Thanet Strife

BERTIE IS INDISPOSED

2010-04-12T18:47:00.001+01:00

Bertie sends his apologies but he regrets he must remain at the disposal of his medics at QEQM and will not be blogging until further notice.

RESULTS IN THANET FOR 6th MAY 2010 - NO CHANGE?

2010-04-06T22:19:00.001+01:00

My congratulations to Roger Gale's team in NTCA for having his circular through my door by 1400 today!

Roger will have my support this year, yet again, simply because I believe he has been a jolly good MP for North Thanet and because Dane Valley Ward is still in his constituency. I have not been entirely happy with his view on China Gateway and his past support of the 'Ezekielites' but that is now history. His Labour opposition is so low key as to be derisory and I have yet to see what the Lib Dems have in mind. I think that it is a safe prediction to make that Roger will be returned by the electorate to Westminster on 6th May.

Steve Ladyman over at Thanet South is in an interesting position. Boundary changes have meant that he has lost Sholden to Dover and Minster and Monkton to Roger Gale in N. Thanet but now has Cliftonville West and Cliftonville East in South Thanet. There are many in these wards who have never bothered to get out and vote Labour as they have taken the view that Roger Gale was un-assailable; that might well now change. It is also interesting that Steve Ladyman has been working for 2 years (post Transport Minister) as a very good constituency MP and gaining a great deal of respect locally as a good Thanet MP, as has Roger Gale on the north side.

Whilst Laura Sandys, has been working hard as prospective parliamentary candidate for Thanet South for a long time, she is still perceived as a Cameron 'choice' parachuted into to mix it with the locals and quite frankly has not made the impact that she would have hoped for. She has also to face the 'Ezekilite' factor in Thanet South and in Cliftonville that last month's change of Leader might perhaps have been too late to alter perceptions. For too long, Conservative TDC has been perceived dimly by its electorate and many might now avoid voting for Laura as a simple protest against their Conservative Council. There is no doubt that the Thanet electorate does its own thing and perhaps that is healthy.

After a rapid analysis in the 'Strife' Office, the collective view is that Thanet will still have the same faces as our MPs after 6th May and that perhaps that is no bad thing.

If the rest of the country decide that Brown et al are worth another 5 years then heaven help us but that is what democracy is all about, isn't it?

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-04T11:13:00.000+01:00

A Happy Easter and a thought that whilst too many religious singers of the Christian song have been revealed to be criminal abusers, it doesn't diminish the 'song'.

As Dave Allan used to say " May your God go with you".

AGNUS DEI, QUI TOLLIS PECCATA MUNDI

2010-04-02T09:32:00.000+01:00

DREAMLAND - 6 YEARS OF DERELICTION AS FORECAST BY PLANNING INSPECTOR

2010-03-27T23:41:00.001Z

I must say that I was unimpressed to read in yesterday's IOTG that in 2012, we might see a big wheel back at Dreamland, similar to the one we saw briefly in 2006 and 2007.

As we approach the 2nd anniversary of the Scenic Railway arson attack whilst Dreamland and its Scenic Railway was being guarded by Probe Security ( recently they seemed to have watched cars with no parking tickets more closely before being 'sacked'), it might be appropriate to remind readers about what has not happened. The good thing about 'blogs' as opposed to papers is that you can search archives easily and remind yourself of events.

Let's start with an IOTG report in the week of 24 April 2008 that was referred to by Strife, ' IOTG is reporting that renovation has been ordered by TDC or compulsory purchase will be initiated'. If my memory serves me well, the owners of Dreamland were seriously miffed by this approach and remarks made at the time , by hopefully, soon to be 'ex-deputy leader' Woger Latchford. What was revealing was this quote by Toby Hunter of Waterbridge: "It might sound odd but we have no idea to what extent it (The Scenic Railway) is insured."

Here is what Eastcliff Matters had to report in April 2008:

One thing I can support Thanet Council on, or at least members on the Planning committee, is on the legal action being taken to ensure Margate’s historic scenic railway is properly repaired.

Thanet Council’s planning committee has voted unanimously in favour of taking legal steps to secure the future of the fire-damaged feature at Dreamland. Members gave officers the power to serve repair notices on the former amusement park’s owners, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, which will compel them to bring the 1920 ride back to operating condition.

Issuing the order is seen as a last resort move by the council, but also gives it the option of compulsorily purchasing the entire 15 acre site - possibly including the Dreamland cinema - and paying for the work to be done before reselling it again.

I predict now, that it will be necessary, and that the current TDC administration will bottle out of the decision. They have already shown their colours when they overturned the Planning Inspectors recommendation that the Dreamland Site be reserved for leisure.

Well how right, Cllr David Green was.

TDC not only failed to enforce a planning notice concerning the security fencing put up on the site in 2005 but clearly has not enforced repair of The Scenic Railway. In addition, readers might remember the £48,000 or so, of TDC tax-payers money, that was spent on additional security fencing after the arson attack. There is no record of this cost having been recovered by TDC and was this amount hidden in the 'write-offs' of debt by TDC recently, that TDC refused to divulge details off?

It seems to me that a cynical dereliction of duty by TDC has ocurred and that TDC, the owners of The Dreamland site and The Dreamland Trust are going to rely on the tax-payer's largesse in the form of the recent £3,500,000 'Sea Change' funding from a Labour Government to not only repair the Scenic Railway but put together a number of knackered old rides to create an 'old' half-sized version of Dreamland that 'failed' in 2002 despite attracting 700,000 visitors to Margate. Now forgive me if I have got this wrong, but I thought that the owners of Dreamland were going to have to fund the 'Heritage' Dreamland as part of the deal to let them put housing on 49% of the site that was and is the 'Key to Margate's regeneration'?

The property magazine that quoted that Toby Hunter was anticipating a £500,000,000 project for housing on Dreamland seems to be the real reason why this farce has gone on for so long and the Independent Planning Inspector who stated that 'the this Key site to Margate's regeneration would remain a derelict site for years if TDC did not act effectively' has been vindicated.

I leave you with a poster that highlighted the only 'reconstruction' of the Scenic Railway that has so far ocurred. (see below).

MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THANET CONSERVATIVES

2010-03-24T23:59:00.001Z

I see that Thanet Life has announced the news that Strife predicted almost 3 weeks ago, (click here) that at tonight's Conservative Group Meeting, Cllr Bayford would be elected as the new TDC Conservative Leader with Cllr John Kirby being the only other candidate. My congratulations to Cllr Bayford and to the Conservative Cllrs in Thanet, for at last taking a decision that they should have made last year, to replace their Leader.

As predicted, it would seem that Cllr Bayford will 'understudy' Cllr Ezekiel until May when at Full Council, Cllr Bayford will be installed as the Leader of TDC. I hope that Laura Sandys will now have a better wicket to bat on in South Thanet but I am concerned that this move for change will be too late to benefit her.

I trust that Cllr Bayford will now look closely at how he is to regain the confidence of much of the electorate in Thanet before the 2011 Council Elections. I am sure he is already considering the structure of his Cabinet and that perhaps a new Deputy (Cllr Bruce comes to mind here) and standing down Cllr S Tomlinson and Wiltshire might be a good idea. Would a leaner Cabinet make sense?

He should also consider the make-up of that vital Committtee, Planning. If Cllr Bill Hayton cannot return to the Chair here due to KCC committments, then perhaps a sensible choice would be Cllr Mike Jarvis. who has already demonstrated he is a man of principle and integrity. Cllr Bayford needs to consider if the present Chair (Cllr Gregory), Cllr M Tomlinson and Cllr Simon Day have long passed their sell by dates on Planning and that the retoration of public confidence in TDC's Planning Committtee should be a priority.

Cllr Bayford might also like to get to grips with the perception, rightly or wrongly, that for too long TDC's senior officers would appear to have been the 'tail wagging the elected dog'. Their professional advice and expertise is vital but the bottom line should be that they are all servants of the elected members of TDC acting on behalf of their electorate.

Cllr Bayford has a tough job ahead of him and I wish him the very best. Openess, genuine consultation, frank admission of mistakes when things go wrong (as they always will) and a reaching out to The Labour Group and Independents to utilize their talents and expertise to make TDC more effective, are positive steps that are now needed. The petty silliness that has characterised TDC for too long needs to end.

He might also like to get the message across that TDC's share of the Council Tax we pay is roughly only 14% of the total. Bertie's charge by TDC actually works out at only £3.59 per week and for that I think I get pretty good value for money with my bins emptied; parks and beaches looked after and the service from TDC's Gateway.

Of course there are issues of concern, but a Council is ultimately judged by its public's perception of it. Look after the electorate more; get all of your Cllrs more active in their wards. When Thanet residents feel that their interests, needs and concerns are a greater priority to its Council than developers and 'grandiose' wasteful schemes, then Cllr Bayford, you will have them on your side. Good luck!

NEON SIGN DEFACES NOT SO OLD (RECONSTRUCTED) HISTORIC BUILDING IN MARGATE

2010-03-23T21:09:00.002Z

My thanks to Masie (see Masie Grace's blog here) for her first pic of Tracey Emin's artistic neon sign " I Never Stopped Loving You" that now adornes Droit House.

Having reported the battle with TDC by The Swan in Westgate to get a simple, tasteful lit sign installed above its door, one has to wonder about this adornment to Droit House. If ex-Margate girl Tracey didn't come up with this for free, how much has it cost the TC? We are entitled to ask this question because as KCC Council tax payers we will be subsidising TC to the tune of £1,000,000 each year, if not more, in the years to come.

We could have saved ourselves and Tracey the trouble perhaps, by inviting some of our local graffiti scroats to get their spray cans out and give us something more vigorous and earthy to adorn Droit House. Their work would be vandalism of course, where as this is art. Really?

CLAMPING IN LIDO AND DREAMLAND - A SEASIDE RIP-OFF?

2010-03-22T22:02:00.002Z

Some readers may have spotted the item on BBC South East today about the chap camping in his clamped car on The Lido Car Park, Clifftonville, to stop Barry Dawson and his team at Clamp Down Security Services (CSS) moving the car and upping the bill the poor beggar could not pay, let alone the £120 to get the clamp off.

A 'Strife' member popped down to do a 'soup run' at 7.30pm to talk and take pics and discovered the car empty of its owner but still clamped. Will Barry Dawson move it over-night?

Readers might be familiar with Your Thanet highlighting problems at Dreamland a few weeks ago with most parking ticket machines wrapped up in bin-liners and apparently out of service and hapless victims, unable to find an obscurely located ticket machine, being clamped within minutes.CSS at the time was working under direction of Probe Security (of ex-Conservative Cllrs' Broadhurst and Watt-Ruffell association) but it would now seem that CSS is now working directly under Jimmy Godden and his site manager Barry Moss at Dreamland as Probe has been given the 'heave-ho' off the Dreamland site, with odd rumours flying around Thanet ever since.

Strife is aware that many visitors who parked at The Lido on the evening of The Lost Prophets gig at Winter Gardens some weeks back, thinking the Lido Car park was 'concert parking', found themselves clamped and quickly out of pocket. We have reports that 12 cars were clamped and over £1,400 was paid out to get cars released. Some visitors said they would never return to Margate as they were convinced they had been ripped -off as 'innocents abroad' in down at heel Margate.

I am sure CSS and Barry Dawson are operating correctly and I hope TDC Trading Standards are ensuring that this is so, but you do have to have your eyes peeled to spot the signs (pictured below) in The Lido car-park. However, what concerns me most, is the damage that this 'Clamping business' is doing to putting off visitors from returning to Margate.

There are many who hold the view, rightly or wrongly, that 'clamping' has a dubious aspect to it and that calls for clarification and tightening of regulations regarding clamping are becoming more frequent to our Parliament. Rather than worrying about fox-hunting, isn't this an issue that Gale,Sandys, Ladyman et al could be looking at?

At the local level, 'Mauwice' or his successor, need to consider that visitors paying £2.20 for their latte and £120 for their car to be 'un-clamped' might regard their tax-payer subsidised visit to the TC to see Tracy's dirty linen or a 'walking art' performance as money badly spent and that Margate's growing reputation as a 'clamper's den' puts them and many others off from ever visiting , let alone returning.

SOUTH THANET HUSTINGS UNDERWAY?

2010-03-22T00:14:00.000Z

I gather that South Thanet PPC's including our current sitting MP, gathered at Holy Trinity Church, Broadstairs on Friday evening to set out their stalls for the coming election, to a gathering of about 66 Thanet residents. Before I post up the report I have received from a correspondent who attended, I found it interesting as I searched for info on the candidates. Steve Ladyman and Laura Sandys are using the web well, but Trevor Shonk (UKIP) and Peter Bucklitsch (Lib Dem) are not so savvy. I have no pic or biography on Trevor and I hope the picture of the flaming torch bearer is the correct Peter Bucklitsch who seems to be on Crowborough Town Council? No biography of him either.
Anyway, here's the report:

'I was on Saddam's Hit-list' or so Laura Sandys, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for S. Thanet told the audience on Friday evening. Odd that since she opposed the Iraq invasion.

When I first got to vote many years ago, huge public meetings where candidates were heckled and arguments among the audience erupted were the norm but nowadays they are rarely held. Friday's event held in Holy Trinity, Broadstairs was a welcome opportunity for local church-goers to put questions to the main party candidates.

The rather too carefully stage-managed event for my taste featured about six questions put by members of Broadstairs and Cliftonville churches. The Lib. Dem. candidate was very late due to traffic problems so the evening started with Laura Sandys, Dr. Stephen Ladyman, Labour, and Trevor Shonk for UKIP who proved that his party has only one policy, 'get out of the EU' as he had nothing constructive to say on education, the NHS, trade or equality.

Laura Sandys ably demonstarted her PR credentials, name-dropping Tory grandees and talking a great deal about herself.She was heckled twice, just like in the old days, for not answering the question properly and for ducking the reference in a question to Lord Ashcroft's tax affairs.

She did say the Conservatives would be 'hands-off with schools and hospitals' so taxpayers' money would be given to these institutions but the politicians wouldn't interfere. On teenage mothers she said they would be put into mother and baby units rather than be given accommodation 'where their friends would be visiting at all hours'. Sounds a bit like turning the clock back to me when unwed mothers were sent away from their families because of the 'scandal' they caused.

On the topic of teenage mothers Dr. Ladyman said he preferred to educate young men in their responsibilities and to encourage young women to 'have ambition in life beyond having a baby early'.

When both Trevor Shonk and Laura Sandys raised the country's debt and misquoted statistics more likely to be found in the Daily Mail, Dr. Ladyman was able to give accurate figures and to show how we compared with other developed countries and how the government had saved the banks and protected the savings of those of us present. The question is now when best to deal with the budget deficit as if the wrong moves are made too soon the country will slip back into recession. He admitted the expenses scandal had been a traumatic time for him and other politicians. His expenses had always been available online.

When a question was asked about green technology Laura Sandys did say a Conservative government would roll out a network of recharging units for electric cars but wasn't too pleased, it seems, to be told that the Labour Government had already agreed a £34m. package for just such units (although it seems from this weekend's news that not one council in Kent has taken up the offer).

The Lib. Dem. candidate, Peter Buckledge ( Ed: Bucklitsch), I think he's called, arrived about 90 minutes in so it's difficult to comment on his approach as he only had time for one question.

My opinion of the evening? I would have liked the chance to put supplementary questions to the candidates and feel that more opportunity should have been given to the candidates to reply to their opponents.

Were I neutral how would I have judged things?

Laura Sandys is good on what she knows but needs to avoid the name-dropping as it doesn't impress and says more about her ego than her politics.

Dr. Ladyman is very well-informed and gets his points across positively. When he was able, if he answered after the others, to point out their inaccuracies he did so politely and firmly but it was clear Laura Sandys isn't used to being told when she's wrong.

Trevor Shonk? Not a natural politician and he belongs to a single issue party although he did say it has a Christian ethos despite their refusal to give aid to the former Commonwealth as 'the money just gets spent on guns'.

Peter Buckledge? Couldn't say as he wasn't there long enough although he does have an odd idea that candidates shouldn't need to belong to the party for which they're standing. I thought that was one of David Cameron's ideas.

One final point. Laura Sandys needs to find which wards her campaign should be targeting as there was one resident present on the evening from Dane Valley who regularly gets Laura Sandys' leaflets delivered. No, sorry, Dane Valley will still be in N. Thanet and the Conservative candidate will still be Roger Gale.

DREDGING THE DEPTHS IN RAMSGATE THIS WEEK?

2010-03-18T22:38:00.001Z

I have to admit to a sense of tedium when I read on Mark Nottingham's blog tonight about the 'demo' outside South Thanet hopeful, Laura Sandys' office, or ex-office, in Ramsgate today. Click here for the link

I find it odd that the Labour Party still has an obsession with fox-hunting ( having banned it) as a cruel activity. In this country we are quite happy to use chemicals to eradicate rats that cause them a slow lingering death. Rats are a pest, you might say; well, many country people, trying to protect spring lambs and their chickens would argue the same about foxes.They are a top predator with few natural controls other than over-population and mange. The death of a fox by a snap of a fox-hound's strong jaws is a cleaner way to die than spending half the night trying to chew your foot off to extract yourself from a snare and then be dispatched by a 12 bore. ( a sight that I encountered in a hop-garden in Cranbrook some years ago.)
I am happy to see the ban on fox-hunting looked at again by Parliament and perhaps Laura Sandys would be best advised to make a statement that she is either pro-hunting or an 'anti'. Roger Gale MP, who might have regretted a recent character reference, is at least open on this issue; he is an 'anti'.

My thanks to a 'Strife' contributor for the rather artistic pic below, of a big dredger vacuuming in the main harbour in Ramsgate earlier this week.. I have reports that similar work is ongoing in Bolougne. One assumes it is all about LD Lines and an extra ferry or two, due in Ramsgate shortly. (I will try and refrain from mentioning Euroferrries)

As Bertie is not a 'jolly tar' sort of chap, the news that the other part of Ramsgate Harbour and its Marina has a major beach in it and a bad silting and 'gunge' problem seems quite astounding. It seems that the big maritime 'Dyson' in the pic just cannot get into the other part of the harbour due to too much silt and what is needed is a smaller dredger. Is it really possible that the other harbour and Marina will continue to silt up because an accumulation of sand has been allowed to occur that cannot be tackled? Are we really beyond a point of no return down there? Perhaps the time is long overdue for TDC to get a Port Management contractor in? They can't even arrange to sweep the street outside the Biggles' hovel more than once in 12 months so keeping a harbour clean is obviously too much for them.

NO COUNTER, NO MONITORING, PATHETIC LINKS AND 456?

2010-03-14T22:45:00.000Z

Couldn't resist looking at some Wikio ratings of 'blogs' to see how 'influential' this blog is, having watched how Thanet Life has revamped, re-linked etc to improve its 'score' etc etc! An interesting insight into the way some blogs regard these matters as important can been seen in the posting and in the comments attached here.

I have tried to resist giving way to the demands of my ego, in such matters but curiosity caught the better of me and I had to click on Dr Moore's link. I copy the stuff shown below:

You will find here the monthly rankings for the most influential blogs in the UK and Irish blogospheres.
UK Politics • Politics Blogs • Parties • Conservative Party • Entertainment • The Parliament • Labour Party • Gordon Brown • Prime Minister • The House of Commons • David Cameron • Government • International • Technology • Science • Liberal Democrats • Meteorology • Politics • Climate Change • Music

thanet strife

http://thanetstrife.blogspot.com/
thanet conservative blog

Recent topics : Science • Thanet Earth • Environment

What had Bertie and the 'Team' rolling in the aisles was the description of us being a 'thanet conservative blog'. As we have no counters, no monitoring, no whizzo links etc such news comes as a surprise!

The marvellous thing about the wide variety of blogs in Thanet is the simple fact that a wide variety of thoughts , ideas and information is available at the click of a mouse. There is no doubt in my mind that this can only be healthy, particularly as many who put comments on all our blogs, feel that they have an accessible and easy forum to comment on topics that affect their lives and 'anonymous' comment allows them to do so easily.

COUNCILLORS INVOLVED IN THE NITTY GRITTY.

2010-03-13T00:48:00.002Z

I am delighted to report some very fast and active work on Thanet's behalf by two of our Conservative KCC Cllrs who are also TDC Ward Cllrs, who, funnily enough, are regarded by The Ezekielites as men to be cast into the 'outer darkness'.

Cllr Mike Jarvis, has registered his concerns about the debris on the roadside at Manston to KCC and pressed for action after going and visiting the site to see with his own eyes what the problem is. It would seem that Case No: 10602369 is about to be investigated by a Mr Chris Neat, a Highways Inspector and enforcement officer and hopefully this problem will be resolved very quickly. Cllr Jarvis informs 'Strife' that he has copied his correspondence to KCC Cllr Hibberd and kept him in the loop.

In respect of the disgraceful and dangerous condition of Beacon Rd in Broadstairs that has been highlighted by Cllr Mark Nottingham, Cllr Chris Wells has badgered KCC with the result that the dangerous state of this road will be addressed by KCC Highways for most of next week. Here is KCC's announcement:

Urgent short term road closure - Beacon Road, Broadstairs - from 16 March 2010

Because of urgent carriageway repairs due to serious potholes, it will be necessary to close Beacon Road, Broadstairs.

This is due to commence from Tuesday 16 March 2010 and it is planned the road will be closed for 4 days, between the hours of 9.30 am and 2.30 pm, as a result of these works.

The road will be closed between the junctions of Cecilia Grove and Reading Street Road. The alternative route for through traffic is via Westover Road, Northdown Hill, Green Lane and George Hill Road.

The works are being undertaken on behalf of Kent Highway Services.

I am sure readers will appreciate that the immediate responses and committment by these two Cllrs, having had problems brought to their attention , is commendable.

Whilst the 'nitty gritty' of holes in the roads and dumped waste material in the highway might be a boring aspect of Council work when compared to the exciting aspects of TC, visits to China and claiming credit for millions of Labour Govt expenditure in Thanet, it is exactly these basic issues that impact on our daily lives as Thanet citizens and that need prompt action and attention by Cllrs. My congratulations to both Cllr Jarvis and Cllr Wells for moving so fast on these issues.

CHINA GATEWAY - 18 MONTHS ON.

2010-03-11T22:19:00.003Z

It is often at the end of a recession that many who have managed to hang on through the harder times, find that the period before growth returns, is the hardest to get through. Is this now the case for China Gateway International and their plans of October 2008 for Manston Business Park?

