scenic Railway and the land it stands on in Dreamland, as TDC threatened to do in April 2008?

ONE RULE FOR KCC & TDC AND ANOTHER FOR US?

I think Michael Child (http://www.thanetonline.blogspot.com/) picked up first on TDC and KCC's contractor down at Margate Harbour, dumping tons of chalk from the Turner Contemporary building work on the cliff face above the promenade, where the public have access. The story was followed by Your Thanet this week with concerns expressed about damage to the ecology of the cliff face, particularly on the north-side where rare plant species make Thanet's cliff chalk faces a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSIs) and are thus protected in law from dumping and damage to them.
.
Birchington Geologist, Kim Bruce has described the action as 'scientific and environmental vandalism' and it would appear that Natural England are looking into the matter. It would seem that KCC and TDC have completely ignored the law in regard to dumping material on SSIs. Cllr Mike Hill, KCC's Cabinet Member for Communities excused the dumping and said " The chalk is being temporarily stored on the site as part of the building work".
.
Now, I am not an expert in these matters but a pile of loose chalk up against a solid face with heavy rain falling on it, doesn't seem very safe on a promenade let alone the SSI aspects.
.
More interestingly though is the story, regular reader Walter, has reminded me about! (The link is http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3054903.stm )

The picture above shows builder's chalk dumped against the cliff face in Pegwell in June of 2003. It would seem that a builder, Mr Bernard Baldwin had tipped an estimated 100 tons of chalk on a cliff face, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI). What will surprise readers is the attitude taken by TDC and KCC in 2003 compared to their present environmental vandalism and casual approach to the law in 2009!

In 2003 TDC issued an Enforcement Notice for removal of the chalk from the cliff despite Mr Baldwin arguing (as Cllr Mike Hill argues in 2009) that this was chalk from a cliff and put back on a cliff.

Now TDC and KCC in 2003, when it wasn't 'their' chalk from 'their' building project, took a much sterner line. Cllr John Kirby, at the time KCC's Cabinet member for Planning said:

"the Council was likely to take legal action to make sure Mr Baldwin complied with the enforcement notice."

It seems to me that we should expect consistency and upholding of the law in regard to dumping and SSIs by KCC and TDC. The arrogance implied in the present stance by KCC and TDC is quite unbelievable and I hope Cllrs will take this matter up with their various Councils urgently. This is an unmitigated PR disaster and further illustrates the degree of incompetence and mismanagement that seems to have infected TDC at the moment.

INTERESTED IN TDC'S FINANCIAL REPORT?

Tony Flaig at http://www.bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/ , has mentioned the small item on Page 7 of this week's Thanet Times concerning a recent East Kent Audit Partnership report that highlighted a waste of tax payer's money by TDC in insuring 28 vehicles it was not using and failing to insure a 7.5 tonne rubbish lorry it was. As TDC has now altered what it does in vehicle insurance, we are assured that £400,000 has now been 'saved'. How much was wasted then? This might be of interest to those who now find their local loo closed, TDC flower beds unplanted, or are still waiting for a wheelie bin or resent the closure of Margate Museum.
.
I went to look for East Kent Audit Partnership reports and couldn't find them. If any reader can steer me where to look, I would be most grateful. It would seem that Canterbury, Dover and Thanet have pooled their internal audit effort as well as having the Audit Commission look over their affairs. It is also that time of year when members of the electorate are invited to talk to the Audit Commission over issues that worry them and details on how to do this are shown at
http://www.thanet.gov.uk/council__democracy/performance/financial_services.aspx. If you want to contact them quickly then e-mail Lisa Robertson at l-robertson@audit-commission.gov.uk .
.
If you visit TDC's website you can access TDC's Financial Report for 2008/09. As a non-accountant it is pretty much indecipherable to a simple chap like myself but a number of snippets caught my eye.
.
With a ferry operator, wind-farm stuff and a basin full of yachts in Ramsgate, one wonders why Ramsgate Harbour is costing us all £750,000 a year to support?
.
I was unaware, for example, that under 'debtors', our Council is acting as a money lender to employees for car purchase! Hardly seems a 'green' policy but car loans to employees is surely not what a council should be involved in? How much money is involved and at what rates of interest and to how many employees, is not clear.
.
Under 'Related Party Transactions' it would seem that works and services of £50,767 were commissioned from companies in which two TDC Councillors had an interest and that a grant of £77,901 was paid to a private sector company which one Councillor declared an interest in. It would be nice to know what companies and which Councillors and their level of 'interest', particularly as East Kent Audit Partnership indicated concern of internal TDC control of compliance with 'Contract Procedure Rules'. This seems like pen pusher speak for rules on awarding contracts not being followed !
.
I will need help to explain what state TDC's Pension Fund is in and what the implications could be for the Council Tax Payer. It would seem that the deficit in the generous pensions for our local government employees is now at £53, 220,000 with a hole appearing in the last 12 months of £22, 033,000! Does the council tax-payer effectively underwrite these generous pensions?