It would seem that not only are they in the process of selling off assets in Dover to raise money to reduce lending from The Israel Discount Bank (IDB) but last Monday CGI (formerly CGP) also announced a further 'share issue' of 2,142,858 ordinary shares at 14p each that have been bought effectively by directors Ken Wills, Chris Seymour- Prosser and Laxey Partners. Each has simply put a further £100,000 into CGI to, it would seem, pay some interest on the £31+ million owed to The IDB. Here is how CGI's announcement of Mon 8 Mar 2010 ended:
Commenting on the subscription, Robin Bolton, CGI's chairman, said "This subscription is in accordance with an agreement with Israel Discount Bank to enable the Company to pay interest and, in conjunction with the recently announced sale of the Dover Properties, reduce its total indebtedness. I am grateful to both IDB and the subscribers for their continued support for CGI".You can mull over the whole press release here.

Whilst rummaging through old files and the odd Tesco bag, I found a copy of the 2007 AIM Prospectus for CGP's launch on to the AIM Stock Exchange for listing as an AIM Company. Readers might remember that members of the Strife Team extracted from TDC (through FoI) that CGP (now CGI) had had over 17hrs of meetings with TDC and that extraordinarily, TDC had kept no minutes of these long and frequent meetings. As we revealed some time ago (courtesy of the Tesco bags) the only minutes taken and kept were by CGP. (hence our knowledge that 'Woger' Latchford came up with the idea of the sign shown in the pic above).

I digress, forgive me. Back to the AIM Prospectus prepared for CGP by Savills. Does this sound familiar, given TDC's recent idea that Policy 25 of its Core Strategy should allow all its policies over farmland, environment etc to be over-ridden if a prospective 'employer' came up with a big scheme 'offering' loads of jobs? :

This is an extract from the AIM document of Jan 2007 that clearly refers to discussions with Mr White's Team at TDC Planning in 2006 regarding farmland outside the boundary of Manston Business Park that was then purchased by CGP; you might note the comment in italics that presumably refers to a specific officer! :

It must be noted that the site currently does not have planning permission for a business

park, and this will need to be applied for.

We would comment that part of the land falls outside the existing allocation identified in

the Thanet Local Plan which was adopted on 17 June 2006. We have considered the

existing Policy together with enquiries directly to the Policies Section of Thanet District

Council. The Council are keen to see the existing employment allocations taken up before

they consider extensions to existing Business Parks.

However, if a special user was

identified which could not be accommodated on any of the existing allocations, then a case

could be made for an extension of the property. This principle was endorsed by the

Planning Officer at the District Council.

Further to this the Planning Officer stated that the designations for Manston had taken

place in 2 phases, and that there may yet be a third phase. This view was supported by

PRC Planning Consultants who stated that the business park was intended to be the hub

of the business section in the region hence its title Manston International Business Park.

PRC suggested that the wording of the Council’s planning documents suggests that

additional land will be granted employment zoning in the future.

So the conclusion that can be drawn is that within TDC, as early as late 2006, a Senior Officer at TDC was happy to bin the Thanet Plan 2006, just approved by Full Council and set the scene for Policy 25 in TDC's Core Strategy proposals of 2009. In doing so at the time, he was quite clearly going against the Thanet Plan just approved by his own Council and its Cllrs. It begs the question of who has been running TDC; its Officers or its elected Cllrs?

Can you really trust this Council, its Leadership and Officers to play straight with its own Cllrs and electorate?

A SERVICEMAN'S PLEA FROM ABROAD FOR ACTION BY HIS CLLRS AND TDC

2010-03-09T22:13:00.000Z

Whilst the news that ex Conservative Cllr 'Panama' Broadhurst's firm Probe Security has been kicked off Dreamland is interesting (has it anything to do with some odd clamping, as the arson attack on the Scenic Railway almost 2 yrs ago didn't result in them being kicked off?), and the probability that ex conservative Cllr Watt-Ruffell is probably now without a job, tonight's item is perhaps more worrying.
I copy in full the e-mail received by me today which was also sent to our Cllrs and MPs.

Dear Councillors,

Most of you will be aware that I am currently serving with the RAF for 4 months in the United Arab Emirattes and due back to the UK early April...

You will also be aware that the residents of the estate close to the military base have, for the past 4 years, experienced many problems associated with the former RAF fuel depot on the Museum crossroads at Spitfire Way, Manston. I have been informed today by my partner Elisabeth that the long established foot path leading from Bell-Davies Drive towards the military base at Manston has been blocked by several tons of building waste. See attached pictures.

The result of blocking the footpath by the owners of the fuel site has created extreme danger for pedestrians including young children who have no other option than having to walk into the adjacent road (B2190) which is extremely busy several hours each day. This is yet another example of the owners taking out their frustrations of not receiving planning permission on various project, onto the residents.

I am requesting that enforcement action be taken with immdiate effect to close down whatever business is operating out of the old fuel depot and take the necessary action to officially recognise the footpath which has been in use for at least 40 years. You will see by the attached pictures of the various dangers caused by this wanton act of vandalism. In addition to pedestrians being force to walk on the road you will notice various lumps of building debris encroaching the road, therefore potentially causing danger to road users especially cyclists.

We have already had a very recent fatality of a cyclist close by the area concerned not wanting another.

Please persue this issue with the utmost haste as it is felt by many residents of the nearby estate that enough is enough.

Derek Crow-Brown

D CROW-BROWN

Warrant Officer Royal Air Force

Det WO

Al Minhad Air Base

UAE

Warrant Officer Crown-Brown's pictures clearly show the problem. I also show below a sign on the site that was there for a number of years and whilst many might agree with the sentiments expressed and have some sympathy, the safety issue is far more important and I urge our KCC Cllrs in particular to get onto this issue ASAP. I would suggest that WO Crow-Brown has enough on his plate in UAE without having to worry about his family's safety on Thanet's roads.

A TOUGH RECESSION FOR CHINA GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL?

2010-03-08T22:17:00.001Z

I am indebted to ECR for his announcement today that CGI (formerly CGP) is selling its Dover properties to a new Company called Dover Gateway Ltd.You can read CGI's press release of Fri 5 March here.
It does not seem good news and I should imagine the director's gallery above , of Robin Bolton, Ken Wills, Brian Moritz and Chris Seymour-Prosser, are not entirely happy at the moment.

Bertie is not an expert on these matters, so readers are asked to bear with me. It would seem that Dover Gateway Ltd was formed with CGI having a 40% share and a new company called Priory Land Ltd having a 60% share. Should money be made by Dover Gateway Ltd, CGI then get 40% still as well as the £5 million due to be paid for CGI's land at Western Heights and Farthingloe in Dover. I say due to be paid, as completion is due to occur within 90 days, as we enter June.

CGI, readers may recall, announced a few months ago that it had issued 1,570,283 shares to raise working capital to cover its running costs of only £148,391.74 and that most of the shares had been purchased by the chaps above, its Directors. Readers will also recall that in the heady days of 2007 and 2008 when CGI (formerly CGP) were planning to put China Gateway (Phases 1,2 & 3) not only on Manston Business Park but also on farm land adjacent, purchased from Struan Robertson et al at Alland Grange, they had ambitious plans for land at Dover, Manston and at Westwood in Wigan. Well it seems that Wigan is now a no go; land at Dover is being flogged off for £5 million and that will then leave CGI with only its portion of Manston Business Park (KCC and TDC, through EKO LLP own the key bits) and lots of agricultural land nearby with no planning consent.

CGI has a little problem perhaps; well to be more precise a £31.4 million one! In the heady days of 2007 it had a loan from The Israel Discount Bank(IDB) of £24.5 million that as a facility, grew to £28.5 million which was due to be repaid in Nov 2009. By July 2009, the debt with IDB was £31.4 million. The facility was repayable on demand but IDB (perhaps not wishing to get into farming in Thanet) agreed to extend the loan facility until 30 Jun 2010. It is interesting that CGI state that the £5 million for land in Dover is earmarked for repayment to IDB. With successful completion in 90 days, CGI would then have some money to repay IDB back some of its £31.4 million.

The question that has puzzled the 'Strife Team' this afternoon is who the heck are Priory Land Ltd and how come they have £5 million to throw at CGI's land in Dover as 'partners' in Dover Gateway Ltd. Their Company was formed very recently on 16/3/2009 and the No: 6848053 is theirs. They are shown as being at The Old Stables. Priory Lane in Bracknell and good old Bling Maps gives us a picture of their nerve centre below.

It's a pretty busy location in some expensive residential property in Bracknell, Berkshire: Elm Dyke Developments Ltd; Priory Lane Ltd and Priory New Homes Ltd are also located there. The odd thing about Priory Land Ltd is that a Google search reveals 'cached pages' ( their pages as they used to be) that seem linked to Easyspace.com and their contact telephone number 0800 612 4105 is unobtainable.

So the question remained this afternoon as to where does Priory Land Ltd get £5 million to provide the cash for Dover Gateway Ltd to buy CGI's land holdings at Dover? The answer would seem to be REAL- Real Estates Associates Ltd of One Heddon Street, London , W1B 4BD. They are FSA regulated fund managers who attract investment from various sources (private and others) to invest in property. They have a Partnership Land LP (limited partnership) that invests in residential land in the south -east of England and they would appear to be directing funds towards The Dover Gateway Project (Dover Gateway Ltd). It would seem from their press-release of 25 Jan 2010 that Priory Land Ltd is their 'asset manager' and you can read all about it here.

So, in terms of Thanet, where does that leave CGI and its agreed planning consent on Manston Business Park from 2008? I suspect, that unless investors in China commit to setting up at Manston Business Park on an individual basis, as the UK economy comes out of recession, CGI has further tough times ahead and that increased employment opportunities for the local economy in Thanet look dim.

WE SHOULD HAVE ACTED 5 YEARS AGO TO IMPROVE TOWN!

2010-03-07T23:19:00.001Z

I was amazed to read Page 2 of the IOTG with its banner heading 'We must act now to improve town' below Richard Spillet's line ' Plea to adopt new Government policy after damning report'.

If readers bother to trawl through Thanet Life postings in 2006, they will see concerns expressed about the decline in Margate, with a pathetic apology of Dreamland being provided by Mr Webb and pictures of closed shops galore. That was almost 4 years ago when we were still in 'booming UK' and prior to 'bust 2008'.

We now have TDC talking about 50 years of decline? Sorry, guys, I remember a happy thriving Margate in 1987 when I moved here. Yes, there were problems but not the catastrophe we have today.

Let me draw reader's attention to the incompetence of TDC in its forward thinking or lack of it. A 'Strife' photographer was dispatched this afternoon to take pictures around the TC. Despite £1,000,000 spent by KCC on reducing Fort Hill to a single carriageway and the TC project costing £17,500,000 in full swing only 30m away, please feel free to look at The Arcadian and Fort Hotel pictures. TDC has until Spring 2011 to sort this scene of dereliction and decay out and has it moved yet? Come to Margate to our lovely TC and see this beside it? Compulsory purchase followed by restoration or demolition?

A new plaza with adjacent flats etc would be a good idea? The present state is disastrous and reflects some odd ideas about 'regeneration' by TDC. Guys, you have just over a year before TC is opened and yet what are you doing about the eyesores within 30 m of it?

SATURDAY NIGHT SNIPPETS

2010-03-06T22:24:00.004Z

Almost missed this KCC Standards Public Notice on Page 31 in this week's IOTG. My eye had been caught by a liquidation notice for the company trading as Indian Princess which was not good to read. However, the KCC notice informs us that the 'spat' over a single yellow line outside a Nursing Home in Thanet is now over. Readers might remember that Cllr Chris Wells had been reported to KCC Standards in early 2009 for not declaring an interest when he opposed a yellow line outside a nursing home. After an interminable amount of time and presumably at great cost to the tax-payer, Cllr Wells has finally been found to not have breached The Code of Conduct. So Mr Bourlet and others went to a lot of trouble over a single yellow line when the matter could have been cleared up quickly. KCC's long drawn out process compares very oddly with the speed of the rejected complaint dealt with by TDC concerning the Bradgate Caravan Park where a planning decision in committee against the advice of officers, had huge financial implications for the applicant. It's a strange world.!

.We now have a TDC mole digging around again on behalf of Strife. Snippets this week include the old news that the much trumpeted 0% pay rise for our Chief Executive last year was not quite what it seemed. ( Amended 24 Mar 2009) 'Mole' has mumbled that no one wants to publicise these figures. Another interesting snippet from 'Mole' was that on Wednesday last, a Services Manager and a contract monitoring officer went off to Brighton for a 'jollie' and dinner as guests of a large TDC contract holder. One hopes that this 'freebie' or entertainment for services rendered on behalf of the community was recorded and authorised by the appropriate Director at TDC. I have asked for more information as I find this sort of thing worrying.
.

Whilst some of you may have noticed a gang of youngsters braving the elements on Manston Road on Saturday mornings to plant hedges and trees, Strife has heard that on land close to Cllr Savage's house, The Old Farmhouse adjacent to Mockett's Wood, contractors have been clearing and cutting trees down, which has attracted the attention of a Thanet Tree Warden who intends to look into the matter. Initial reports indicate that felling of diseased trees and thinning of sycamores has been carried out and that hopefully, TDC's Tree Conservation Officer has been involved.

As the only Cllr for the ward, living in his ward and being involved in Mockett's Wood and its conservation, I am sure that Cllr Savage is looking after trees that might have Tree Protection Orders, but should not more trees in Thanet have TPO's? It raises the question as to who is keeping an eye on Thanet's Tree stock? My understanding is that we no longer have a dedicated Arboriculture Officer and that the last one was put in a position of redundancy in 2006. When he went on his way, he sent a rather angry e-mail complaining that effectively TDC was not really interested in its tree stock and the environment and compliance with the Town and Country Planning Act and that our tree stock would receive less and less protection. His words written in 2006 are perhaps too true. (Click on e-mail below to enlarge and read).

SITTERS UNITE FOR ART INSTALLATION SOFASIDE

2010-03-05T18:12:00.000Z

This is not TDC's new 'post Ezekiel' Cabinet, though some may consider they couldn't do any worse but the latest work from renowned art sofa-sitting artist Ewan McSporran.

Strife reporter Andrea Woodgirl filed this report earlier.

A sit on the sofa was made into a visual masterpiece this week as pram loads of art loving tots were coralled into sitting on a Margate sofa. All the volunteers were required to sit an equal distance from each other as they sat on the sofa for seven minutes.

Edinburgh based artist Ewan McSporran, who is well known for his art sofa-sits conducted this performance piece by inviting mums as far away as Brighton and Dorset, to bring their babies to sit on this sofa for seven minutes. Mr McSporran, 65, an artist for 40 years said: " I think it went fantastically well, it was really great. It is the first time I have made a work on a Margate sofa. It is fantastic. The work is about experience not material. It might look like a sculpture but isn't. Each participant is also the viewer. All my work involves sofa-sitting , but always in a group"

The work was comissioned by the Turner Contemptible (but paid for by the tax-payer) and a video of this fantastic sofa-sitting experience will be shown in the gallery if its funding stream from the tax-payer is not cut off.

VIEWPOINT
(from Strife Reporter Andrea Woodgirl)
It was good to see the participants suffering for their art on the sofa. The noise of crying babies and the scent of filled nappies reminded me that art is not just about traditional aesthetics and pretty paintings. It is also about simpler ideas and experiences such as sitting, shape, howling and dirty nappies. This serves as a wake up call. Work like this could inject hope into Margate as it attracts sofa-sitting supporters from all over the country to come here. Some participants came from as far away as Dorset. When I spoke to Baby Isabelle from Dorset, she said, " Waaaah. Waaaaah! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

(Editor: Andrea, as you have clearly lost your marbles, take 2 weeks holiday immediately to recover your wits!)
.

THANK GOODNESS HE WILL SHORTLY BE ON HIS WAY!

2010-03-04T00:15:00.001Z

The straws in the wind became bales and now they are big logs of wood!

I am delighted to report that it would appear that at The Conservative Party TDC Cllrs Group meeting to be held in 3 weeks time on Wed 24 March, the Conservative Group is to elect a new Leader, as Cllr Ezekiel will stand down. It would seem that the plan is that the 'new' Conservative Leader will then understudy 'Mauwice' until May in his capacity as Leader of TDC and then take over as TDC's new Leader.

The Ezekielite choice is apparently Cllr Bayford and Cllr Kirby has his name forward. Having watched Cllr Kirby in muddle as 'Chair' and his subsequent move side-ways from the 'chair' at TDC, one can only assume that he is in the 'ring' as a distraction to split any votes for any others who wish to be considered but are not annointed by 'Mauwice'.

Are we to see a root and branch clearing out of the 'Ezekielites' or just an Ezekielite stooge in place? Where are the likes of Cllr Bruce, who is a popular choice for many in Thanet as a decent chap who can unite Labour and Conservative in working together for Thanet after the divisions encouraged and perpetrated by the 'Ezekielites'? Also, where is Cllr Moores,whom, I have heard, has been fostering a mature approach with Labour and their Dep Leader, Cllr Campbell?

I suppose it would be too optimistic to expect a 'Reformation' but whoever is the choice of our Conservative Cllrs might well consider some urgent changes in Cabinet and a good clean out of the 'dirty stables' that TDC Planning Committtee, in particular, is perceived as being. After the shoddy and degrading events of the past 3 years, that have tarnished the good name of the Conservative Party in Thanet, I for one, would welcome the return of integrity, openess and honesty that should be the hallmarks of confident leadership and the end of cowed and bullied Conservative back-benchers who hardly make a contribution in Council other than to put up their 'whipped' hands to vote.

It would only be proper to say, in a heartfelt way, thank you 'Mauwice' and his mentor 'Wodger' (one is hopeful that a new leader will consider a new deputy) for at last going. TDC might, if the new Leader can retore public confidence, still be a Conservative Council in June 2011.

BROADSTAIRS TRADERS SUFFER BUT WOULD WESTWOOD CROSS BE CLOSED IN THE SAME WAY?

2010-03-02T23:53:00.001Z

My thanks to a 'Strife Team' member for pictures and information from Broadstairs gathered in the sunshine yesterday. Here is his report:

Despair hits the High Street, Broadstairs again as the third lot of roadworks makes the lower High Street inaccessible to all bar pedestrians. and even then they have to pick their way cautiously round the roadworks. Local traders described the current situation as 'desperate' as footfall has dropped dramatically.

The 56 bus has had to be re-routed cutting off those who need it most from accessing this lifeline. Drivers are confronted with 'Shop Local First'signs but have no idea where to park due to confusing 'Road closed' signs.

Readers might remember that last summer three local businessmen had tables in among the barricades while they enjoyed an al fresco lunchbreak to highlight their catastrophic situation.

The puzzling factor is the current lot of roadworks are undoing what was done last year to re-do the junction with Queen's Road. Bus stops have been resited meaning the elderly have further to go to get to a bus stop.

How many local traders can survive this third disruption to their livelihood? Will the individual shops filling a local need still be there come the summer?

I just wonder if Westwood Cross businesses would tolerate this same level of disruption to their business that Broadstairs traders have had to suffer in the past 12 months? I doubt it. Local businesses in our Town Centres are struggling against all the odds; double yellow lines; extortionate TDC car parking meters; inadequate parking; key chains legging it (to Westwood X) or failing and all the time TDC has some warped vision of Westwood Cross being its fourth and 'main' town centre. It is private property, a windswept and mediocre 'mall' that even puts its 'gorillas' onto a local citizen to stop him photographing. Do our Councillors really support their local businesses (who are also, in the main, their electorate) or is the reality that ' grandiose visions' are more important?

ADMISSION OF FAILURE BY TDC AND THE DISGRACE OF THE DISABLED FACILITIES BUDGET

2010-03-01T22:50:00.001Z

My thanks to Michael Child (www.thanetonline.blogspot.com) for a quick easy link to TDC's webcast of last Thursday's Council meeting.

It's pretty heavy going and I have had to stop this evening at 78 minutes in, but will look at the next hour tomorrow night. Two things struck me in the first 78 minutes.

Firstly, the amazing admission by The Chief Executive, that despite the £millions of Govt funded grants to TDC into areas of deprivation like Cliiftonville West, a Conservative run Council for the past 7 years has failed to improve the situation. Now forgive a simple chap like me for being confused but presumably a Labour Central Government has provided the funds and it was up to the Ezekielites to spend it wisely and effectively? So an admission of 'failure' by The Chief Ezecutive' is a damning indictment of the Ezekiel administration's failure in a key area of Margate.

Secondly, I was fascinated to follow a request (via an amendment) by Cllr Johnston, that the disabled facilities budget of £400,000 be ring fenced despite it having been reduced by £200,000 for the past year or so. Now, as Ind Cllr Tom King put so eloquently, in trying to get TDC in Full Council to support this idea of 'guarrantteeing' support to Thanet's disabled, the money is usually spent on a whole range of often small improvements that nevertheless make a massive difference to improve the struggle of disabled people in Thanet to live reasonable lives. (Compare an Independent Cllrs thinking with the Ezekielite Cllrs below.)

I found it obscene, yes OBSCENE, that Our Leader 'Mauwice', of two standard's raps and 'two hats' ignominy, together with Cllr Martin Wise, make a link to this funding with Asset Disposals. The proposition they made is quite simply that any opposition to Asset Disposals is thus opposition to funding 'disabled facilities spending' in Thanet.

So HOOTS, Dumpton Park 'Village Greeners' and WASPs, you will all be pleased to know that your arrogant Ezekielite Cllrs consider YOU are responsible for any shortage in funding for the disabled in Thanet; not them.

Why isn't asset disposal income linked to Cllr's Allowances, Cabinet 'Blackberries', subsidised car loans, pay-rises of 0% (actually nearer £15,000) for senior officers or to Council Offices Improvements? The argument is equally valid, is it not?

What is thoroughly disgusting, is that 'Ezekielite' Cllrs voted down this very sensible amendment and thus accepted the spurious and nasty assertions of their Leader, that opposition to Asset Disposals is 'de facto' hurting Thanet's disabled.

Did any Conservative Cllrs have a mind of their own on this issue and were they prepared to stand up against one of the nastiest slurs on TDC's electorate that has been perpetrated by this disgraced and self-confessed incompetent Ezekielite administration? Be warned, Ezekielite Cllrs, that there are many Conservatives around Thanet who will remember this in 2011. You were led by a disgraced Leader into a disgraceful position through 'the whip' on this amendment and should perhaps redeem yourselves by getting rid of your 'Leader' and the sooner the better.

NOW'T SO QUEER AS OUR COUNCILS AND QUANGOS

2010-02-27T23:12:00.000Z

Was it really nice to be told that the Ezekiel Party intend to keep their bit of Council Tax rises to 2.46% and 2.5% for the next 4 years? It does seem a blatant pre 2011 election type of promise. If it only works out at 10p per week, I for one am happier to see the Biggles' household pay an extra 20p per week if it improves our street cleaning, rubbish collection services and enables loos and museums to be kept open. The decline of our traditional town centres and high streets doesn't need to be revealed by The Sun; TDC's own Parking income has collapsed and that tells a sorry tale. Time to charge Westwood Cross £300 per car space for them to recoup by charging for parking that is currently free? Other Councils have introduced schemes.

At Thursday's Budget Meeting, rather than nodding through a Vice Chair of Plannings Gaff (as they did in 2008) after a long evening, it seems that Cllr Green revealed that The Ezekielites are running down the TDC reserves to dangerously low levels and Cllr Alan Poole urged 'Mauwice' and 'Woger' to resign. Whilst number crunching does my head in, a cry for the disgraced duo to go has my heartfelt support and if rumours are true,we might see the back end of them soon anyway, without Cllr Poole's cry from the heart.

Meanwhile in Broadstairs Town Council, the Ezekielites have had another 'Panama Broadhurst ' type absentee! We hear reports that Beacon Road Ward representative, Cllr. Lewis Dennis, Conservative, has been removed from office for failing to attend the requisite number of meetings since his election in 2007. He's even been removed from the council's website following a recent meeting.

The Ezekielites, who hold all the council seats bar one, have decided to try to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Dennis' removal but seemed to have tried to keep this very quiet as a small, insignificant notice was posted up by Pierremont Park advertising their wish to co-opt a new member to the Council. This looks like another Ezekiel Party attempt to prevent the electorate from having a choice as to who represents them for the remaining year before elections in 2011.

The Strife team understands two Conservatives have thrown their hats into the ring so will they draw straws to decide who gets the seat? Will any other candidates come forward at this late stage as the closing date is Monday? Is this true democracy at work? Will there be a by-election so close to a general election? Could another party snatch the seat? The Strife Team will try to keep you updated as and when we get any information.

On the subject of information, squeezing accurate info from TDC, KCC, SEEDA, GOSE etc is like trying to extract blood from a stone. Here is a typical response that Strife Team member had recently to an FoI request:

Q: How much was written off by SEEDA for The Marks &Spencer Building in Margate and how much was given to TDC/KCC for its purchase?

A: . SEEDA provided grant funding of £4.72m to TDC for the acquisition costs, taxes
and fees relating to the Marks & Spencer building in Margate. As SEEDA does
not own the building, we will not be writing down any amount.

So no-one is responsible for this waste of tax-payer's money. The fact that the building's value has halved and has been empty for a few months is not a problem for SEEDA; it gave a grant. TDC got a grant and the fact that the value of the property has halved doesn't concern it either. What a crazy world we live in when SEEDA can give a grant of almost £5,000,000 tax-payer's cash to an 'arty-farty' disaster called temporary TC at Marks; whilst TC pay a Director (Victoria Pomeroy) for almost 9 years for a TC that has yet to be completed. Whilst TDC anguishes over the cost of providing essential services to the community in Thanet, millions of pounds of tax-payer's money is squandered on an irrelevant, wasteful, elitist and minority interest called 'modern art'. The best that we can come up with as 'art' at the moment is wrestling on the sand; walking round in squares on a beach pool and having some tatty bit of neon illumination on a listed building called Droit House 'created' by Tracy Emin.

Are we mad?

A EUROFERRIES SURPRISE ON MONDAY IN RAMSGATE? THERE IS A TOOTH FAIRY?

2010-02-26T19:30:00.001Z

The following was posted this afternoon as a comment to 'Nerve Centre of Euroferries'(posted in Feb 2009). An interesting place to post and I copy it here:

News from the Captain said...: Thanet Strife Thank you for the publicity for the leading fast ferry operator on the Channel. Us folks here in Boulogne are all ready for the big off. Monday morning (yes, 1 March 2010... remember, the big day). The timetable is published and Euroferries is ready to confound all you doubters and wow the world. Commercial considerations mean that we have had to keep the name of our craft confidential, but get yourselves down to Ramsgate first thing Monday to greet our maiden voyage. The ship leaves Boulogne at 7.30 am Monday. And into Ramsgate at 7.45 am-ish. Free croissants for all who turn up for the party.; 26 February 2010 17:30

What are we to make of this? I have shown a picture of Sea Leopard just in case you might want to look out for her on Monday, or even the Norman Arrow (LD Lines) which is presently berthed in Boulogne.

Expect high tides and an interesting storm blowing up the Channel on Sat/Sun. How will the hoardings at Pleasurama look on Monday? Off to talk to maritime Strife Team members.

A BLIGHTED TOWN - GALE'S VIEW.

2010-02-25T22:39:00.000Z

I post for your delectation, Roger Gale's thoughts on business opportunities that now abound in Margate. He adroitly makes no reference to Conservative TDC's disastrous Planning decision to allow 49% of our prime visitor attraction, The Dreamland site, to be allocated for housing and thus allow Dreamland to become a derelict site for 5 years that an Independent Planning Inspector forecast would happen and ignore his recommendation that the Dreamland Site and its careful devlopment as a visitor attraction was the 'key' to Margate's regeneration. So 700,000 visitors to a declining Dreamland (5 years ago) now becomes 130,000 for TC with a tax-payer subsidy from KCC of £1,000,000 per annum and a grant from a Labour Government of £3,500,000 to repair The Scenic Railway and fund a 'Heritage Amusement Park' on half the site! In the mean time 'Clampers' rip off visitors and drive them away from the town.

Well Mr Gale, with a Charity Shop setting up to compete as a Coffee Shop with the others at the bottom of The High Street ('volunteer' staff and no business rates to pay) and the 'Game Shop' due to close shortly, there are clearly plenty of 'business opportunities' available in Margate.

Gale's View - 24 February, 2010.

If I had the money I would, today, go out and buy a shop in the lower part of Margate High Street. Preferably one of the double-sided ones with access onto the seafront.

Following the publication of statistics revealing that Margate had one of the most `derelict` High Streets in the country I recently took a call from a journalist working for a national newspaper. "Is it", she asked "because of the recession that so many shops have closed". The thrust was clear: please tell me that this is the result of the Government's economic policies because I want to write some knocking copy!

I hold Gordon Brown responsible for many of our economic ills and it is certainly true that his disastrous management of the nation's economy has not helped the retail trade over the past couple of years but the roots of High Street decay go back much further than that and were predicted, by myself and others, at the time .

A previous socialist Thanet Council likes to claim the credit for instigating the Westwood Cross project and although it was the present administration that saw it through to realisation it is certainly true that Mr. Nicholson's team set the ball rolling. Unfortunately, in tandem with the neglect of the transport infrastructure needed to properly service an out-of-town shopping centre and which has led directly to much of today's congestion, no serious attention was paid to the likely effect of the migration of shops from the High Streets of Thanet to Westwood and no policy was put in place to re-invent the boutique trade that is the viable alternative to big stores.

The decline in the traditional British Seaside holiday business, and the fall in the number of visitors generated in part by the closure of Dreamland, seriously weakened retail demand. The recession killed off Woolworths, certainly, but once Marks & Spencer and Next and a couple of other anchor outlets headed out of town it was inevitable that the footfall which is the lifeblood of smaller shops would diminish and those smaller shops would close. Up went the shutters and although the façade of the Windows of Opportunity promotion have helped to mask the reality the stark fact is that there are far too many empty shops at the seaward end of the road.

So now would be a very good time for those who have already missed the chance to put money into Margate Old Town to invest.

I have long said that the Turner Centre cannot be seen as an end in itself. On its own it will not regenerate the Town. It is, though, the vital and impressive cornerstone of the Margate Waterfront development and it has already had a hugely stimulative effect that has convinced those small traders with the courage to seize the opportunity to bring their money into the Old Town with an eye on the future. The Lower High Street will follow and as the higher-spending Turner visitors arrive so will the demand for the boutiques and wine bars and restaurants needed to service their expectations.

That is why I now have no hesitation in saying to those with a commercial eye on the future "get into Margate High Street now before you miss the boat".

STAFFORD HOSPITAL , TARGETS AND TDC

2010-02-25T00:07:00.001Z

As the scandal of Stafford Hospital reveals, an organisation can tick all the boxes for a Labour Government list of 'targets' and be thus rated highly, yet still manage to fail disastrously in its prime purpose. In Stafford Hospital's case, they would appear to have forgotten that caring for patients was their primary purpose but as this wasn't a Labour Government 'Target', it wasn't addressed with any priority and patients seemed to have died as a result.

I believe we have a similar problem at Local Government level and more specifically at TDC.

Readers might remember our report in August last year about a scandal of tax-payers money being ripped off in Housing & Maintenance work at TDC. (see www.thanetstrife.blogspot.com/2009/08/mears-group-tdc-and -scandal-in-tdcs.html )

The facts were vague at the time but enquiries and TDC 'moles' have revealed that EKAP (Internal Audit at TDC) looked at 10% of contracts completed by Mears Ltd and found a sum in the region of £60,000 had been wrongly charged. If you extrapolate the Audit sample you are looking at a loss to the tax-payer of £600,000. Questions one might ask could perhaps be 'If EKAP found £60,000 of odd charging in 10% of samples why did it not do a 100% check of all work carried out by Mears Ltd in the period reviewed?'

Enquiries have revealed that in the Audit Periods 2007/08 and 2008/2009 that despite £60,000 of wrong charging having been identified it would seem that Mears Ltd was only required to 're-pay' £30,000 and that how this was re-paid has been avoided by TDC when asked. It caused sufficient concern to principled officers to enquire with The Finance Officer how £60,000 was reduced to a £30,000 pay-back. They did not receive a satisfactory answer. It was also interesting to be told by TDC souurces that the new inspection regime insisted on by EKAP was watered down by the simple process of removing an officer from inspection of contract work, who was too critical and putting another officer on the job who was 'less critical'. Such is the way that 'target performance indicators' are met by a contractor.

It was also interesting to be told that a TDC Officer received an 'honorarium' from Mears Ltd. How does that work?

Would it be too cynical to suggest that as a joint TDC and Canterbury CC contract was put out to tender for 'Hosusing & Maintenance' last year that TDC was compliant in playing down the 'scandal' that EKAP exposed? You might like to consider that a contract was awarded in December but that TDC failed to announce it in a Press Release. I wonder why not? Mears Ltd was not so reticent as their December press release below indicates:

Canterbury City Council

A five year partnership to provide responsive repairs and voids services to Canterbury City Council. The contract includes external decoration programmes and disabled aids and adaptation improvements. The contract is valued at £28 million for the initial five year period with a performance option to extend to 15 years increasing the value to in excess of £82 million . We are the sole provider appointed to provide services to the Council's 5,298 homes.

Thanet District Council

A five year partnership to provide responsive repairs and voids services to Thanet District Council, which was jointly procured with Canterbury City Council. The contract includes external decoration programmes and disabled aids and adaptation improvements. The contract is valued at £13 million for the initial five year period and also includes a performance option to extend to 15 years giving a value of in excess of £40 million. We are the sole provider appointed to provide services to the Councils 3,116 homes. Thanet District Council has been a client of Mears since 2004.

So despite some previous odd goings on in the past in Housing & Maintenance in Thanet, Mears Ltd has a very lucrative contract for many years to come.

Well you might say, what has The External Auditor to say about all of this? He cannot deny that The NAO was ignorant of the facts as they are 'embedded' with EKAP in the audit process. ( TDC minutes show that NAO staff regularly attend EKAP and Governance & Audit Committtee). Now forgive me for being naive but I had always assumed that one of the functions of NAO was to expose and investigate any loss to the tax-payer that was fraudulent. No, that is not the case it would seem. As long as Government 'Targets' are met by TDC it gets a clean bill of health by the NAO. Llike the watchdogs at Stafford Hospital who gave the hospital the highest ratings, our External Auditor at The NAO can give TDC 'ticks' in Government Target boxes but blithely ignore fraudulent loss on a grand scale to the tax-payer. Here is an extract from an e-mail sent by the NAO external auditor to a member of the Strife team:

I believe that you are asserting that:

- the accounts for 2008/09 should be qualified because they do not disclose as a separate note all transactions with Mears (as opposed to the current practice which is to include all costs relating to housing contracts within the HRA)

- I should investigate and potentially report in the public interest on any losses to the taxpayer arising from the Mears contract. .........

As regards the other points that you have raised below and in your phone message, I am unable to comment on the figures you have quoted as these are matters for the Council. I would like to point out that as external auditor I am not 'fully embdedded' with either EKAP or Thanet Council........... I am independent of the Council and I have no role in the Council's decision making process. Furthermore, as I have said to you before, it is not my role to be detective or fraud hunter.

So I leave you, the reader, to consider what this means. The NAO gave a 'clean bill of health' to TDC because the right boxes could be ticked. It would seem that investigating loss through over-charging to the tax-payer is not in its remit just as at Stafford Hospital, the various 'watch-dogs' had no remit to investigate why so many patients were dying.

STRIFE'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY

2010-02-24T21:48:00.000Z

A sobering thought that today is the the two year point for Thanet Strife. With 486 posts since 24 Feb 2008 and almost 2,000 visitors checking out my profile ( not very informative actually) its nice to know that some out there in the 'blogsphere' bother to come and read.

My thanks to the Strife Team for so much help and support and also their FoI requests to possibly the most secretive Council in the UK, over the past 2 years.

When TDC complains of the cost to it, of FoI requests , they might like to consider that straight answers to simple questions is a cheaper alternative than forcing people to make formal FoI requests. I would like to commend to readers the openess and integrity of one Planning Officer, in particular, who has politely fielded enquiries, clarified issues and shown himself to be a true public servant to the electorate and to his Council. It is a pity that his approach is not part of the general culture at TDC.

Some may consider my preference to use my ' nom de guerre' on this blog as odd, considering my identity is Thanet's worst kept secret, but it suits my schizophrenic nature. There are enough clues littered around as to who I am , but if you are stuck as to my identity, please feel free to make enquiries with The Leader or Deputy Leader at TDC. .They were happy, in the summer of 2008, to utilise the services of a uniformed Kent Police Officer acting on his own, to pursue what appeared to be, unofficial enquiries against their own Councillors regarding my identity.

NO SURPRISE AS EZEKIEL GETS THE GUYS HE WANTS

2010-02-23T21:21:00.004Z

So there were no surprises last night at Margate Charter Trustees Meeting, except one. As I warned Cllr Hart and his absent Labour Charter Trustees, if you fail to attend and do not join in, do not be surprised when The Ezekielites do as they clearly intended to do last week and thus appoint 'Mauwice's' and 'Martin's' fellow Cliftonville East Ward Cllr, Brian Sullivan as Deputy Mayor for 2010/11.
Here is last night's Press Release:

Following the extraordinary meeting of the Margate Charter Trustees this evening, the Worshipful The Town Mayor of Margate for the remainder of this municipal year 2010/2011 is Cllr Michael Tomlinson.
The Deputy Mayor for the same period is Cllr Brian Sullivan.
Bothe the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be sworn into office in an investiture to take place in The Mayor's Parlour on Wednesday 24th February at 19:00

For Cllr Johnston, last night must have been like walking into the Lion's Den. Where was your Leadership and support Cllr Hart and other Labour Trustees, for the longest serving Charter Trustee, whose services to Margate and its electorate in her ward, have still yet to be recognised by an election as Mayor or Deputy Mayor by The Charter Trustees? Instead the Ezekiel Party has elected as Mayor (a town Burgess) and a former Mayor (as Deputy) as expected. You are all as responsible for last nights travesty, as the manipulating Ezekielites, who quite clearly did not want Cllr Johnston as a Deputy Mayor.

I now come to the one surprise that leaves me flabbergasted with the utter disregard for the feelings of the electorate in Margate and lack of integrity that exists amongst The Ezekielites. Not only did former Conservative Party Cllr and disgraced late Mayor, Ted Watt-Ruffell attend The Charter Trustees (has the man no sense of propriety?) but I am reliably informed that he actually proposed Mick Tomlinson as Mayor which was then seconded by Cllr Ezekiel !

So let's re-build the public confidence in The Mayoralty and last year's disastrous Ezekiel choice by having last year's disastrous choice, propose his replacement and presumably vote with the other Ezekielites as required by their twice disgraced (two Standards raps) Leader.
One couldn't invent this sorry saga if one tried.

TIME FOR A LIGHTER MOMENT COURTESY OF THANET EARTH

2010-02-22T23:14:00.000Z

My thanks to an Acol contributor for these night shots from their back garden of the new Aurora Tenetis that comes to us courtesy of Thanet Earth. A more mundane description might be 'light pollution' on the grand scale, particularly when low cloudbase conditions occur.

So the rural village of Acol has many a night with an orange glow penetrating residents windows and if CGI implements its China Gateway scheme as approved in Oct 2008, this eerie glow will be matched by the sound of grinding gears and the thud of diesel engines.

As 'Strife' has reported before, Thanet Earth is effectively an industrial estate with light pollution at night and equal visual impact in the day, on the main approach to Thanet. What will be the light pollution and impact when all 7 glass-houses are up and running if this is the effect from just 3? Was it worth it all to create low-paid jobs for a work-force, predominantly recruited from Eastern Europe?

Thanet and its people ( or should I say a*******s) have had the environment ruined; an industrialised landscape (and now a similar seascape) and what has been the benefit in job creation for Thanet residents? Is there any benefit at all to Thanet from Thanet Earth?

THE 'ARSEHOLES' OF THANET?

2010-02-22T00:25:00.000Z

I must ask readers to forgive the vulgarity in the title but I will explain why it needs to be printed in full.

Last week it would seem that Cllr Hart touched a raw nerve when pointing out at Council that officers at a meeting with Council tenants and leaseholders implied they were too' thick' to understand and reply sensibly to a consultation and 'ballot' concerning TDC forming an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) with other Councils, to administer the maintainance of TDC properties affecting them. This arrogant attitude to its electorate would seem to be embedded at TDC.

Readers of Friday's IOTG would have spotted Mike Pearce on The Flipside discussing the cost for us all of the TC farce. How is this relevant you may ask? Read on.

He quoted a reply from a very senior TDC Officer over lunch, a few years ago, who replied to his question "Why do you think people are so opposed to it? (The TC project)". The reply was revealing:

'He smirked and said, " If you ask a*******s , that's the answer you would expect".

It should therefore be no surprise that TDC Cabinet has resisted consulting with and balloting its tenants and leaseholders about the administration of their properties being moved to an ALMO, formed jointly with other Councils, despite being urged by its own Scrutiny Panel to do so (ignored) and had to be dragged by a Full Council to even consider a 'consultation' that 'might lead to a ballot', last week.

How demeaning and fatuous this statement, made by Cabinet Member Cllr Zita Wiltshire the day after Full Council insisted on a 'consultation', thus appears:

"It's vital that we properly consult with tenants and leaseholders about these proposals and they have the opportunity to voice any views that they have about the plans. I think it's encouraging that we were all able to agree on the importance of a detailed consultation with the tenants, before any further consideration is given to a ballot. I think we can all agree that we need to ensure tenants' and leaseholders' voices are clearly heard and their views are taken into account before any decisions are made."

Well, madam, your Cabinet ignored its own Scrutiny Committee but couldn't ignore Full Council and now you issue a Press release giving the impression that this is what you intended to do all along? This is 'spin' and balderdash that matches The Labour Government's spin and balderdash, that you claim to despise, yet you do the same.

It just confirms to us 'a*******s in Thanet that you do not really want to consult us and even when you do, you ignore us.

WHAT CHANCE HAS IRIS ON MONDAY?

2010-02-19T22:43:00.001Z

Last Wednesday, Margate Charter Trustees met to discuss the problem of The Mayoralty. An excellent result seemed to have been achieved that Cllr Mick Tomlinson should be considered for Mayor 2010/2011 and that Cllr Iris Johnston should be Deputy Mayor. It would seem that this was regarded as a 'gentleman's agreement' to be ratified this coming Monday, 22nd February. Last Wednesday's Charter Trustee minutes seem to omit this.

It has come to my attention that within a few hours, the jaundiced hand of twice disgraced TDC Leader, our our own 'Two Hats' Charter Trustee, Cllr Ezekiel, was probably at work. I will ignore the fact that he was probably prime mover behind the scenes last year to appoint the now disgraced Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell as Mayor, but what are we to make of Cllr Brian Sullivan overheard canvassing support to be Deputy Mayor (instead of Cllr Iris Johnston) from Cllr Bert McCastree after Planning Committtee? An immediate thought is why should a past Mayor of Margate want to stand as Deputy Mayor?

To understand the situation, you need to remind yourself of The 2nd Standards Rap that 'Two Hats' earned (together with a standards rap for his Deputy, the leaping salmon impersonator, 'Woger' Latchford) at The Edinburgh Woolllen Mill Shop in Margate. Who was shouted at, intimidated and had to protect a petition? Of course it was Cllr Iris Johnston, going about her legitimate duty as a Ward Cllr in her own Ward. Quite rightly, she made a complaint to Standards about the matter and her complaint was up-held.

As 'Two Hats' sat at the Charter Trustees on Wednesday and saw the situation developing that Cllr Johnston seemed to have support to be Deputy Mayor from The Trustees, what must have been crossing his mind? My speculation is that it was an outward smile hiding an inward grimace. How soon did the Ezekiel Party Charter Trustees have 'Two Hats' whispering in their ears " I trust you aint gonna be supporting HER'. I expect you to support my choice, Sulivan, eh. Get it?"

With Cllr Sullivan canvassing support for Deputy Mayor from Thanet's Ind Conservative, Bert McCastree, after Planning Meeting, only a few hours later, it might be fair to assume, the answer was, within minutes of The Charter Trustees meeting ending!

What Cllr Hart and other absent Labour Charter Trustees need to remind themselves is, that they, by their obdurate attitude concerning the past, are allowing Cllr Ezekiel to yet again effectively dictate what happens in the Margate Charter Trustees. Is this doing a service to the electorate in The Borough of Margate?

I challenge The Margate Charter Trustees to recognise the services of a Cllr not only to her Ward electorate but also to Margate Charter Trustees for the past 15 years (since 1995), who has not had this service recognised or acknowledged by The Charter Trustees. You can either show yourselves to be politicised 'cronies and henchmen' or Trustees of integrity and worth. You should elect Cllr Iris Johnston as Mayor, let alone Deputy, in recognition of her service to Margate or reveal yourselves to be politicised cronies of poor integrity, who were happy to elect a Mayor last year who had already let you down as Deputy Mayor.

Your actions, Trustees, will be closely watched by many. Perhaps Tony Flaig and Tony 'Beachcomber' are right and that having brought yourselves into disrepute in your poor choice last year, Margate would be better off without you all and that we should have no Mayor at all.

WILL TDC TURKEYS VOTE FOR CHRISTMAS?

2010-02-18T22:29:00.001Z

An interesting Agenda Item for next Thursday's Council Meeting is up for consideration. In mind of the Parliamentary Expenses saga, I wonder what Cllrs will decide?

Harvey Patterson, TDC's Monitoring Officer is making some proposals on how Democratic Services (Cllrs Allowances and costs) could be pruned for 2010/2011. Here are areas he has suggested that savings of £20,000 + could be made and has identified a potential saving of £54, 673:

1, Reduce Cllrs Basic Allowance to £4,000. ( An 8% cut saves £20,160)

2. Slim Cabinet by 2 members (Who would they be?) (Saves £15,980)

3. Reduce Special Responsibility Allowance for:

a. Chair of Scrutiny (Saves £2,786)

b. Vice Chair of Scrutiny (Saves £2,000)

c. All Vice Chairs (Saves £3,237)

4. Reduce Conference Budget ( already underspent but saves £3,060)

5. Cabinet members to pay for own Blackberries from their allowance (Saves £5,200)

6. Finish meetings by 8.00pm and save Security wages. ( Saves £2, 250)

Mr Patterson, asks Council to indicate its own preferences for where savings should be made but recommends these options to Cllrs:

1. Reduce Cabinet by ONE member. (Saving £7,990)

2. Reduce Scrutiny SRA's (Saves £4,786)

3. Remove Vice Chair SRAs (Saves £3,237)

4. Delete Cabinet 'Blackberry' budget ( Saves £5,200).

His recommendations then save £24,273.

Of the area of 'potential savings', I am concerned that meetings may need to go on longer for Cllrs and the public as earlier start times to achieve an early finish may not suit Cllrs or the public and that £2,250 should not be saved.

As far as the rest are concerned, all possible areas should be opted for and instead of saving a measly £24,000 odd, our Cllrs should go for a figure of £52,000! What will they decide I wonder?

TIME TO MOVE ON ,CLLR HART!

2010-02-17T22:40:00.000Z

I am very disappointed that our Labour Leader at TDC issued a press release today explaining why he would not attend the Margate Charter Trustees meeting earlier tonight. ( I show it in full below.)

The Charter Trustees meeting was held between 17.30 and 18.30 and he could have attended, together with other Labour Charter Trustees before The Planning Committee Meeting that started at 7.30pm. He chose not to do so. It is my understanding that decisions were taken by The Charter Trustees tonight to confirm a new Mayor and Deputy and to propose they should be accepted as Mayor and Deputy until May 2011. A press release will be shortly released by Mrs Ezekiel which I hope will send out a clear signal that the priority is now to put the recent past behind and re-build the damage that has ocurred to The Mayoralty and show that The Charter Trustees are not a 'political' set-up but rather, all Margate Borough Cllrs, working together for the benefit of the town.

My message tonight is really addressed to Cllr Hart. He needs to move on from the past now. He is The Leader of The Labour Group and needs to start being a 'Leader'. What's done is done. He was fully exonerated by Standards Board of England in respect of Cllr Ezelkiel's apalling behaviour at The Winter gardens in 2007 and the sordid 'counter complaints' issue. Now is the time for him to lead the Labour Margate Charter Trustees back into the Mayor's Parlour and to get involved fully with The Charter Trustees. He needs to do this for the benefit of his Party, the integrity of The Mayoralty and for the benefit of the people he represents. If he continues to 'boycott' and encourage his members to do so, he will only perpetuate the rift that has arisen and will lose respect. He needs to realise that his continued obsession with the past , only gives ammunition for those in The Ezekiel Party, to criticise him. He should be shaping and influencing the contribution The Charter Trustees make and not leave it to a 'Beanie' wearing Charter Trustee whose credibility as Leader of TDC has been ruined by two Standards raps to influence and control.

Let us remind ourselves that the choice of Mayor last year that has led to to the present disgrace of The Mayoralty lies at 'Two Hats' door. TIme is long overdue, Cllr Hart, to lead your Party back in.

========================================

Dear Charter Trustees

I'm afraid I can't make tonight's meeting - I have an important TDC Planning Committee to prepare for and then attend.

However, I understand Margate Charter Trustees are in 'something of a pickle' following recent developments. I would argue strongly that what has happened recently is only the latest in a long line of appalling events that I have consistantly warned you all of, time and time again.

All was reasonably OK at the Margate Charter Trustees until my good friend and colleague Cllr. Doug Clark was democratically chosen as Mayor by the members. Despite winning the vote at the Mayor's request meeting and receiving well deserved praise, from the moment he was elected, some of those who didn't really agree with the majority decision made his year as Mayor an absolute misery for him presonally. Doug being the absolute gentleman he is, tried extremely hard to ignore the vendetta against him but all of us witnessed the seriously detramental effect it had on his health (at one point even collapsing at full council). Indeed, the nasty and spiteful vendetta has continued to this very day and consequently Doug has sadly not fully recovered even now.

I further warned Trustees not to go ahead with a 'Kangaroo court' where the vendetta mentioned was taken to new heights of absurdity, but the vendetta continued and the 'Kangaroo court' went ahead confirming my worst concerns about the organisation and selfish, nasty, motives of several Trustees.

Fact is, though I regularly attend civic events, dress smartly and respectfully and behave decently and respectfully, I'm afraid I cannot say that all other Trustees have always done the same. I have witnessed a Trustee, in full robes, so 'leglessly intoxicated' that they were hardly able to stand.

I stopped attending your formal (and I must say - over-secretive) meetings after I was personally and disgustingly verbally abused, goaded and threatened at one of the Charter Trustees own civic events at the Winter Gardens a couple of years ago. The Trustee who behaved so badly also threatened the elderly Mayor and used appalling language in front of my wife (who now finds herself as a Trustee*) for which he has never apologised.

I simply turned and walked away in disgust, but in a desperate attempt to cover up his own appalling behaviour the Trustee concerned then made outrageous allegations to the Police about those of us who were the victims of his disgusting outburst - all later proved to be utterly spureous.

Even worse, when another upstanding Charter Trustee informed the offending Trustee that his outburst was totally unacceptable and that he was therefore going to report him, that very brave Trustee was called a 'gutless bastard' and a series of attempts were made to also make him appear a liar.

Now the Trustees find themselves in one hell of a mess because of further repeatedly poor judgements. I believe your chosen Mayor, who has now pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty, actually oversaw the 'Knagaroo court' I refered to earlier. I know he, like some others, was simply a puppet, but what goes around comes around.

I'm sorry I can't be there today - but I do sicerely hope you can start to clear up this whole appalling mess!

Kind regards

Clive

DECISION TIME FOR MARGATE CHARTER TRUSTEES

2010-02-16T22:28:00.000Z

It would seem that Margate Charter Trustees ( our Cllrs in all wards of The Borough of Margate), are to meet tomorrow to discuss The Mayoralty.

Cllr Watt-Ruffell issued this clear resignation decision yesterday:

Dear Charter Trustees,

I would like to inform you that I, Cllr E Watt Ruffell, will stand down as the Mayor of Margate as from 15 February 2010.

Regards

Ted

I know that some regard Mayors, Charter Trustees, tricorns, bicorns and chains as old fashioned and worthless but I regard these apects of our civic heritage as important and the work that a Mayor and Charter Trustees do as an important aspect of community life and our identity as a community.

The Charter Trustees in Margate are meant to be 'non-political' and I am aware of political tensions that exist and some bitter exchanges in the recent past that have led some Labour Ward Cllrs to avoid involvement with The Charter Trustees.

Could I urge that it is now time, in the worst crisis that has perhaps affected the role of Mayor and The Charter Trustees of Margate, for any political differences and old issues to be put to one side. I would urge Labour Cllrs in particular, to attend tomorrow's meeting and future meetings and engage in the healing process to restore the status and dignity of the office of Mayor of Margate and to further the excellent work that Margate Charter Trustees do in Margate.

I hope tomorrow that The Charter Trustees will not be hasty by bringing forward a new Mayor and 'Mayor Making' from the normal month of May. Let the Deputy step in, after all that is his purpose, and in the next few weeks carefully consider the best choice from amongst their number, to restore the dignity of the office of Mayor in the year ahead.

To do this, political and past issues must be set aside and this is why I urge Labour Charter Trustees to attend The Charter Trustees and support and be involved in the selection of Margate's next Mayor who should be the best choice the Charter Trustees can come up with from their number, irrespective of Party, and avoid the nonsense that ocurred last year.

A SHROVE TUESDAY THANET POT POURRI

2010-02-16T11:05:00.002Z

My thanks to our team photographer for this picture of the abandoned trial wind generator at Richborough. Is it to be included in Turner Contemprary's further squandering of tax-payer's money, as Angel of The South East? As I feared all along, the announcement that a £1,000,000 subsidy per year for the TC project will now be paid by Council Tax Payers, is now revealed. One wonders how many visitors Dreamland would have attracted to Margate last summer if since 2006 we had subsidised it to the tune of £1,000,000 per year? It attracted 700,000 in 2005 which makes TC's target of subsidising between 130,000 - 160,000 per year seem as pathetic as paying a man to have an 'artistic' walk around a tidal bathing pool.

If readers,of all political persuasions, have not been to http://www.mydavidcameron.com/ you are missing out on political lampooning that seems to be the modern form of 18th century leaflets poking fun at The Prince Regent. As electioneering will soon bore us, this site provides a good anti-dote. Time for the Conservatives to set up one for Gordon Brown?

Last Thursday's snow did not only see KCC gritters failing to keep Thanet from becoming an ice rink or creating a new crop of exciting pot-holes but has lead to a repeat of the Christmas bin nightmare for Thurs and Friday collections. Our 'Shirl' came up with this last week:
" As soon as it is safe for our teams to go out, they will be back out collecting again."
Saturday and Sunday looked safe to me, but instead we now have double collections on Thursday and Friday which means three weeks worth of careful recycling for us 'Fri' types will be heaved off to landfill. We used to have week-end collections, didn't we? And didn't the chaps get overtime?

What with an LD Passenger Ferry to run out of Ramsgate with TransEuropa and FlyBE operating out of KIA, Manston, Thanet is likely to benefit enormously and not a tax-payer's groat being spent. It's a shame that poor old Euroferries seem to have become the laughing stock of the 'Ferry Spotters' world' but those who believe in the 'Tooth Fairy' will have found that 1st March seems to now be 18th March on their booking site.

I do not know how true it is but I have heard a rumour that some local farmers are so de-chuffed with TDC and its pretty incompetent Ezekiel Party control, that poor Laura Sandys' poster campaign on 'mobile' hoardings by the sides of our roads might not happen. Time for STCA to lean on NTCA?

Work is speeding ahead down at Bradgate Caravan Park to get 50 extra mobile homes squeezed in. I have heard speculation that Bradgate could become Thanet Earth's Dormitory for its European workforce but I am sure that's not the case, is it? Anyway, it would seem that Bradgate's S.106 offer to make a contribution of £10,000 to improve the roads in its planning application seems to have gone missing from the conditions for approval. A case of dangling carrots before donkeys?

Talking of donkeys reminds me about last Thursday's Cabinet Meeting. If you missed the non quorate spectacle , do not be distressed, Cabinet Meeting Part 2 is coming to TDC tonight. I am suspicious that TDC fails to follow its own Constitution and 'Protocols' when it suits it and I leave you with Cllr Clive Hart's words on the matter:

" Did Cllr Ezekiel really chair a whole meeting that he knew to be completely invalid? It absolutely beggars belief!"

Not for some time it hasn't, Cllr Hart!

A STATEMENT FROM CLLR TED WATT- RUFFELL

2010-02-13T22:36:00.000Z

I received the following from Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell this afternoon. I have since spoken with him and have urged him to consider his position as a TDC Cllr and that perhaps resignation from TDC would enable him to have closure on this whole matter. He assured me that he would consider that once his appeal against sentence and process had been handled by his defence solicitor.

e watt-ruffell said...Hi Bertie
I would like you to be the first to know that i have made the decision
to stand down from my group and the office of the Mayor of Margate. I just repeat that nobody asked me or pushed me in to this decision; it was mine.
I believe i have done the Honorable thing for my Town and the Conservative group and for my family.
I now hope you will back off me as a person and my family; let us live our lives. If you want to see a broken man please ring and we can meet up as i know you have my phone number
kind regards
Cllr E Watt-Ruffell
Past Mayor of Margate

13 February 2010 16:05

He has told me that he will issue a Press Release on Tuesday 16th February announcing his decision to step down from his Office as Mayor of Margate and thus clarify his earlier press release about 'intending to stand down'.

I hope that he will consider his position as a Ward Cllr for Dane Valley carefully, but that is his perogative, as there is no formal requirement for him to do so. I have told him that I will not accept comments on this posting. and that I believe a line can now be drawn under the issues of the Mayoralty and his position as a Conservative Cllr.

THE CONSERVATIVES REMOVE A PROBLEM BUT WE STILL HAVE HIM

2010-02-12T21:15:00.000Z

The news that Mr Ted Watt-Ruffell had resigned the Conservative Party whip today was trundled out by Cllr Simon Moores on behalf of NTCA by phone calls and not by press release. I am delighted with this news because I suspect that the disgraced Mr Watt-Ruffell was either told 'resign' or we will have to kick you out.

I will ignore Mr Watt-Ruffell's dubious history as a Labour Cllr and not ask the question as to how on earth and why , NTCA ever thought him suitable material to be a Cllr for The Conservative Party and then be elected Mayor by them within Margate Charter Trustees, put him on Planning, make him Chief Whip, have him as Vice Chair of Licensing and protect him in the Rocca fiasco but will instead remind readers that as a Labour Deputy Mayor he did the decent thing a few years ago and resigned when he had a little difficulty with The Magistrates here in Thanet.

So where do we stand now? It has been pointed out to me that, as it had been assumed historically that only fine, respectable members of the Council are elected Mayor and even used to be automatically invited to be JPs, there is no way The Margate Charter Trustees can remove this man who has brought his historic office into disrepute. So I ask Mr Watt-Ruffell who has brought enormous shame on himself and his Office as Mayor, to not be weasely (as IOTG Editor today so aptly described him) but to RESIGN! Press releases that talk about ' intending to step aside' are just not good enough.

Whilst he is contemplating this, he might also like to consider the fact that his electorate in Dane Valley Ward do not want to be represented by a man with a criminal conviction for animal cruelty and I thus urge him to RESIGN as a TDC Cllr. The electorate was abandoned by Cllr 'Panama' Broadhurst but would now be delighted if its disgraced Cllr at TDC went and joined him.

Some interesting snippets have been brought to my attention by our Reporter at Sittingbourne on Wednesday, that I edited for brevity's sake but are now worth considering. It would seem that it was pointed out to him by The Magistrates that if he refused the Medium Term Community Order on the grounds of his Mayoral duties and charity fund-raising, the alternative would be 12 weeks as a custodial sentence. It is also interesting that his solicitor informed the Court that his client was in receipt of Legal Aid and had a declared income of £19,000.

Now I do not know what the Legal Aid threshold is currently set at but for some-one who does a 48 hr week with Probe Security ( ex-Cllr Broadhurst's firm), he might like to ask for a pay rise! Why you might well ask? Simply because his allowances for responsibilities as Mayor and in TDC attract the following deemed and declarable income: Mayor (£11,400); Cllr (£4,500) and Vice Chair of Licensing (£900). This would appear to be a total of £16,800. Clearly something appears odd or does Probe Security really pay its Chief Security Officer less than £2 per hour?

I leave Mr Watt-Ruffell with the thought that he still has the opportunity to do the decent thing and resign with immediate effect as Mayor and resign as a Dane Valley Ward Cllr. If not the cry 'For God's sake go!' will reverberate around Thanet and the 'healing' process cannot begin.

LOSTPROPHETS ROCK THE WINTER GARDENS

2010-02-12T00:49:00.000Z

The distraction of Mr Watt-Ruffell's court appearance in Sittingbourne and 'non-resignation' after being found guilty has meant that 'Strife's' music reporter's item has been delayed. I am delighted to post it now.

Tuesday night saw the roof lifted off the Winter Gardens as the Lostprophets hit Margate on their latest tour.

Having headlined the main stage at Download in 2008 and the NME stage at Reading in 2009, the Pontypridd alternative rockers are now on a tour of smaller venues to promote their new album, The Betrayed.

They were supported tonight by British punk band Hexes, and fellow Welsh rockers, Kids in Glass Houses. Both support bands got a good reception for their 30 minute sets and proved good warm ups for the main act to follow.

The Lostprophets came on stage at 9.30 pm and played most of their new album to a frenzied and animated crowd, but as with all Lostprophets concerts, they really come alive when they tear into their stadium anthems. New roof raisers ‘It’s not the End of the World’ and ‘Where We Belong’ fitted into the set alongside the classic singalongs of ‘Burn Burn’, ‘Rooftops’ and ‘Town Called Hypocrisy’.

Ian Watkins bantered with the crowd, and the band gave the impression of a group at home with their new material, and happy with the tour and the tremendous reception they received.

Finally, all credit to the Staff and Security at the Winter Gardens. Everyone was moved in out of the cold as quickly as possible, and in the hall, the security teams were quietly efficient. Well done to all concerned for a great booking, and a great evening.

Rock on \m/

IS INTENDING TO STAND DOWN ACTUALLY RESIGNING?

2010-02-11T14:53:00.001Z

What is one to make of this press announcement from The Mayor of Margate's Parlour this morning? Is this a resignation or isn't it? I presume that for 'Today's hearing', Mrs Ezekiel means 'yesterday's hearing'.

PRESS RELEASE

After Today's hearing The Mayor of Margate, Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell is intending to step aside as Mayor, and that Cllr Michael Tomlinson, the Deputy Mayor, will take over his duties. The sentence is subject to appeal.

Editors noteThere will be no further statement subject to the appeal.

What I find strange is that the impression is given that the sentence is the issue and thus no further comment will be made until that has been appealed!

Let's just pinch ourselves for a moment and then wake up.

Mr Watt-Ruffell ( I will no longer give him the courtesy of his title and no longer regard him as my ward councillor) pleaded GUILTY to a serious animal cruelty/neglect charge and was then FOUND GUILTY. That is the issue why his full resignation should have been made this morning and why he should resign from TDC as a Councillor. The rules on Councillor convictions do not require it but an honourable Conservative councillor would have resigned as Mayor and as a Councillor, long ago.

This mealy mouthed press-release obfuscates the issue. If Mr Watt-Ruffell wishes to appeal what appears to be a lenient penalty of 80 hours Community Service that is his private business and whilst some might consider that foolish, that is a matter between him and the Courts. It does not alter the fact that he has been found guilty and has thus brought The Mayoralty of Margate and TDC into disrepute.

It really is time for The Charter Trustees to step in on the Mayor issue and demand his resignation and TDC Conservatives (if there are any left) to remove 'the whip' and whisper in his ear that it might be best that he resigns as a Councillor.

REPORT FROM SITTINGBOURNE MAGISTRATES

2010-02-10T12:09:00.005Z

It would seem that our 'Strife' reporter is sitting in Sittingbourne this morning with Tom Betts from Your Thanet and Richard Spillet from IOTG.

Readers may have forgotten that our Margate Mayor and former Mayoress are facing alleged animal cruelty charges brought by the RSPCA and that the hearing was moved at the accused's request, from Margate Magistrates on the grounds that Cllr Watt-Ruffell was too well known to our local magistrates.

Other than a report that shared difficulty seems to have brought the couple closer together; they sat hand in hand as proceedings opened, there has been further delay in hearing the case. It would seem that the normal criminal checks on the background of two RSPCA witnesses had not taken place and this was objected to by the defending solicitor. There was a degree of annoyance from the Magistrate, as one could imagine, as this could and should have been sorted out sooner and perhaps brought to the attention of the RSPCA. It would seem that the hearing was adjourned for an hour so that necessary witness checks (criminal records etc) could be carried out and fax machines are busy as I write. The Magistrate was not happy to adjourn proceedings to a later date.

UPDATE AT 12.32pm

Our Strife reporter has rung in to report that Cllr Watt-Ruffell has pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him. His wife pleaded not guilty but the RSPCA have withdrawn the charge and her case has been dismissed. The RSPCA has asked for costs of £5,600.

Cllr Watt-Ruffell's solicitor in his plea of mitigation on Cllr Watt-Ruffell's behalf, stated that Cllr Watt-Ruffell had been the subject of character assasination by 'blogs' and the local press which has made life very stressful and has made an impact on his marriage and they are presently having a trial separation. (There was no mention of Mrs Watt-Ruffell's indiscrete announcements on her since closed Facebook site.)

The Magistrates are presently adjourned to consider sentence and with Probationary Service reporting to them.

Final Update
A medium Term Community Order of 80 hrs and disqualification from owning or having anything to do with animals for 18 months was the penalty imposed by Magistrates. £2,000 of the RSPCA's costs were awarded against Cllr Watt-Ruffell to be paid at £40 per month. Evidence included by the RSPCA was that they counted 150 fleas on the 5 week old kitten that died in the arms of the RSPCA officer when called in.
Further details can be seen at Your Thanet :
http://www.yourthanet.co.uk/kent-news/Margate-mayor-guilty-of-animal-cruelty-newsinkent32683.aspx

Comment
Well done to the RSPCA who persisted with this prosecution when it could have been justified on cost to have abandoned it.

Perhaps it would have been better had Cllr Watt-Ruffell resigned from his Mayoralty when he was first charged. I hope he will now do so. Is he the first Mayor of Margate to be in this position? I wonder what his position as a Cllr now is? I presume he will have to resign and that we can look forward to another interesting election campaign in Dane Valley Ward soon.?

HOW TO SET UP A PASSENGER FERRY SERVICE FROM RAMSGATE

2010-02-08T21:49:00.002Z

I hope ECR enjoyed Inside-Out tonight as the BBC 'borrowed' inspiration from his hilarious 'Bonanza' paint on /paint off clip from last year. Did anyone spot the 'Cabinet Member' and 'OBE' on 'Wogers' high vis jacket in the replay of last year's interview? I missed it first time round. Why stop there, I thought, why not have a medal ribbon or two, as well. I wonder what 'Mauwice' has on his high vis jacket?

I am surprised that Tony Flaig on Big News Margate, expresses ignorance on Euroferries and the 'Bonanaza' saga; should have followed 'Strife' on the subject since this time last year, Tony and you would have been better informed.

Well my informants from last week were pretty good in respect of LD lines and The Norman Spirit. If Mr Gillan of Euroferries reads 'Strife' and I am sure they do from their 'offices', here is a clear example of how you start up a passenger ferry service from Ramsgate so read carefully the announcement below and for those in Thanet, one is reminded of 'Sally' again:

LD Lines and Transeuropa Ferries have announced a commercial agreement to commence a collaboration on the Ramsgate – Ostend freight and passenger ferry service, initially operating one vessel together.

Starting between 15^th and 30^th March 2010, the two companies will co-operate on commercial aspects of the route with LD Lines taking a lead in the development of the tourist passenger business, whilst Transeuropa Ferries will continue to build its focus on freight traffic and ship operations.

The agreement also includes fleet changes with LD Lines’ Norman Spirit transferring to the route, which Transeuropa Ferries will operate on a long term charter basis.

Norman Spirit will be re-named Ostend Spirit, operating two return sailings daily, with a crossing time of four hours. The ship is expected to replace one of the current Transeuropa Ferries’ fleet later in 2010.

LD Lines’ Managing Director, Christophe Santoni, said, “We are very pleased to announce this development which will combine the considerable expertise of both companies.

For LD Lines it will further expand our ferry service network and we can now offer the market an extensive choice of routes from the west to east across the English Channel to France, and now to a northern located port in Belgium. The port of Ostend geographically is very well placed to attract new business from the Benelux, Germany and Eastern European countries.”

Dominique Penel, General Manager of Transeuropa Ferries added : “This makes good economic sense for both companies in relation to moving the service forward. Transeuropa have established an excellent, solid freight business via the Ramsgate – Ostend route since we began in 1998 and now with a larger ship, we have the potential to improve the level of service to our freight customers whilst also developing the tourist traffic through LD Lines’ passenger marketing resources.”

The newly named Ostend Spirit will continue to operate under the British flag and be branded in LD Lines’ and Transeuropa Ferries’ colours.

Mr Johan Vande Lanotte, Chairman of the port of Ostend and former Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium said, “This is excellent news for the port of Ostend and for the region. This is a clear signal we have survived the worst of the crisis and we are now building for the future. This co-operation is an important step in our plan for growth.”

In Ramsgate, Councillor Roger Latchford, Thanet District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said, “This is marvellous news for both Ramsgate and Thanet. The port was built to receive vessels of this size and it’s good to welcome them back, especially because of the increased freight and passenger business they represent.”

Ostend Spirit will be returning to her original home port of Ostend, having previously been named Prins Filip. Built in 1991 by the then Belgian ferry operator Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT), the ship entered service in 1992 on the Dover – Ostend route, switching to operate between Ramsgate and Ostend, where she remained until 1997.

The ship will be transferring from LD Lines’ Dover – Boulogne service in March, to be replaced by the ex Brave Merchant which will be re-named,to further develop the route’s freight and tourist traffic and continue to provide a service frequency of four return sailings daily.

Built in 1999, the UK flag 22,152 gross tonnes Brave Merchant has capacity for 2000 lane metres for freight and tourist vehicles and up to 400 passengers.

LD Lines’ tourist fares on the Ramsgate – Ostend service will be available for cars and passengers, cars and caravans, motorhomes, motorcycles and for added on board passenger comfort facilities include cabins and sleeper seats. LD Lines’ launch offer starts from £24 single for a car and five passengers, subject to availiability.

LD Lines’ cross channel ferry service network includes : Dover – Boulogne, Newhaven – Dieppe and Portsmouth – Le Havre routes. For more information and to book : www.ldlines.com or call : 0844 576 8836.

For Transeuropa Ferries information contact : www.transeuropaferries.com orcall : 01843 595522.

----------ends----------

Issued on 8^th February 2010

ALLOTMENT SECURITY IS ANOTHER TDC FAILURE

2010-02-05T22:57:00.002Z

Readers since 2008 will know that Bertie had a 'bee in his bonnet' about the unsightly and ill thought out TDC fencing around allotments in Thanet that began in Culmer's Land Broadstairs, and which then spread around the Isle. The funding for this fencing came from the sale of Manston Rd allotments but TDC has yet to explain what it has done with £2.1 million having spent £900,000 on allotment fencing.

It gives me no pleasure to see that the industrial security fencing put around Chilton West allotments did not prevent thieves from breaking into 65 sheds and making off with over £1,000 of kit. The picture above is from this weeks IOTG ( a much improved paper and congrats to the team there) and shows Dave Nimmo who represents the allotment holders at Chilton West. It would appear that it is the third time Chilton West has been 'done' and Mr Nimmo is quoted in IOTG as follows:

'Mr Nimmo believes the fence put up by Thanet Council is not enough of a deterrent'.

I hate to say that this is no surprise to me. I pointed out to 'Our Leader' in 2008 at Cecil Sq and to assorted Broadstairs Cllrs and others in Culmers Land, that a simple spanner is all you need to take out a section of this fencing; that unless you put a concrete base under it you can excavate a simple access groove in the soil below it and the bottom line was that a false sense of security is generated if you rely on such fencing.

There are far more effective ways of improving allotment security and it would help if TDC had a dedicated 'allotments officer' as many other authorities do and a co-ordinated joined up approach as suggested by The Allotments Assoc. I put some suggestions on http://thanetstrife.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-are-we-securing.html

So throwing £900,000 at allotment fencing was a rushed ill-thought out TDC 'policy' that is now being shown to be ineffective. I came in for much criticism from allotment holders 2 years ago for suggesting that this industrial fencing would be a waste of money and that a combination of measures was what was neeeded. So now we have Mr Nimmo talking of further expense with video-cameras and Cllr David Green supporting this.
Why stop there, gentlemen? Go for triple concertina wire; guard-dogs on running leashes ; goon towers; search-lights and permanent security men. Of course this is absurd.

It would have been better to have put in cheaper, less visually intrusive fencing; planted blackthorn and hawthorn hedging and have TDC fund a replacement and repair scheme when theft and damage occurs. The Isle would not have unsightly eye-sores dotted around and the tax-payer would have had better value for money,as would have the allotment holders. The basic problem is that TDC has no joined up policy on the whole issue of its allotments and this false sense of security will persist as sadly will further damage and theft.

THE EXPENSIVE TDC FIGHT TO OPPOSE HOOTS DRAGS ON

2010-02-05T00:12:00.000Z

As news is revealed that Conservative dominated KCC feels it is acceptable to pay an extra £200,000 this year to its Chief Executive on top of his £240,000 salary, one wonders if it is not time that David Cameron got to grips with his party at County and District level. After all , his salary as Prime Minister will be a fraction of Mr Gilroy's later in the year.

I mention District level, because the nitty gritty of The Montefiore Village Green Public Enquiry moves into its 4th day today. Highlights today are a 'site visit' and evidence from TDC Officer Paul Verral.

The report below is from one of the 'Strife' team who sat through 2 hrs of the Enquiry yesterday afternoon, and as a result has earned an 'extra chocolate biccie' award from Edna, our tea lady. (The Village Green supporters are doing their best, without professional legal support, against a very expensive barrister and legal team, employed by TDC, at our expense, to fight against its own electorate's wishes.)

This afternoon I spent two hours listening to questioning about the fencing around the area formerly known as the Montefiore Games Centre in Ramsgate.

'Two hours?' I hear you ask.

'Yes, and that was only one TDC officer giving evidence. There's another to come tomorrow.

'Yes and that was only this afternoon as this morning and yesterday much of our council tax was being spent on a barrister asking questions relating to 'fencing'.

The whole issue relating to the village green application seems to hang on 'whether or not/when/why/did TDC decide to give up on replacing fencing around ' and ' was it the tennis courts or the putting green area or the bowling green?'

The date on which TDC decided to stop replacing fencing panels is crucial to this as that will determine when the public had free access to the land formerly known as the 'old putting green that then became a croquet lawn'.

'Was it in the mid-90s, late-90's or when?'

'Was there persistent vandalism or occasional vandalism that contributed to the decision?'

'Why is this important?' you ask.

Well. depending on how long the public has had unimpeded access to open spaces will determine whether or not land can be classified as 'a village green' at least I think that's what it's all about. Ardent tennis players claim they have had free access to the area behind the courts for 30 years retrieving lost balls.

Hours of highly-paid barrister time, funded by us taxpayers, by a council that claims financial hardship. A good use of our money?

Those campaigning for a village green are represented by a non-legal person who did succeed in tieing the TDC officer giving evidence up in knots at times. It seems paperwork is only kept for a short time so essential information isn't still available for the Inspector taking a decision on this case to see.

I can't speak for any other witnesses as I only attended this afternoon but I hope our taxpayers' thousands reap a just result for the Thanet taxpayers.

Those sitting listening are aware that should this be lost the land will then be linked up with land behind the Holy Trinity School to create a large, executive housing development fronting Montefiore Avenue.

I wonder what the bill for legal and Officer's time will be for this Enquiry? An FoI is being prepared. Will this folly continue as TDC fights 3 more Village Green applications. " When will they ever learn?"

EUROFERRIES - THE SAGA CONTINUES

2010-02-04T20:11:00.000Z

As the BBC prepares to examine Euroferries and its attempts for the past 12 months to launch a Ramsgate-Boulogne fast ferry service, the' Ferry spotting' fraternity has had a busy day.

Could it be that Euroferries is after the 'Sea Leopard' bought by Epic (a Hong Kong based firm) from the administrators of the defunct Speedferries? The picture above and the history of this boat and all its aliases are all at this splendid site: http://doverferryphotos.co.uk/Vessel/Speedone.htm. It is an Incat 045 and was built in 1997 and has served with the Australian Navy; been pranged on Dover Breakwater and 'arrested' in Boulogne when Speedferries failed to cough up mooring fees. For those who like to know where boats are etc, look at www.shipais.com/showship.php?mmsi=235007470 to see Sea Leopard berthed at Tilbury.

Our maritime advisors tell us that an interesting change to Euroferries website describing a Gold Class 'lounge' (Bonanaza?) has been altered toGold Class 'section' (Sea Leopard) and that a 'bareboat charter' is the most likely deal that might be made. The problem with this is that a skipper and crew need to be found etc and the boat then cleared fit for Ramsgate - Boulogne. All, in 24 days remaining to 1st March that is shown as service start date still? It would seem that Sea Leopard isn't quite as spacious or classy as Bonanza and that only 4 coaches can be taken on with reversing on/off options only.

Rumour has it that TransEuropa are not happy about a Euroferries service in Ramsgate (is there a sole passenger carrier deal?) as it is rumoured to be taking on from LD lines, the Norman Spirit and Norman Arrow, to replace the boats running out of Ramsgate at the moment. I hope they are not thinking of pushing off to Dover in a picque.

Good old TDC PR and Cheryl have been equally uninformative about Euroferries in Ramsgate with this to say to-day:

The Council statement on Euroferries is:

'The Council has no outstanding obligations with Euroferries'. ENDs

In the meantime, my sympathies lie with the BBC 'sleuth' Glenn Campbell, who could be up-dating Inside-Out for broadcast next Monday, 8th Feb at 7.30pm, right up to the line! For the average Thanet resident I suppose, it boils down to 'Do I believe in the tooth-fairy?'

A MIDWEEK THANET POT POURRI

2010-02-03T22:44:00.001Z

As 'Strife' Team members prepare follow up FoI requests with KCC about the 'contribution' that Rose Farm Estates is to make, if any, to the New Haine Road through the Eurokent land that it owns and push off down to Ashford Business Park to talk to Keel Toys, Bertie is left manning the phone with little snippets coming in to share with you.

It has come to our attention that at a recent Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting, two of Dane Valley Ward's Councillors were overheard discussing getting together to hold joint surgeries for Ward residents. It would seem that Cllr Mike Jarvis ( an excellent Conservative Cllr who is out of favour with The Ezekiel Party) has offered to hold a joint surgery for Dane Valley Residents with newly elected Cllr Sandy Hart (Labour's new excellent Cllr). This is a splendid idea and shows that both Cllrs put working together for the Thanet residents they represent above the petty Party politics that has under 'Mauwice' been a hallmark of TDC. I wish them both success. Mike Jarvis has been doing his best for too long in Dane Valley with two very low profile Ezekiel Party Cllrs as fellow ward Cllrs and with Sandy's enthusiasm and commitment, a new era of co-operation and joint common effort could be with us.

A member of the team down at Albion House yesterday, has reported in that residents and HOOTs supporters of The Montefiore Village Green, were being torn to shreds by the 'rottweiler' of a barrister employed by TDC to fight against their Village Green Application. This is not as dramatic as 'Peterloo' thank goodness but it is not a nice sight to see a highly paid and expensive legal expert, paid by TDC Council Tax payers via TDC, turning the heat on Thanet residents paying Council taxes to TDC ! When will TDC grasp the deep and lasting resentment that is building up around the Isle because of its actions like this?

Now to TDC Conservative Group meeting last Thursday or should I say Ezekiel Party Group meeting? It would seem that straws blowing in the wind are turning into bales! The rumours of some major changes afoot grow stronger. It would seem that the Conservative ascendancy over what has been described as the Ezekiel Junta may have begun and that NTCA and STCA have had enough. It seems that Cllr Bayford is being mentioned as a 'New Leader' and that 'Mauwice' and hopefully 'Woger' will be on their way sooner than April/May. My advice, which of course, will be ignored is :

'Gentlemen, go now and let your successors have longer to clean out the mess you have left lying around the stables. Not only is there a National Election due but 2011 is just over the horizon and you have done enough harm to The Conservative Party already. For God's sake resign or retire.'

The last item I would like to draw attention to is Michael Child's ongoing concern over the cliff-face stability at Pleasurama. (www.thanetonline.blogspot.com). He has kept us all informed with pics and technical aspects of repairs to repairs and the simple fact that there is no proper foundation to the concrete surfaces stuck to the cliff-face. He has been villified, criticised and TDC has even tried to gag its contractors from talking to him. When will TDC realise that the truth will out? Do we really have to witness a cliff collapse and an EA rapid flooding event in the years ahead, when the present incumbents at TDC have moved on, just because they are unable to admit they may have got it wrong? Perhaps it is time for TDC to engage externally contracted independent specialists to review what they have done so far and make recommendations that are then followed.

BBC INVESTIGATION INTO EUROFERRIES

2010-02-02T23:40:00.001Z

BBC South East's investigative reporter, Glenn Campbell, appears to have been looking into Euroferries for some time, and next Monday 8 Feb 2010, readers will be able to watch at 7.30 pm, his answers to the question 'Will Euroferries start a new ferry service?' (from Ramsgate). A 'must see' programme, I would suggest.

Readers should be aware that the BBC South East's 'chief sleuth' reported in 2006 on Euroferries efforts to start a service from Dover ( some will recall the 'Spirit of Ontario' saga) and last year had our Deputy Leader, 'Woger' Latchford stuttering before the camera on the subject of Euroferries proposed Ramsgate -Boulogne service. Will he feature again?

Regular readers will be well aware that 'Strife' has taken a very cautious stand about Euroferries claims to deliver a service from Ramsgate since February last year and this caution has been justified after 3 start dates have come and gone and poor old Bonanza Express has had Euroferries logos painted on and off TWICE!

It would seem that not only did Fred Olsen deadlines for 'hire' and money not get met but that a PR Firm taken on by Euroferries has had some problems of a similar nature. What is one to make of this ?:

'The Staging House Limited was engaged by Euroferries on 5th March 2009; we understood that our role would be to act as Euroferries' Marketing Team. We were instructed to distribute a press release, which had already been approved by Euroferries Directors, targeting local press and maritime organisations. We duly did so in good faith, believing the clients to be in a position to meet the expectations that the press release would create. Unfortunately, we were never placed in a position by Euroferries to respond to press and customers enquiries. When it became clear (shortly after our initial engagement) that we could not complete our job effectively, we declined to continue representing Euroferries and we have had no contact from the company or any of its representatives since that time. We have not been paid for any of our work to date."

XXXXX
The Studio
The Staging House
Horsham
RH13 8NH

I think that any-one interested in what we in Thanet all wished for, a service between Ramsgate and Boulogne, should tune in next Monday!

THE LIES ABOUT EUROKENT CONTINUE!

2010-01-31T01:20:00.002Z

Good to see that the Isle of Thanet Gazette is pressing TDC for the truth about housing on Eurokent. It is not surprising that they are not getting it from 'Woger' our Deputy Leader.
Despite being challenged by intrepid reporter Andrew Woodman about The Annual Monitoring Report presented to Cllr Latchford at Cabinet only a few weeks ago that shows (from his own TDC Officers) that there is not a problem about meeting housing targets of 7,500 new dwellings by 2026, he declined an interview, reputedly put the phone down and then issued a statement via the TDC Press Office.

When you realise that 1,983 homes have been completed since 2006; that Planning Consent has already been approved for 4,624 and that leaves only 900 for the next 16 years, one wonders if 'Woger' cannot read what his own Officers tell him, when they predict the target will be met 8 years early with a minimum surplus of 700 houses above target! Well, I for one , give him credit as a Lt Col (Retd) for not having the difficulties of his Leader or Cllr Goodwin, with the English language, so one can only assume he is being deliberately misleading.

Let me quote from yesterday's IOTG:
'Cllr Latchford claimed the council needed to identify more land for homes to meet targets.'

What he will not admit to is the farce that EKO LLP has become since it was formed in the Spring of 2008 and that as a 'director' he now has a problem. One of the 'Strife' Team received a KCC reply to an F o I request about EKO LLP yesterday.

In simple terms EKO LLP cost £519,000 to set up; in 2008/9 it cost £473,665 to run; and to date in 2009/10 it has cost £360,000. ( You need to remember that EKO LLP is a joint partnership between KCC and TDC and holds land at Eurokent (TDC) and Manston Business Park (KCC) bought by the tax-payer!) In addition, KCC built the New Haine Road at a cost of £4,368,000 through Eurokent and EKO LLP signed an agreement to pay this back within 2 years of the original signing in 2008! Very soon!

All costs of EKO LLP are shared equally between KCC and TDC so the cost to TDC has been as follows so far:
1. Cost of setting up EKO LLP and running it for 2 years: £676,083.50p
2. TDC's share of the spine road through Eurokent: £2, 184,000.

Now you might understand why NAO is not happy with EKO LLP at KCC and why we should now be worried as TDC tax-payers. The only assets EKO LLP 'own' are tax-payer's land. Unless they sell some land, (valued at almost £10,000,000 in Aug 2008 and worth less now) they cannot pay for their set-up and operating costs or the costs for the spine road. In simple terms, 'Woger' as a director of EKO LLP, needs to sell Eurokent for housing and pdq. It has nothing to do with TDC's Housing targets at all. It is to bail out the folly of ever setting up EKO LLP!

When you wonder why TDC's basic services around the Isle have been cut back; our toilets closed; our streets unswept and bins not emptied, you might like to consider that TDC has spent over £600,000 since early 2008 just on its share of 'running' EKO LLP, yet alone still needing to find over £2,000,000 to pay for The New Haine Rd!

At least our Labour Cllrs and South Thanet MP are onto the need to retain Eurokent for employment,( as the IOTG pic shows below). I womder if they realise as our MP and Cllrs they will have to pay to get a copy of EKO LLP's overdue accounts from Companies House? So much for democracy in Thanet when even our own Cllrs have to pay for information about their own LLP! The real question that needs to be answered, and soon, by all the TDC Conservative Party Cllrs, is what is their view on this whole matter as opposed to The Ezekiel Party view?

COUGH! COUGH! AIR QUALITY IN THANET?

2010-01-29T00:37:00.000Z

With air quality around the Isle being of interest at the moment and with at least 5 sites showing excessive levels of nitrogen di-oxide (NO2), it might be interesting to remember that Thanet was once a location that attracted not only TB patients but also asthmatic children to many small independent schools to breathe our nice clean air. Now we seem to have more asthma cases, lung disorders and lung cancer than anywhere else in Kent.

In December, Tim Garbutt asked the MOD about the fires being burned at Manston by The Defence Fire School. Here is the information he received and please visit www.lovekentloveramsgate.blogspot.com to learn more about lack of air quality and an even greater lack of monitoring:

In 2009 there were 1,009 fires at MOD Manston for firefighter training.

About 92,500 litres of foam concentrate was used.Interestingly there was £17k of non-MOD revenue and and a cost of the water of £36k.The water and foam runoff was drained into the sewerage system.Foam wasn't used on any grassed areas and - gulp - monitoring was undertaken by TDC and Amanda Berry.

A member of the 'Strife' team was assigned two weeks ago to 'capture' the effects of the training fires at Manston. The first picture, taken last week, shows the pollution blowing in the normal (SW wind driven) direction over our built up areas and was taken at Tesco car-park in Westwood Cross. The picture below, taken on Tuesday, shows one of two fires sending pollution out in a safer direction driven by an E wind.

Readers need to remember that our prominent winds are from the SW and that the average of 3 fires a day at Manston thus sends pollution over our main urban areas over the Isle on a regular and continuous basis. I am not an expert in these matters but it seems to me that as our Council shows disregard for pollution of our aquifer and pollution in the air, can it really claim to be following sustainable environmental policies? What would an air quality monitor at the main Westwood Cross roundabout reveal about pollutants at 2pm on an average Saturday traffic grid-lock there?

TDC 'DECLARES WAR' ON ITS OWN CITIZENS?

2010-01-27T12:45:00.000Z

When will TDC and the Ezekiel Party in control of it, realise sense?

Next week The Montefiore Village Green Public Enquiry starts at Albion House on Tue 2nd Feb at 10.00am and seems likely to go on until Friday 5th. A final decision will then take some months to be announced.

(My thanks to Hoots for the pictures and please visit their site at www.hootonline.org.uk for more details)

TDC has a duty to look at its tax-payer's assets and consider disposal if they are of no use to anyone; they are under no obligation to pursue a relentless and now mindless campaign to dispose of our assets in the face of their own electorate's wishes.

There are currently 3 Village Green Applications, that various groups over the Isle have now been forced to make to try and stop TDC selling off resources used by the people and retained by TDC for the people. As the picture below shows, each Group (Hoots, Dumpton Park Village Green and WASPs) has to go to enormous time and trouble and at their own expense to fight their case and prepare the paperwork.

This contrasts with TDC, who, at great expense to the tax-payer intends to 'fight' each Village Green Application. TDC will be employing highly expensive barristers (QCs according to Hoots) who in turn have TDC's solicitors instructing them. What are the legal fees and total expenses likely to be? I would suggest that TDC, in its tax-payer funded 'war' against its own citizen's wishes, will already have spent many thousands and an FoI request is needed to find out what the projected costs are likely to be.

I find the situation crazy. We need a change at the top of TDC and fast. The present Leadership has not only misled the public on the non-existent requirement for housing on Eurokent, but now spends its own citizen's taxes in fighting them. If our 56 Councillors were to go out and consult with their electorate and discuss the Village Green War with them, I wonder what most Thanet people would tell them? I suspect many answers would be un-printable.

'THERE WERE NOWT ELSE TO DO'

2010-01-24T21:49:00.000Z

Some readers might recognise my title tonight as being an explaination by one of the anonymous little thugs who were sentenced this week for the horrific and perverted attack on two young boys. What I fail to understand is why they are entitled to anonymity and protection at tax-payer's expense for many years to come, whilst their victims will just have to make the best of it.

There is no doubt in my mind that it is time for the pendulum to swing back in our society,. David Cameron has been lambasted for using this case as an example of how we have become a fractured and sick society but the inescapable fact is that he is correct.

When are we going to wake up to the fact that until we hold people responsible for their poor and criminal behaviour and actually punish them in some way that is a real punishment, we will just get more anti-social and criminal behaviour? What is wrong in naming and shaming? Whilst supporting and working with 'toxic' parents does that mean that criminal conduct is effectively un-punished?

We have had a 'toxic' culture in this land for too long (13 years now) that has failed to address punishment and shaming as a deterrent. We have a situation where wriiten policies are spouted by schools, police and any government paid body you can think of, as they address 'Government Targets' and deal with mountains of paperwork and form filling, but fail to achieve what they have written down.

We do not need a paper trail that requires our police to spend 7 hours out of 8, form filling. We do not need an NHS body to explain that an 80 year old lady died in hospital with neglect of her condition and chronic bed-sores because the correct paper trail was missing. Have we forgotten that our schools are meant to look after and educate children?; that our Police are meant to prevent and solve crime and bring felons to justice?; that our nurses are there to look after patients?

Has form filling , report writing and 'inter agency' consultation and referral missed the point that we are actually dealing with 'real' people? I want head teachers to be able to 'punish' errant and disruptive pupils; I want the police to be able to deal with and the Courts punish, errant and anti-social behaviour. I want nurses to treat bed-sores in elderly patients. Is that too much too ask for? It was done 30 years ago for goodness sake.

I am reaching the opinion that the cane in schools is a needed option; that 'birching' as was practised in the Isle of Man has a lot to commend it; that simple good nursing as Miss Nightingale established is what we should return to.

In the mean time the innocent will suffer and the criminal, whether by default or intent, will continue to not be held to account.

CHAIR OF PLANNING REPORTS ON MISSING CABINET MEMBER

2010-01-21T23:44:00.002Z

Last night's Planning Meeting was quite interesting. The Ezekiel Party seemed short of numbers and what was surprising was that no substitutes seemed to have been called on in place of Cllr Watt-Ruffell ; not even the permanent substitute from Cabinet, Cllr Tomlinson. No caravan park applications were on the agenda either.

In a reference to 'Strife's ' recent highlighting of Cllr Tomlinsons regular attendance at the previous 6 planning meetings, 'Our Ken' said:

" For any of you bloggers out there (looking at the public seating area) you will note that Cllr Shirley Tomlinson had better things to do this evening'.

It was noticed that Cllr Day (vice chair) seemed lost without 'Shirl', the other half of his double act , being there.

The agenda items had some very interesting aspects. A pair of semi-detached houses in Lanthorne Rd are to become just one as one half was given consent to be demolished to make way for a large building instead. I have to feel sorry for the owners of the one left standing. Cllr Bruce as TDC's Cllr for Conservation and Heritage urged the Committee to turn down the application but his pleas, as far as The Ezekiel Party members were concerned, fell on stony ground.

KCC pulled its application for 175 odd houses on The Hereson School site at the last minute, which would indicate that KCC and TDC might have some disagreement on this matter! It will be worth seeing how the plans for this site eventually work out and what benefits acrue to Thanet.

The agenda item that led to the quote of the evening from Cllr Chris Wells was F/TH/09/0833 at 15 Granville Rd, Broadstairs. You will have to wait for the quote whilst I give you some background.

This site has a fascinating history and complications; not least it seems to be a tale of a developer cocking a snoot at TDC. An application for an extension at the back of the property was originally for 5m. This was turned down. An application was then approved when the extension at the back was set at 3.5m. Residents affected were then amazed to find that the 5m extension was then built. They complained, so the developer put in a retrospective application for 5m again (F/TH/09/0833). This was turned down last night with local residents over the moon! The twist in this tale serves the developer right! If he had built to 3.5m as per his agreed consent, his front windows would have been acceptable as the area was not at the time a Conservation Area. It became included in a Conservation Area prior to the retrospective application so all Conservation Area rules now apply. So we wait for TDC to enforce the demolition at back and rebuild to 3.5 m and the replacement of all front windows in line with Conservation Area rules. Serves the beggars right comes to mind!

Now the quote. Quite a few Cllr were there last night speaking under Rule 24.1(in support of or against, as ward Cllrs etc) and Cllr Chris Wells who spoke to The Planning Committtee urging them to reject the retrospective application, in describing the lack of amenity space at the back of 15 Granville Rd said:

" It is not so much about the room to swing a cat but more about whether there is space to twirl a kitten on your thumb."

A BUSY BONANZA EXPRESS IN WARMER CLIMES

2010-01-21T00:11:00.000Z

My thanks to Antonio Saez in Tenerife for the latest information concerning the Bonanza Express that has been painted twice in Euroferries livery in the past 12 months and has had that livery painted out again by Fred Olsen painter chaps in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. His diagram above shows the route for Fred Olsen that the Bonanza Express is now running. She is running from Santa Cruz, Tenerife to Agaete in Gran Canaria.

This is a lovely picture from Antonio showing 'our' Bonanza Express, quite obviously in Fred Olsen livery, turning in the harbour at Santa Cruz, two days ago and the picture below, shows Bonanza approaching Santa Cruz in the setting sun on her return from Agaete.

I am reliably informed that the CCI in Boulogne cannot believe that Bonanza is not going to be crossing La Manche soon from Ramsgate, thinking it still has a Euroferries paint-job and do not believe that today's Your Thanet is reporting that, at last, Fred Olsen spokespeople are stating that there is now no ongoing arrangements with Euroferries.

When will some organisations wake up to the fact that because of the internet and interested parties easily getting in contact, that 'bloggers' do actually know and report accurately about what is happening. Local bloggers might also be interested to know that it is gossip in Boulogne that Thanet bloggers are being blamed by Euroferries for their failure to get Bonanza E crossing from Ramsgate to Boulogne and spoiling their business plans. It has nothing to do of course, with not meeting the deadlines and fees required by Fred Olsen!
I am sure that all readers will wish Euroferries every success in finding a replacement ship for the run from Boulogne to Ramsgate in late March and look forward to their service starting at last.

In the meantime my thanks to Antonio and please feel free to visit his site and enjoy some lovely photographs at:
http://oportodagraciosa.blogspot.com/

AN UNRESERVED APOLOGY TO CLLR EZEKIEL

2010-01-19T21:51:00.000Z

Could I offer an unreserved apology to Cllr Ezekiel on my behalf, the Strife Team's behalf and on some recent commentators' behalf, for having put him in the frame for desecrating that wonderful heritage shared by millions across the world, the English written word. Whilst he may have had two Standards 'raps' and has now started a new fashion trend in the wearing of hats, it now seems he is innocent of littering Thanet's blogs with almost incomprehensible postings.

It would seem that the author of a gathering collection of postings on Strife that have from time to time caused other readers to comment on poor construction, grammar and lack of punctuation could well be down to Cllr Brian Goodwin. I have always tried to glean the argument being presented in a posting and have refrained from being critical of its presentation, but perhaps might make an exception now.

If you visit Thanet's Premier Blog at www.eastcliffrichard.blogspot.com you will find an interesting exchange of e-mails. The one that caught my attention was:

great mind you like her other half she will not turn up so we don,t have to worry
cllr b goodwin

It has a certain similarity to this extract from a recent posting on Strife:

atleast he turns up not like the labour party whom to name but two never turn up or wear there robes ,that must tell you something so i would think the people whom write all the rubbish about the laeder

Well, together with a Leader setting the trend in Standards raps and sartorial inelegance, The Ezekiel Party now has a Cllr who is about to join The Rev Spooner (of 'sew to sheets fame') in producing gems of poor prose that could be termed 'Goodwinisms'.

Please feel free to draw 'Goodwinisms' to my attention as you browse comments here or on other blogs.

A WEEKEND POT POURRI WITH STRAWS BLOWING IN ON THE WIND

2010-01-18T00:11:00.001Z

What an interesting week; Bonanza pic at last of the new paint job; a bicorn/ beanie combo, indiscrete revelations on an insecure Facebook site and wheelie bin chaos.

As Policy 25 of TDC's Core Strategy has been in the news, some news on CGI (formerly CGP), would be appropriate as they would appear to be primary beneficiaries of TDC's folly to propose to allow building on agricultural land all over Thanet, if 'jobs' are dangled in front of TDC. Share price not good yet at 15.5p but they managed to raise £148,391.74 in cash for general working capital in Dec by issuing 1,507,283 shares at 9.45p. A lot were bought by Mr Wills and Mr Prosser which indicates they have had to put their own money in to keep things rolling along. This appears to have triggered a drop notification of HSBC Holdings as a % of total shares from above 8% to 7.9%. Unless Chinese money can be attracted to buy and set up on Manston Business Park soon, the winter cereals will be harvested in Aug 2010!

Having banged on about Eurokent not being needed for housing for the 2026 traget of 7,500 new dwellings in Thanet for some time and revealing that TDC Cabinet ignores its own TDC Officers reporting this to them (Annual Monitoring Report April 2009) it was nice to get a reply sent from Planning Dept at TDC to one of the Strife Team's request for info. Here is an extract:

"I understand that at March 2009 we had granted permission for 4624
units that have not yet commenced. I cannot confirm whether these are
all on sites that have not commenced, ie it may be the case that sites
with permission for 20 units only have 1 or 2 completed at present.

The significance of this snippet is critical to the lies about Eurokent needing to have houses on it to meet the Housing target! TDC already has 1,983 completions of the 7,500, and these 4,624 (if proceeded with) means that by 2014 alone 6,607 dwellings will have been built. That leaves applications between now and 2026 for only another 993 dwellings and ALL TARGETS ARE MET.

Whilst on the subject of Planning, a Strife Team Member followed The Planning Committtee around on Friday as it went site visiting. (Only 6 Cllrs out of 15 were able to attend) He reports that 'Our Ken' was not too pleased to see genuine Conservative Cllrs like Cllr Hayton and Cllr Bruce tagging along and that abruptness from 'Our Ken' towards his experienced and capable predecessor as Chair of Planning, verged on rudeness. Our suspicions about certain Ezekiel Party Cllrs not really knowing where their Wards are, were confirmed on Friday. About to leave Lanthorne Rd to go to Oaklands Ave in St Peter's , a person asked how to get there. 'Our Ken's response as ward Cllr for this Ward was " Up past where there used to be a pub." Perhaps 'Our Ken' needs to drop in for a pint with his constituents sometime at The Red Lion, which is still there and 50 yds away from Oaklands Avenue!
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Now to straws in the wind.
I was amazed at the pic of 'Mauwice' in 'two hat' mode at the annual Blessing of The Sea Ceremony last Sunday. Then a thought struck me. He looks very unhappy and was it just the cold? If I had frozen my butt off as Council Leader for the 7th time at this ceremony, and I knew it was my last time, would I be tempted to say 'Sod it. Wont be here next year, so may as well keep warm'?

So Strife Team members have been tapping sources all over Thanet for past 24 hrs and it seems there may be changes coming about shortly. The straws in the wind they have caught would indicate Clive Hart and his Labour colleagues could lose their prime vote attracting ally for 2011, Cllr Ezekiel, in the spring. The question is will he retire or resign?

The next question is, will The Ezekiel Party try and retain its position of leading Thanet's Conservative Party in the year upto 2011 by 'blessing' a successor or will there be a genuine Leadership Election and a clean up of Cabinet and Planning? Will they achieve a simple baton change or will there be a new race?

It's about time Thanet had some proper Conservatives in key positions rather than 'ex Labour chancers'. We need the return of a Conservative Party that the traditional conservative electorate will support in 2011. We need a capable and principled new Tory Leader, a new Cabinet and new Planning Committee.Whispers would indicate that Ezekiel Party loyalist Cllr Bayford would like to take on the 'baton' from 'Mauwice'; the result would be an Ezekiel Party without 'Mauwice'!

We have now started a 'pool' in The Strife Office with the following names in the hat: Bayford, Bruce, Gideon, Jarvis, Moores, Wells and Wise. Will have to get on to Dickie (www.eastcliffrichard.blogspot.com) to see if he can run a 'cast your vote' thingee on his blog for these 7. Sadly we lack the expertise to set up that sort of thing but at least we still have an excellent tea-lady, in Edna.

THE EUROFERRIES SAGA OVER?

2010-01-17T10:41:00.001Z

Well done to Michael Child! Go over to www.thanetonline.blogspot.com to see an excellent set of pictures of The Bonanza Express in her new Fred Olsen paintjob. This confirms the 'Strife' report of 6 Dec 2009 that the 4th paint job since the saga began has now happened. I show previous paint jobs above and for Ferry Watchers, a pic of Bonanza Express in Euroferries colours is likely to be a collectors item!

The really odd thing is that Euroferries are still showing that I can book a crossing in early April! On what? Not another paint job on its way for the paint abused Bonanza Express?

PLANNING AND THE EZEKIEL PARTY AND STRAWS IN THE WIND

2010-01-17T00:59:00.001Z

The Planning Committee of any Council that acts as a Planning Authority is probably the most critical committtee in any District or area as its decisions must be seen by the average man/woman in the street to be unbiased and without predetermination, as the decisions of this committtee can lead to exceptional pecuniary advantage or disadvantage to applicants making Planning Applications.

What is TDC's recent record in its formation of The Planning Committee? Poor, I would argue.

The first ominous sign was the removal in 2008 of Cllr Bill Hayton by The Ezekiel Party prior to the most significant planning application to be made in Thanet for many a year; The China Gateway by CGI (CGP). At the same time The Ezekiel Party stifled any comment by the public at Site Visits by changing the rules. As is reported elsewhere, this led to a site visit for China Gateway, where member's attention was not drawn to the fact that they were standing on the final protection zone of our aquifer and its pumping station only a few hundred metres away.

Things were to get worse. Two Conservative Cllrs quite clearly had concerns about China Gateway in 2008 and voted with Labour members to refer the China Gateway application to Full Council. The two principled Conservative members, Cllr Alisdair Bruce and Cllr Mike Jarvis then found themselves 'sacked ' from Planning Committtee in May 2009 at the first opportunity that The Ezekiel Party and its Leader could get rid of them.

Readers should remember that no whip should apply to Planning Committtee decisions and that decisions should be not predetermined but decided on the night after careful consideration, debate and listening to all the arguments for or against.

If you look at my 'Gallery' above of the core Ezekiel Party members of The Planning Committee, you will see an ex- Labour Planning Chair as Chair; a property developer as Vice-Chair (Day & Son); a member whose husband is a property developer; and two husband and wife teams; the Sullivans and the Tomlinsons.

"Hold on Bertie", you might say, Cllr Shirley is a Cabinet Member and as loyal an Ezekiel Party member as you can find, but she isn't a member of Planning. Isn't she , I reply?

Look at these attendance figures at Planning Committee below, and then tell me she is not a 'de-facto' member of The Ezekiel Party Planning Committtee:

Since Cllrs Bruce and Jarvis were 'cast into the outer darkness' for not doing what was expected of them in Aug 2008, Mrs Tomlinson, a Cabinet Member and reliable Ezekiel Party member, has sat on every Planning Committtee since July 2009. How does she manage an attendance on Planning that is more than The Vice Chair you might ask? (6 out of 6 consecutive meetings)

Quite simple, she sits as a 'substitute'! :
on 15 Jul for Mrs Russel; on 18 Aug for Mrs Sullivan; on 16 Sep for Mrs Sullivan; on 21 Oct for Mr Crotty; on 18 Nov for Cllr Goodwin and on 16 Dec for mrs Russell.

Wow!

You might also be surprised to find that the Agenda for The Bradgate Caravan Park Application, where her husband Mick Tomlinson has had connections in the past with running disco's there and was on Planning Committee on 21 Oct, shows that Mrs Tomlinson 'called in' the Planning application as Cabinet Member for Tourism. The Agenda states that the Tourism Officer supported the application and:

'Cllr Mrs Shirley Tomlinson requests that Planning Committtee considers the proposal with regard to Thanet Local Plan PolicyT3 which supports caravan parks across the island and tourism considerations in general'.

What a surprise then that Mrs Shirley Tomlinson, Cabinet Member, should then find herself sitting as a Committee Member (as a sub for Cllr Crotty) on Planning on 21 Oct to make a decision on the Bradgate Caravan Park extension for a further 51 mobile homes on vital agricultural land, and urging the case to approve the application contrary to the advice of a professional planning officer of TDC whose advice was to reject the application for the same reasons The Planning Committtee in 2008 rejected it.(That was when Cllr Bruce and Cllr Jarvis were Conservative members, before being kicked off planning.) The minutes show this:

(h) F/TH/09/0515-Bradgate Caravan Park, Manston Court Road, Margate CT9
4LG
Change of use of agricultural land for the siting of 51No. static caravans.

Moved by Councillor Mrs Tomlinson and seconded by Councillor Mrs Sullivan that:
“application F/TH/09/0515 be approved as the economic benefits of the proposed
development would outweigh the concerns that had been raised at the loss of agricultural
land, the visual impact of the proposal and the sustainability of the site. Members were
satisfied that the proposed improvements to the access as well as the arrangements for
water supply and disposal were acceptable, and overall that the proposed development
is acceptable when judged against the policies contained in the development plan,
subject to the imposition of appropriate safeguarding conditions ”

Will need to look closely at DVD of 21 Oct meeting now together with TDC's Planning Protocol that outlines very clearly the procedure to be followed when Planning Committee act contrary to a Planning Officers recommendation!

'TWO HATS' EZEKIEL LETS THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY DOWN AGAIN

2010-01-16T00:26:00.003Z

Readers of the IOTG may have missed the above picture taken last Sunday at the annual Blessing of The Sea Ceremony by Thanet's Greek Orthodox Community in Margate. Young Louis Gomes swam into the sea to recover the cross as The Archbishop of Canterbury attended the ceremony at The Epithany.
.
Cllr Sullivan wears his Margate Charter Trustees robes and bicorn hat with pride in the freezing conditions.
It is a pity that our principal Civic Leader in Thanet, Cllr 'Mauwice' Ezekiel saw fit to make a mockery of the occasion by wearing his traditional robes and bicorn hat like a 'chav' from Newington Estate. With two raps from Standards for 'conduct unbecoming his office' should we really be surprised by this?
.
What next? David Cameron at The Cenotaph in November with a 'Kiss Me Quick' hat?

TIME TO HAVE SOME LIGHT RELIEF

2010-01-14T23:11:00.004Z

My thanks to contributor MK for this lovely picture of an urban fox in Ramsgate, taken a few nights ago.

For foxes it is that time of year for vixens to attract foxes and my daughter rang me at 2 am the other evening to ask me to come over to her house as some-one was banging her wheely bins and scrabbling around outside her house. The culprits were not burglars or Thanet chavs but a fox and vixen caught in flagrante delicto!

On the subject of love and passion and Facebook security in general, it is just possible that our former Margate Mayoress might like to consider her Facebook site details and who her 'friends' are, as the cautionary tale below highlights so wonderfully.

I finish, this evening with a joke sent to me by a new contributor to Strife.

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken wall for TDC. One from London, another from Dover and the third from Thanet.

They go with a TDC Officer to examine the wall. The London contractor takes out his note-book and gets scribbling into it as he measures the wall in detail. "Well" he says, " I figure the job will run about £2,000: £900 for materials; £700 for my crew and £400 profit for me."

The Dover contractor does some measuring and figuring and then says, " I can do this for £1,600: £800 for materials; £500 for my crew and £300 profit for me."
.
The Thanet contractor doesn't do any measuring or even get his pencil and notebook out but leans over to the TDC Officer and whispers, " £3, 600".
.
The TDC Officer, incredulous, says, " You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"
.

The Thanet contractor whispers back, " £1000 for me, £1000 for you and I hire the guy from Dover as a sub-contractor to do the job."
.

"Done", says the Officer. And that is how it all works.

WILD EZEKIEL PARTY ACCUSATIONS AS LOCAL CLLR IS FOUND WANTING IN WESTBROOK

2010-01-14T00:24:00.003Z

What an interesting tale, the 2008/9 TDC Asset disposal proposals have become. We now have 3 Village Green Applications at KCC from HOOT, Dumpton Park Drive and now Westbrook Against Selling Promenade Site (WASPS), all because TDC just do not get the picture locally.

Could I suggest readers visit www.westbrookwasps.blogspot.com to see how well the campaign is going to stop TDC selling off a rare piece of open space between the concrete promenade and chalk cliffs at Westbrook by Barnes Avenue Car Park.

The history behind the campaign is interesting. The original proposal document from TDC was vague to say the least about exactly what was being proposed to be sold off for development. It turned out to be the large rough grassland site beside Barnes Ave Car Park. (see picture above). The locals who use this grass area were annoyed to say the least and got organised with Beach Warden Tony Sykes getting a web-site set up and getting over 140 local residents involved.

They even had a meeting with Mr Ellis of D J Ellis (an approved TDC contractor) who had put the idea to TDC ('Wodger' perhaps) that 12 luxury eco-pod chalets could be sited here to provide accommodation for visitors to the TC; i.e. The proposal was to put a 'caravan park' on the promenade in Westbrook!

The local electorate turned to their local Cllrs who happened to be Mike Tomlinson (Ezekiel Party) and spouse of Cabinet Member 'Shirl' and Cllr McCastree ( Thanet's only Ind 'Con' and reputedly a developer). E-mails were not responded to and to this date, these 2 local Cllrs have failed to talk with, meet with or even discuss concerns, that over 145 local residents in their ward have raised. They have utterly failed to grasp their role as Ward Cllrs in that they have a duty to take concerns of their electorate to Council and represent them, even if they incurr the wrath of the Leader of The Ezekiel Party!

These two Cllrs might need to be reminded of the 2007 Election results in Westbrook Ward. This normally 'safe' Conservative Ward polled 567 votes for M. Tomlinson but Ind McCastree polled 433 votes and excluded Payne (Con) on 432 votes. Do the incumbent Ezekiel Party not realise that in Westbrook as elsewhere in Thanet, they are upsetting their traditional electorate and 'politicising' them to become organised and a coherent group who have become dis-enchanted with The Ezekiel Party?

The story gets even better, however. Cllr Iris Johnston lives in this ward and as a private local resident has been in contact with WASPs. Word of this got to The Ezekiel Party's Deputy, 'Woger' who then penned this scurrilous sentence to Cllr Mark Nottingham in a letter:

' Barnes car park, a completely under utilised piece of land, suitable for a 'Holiday village' development of a few luxury Chalets was identified, and what happened then, your Group immediately opposed the sale of this piece of land and by applying for Village Green status effectively blocked the proposal you are so firmly in favour of.'

Now, whilst I understand that 'Woger' is reputed to froth at the mouth if you mention ECR in his hearing or leap like Salar The Salmon if Iris Johnston's name is spoken or even become apoplectic if he hears the word 'Bertie' , he should have realised that WASPs are non-political and are just simply pee-ed off with TDC for even considering such a hare-brained scheme.

My understanding is that Clive Hart has written to 'Woger' stating that he cannot understand what 'Woger ' is on about and quite rightly denies any political involvement in Westbrook WASPs. WASPs also deny any such 'political' interference. In a letter to 'Woger' Clive Hart has said :

'I can assure you that the Labour Group have made no collective decision whatsoever (one way or the other) on this particular matter and that to my knowledge no Labour member has had anything to to do with applying for Village Green status. I hope you will correct these inaccuracies ASAP. '

It would seem that a sense of paranoia now stalks the Leadership of the Ezekiel Party. They utterly fail to understand that you risk your local traditional support with a mad scheme to put a caravan site on an area of rare grasses and flowers below Thanet's chalk cliffs that is used by locals to sun-bathe and picnic on and walk their dogs through. It is fully utilised not just by humans (who happen to be your electorate) but it also has winter visitors like rare snow buntings and shore larks, sheltering and feeding on seeds etc. It is a rather special wild-life habitat and enhances our beautiful coast line.

I leave you, dear reader, with a quote from 'Mauwice' himself in last week's IOTG concerning his thoughts about our environment and you might wonder how it matches his ideas about D J Ellis running a 'caravan park' on Westbrook promenade: " I love the country side here and I love the beaches'.

THE LEADERSHIP MISLEADS ITS OWN COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC

2010-01-12T16:01:00.016Z

The Ezekiel Party and Leadership at TDC has been trying to promote the idea of 600 luxury homes on the Eurokent Site for almost 2 years and now wishes to re-designate Eurokent from Employment Land to 'Residential' within The Core Strategy. Because they would thus create their own shortfall in employment land, they have stuck Policy 25 into The Core Strategy, which means any development that promises 'loads of jobs' will be able to be approved and ride over all other policies protecting Thanet's open countryside.

Before Christmas we had 'Mauwice' in Council saying ' You tell me where we are going to build 600 houses if not on Eurokent ' and the same phrase repeated by Ezekiel Party Cabinet Member, Cllr Moores on BigNews Margate.

Have they forgotten/failed to read/ did not understand The Annual Monitoring Report April 2008 - Mar 2009 that was Annex 1 to Item 4 on the Agenda for TDC Cabinet on 4 December 2009 that they all attended and were given documentation for? It was only 5 weeks ago!

What game is going on at TDC and why do 'Mauwice', 'Woger' and Colin Fitt continue to claim that Eurokent needs to have luxury and executive housing on it to meet the requirement imposed on TDC by The South Esat Regional Plan 2009? Here are some extracts that were part of the 'brief' prepared for 'Cabinet' by hard working TDC Officers, that clearly have not been grasped by The Ezekiel Cabinet or have been completely ignored:

'The Regional Spatial Strategy ‘the South East Plan’ was adopted in 2009. It sets total provision forThanet District at 7,500 net additional homes (375 per annum) over the period 2006-2026. The remaining requirement over the period 2010-2015 (calculation as per Annex 4) is 834 net additional homes.

In conclusion, the supply of deliverable housing over the period 2010-2015 exceeds the

requirement for that period by 293%.'

'The levels of actual and projected dwelling completions over the full period are such that it would not be necessary to aim to deliver more homes in any year above the set annual rate. Indeed, projected dwelling completions in the next few years beyond this AMR period substantially exceed housing requirements.

This, in turn is manifested in a reduction in the quantity of homes needing to be delivered year on year to meet the total requirement to 2026 (the ‘manage’ line). On the basis of this trajectory the total requirement to 2026 would be satisfied 8 years ahead of that date, and by 2026 projected delivery would exceed requirements by 714 dwelling units.'

'Indicator 11

Projected net additional dwellings up to the end of the South East Plan Period

Monitoring and Comments

In the current monitoring year (2009/10) 1164 dwellings are predicted available for delivery. Over the remaining period to 2026 a further 5067 dwellings are predicted available.

Notional target met and exceeded.'

The Officer preparing the report makes the point that the figures only cover large sites with 5 or more dwellings and 'make no allowance for windfall permissions , which historically, have represented a very significant proportion of supply (of dwellings) delivered in the district.'

If you would like to read the report and grasp what it says in detail, try the link below:

http://tdc-mg-dmz.thanet.gov.uk/Published/C00000151/M00001644/$$ADocPackPublic.pdf

So Officers are reporting ' WE WILL EXCEED THE 2026 TARGET BY 714 DWELLINGS AND HIT TARGET 8 YEARS EARLY' and yet 'Our Leader' and his cronies claim otherwise. The only conclusion is that not only are TDC's Councillors being misled over this nonsense at Eurokent and the need for it to be 'housing' but through comments in the local press, the public is also being misled and misinformed by TDC's Leadership.

WHEELIE BIN CONFUSION NOW REIGNS!

2010-01-11T21:25:00.002Z

The latest PR blurb from TDC about waste collection has now utterly confused me. Whilst I accept that a little bit of snow in Thanet has affected Collections, it is interesting to see that last year's Christmas & New Year Programme, (see pic above) had less days of no collections and at least took blue (recyclable waste) away with black bins. Mind you TDC did come in for stick about treating recyclable waste as the same as land-fill waste!

This year in contrast has been reduced to a fiasco by a number of factors. More time off for the waste collectors ; no Sat collections nor on Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec which to the best of my knowledge are not public holidays; no blue bins with black bins and of course a smattering of snow.

TDC's PR team and its Press Releases have become risible and perhaps the staff are superfluous to requirements as they invent fatuous quotes for cabinet members. The latest offering today about bin collections is contradicted when you ring TDC. So when will the debris of the Biggles Household's Festive Season be removed? Well it seems that my blue bin might be emptied on Fri 22 Jan (last empty was Fri 18 Dec) and that my black bin will be emptied this Friday 15th Jan; or it might be emptied sooner, so do I leave it on the pavement?; and any overflow of household rubbish wont be picked up according to PR 'blurb' but customer services says it will if I leave it out. All very confusing.

We can always blame a smattering of snow,I suppose, for this chaos and be charitable about Cabinet Member Shirley Tomlinson who clearly spends too much time as a member of The Planning Committee, instead of keeping a closer eye on her own brief.!

UPDATE - 14 JAN 2010

My thanks to Clrr Chris Wells for this update.

For those on Thursday/Friday collections its BLACK BINS this week; next week and put your BLUE BINS out on Thu 28th and Fri 29th. (With a bursting Blue Bin that was full on 26th Dec the Biggles household has had to suspend recycling for a whole month, until Fri 29th)

AN EZEKIEL PARTY COUNCILLOR GETS ROASTED IN TORY HEARTLAND

2010-01-11T00:42:00.001Z

A 'Strife' team member attended a meeting on Saturday last, in St Andrews Church Hall, Reading Street, Broadstairs called by residents fed up with traffic hurtling through their village.

Here is his report.

Cllr Crispin Crotty, Conservative, Beacon Ward came under fire from a very irate female resident following his short address to the meeting. Here is what led up to her outburst.

A hundred residents had made their way cautiously along un-gritted roads and ice-covered pavements to the church hall to voice their concerns over the continuous traffic dangers in the narrow village streets. A thriving community with its church, post-office and pub and two schools close by, Reading Street has been the scene of damaged property, wrecked cars, near misses from cars mounting the pavement, cyclists upended and recently, an elderly pedestrian taken to hospital having been knocked off her feet by a car whose driver claimed he'd 'only being doing 10mph'. As the front of the car was seriously damaged, some doubt was cast on the alleged speed.

One resident has had her garden wall demolished SEVEN times in four years by speeding vehicles and HGVs. (see the picture below!)

Many residents gave accounts of how they saw the problem and the possible solutions. Some graphic accounts were heard and one speaker criticised The Planning Department and Committee at TDC for allowing more development without taking into account the resulting increased traffic. There is no continuous pavement and in places the pavement is at the same level as the road thereby giving no protection to pedestrians.

Dr Stephen Ladyman M.P.spoke from the floor saying what he would now do, who he would speak to and how he saw the situation could be dealt with. So what caused the anger from the fur-hatted female resident?

Cllr Crotty, the only elected Conservative Councillor present ( his fellow Beacon Ward Conservative Councillor, Cllr Lawson, is on extended winter holiday ,in Gibraltar, not Panama and neither Conservative KCC Councillor attended) said he 'would try to speak to the relevant people'.

"I'm disgusted with you" said irate female resident. "I want action not words". Round of applause from the audience. As one member of the audience said, "I thought Cllr Crotty was going to burst into tears."

Could it be that Cllr Crotty hasn't faced an angry public meeting before or did he assume that being in a Conservative stronghold he could fob off the locals with empty promises?

(Ed: Although a South Thanet Ward, it is interesting that here we have yet more traditional 'conservatives' unhappy with the lack of representation and support from their Conservative Ward Councillor. Why on earth did he not call in his Conservative KCC colleagues to attend? Highways are a KCC responsibility after all!)

TDC's 'CABAL' SQUIRM UNDER PRESSURE FROM IOTG

2010-01-10T00:00:00.001Z

My congratulations to Saul Leese and Rebecca Smith at IOTG for putting the spotlight this week on TDC's Core Strategy and Policy 25. In the process they have highlighted the obfuscation, confusion and squirming about issues by 'Our Leader', 'Woger' and TDC's lead officer on the matter, Colin Fitt.

For those who are not upto flying speed on this issue, a brief reminder is needed. TDC's current Local Plan was completed in 2006 and allocated more than enough employment land for Thanet for the next 20 years at Eurokent and Manston Business Park. The situation concerning Thanet's designated employment land is supported by The South East Plan. However, even before Thanet's new dwellings figures were increased from 6000 to 7,500, TDC (together with its own little 'quango' without democratic control, EKO LLP) has been trying to change the designation of the Eurokent site from 'employment land' to 'housing' and began this process in April 2008. There are numerous paragraphs in the new 'Core Strategy' devoted to changing Eurokent's designation for 'housing for aspiring people' (expensive housing out of the reach of most in Thanet) and a Policy 25 is introduced that effectively states that any site on farmland can be developed in Thanet by 'over-riding' all other TDC policies if it 'promises' lots of jobs. Now forgive me but my understanding is that 'jobs' on offer has nothing to do with whether a Planning Application should be approved or not and is not part of The Planning Protocol.

Anyway, back to the IOTG article.I can imagine the situation where intrepid reporter Saul Leese went into to the luxuriously carpeted 'Ezekiel Towers' in Margate last week to 'interview' Colin Fitt and perhaps found a little 'cabal' of 'Mauwice', 'Woger' and Colin awaiting his questions?

Let's highlight some nonsense from 'Our Leader':
Obviously riled that Save Kent (CPRE) has criticised Policy 25 and a change to Eurokent, this is the petty nasty comment elicited: " People at Protect Kent have nice jobs and homes......." (How many houses do you have in Thanet, Cllr Ezekiel? Your Cllr declaration of interest in 2008 at TDC showed a finacial interest in 4 or was it 5?)
"I love the countryside ..............." ( There is no evidence of this as Thanet Earth, an industrial estate in every sense blots the landscape and huge warehouses given planning consent almost up to Acol, could do so shortly.) " Thanet Earth is a good example that showed benefits for the people in Thanet" ( Importing Spanish tomatoes and employing exactly how many local Thanet people? The facts are that most employees are foreign EU workers. So who is benefitting from Thanet Earth?) " We have had a lot of debate over the policy ( Policy 25) and it doesn't open the floodgates to building on a large scale." (What nonsense. He knows perfectly well that CGI owns some expensive farmland for China Gateway Phases 2 and 3 and you could hardly describe their declared proposals as other than building on the large scale! Mr Colin Fitt gives as an example, justifying Policy 25, just such development on the large scale!)

Lets now see even more utter tripe from our twice discredited Leader's, Deputy; 'Woger'(whose 'jumping like a salmon ' antics at Edinburgh Woollen Mill make him discredited also; let alone his antics concerning housing in Berkeley Rd): In answer to a question whether Protect Kent's concerns were justified he replied,
" This is just the first stage. They must submit a planning application." Of course they have to Cllr Latchford but if your Policy 25 says they can develop on agricultural land ,they will cite Policy 25 as justification for an appeal if you say they can't!) In answer to a question about ensuring jobs for people in Thanet, 'Woger's reply was " China Gateway can only employ 10% Chinese." (So despite numerous unminuted meetings with CGI, a visit to China organised and hosted by CGI, Cllr Latchford denies the 'Concierge' Proposals for Chinese Managers/ key workers and their families and the initial idea that 500 homes would be needed. for them. Each employee and family would be subject to British Immigration requirements any way, would they not?.)

Now to Mr Colin Fitt.
He seems to justify Policy 25 with the specious argument that it is there to 'catch the eye of planning consultants of major companies'. He said, " For example, if a company like Sanyo suggested a 'green wedge site' like Dane Valley Margate to build a factory, we would suggest somewhere else. These types of companies send out planning consultants and we believe that if this policy (Policy 25) was not in our core strategy they will think we're not open for business". ( Mr Fitt knows perfectly well that there is no way any company would even consider development on a protected by TDC Policy site in a 'green wedge'. What he assumes already is that he will not be able to say, 'we have just the site you need at Eurokent' which is the present situation, because Ezekiel, Latchford and EKO LLP are hell bent on making sure that Eurokent has housing on it (more lucrative) instead of employers employing workers.)

When asked by Saul Leese about how TDC could ensure that a Policy 25 development on farmland would lead to jobs for people living in Thanet, Mr Fitt replied, "There is the possibility of putting in place a legal agreement stipulating a percentage of jobs for people living in Thanet." ( Pray tell us how TDC can do this , Mr Fitt, in the face of EU and UK Employment Law?)

When asked about Housing Targets set by Govt, Mr Fitt replied, " We're told by the Government to ignore existing planning applications......" ( Really Mr Fitt? Where does it say this? Could you substantiate this extraordinary statement? He fails to mention that completions are already 2 years ahead of target , according to TDC's own Housing Audit and that it is not TDC ( other than EKO LLP who want to build houses on Eurokent) but private developers who have lead the way in exceeding the Govt's targets in thanet and will continue to do so.)

When pressed to explain why Eurokent (in the Core Strategy) should have 600 houses instead of being used for commercial development, Mr Fitt replied: " We designated the land at Eurokent for business 15 years ago. Its a good location for housing. They can walk to shops and schools." ( Notice how the question is not answered. He ignores the fact that Eurokent was included in the Thanet Plan 2006 for commercial development and that The South East Plan states that TDC should maintain it for that. It's a good location for housing for EKO LLP and Rose Farm Estates' profits, Mr Fitt, whilst you have failed to attract and have even actively discouraged development there for employment?)

I am flabbergasted with most of these comments by this ' long past sell-by date' Cabal at the top of TDC. As previous 'Strife' posts have tried to illustrate, TDC does not having a 'housing requirement deficit' even with the 2009 change in goal posts. There is no sound justification for housing on Eurokent and Policy 25. I hope all our TDC Councillors view these proposals for the sham they are. If Policy 25 is incorporated into The Core Strategy, stand by for industrial sprawl all over Thanet's remaining open and highly productive farmland as it is a 'charter' for development and ensures that China Gateway Phases 2 and 3 can proceed or any other development that CGI or any one else has in mind. Profits for developers like Rose farm Estates and CGI appear to have a greater priority with the present leadership at TDC, than helping to feed its population in 20 years time. I wonder why? To paraphrase Protect Kent's, Brian Lloyd, 'what an unusual approach to employment development.'

WHEN WILL WE HAVE A GAS SUPPLY CRISIS IN THIS COLD SPELL?

2010-01-07T20:45:00.001Z

An interesting problem with some modern gas boilers has come to my attention in the past 24 hrs as the 'Big Freeze' continues. As mains gas pressure drops, as it did yesterday, many boilers close down and do not fire up again. Fine if you are at home but leaving an empty house with bolier setting on low heating as you jet away from temperatures of -17C could lead to some problems awaiting your return!

Despite this Government being in power for 13 years, it has failed dismally to address strategic gas supplies that are needed for electricity generation, home heating and cooking. We have only about 14 days worth of reserve stored in Centrica's Rough Field in the N. Sea and in a number of underground salt storage areas in Yorkshire. Most sensible countries aim for 80 days of strategic gas reserves and the Chinese set themselves a goal to have 90-100 days of oil and gas reserves.

'Sound- bite' Government and 'the just in time' mentality could give us all a major headache in the next few days or so. While the media has been concentrating on the'white stuff' with all its pretty pics, how many of us realise that there was a crisis in late December when electricity generators had to cut back on gas use to maintain mains pressure to householders? We are now in the middle of at least two weeks of some of the lowest temperatures recorded in the UK for over 20 years and what is striking is that almost the whole country is affected, unlike in normal hard winters.

Gas main pressure went down yesterday again and I have a pessimistic thought that our strategic gas reserves are going to be found inadequate. Should the worst happen look out for power cuts and your boilers and gas cookers not having that welcoming blue flame burning to heat your house or cook your food. What will be a Labour Government's chances in an election in a few months time if this happens? As low as the temperature at RAF Benson?

LET ISLAM4UK MARCH THROUGH WOOTON BASSETT

2010-01-05T21:43:00.002Z

I am perfectly happy, as an ex-serviceman, for Anjem Choudary of Islam4UK and any demonstrators he can organize, to march through Wooton Bassett. We either live in a democratic, multi-cultural society or we don't. Where more Muslims attend Friday prayers at mosques up and down the land, than do C of E members at church on Sunday, then perhaps it is time to realise how this country has changed. They are fellow Britons are they not?

We must not allow our respect for our dead servicemen and women, who died serving their elected Government's political wishes in Afghanistan, whilst under equipped, under-manned and ill supported by that very same Government, blind us from the reality of war. The 'enemy' dead and severely wounded were Afghans fighting on their own soil; the many hundreds of innocent civilians caught up in the conflict who have lost their lives or who have been maimed , were just ordinary people trying to eke out their lives in the best way they could. Are they not all victims? In an odd way, Mr Choudary reminds us of this dismal reality.

Of course Islam4UK are being deliberately provocative. So how should we respond? We stoke the fires that give warmth to racism in this cold land if we demonise our fellow Muslim subjects of Her Majesty, however misguided we think some of them are.

Yes, let Mr Choudary carry mock coffins through Wooton Bassett to remind us that the victims of war are not just 'our own brave heroes' but let him do it in a town that has empty streets as the good people of Wooton Bassett shut up their shops, close their doors and draw their curtains closed.

A far more emphatic comment is thus made than the pathetic posturing of a Prime Minister who as Chancellor and then Prime Minister has under-manned, under -equipped and under- paid our young men and women sent to Afghanistan to die and be maimed, purely to satisfy his predecessor's posturing on the world stage alongside a discredited US President called Bush.

AN EYESORE IN ST PETERS NEEDS ADDRESSING BY TDC

2010-01-04T00:23:00.004Z

This eyesore of a dangerous, flytipped and insecure site at 85 Albion Rd, St. Peters, Broadstairs needs to be sorted by TDC and quickly. It is close to the recent problems in Victoria Rd where houses are falling apart as a result of settling from chalk workings.

It does beg the question as to why the three Ezekiel Party Cllrs for the ward, Cllr Ken Gregory (Chair of Planning), Cllr Zita Wiltshire (Cabinet member) and Cllr Jason Savage have not spotted the problem and done something about it! Do they walk around their ward?

It has insecure fencing as the pictures below show and is accessible by children who can gain access and fall into the deep excavation in the site. Surely TDC , at the insistence of the 3 Ward Cllrs can make the owners clean up the site and put secure fencing around it?

This should be easily done as this site has just been the subject of a planning application. ( Please go and look at F/TH/09/0941 dated 22 Dec 2009). E-ssured Cars UK Ltd, would like to infill and cover the site in tarmac to make 25 car parking positions for car storage, with access through Livingstone Road. This has got to be good news, as the idea of housing on it might not be sensible given the problems in Victoria Rd. What Albion Motors next door think about this, will be interesting to see.

I am often accused of being cynical but I find it interesting that E-ssured highlight the fact that the site is presently a fly-tipped mess, in their application and thus locals would support any improvement!

Well, Ward Cllrs and TDC, over to you. You might like to make sure that E-ssured clean up this site and make it secure quickly before a child has an accident; particularly after neglecting this eyesore for so long and to do so before you are prepared to support their Planning Application.!

LETS ALL WISH JESSICA WALES AND HER FAMILY A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME

2009-12-29T20:09:00.001Z

Those who know Jessica Wales or have followed Jessica's battle with cystic fibrosis over the years, will, I am sure, be praying now that yesterday's double lung transplant, presumably at Harefield Hospital, will give this remarkable young woman her chance of life at last.

Jessica, a former pupil of Ursuline College and resident of Westgate, was diagnosed at 4 months with cystic fibrosis and throughout her life has fought illness, debilitation and life threatening infections. A double lung transplant was regarded 4 years ago as her only chance of further life and she has already beaten the odds with a prognosis that at the time, gave her only 2 years to live.

Jessica has not only fought her own battle with this chronic condition but has raised awareness nationally for 'organ donations' and has raised £thousands for cystic fibrosis charities. She is a remarkable young lady from Thanet and I pray a successful operation will give her the chance for life she so richly deserves.

I leave you with her own words from earlier this year:

"I am only 19 and I haven't lived yet. I just want the chance to go and live my life like anyone else my age."

From Twitter on Dec 12th 2009: " Lungs really playing up!"

UPDATE 13 JAN 2010
It is with great sadness that I report that Jessica lost her battle 'to live her life, just like anybody else' yesterday; may she rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon her. I extend my condolences to her family and urge readers to consider organ donation. Perhaps, if Jessica had had the chance of a transplant a few years ago, she would still be with us.

A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS

2009-12-23T20:54:00.000Z

Could I wish all my team at 'Strife' , our contributors, readers and commentators a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas.

Whatever our differences, for most it is still a time to meet up with family and friends and reaffirm love and friendship and to celebrate the birth of a Child.

In ' A Christmas Carol ', Dickens wrote these words for Scrooge's nephew :

"I am sure I have always found Christmas a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable , pleasant time; the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."

So, Happy Christmas to all my 'fellow passengers' to the grave!

WHAT HAS 'WOGER' TO SAY ABOUT EKO's DEBT AND LATE ACCOUNTS?

2009-12-21T23:59:00.001Z

Tonight I ask some questions concerning our very own costly 'Quango' called EKO LLP and of our own 'Director', 'Woger' Latchford. (TDC has spent over £550,000 so far on EKO whilst closing toilets and curtailing street cleaning in Thanet). The situation does appear to be worse though than I thought! But before I go into details ask yourself what is missing from 'Woger's' statement in the PR blurb announcing this wonderful quango, EKO LLP in Feb 2008?:

"By pooling our resources we will be better placed to plan for the benefit of local parties and businesses"

No mention of the electorate or council tax-payer?

The problem with EKO LLP is accountability. Is it under democratic control of TDC Councillors or not? Are Cllrs aware of what it is costing us all? I doubt it! There would appear to be a small problem with KCC's Auditors (NAO) and EKO LLP. In the KCC electronic archives you will find details of KCC's Governance and Audit Committtee meeting of 16th Sep 2009. Here are some points:

1. EKO LLP has not prepared its annual accounts and these are still not available for public scrutiny? Why not ,'Woger'? Are you not a director? Are you not aware that this is causing a problem in KCC's Accounts?

2. KCC coughed up £4.368 million for the spine road that we are all enjoying as we drive through Eurokent, and yet 'a management agreement states that EKO will re-imburse the cost of the road within two years of signing the agreement'. How will you do this, 'Woger'? Are you not a director?

3. KCC's own accounts do not seem to reflect the transactions and balances caused by EKO's purchases or expenditure. There appears to be a discrepancy as a result of land sold to EKO still being on KCC's balance sheet as a fixed asset. In simple terms KCC's accounts show its fixed assets overstated by £5.62 MILLION and accounts do not reflect the disposal of the land in question.

I love auditors and the way they criticise a shambles; this is the way NAO commented:

Our audit work identified several issues relating to :

* the accounting treatment of the sale to EKO of land owned by KCC ( i.e tax-payers land)

* the lack of recognition of EKO's liability to contribute to the cost of the Eurokent spine road within KCC's financial statements.

* the lack of of recognition of EKO's transactions and balances within KCC's accounts.

* the late preparation of EKO's own accounts.

So what is one to make of this? We the tax-payer, through our Council Tax to KCC and TDC are paying for this shambles of obfuscation and odd accountancy that seems to surround EKO LLP.

What is very worrying is that half of the Eurokent site and presumably a beneficiary of tax-payers largesse, is Rose Farm Estates; a private company?

What confidence can we have in this whole dubious process that seems to spend tax-payers money without any proper accountability or control? The £ MILLIONs involved makes a pink carpet 'sub-contract' at TDC and obfuscation about who fitted it, seem small change in comparison.

Isn't it time we were told the truth about this whole business? Isn't it time that our Councillors took democratic control of what 'Woger' and his KCC 'co-director' are about? How will the tax-payer get back the £4.368 MILLION spent on the road? The problem is that as time gently passes, we forget the £MILLIONS spent and never recovered by East Kent Spatial Development Company; the £MILLIONS spent on Manston Business Park and now the £MILLIONS spent on Eurokent.

Is it just possible that a 'housing development' will end up sorting this mess out and that is the real reason why expensive housing to attract 'the right sort' is the option that 'Woger' and The Ezekiel Party are pushing instead of the original thanet Plan to have Eurokent as 'employment land'?

If you thought that a Labour Central Government wasted your taxes, please appreciate that your 2 local Conservative Councils (KCC & TDC) seem to be doing like-wise.

MARGATE'S MAYORESS TO STEP DOWN FROM 1st JAN 2010

2009-12-21T00:53:00.000Z

Thanet is a small village in many ways and the 'gossip' this week-end has been that it has been announced by The Worshipful The Mayor of Margate, Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell that his Mayoress, Mrs Alexandra Watt-Ruffell is to step down as Mayoress on 1st January for personal reasons.

(The picture above shows them both in May 2009, in happier times.)

EUROKENT SITE - IGNORANT COUNCILLORS AND THE BIG LIE ON HOUSING NEEDS?

2009-12-19T21:38:00.003Z

Strife predicted in the spring of 2008 that TDC had no intention of keeping Eurokent designated as 'employment land' and that has been vindicated by the present 'consultation' document The Local Development Framework Core Strategy that needs your comment on by 18 Jan 2010. Was this site ever promoted anywhere as 'employment land' by the lately departed Mr Bunnet?

CPRE has just announced its horror at what this document proposes. Ezekiel and his Ezekiel Party are proposing that we should build more than 600 exclusive houses here instead of retaining it as designated employment land and at the same time allowing all its policies on Thanet's fast dwindling plateau farm land to be over-ridden if a developer comes along with a promise of a good employment project. Are TDC so arrogant that they think its electorate is stupid? We know that CGI (aka CGP) has already purchased farmland for Phases 2 and 3 of The China Gateway project. Acceptance of the new LDF Core Strategy by our Councillors, in one fell swoop, removes presently designated employment land out of use whilst allowing uncontrolled development over yet more of Thanet's remaining versatile farmland, Are TDC unaware of Global warming and Copenhagen?

The unanswered question about these proposals is for whose benefit is this brazen manipulation being carried out?

Is it the TDC/KCC Quango called EKO LLP with our own 'Woger' Latchford as a director? ( You might be upset to know that a recent FoI request has revealed that EKO LLP cost Thanet Council tax payers £518,000 in 2007/08 and a further £50,000 in 2008/9 whilst your council was closing toilets and cutting back on street cleaning.)

Is it Rose Farm Estates Ltd that owns half the land for this project.(see map above). Who is behind Rose Farm Estates and what are their connections to TDC? (You might have been pleased to think that £6,700,000 of tax payers for that new link road was an investment for employment land but are you quite so happy when you realise that another private company, building luxury houses, is going to benefit from tax payers largesse from the setting up of the major infrastructure item through the site).

Is it CGI who will be able to develop its farmland that it has owned for two years and can get an application in for China Gateway Phases 2 and 3? (Bear in mind that Ken Wills has said that Gateway 1 depends on Phases 2 and 3).

What we have is the Ezekiel Party and 'Woger' pushing this for all its worth. (The pic above shows two Rogers out at Westwood Cross in early 2008, canvassing ideas from shoppers for Eurokent as a PR stunt with no validity with any branch of statistics and questionaire use.) They argue that Thanet has a housing target to meet by 2026. So lets look at housing/dwelling targets and data of completions.

The problem is that SEEDA and Govt keep changing the 'goal posts' and it may well be that a Conservative Govt will reduce these targets anyway. (Is that why Ezekiel and Latchford are so desperate to get the new LDF sorted?)

In the period 2001-2016 Thanet had a target of 6000 new dwellings. The South East Plan (Approved 2009) now gives Thanet a target of 7,500 new dwellings between 2006 - 2026. What is interesting is that between 2001-2006, Thanet had 1,923 new dwelling completions (223 more than needed)

If we accept that nothing will change between now and 2026, the South East Plan requires 7,500 new dwellings at an average of 375 units per year. The completion figures, so far, look good:

2006/7 - 651 completions.

2007/8 - 606 completions.

2008/9 - 726 completions.

So in 3 years we have a total of 1,983 completions when the average requirement meant only 1,125. In otherwords we have exceeded the 'new goal posts' already by 858 (76%) and have more than 2 years 'in hand'!

So I ask the question again, what are Ezekiel and Latchford up to with the nonsense about housing on Eurokent?

What have we in the pipeline awaiting this recession to end?: 100 houses in Minster; 1000 houses on Nash Rd; 50 odd at St Augustine's Westgate; 70-100 still at Sea Bathing; 175-200 on the Hereson School site; 20 odd on The Pegwell Bay garden grab; etc etc. I could even mention the new house by 10 Berkeley Rd!

The point is simply that with the excess already, the big approved projects in the future and the private development within our urban areas, Thanet does not need Eurokent to be luxury housing for 'aspiring' incomers or key Chinese workers and their families for China Gateway.

It needs to be kept and promoted for employment purposes and our dwindling versatile farmland preserved for food production that our grand-children will need, perhaps desperately. So Councillors, get with the facts and data and refuse to be kept in ignorance by the senior officers and Leadership of TDC.

A SNOWY THANET POTPOURRI

2009-12-19T11:49:00.001Z

I hate the white stuff and this was the scene at 8.30am from the garret window. It looks pretty but we'll get partial thawing and tonight the roads and pavements will ice up. Conditions tonight will be treacherous and how many young drivers will be out taking friends home who have never driven on snow and ice before? I wonder how many cars will fall victim to that notorious bend on Manston Rd, Birchington?

Wasn't it nice to see Richard Samuel writing to IOTG to explain his actions at The Dane Valley count. We can assume it is his version of an apology and I am sure his 'error of judgement' will not be repeated. As John Worrow is now an NTCA 'officer' (aka Ezekiel Party), readers might like to enjoy a quote from him in early 2007 when he was 'Grey' as opposed to 'Blue':

"There is no going back , only forward for it came through loud and clear, during the recent canvass, that the public wants something better than empty promises and spin . By offering the Electorate a commitment to heeding their needs and acting with integrity and initiative ,we will see the disillusioned galvanized into positive action by coming out and voting for an independent group, spearheaded by a new brand of honest politicians."

Looking back into Strife, I rather liked this report in Mar 2009 in regard to the Dreamland Scenic Railway fire of Easter 2008:
"Just under a year ago, TDC was talking purposefully about insisting on urgent repair of the scenic railway or 'compulsory purchase' . This was reported in IOTG on 18 Apr 2008":
"At the meeting (TDC Meeting), Cllr Clive Hart raised the concern that although 20 per cent of the Scenic Railway would need to be completely rebuilt the other 80 per cent would still need work done to it as it has sat unmaintained for the past two years. Officers agreed works would also cover the remaining 80 per cent to ensure the ride would be operational.
Council officers considered it “reasonable to expect that the ride might be repaired and operational by Easter 2009.”

"Well Easter 2009 is only three weeks away and my understanding is that despite TDC paying £42,000 in August to put in proper secure fencing (despite Cllr Watt-Ruffell heading up security at Dreamland), TDC has not got the money back for the tax-payer and MTCRC still hasn't got any detailed repair work done with Peter Beck for Waterbridge stating 'We still need to secure funding".

Well, they have now, courtesy of the tax-payer and therein lies my disgust as a tax-payer.

To round off a wintry morning before braving slushy pavements, it has come to my attention that the 'tag-team' of Ezekiel Party Cllrs in N Birchington Ward, 'Woger' and 'Developer' Day, may have to be busy again soon, making sure that Day's house is not overlooked by a 3 storey contemporary designed block containing 8 apartments. The idea is that Little Place in Herschell Rd gets demolished and go and look at what those wonderful architects, Clague, have come up with on F/TH/09/0939, citing and picturing Day's house in Berkely Rd again. It couldn't get better! Hang on it could.

As 'Mauwice' is still pushing for houses on Eurokent (has been since Apr 2008!) and is reported at Full Council on Thursday to have jibed at Labour Cllrs,' well you tell me where I can put 600 dwellings instead?',
What about this for a start? 8 dwellings on Little Place is an excellent idea and I commend it to Cllrs on Planning without reservation. Have also sent a Strife team member off to talk to the owners of Aurora, Herschell Rd (their rambling place is right beside Cllr Day's). Could get another apartment block with at least 10 dwellings squeezed in there; after all TDC set the precedent for squeezing modern contemporary buildings onto postage stamps!

CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST IN BERKELEY ROAD, BIRCHINGTON.

2009-12-17T00:57:00.005Z

Some regular readers will remember the interest generated last year in the very odd planning decision to allow a house (the one in the pic above) to be built on a postage stamp of land in Berkeley Rd, Birchington after 20 years of rejected applications (made by G. Day & Son) and a refusal by an Independent Planning Inspector on Appeal. You may wish to refresh your memory by going to( http://thanetstrife.blogspot.com/2008/07/worry-is-not-what-our-councillors-are.html ). You will notice how out of style with the rest of the road it is and that despite objections from the neighbouring property owner that it would overlook her house and swimming pool, her local Birchington Cllr, Cllr 'Woger' Latchford refused to support her objection to it, when asked to do so and when it was being built, even walked on the scaffolding and looked down into her garden and swimming pool with Cllr Day, his fellow Cllr for Birchington North Ward.

You should be aware that this house is now the official address of Cllr Day (vice-chair of Planning).

At this stage readers with a special interest in planning matters might like to pop off to the UK Planning portal and look at Planning Application F/TH/09/0732. This application was made by residents living in Herschell Rd, but whose garden and access to a garage can be accessed from Berkely Rd beside number 10. They employed Clague Architects to come up with a really modern contemporary designed 2 storey , 4 bed-roomed house on the site in place of the large garden and a large garage, with access to the property from Berkeley Rd.

A picture of the site is shown below and the eagle-eyed reader will note how close the new house will be to, yes, Cllr Day's new house!

The story about this latest planning application gets better! Bear with me and savour the moment, as I am sure Cllr Day's close northern boundary neighbour will.

Clague Architects cited as a strong case for their vey modern contemporary dwelling to be be built so close to Cllr Day's one-off house, the following:
"Our aim is to consider the precedent of unique one-off houses being built in the area."

This application met with approval by TDC's Planning Officers; after all, a precedent had been set in Berkeley Rd by Cllr Day, had it not? However, a local Birchington Cllr, by the name of Cllr Latchford OBE, objected to it and 'called it in' to be considered by The Planning Committtee! (One must assume that Cllr Day had objected but couldn't 'call it in' but that Cllr Latchford could.)

Enjoy this from the extract from last night's (16th Dec 2009) agenda for Planning Committee:
'The application is brought before members of the Planning Committee by Cllr Latchford on the ground that the design is out of keeping with the surrounding street scene and therefore the scheme would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the surrounding area.'

Anyway, after a site visit on 4 Dec and in spite of Cllr Day not being able to participate on this item last night and Cllr Latchford being an objector and bringing up the 'overlooking into garden and swimming pool at No. 10' ,when adressing The Committtee as ' Ward Cllr', I am delighted to report that this wonderful contemporary design was APPROVED and that Cllr Day will now have a new house in very close proximity to his new home in Berkeley Rd.

Whilst 'chickens coming home to roost' comes to mind , there is a more serious aspect to this for the electorate in Birchington and in Thanet as a whole, to consider.

When The Ezekiel Party Deputy Leader, (with one rap from Standards last year) was approached by a neighbouring owner, as her ward cllr , to support her objection to Cllr Day's house ( 1 m away from her back fence and overlooking straight into her backgarden and onto her swimming pool), 'Woger' declined to be involved and was later seen viewing this lady's property from his 'mate's' scaffolding and quite clearly approved of it. How strange that he should have a completely different stance when this new property will clearly impact on his fellow Ezekiel Party Cllr member's property? He calls the application in, opposes it, speaks against it and even uses the very words that the unsupported neighbour had to use herself , without any support from him 18 months earlier!

What does this say about the Ezekiel Party Cllrs in North Birchington or in any Thanet Ward if The Deputy Leader himself behaves in such an inconsistent way? No wonder there are those in Birchington, who used to be Conservative, and now have ideas about organising opposition to all Birchington Conservative Candidates in 2011.

THE EZEKIEL PARTY BEING PETTY AND NASTY?

2009-12-14T22:29:00.000Z

I was delighted to hear that TDC encourages its Councillors to attend 'training sessions' that are run by leading officers to bring all Cllrs upto date with council initiatives. Well, last Wednesday a 'session' was held at The Media Centre, the scene, less than a week earlier, of Sandra Hart being declared as Cllr for Dane Valley Ward.
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But what a contrast in 'attitudes' at the Media Centre last Wednesday evening from The Ezekiel Party, compared to their blatant disregard of The Returning Officer's restrictions on numbers at the count on the previous Thursday!
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It would seem that Clive Hart (Lab Leader) has been encouraging his Labour Cllrs to attend these 'training sessions' and prior to last Wednesday booked himself in with his wife Sandy (newly elected member for Dane Valley) with TDC's Democratic Services Officers to attend on Wed 9 Dec. Mrs Hart's name was on the list of attendees and she duly signed in on arrival for her first 'training session'. She did not stay long and nor did most Labour members. Let me explain why.
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Unlike Richard Samuel, who failed to ask the Ezekiel Party ' hangers on' to leave The Media Centre on the evening of the 'count' ( it is reported that 'Wannabe Worrow' was amongst them), 'Woger' Latchford rushed forward quickly and approached Mr Hart and told him that his new Cllr for Dane Valley was considered by The Ezekiel Party present, to be not entitled to be there as she had yet to be 'sworn-in' on 17 Dec at Council. So Mr Hart, Mrs Hart and the Labour members present, promptly left.
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I regard this as extraordinarily petty and nasty behaviour by 'Woger' and his Ezekiel Party members and is just another reason why I am glad I left NTCA. So a newly elected Cllr is to be discouraged from attending a 'training' evening on the grounds that she has yet to be sworn in? Isn't it fascinating that The Ezekiel Party members and 'Woger' seem to insist on ' correct protocol' when it suits them and took the opportunity of making some petty political point about 'protocol' when a week earlier they were happy to ignore a Returning Officer's rules at an Election Count; a far more serious matter that was ignored by The Returning Officer.
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Just another example to TDC's electorate of 'one rule for us' as The Ezekiel Party and 'another rule' for the rest of you. One has to ask the question how 'Woger' and The Ezekiel Party would have greeted a certain Ingrid Spencer, if she had walked in for 'training' instead of Sandra Hart, as the new member for Dane Valley Ward?

THE WOODS FAMILY PORTRAIT FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS CARD 2009

2009-12-13T00:28:00.000Z

I couldn't resist posting this picture. 9 mistresses, so far, have come out into the open and one is reminded of a Senior Service toast: " To our wives and lovers..... and may they never meet!"

ARROGANCE AND 59,000 REASONS WHY WE NEED CHANGE AT TDC

2009-12-11T19:31:00.001Z

Rebecca Smith and her team are to be congratulated on a much improved paper and a number of snippets caught my eye in this week's Isle of Thanet Gazette.

The first was Richard Spillet's Election Sketch, that described criticism of the odd behaviour of Richard Samuel, TDC's Chief Executive and Returning Officer as 'mud-slinging'. I am surprised at the exclusion of the press to the 'count' whilst Mr Samuel quite clearly ignored his own instructions to Candidates and allowed an excessive number of members of The Ezekiel Party to attend the count . I am surprised that Richard seems un-aware of the protocol surrounding elections and does not appear to realise that what he describes as 'Mrs Hart's evening spoiled by a pack of laughing Tory hyenas' has a serious side to it. The Returning Officer is duty bound to uphold his instructions without favour and bias and in this case, did not do so. The report in IOTG of Mr Samuel's response, would indicate that a review of procedures would occur and that anyway, the Labour Party could go to Law to get the outcome of the election over-turned if they felt the process had been flawed. Did one read Mr Spillet saying that Mr Samuel has apologised for his action? No!

Mr Samuel knows perfectly well that there is little point in Labour making a formal complaint to overturn an election result that they have just won, and therin lies the implicit arrogance conveyed in such a statement that Richard Spillet reports. A simple apology might have been in order but an even-handed applying of his own rules would have been the correct behaviour expected of an experienced Returning Officer.

The other item that caught my attention was a report of a 'secret' session of Cabinet on 2 Dec 2009 to write-off debts to the tune of £59,235.79. My complaint is not that these should not be written off, but that TDC refuses to reveal details of these 'write-offs'. This is tax-payers money that has been 'lost' and thus is TDC's electorate not entitled to know more about this loss? Is it possible that some of the debtor's are known to us and TDC would be embarrassed to be seen writing their debt off? A few years ago, I can remember reading in IOTG that a disputed bill between a Mr Godden and TDC had been written off. The electorate had the facts then. Are we not entitled to know more now? Does this debt include security fencing at Dreamland perchance? I hope to reveal details as soon as they become known to me.

GALE's VIEW - HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY MP

2009-12-09T12:29:00.000Z

It seems strange that good 'conservatism' involves the principle " to each according to their needs ......." but I have never understood why certain 'benefits' are not means tested. Good to see Roger Gale raising this issue.

Gale's View - 9 December, 2009.

I qualify to receive winter fuel payment. At present I am relatively young and in rude health and working. There may come a time when that is not so and if and when I need assistance I shall take it but for the moment let me make it a matter of record that if I find that an allowance has been paid to me then it will be forwarded immediately to an appropriate charity.

There are, however, many people that do desperately need help with their heating bills and who do not get it because they are too young. Those in wheelchairs or otherwise disabled to the point where they cannot move around to keep warm, for instance, and those recently highlighted by Professor Karol Sikora who are undergoing treatment for cancers.

I do not believe that high taxation assists our economy and I think that people should be left with as much of their hard-earned money in their own pockets as possible rather that having it taken from them and spent by a profligate nanny state. Neither have I ever been in favour, as a matter of principle, in means-tested benefits. However, in an age when Government is making depressingly regular visits to the pawnshop it is madness, is it not, to give money to people whose need is minimal while denying help to those who are in no position to adequately provide for themselves. This applies not only to winter fuel payments but to some tax credits and to some other benefits and "free" concessions also.

I would like to think that the next government, which I trust will indeed be Conservative, will make a real effort to rein back the welfare state, to target assistance where it is most needed and to ensure that, as David Cameron has said, we shall enable those who can do so to take responsibility for themselves while making better and fairer provision for those who cannot do so. That, perhaps, is the real difference between socialism and social justice.

We could make a start by removing winter fuel payments from those in the higher rate tax bracket and using the money to give the benefit to perhaps younger but more deserving cases.

EUROFERRIES - HAS BONANZA EXPRESS HAD ANOTHER PAINT OUT JOB?

2009-12-06T20:44:00.000Z

The 'Strife' Office received a report last night that Fred Olsen's elderly cat 'Bonanza Express', sitting in the Canaries for the winter, may have had another paint 'off' job and looks like the picture above, again.

For those not aware of the amount of paint being applied to this craft, it would appear that earlier in the year Fred Olsen was painted out and 'Euroferries' painted on. Pictures were taken and appeared on web sites, blogs and in local press. It would then seem that Fred Olsen painted out the 'Euroferries' when the summer 'deadline' for Euroferries passed. (The pic above was taken after this first 'paint-off')

We then had pictures in October of two hardworking chaps painting Euroferries back on the poor old BE as she was moored up in Santa Cruz and presumably in expectation of heading to Ramsgate on Sat 14th November. After the abandonment of yet another deadline and 'news' that 1st Mar 2010 was to be the 'new' start date for the service, I asked 'Strife' foreign correspondents to let us know as soon as possible, if Fred Olsen began painting out Euroferries on the side of the BE again as, as they say ' a picture saves a thousand words' etc! Initial unconfirmed reports are that the 'paint off' has begun!

Anyway, avid Bonanza Express fans ( should there not be a Facebook fan club for this boat by now?) can try this link and see what they can spot for themselves; be warned though, it is a bit like watching paint dry:

http://www.canarysatellite.com/puertoscam.html (double click to enlarge and escape to reduce).