I
19th January 2015
To:
Ismail Mohammed, Strategic Planning Manager,
Re: Thanet Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation.
Thanet District Council.
Jo Wadey, Strategic Planning Officer,
Re: Ramsgate Neighbourhood Planning Consultation.
Thanet District Councilr
As you will note I am sending my suggestions regarding the above
consultations to both of you, as I am baffled as to how the
consultations are constituted! For instance, On the 13th June
2013 I received a copy of the "Thanet District Council, Local
Plan, Issues & Options Consultation Document" from Madeline
Homer, TDC Community Services Manager.
This Document ran to some 119 pages, including Annexes, and
receipt of my 9 Page consultation reply was acknowledged by Laura
Smith, Strategic Planning Officer, in her letter to me dated 1st
July 2013. This Document seems to have disappeared into the
ether, because the public are now being requested to repeat this
exercise, but this time we are being asked to send in suggestions
to two consultations, one for Thanet, and one for Ramsgate! (out
of interest I would like to know what became of the 2013 Thanet
Local Plan Consultation?)
My contribution to this years (2015) "Thanet Local Plan Preferred
Options Consultation", and the "Ramsgate Neighbourhood Plan",
will be based on the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Plan 2014 'Document'
sent to me by Eileen Richford, at Ramsgate Town Council dated 8th
January 2015 which I hope can be shared equally, where pertinent
ie: some subjects cover all of Thanet, and not just Ramsgate.
Contents:
Introduction, Findings, Conclusions, Recommendations.
INTRODUCTION: Having retired to Broadstairs in 2004, and after a
few years, because I found the town environment unbearable, I
moved to Ramsgate in 2011. This was because Ramsgate town is
pedestrianised, unlike Broadstairs, and is more user friendly!
I am a retired member of the Chartered Institute of Building, and
was employed by the Central Electricity Generating Board in the
early 70's as a 'Civil Engineer', working on the construction of
the Grain Power Station. In 1977 I moved on promotion to
Dungerness 'A' Nuclear Power Station as the Engineer responsible
for: the maintenance of the Stations Buildings & Fabric, Safety,
Fire Prevention, Security, and Transport (including nuclear
waste). I had 65 staff, and a Capital Budget of £1,000,000pa, a
lot of money at the time. Later I moved to the 'B' station as a
Commissioning Engineer.
After early retirement from the CEGB, I was employed by two firms
of Chartered Surveyors as a Building and Mortgage Valuation
Surveyor, and in Estate Management. I also carried out some
consultation work for 2 local authorities.
cont'd 2/
Page 2/
FINDINGS are based on the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Plan Document,
Page 4. Paragraphs 3 & 4. provided by Eileen Richford, RTC, which
can be included for the Thanet Local Plan.
1) HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT: It has been reported that TDC must
find space to build some 12,100 dwellings, although this is
disputed by some local people/organisations. I would like to
suggest that consideration should be given to selling off a large
part of the port as prime building land, for luxury apartments!
This may sound alarming, but Folkestone hasn't had a Ferry
service for probably 20 years, mainly because its harbour is too
shallow. Similar problems are being experienced I believe, in
Newhaven. Larger ferries can use Dover, but not Ramsgate because
the port is too shallow! Anecdotal evidence suggests that much
haulage transport has moved from smaller ports to Dover for
security reasons! That is, security at Zeebruge/Ostend/Dunkirk
is poor compared to Calais, so illegal migrants find it easier to
board lorries. If found truck drivers can be fined £2,000 per
migrant, so they prefer Calais where security is more intensive.
Consequently there are fewer haulage companies using Ostend/
Zeebruge/Dunkirk to Ramsgate in sufficient numbers to make it
viable, ergo Ramsgate as a haulage ferry port is finished!
Land around Ramsgate port should be sold off by TDC, and the
money realised used to develop the old Gas Works site in Boundary
Road, the land in Cavendish Street/Old Police Station, and 79/85
High Street, Ramsgate, by Compulsory Purchase Order if necessary.
This could be developed for social/affordable housing, especially
for the elderly, and disabled. These sites will not be developed
by the owners until market conditions improve, which could be
years yet, and are a disgrace to Ramsgate!
Commercial buildings, such as shops are reluctant to rent out or
sell flats above them for many reasons, mainly access, and
because they don't comply with modern Building Regulations. Most
shops will not have separate access to flats above ground level,
without having to go through the main shop area, which is
unacceptable to the owners. Some relaxation of the fire/building
regulations may permit access to flats above ground level,
otherwise it may mean expensive modenisation, and fire escapes
will have to be constructed, and the rents will not cover the
costs for many years, if at all!
Similarly, mortgage companies will not grant loans on property
that doesn't have its own front door, as it can't be separately
leased! In any event, the ground landlords, in most cases
national companies, do not have the expertise, or staff who can
manage what is in affect, a minor source of income from a flat
above a shop! Managing Agents can be employed, but again most
large corporations will view the modernising, upgrading, and
letting out of empty space above their stores as an
inconvenience, and not worth bothering with!
2) PROVISION FOR EXPANSION OF BUSINESS: There is a proposal for
a factory to produce concrete blocks, and wood fuel pellets at
Ramsgate port, which should NOT be encouraged.
cont'd 3/
Page 3/
Instead I suggest the use of the Richborough port, which is
probably more adaptable, as small ships can access it, as before.
I understand this area is up for sale, and the O'Regan Group
should be advised to approach the owners with haste!
Broadstairs High Street/Albion Street/Harbour Street, should be
pedestrianised, as this is possibly one of the last Victorian
towns not to have this innovation! There were six public houses
within a 100 meters or so at the cross roads of Albion Street,
and Harbour Street, which are attractive for holiday makers, but
vehicular traffic makes it inhospital. Pedestrianisation will
make this area safer for young and old.
Ramsgate, and Margate are pedestrianised, which gives shoppers
confidence to shop without the fear of being run over by traffic.
Also, in Broadstairs High Street, the elderly especially have to
move into the busy road because of large groups, sometimes up to
50 or 60 strong, of foreign students from the language schools,
who will not give way to locals! This is unacceptable, but the
language schools do nothing about it!
3) TRANSPORT & ACCESS: The implementation of a universal speed
limit throughout Thanet of 20 mph, will encourage people to use a
cycle, especially by children on their way to and from school!
This will decrease traffic, and accidents, as is statistically
proven in the many cities, and towns that have adopted this
system, and improve health, and decrease obesity.
The crossing of Boundary Road, Ramsgate by pedestrians, in both
directions, has increased due to the enlargement of the ALDI
supermarket, and the increased use of the new ASDA supermarket,
and traffic calming must be considered as essential. Crossing
this busy road is now fraught, especially for children on their
way to school, the elderly, and disabled.
It is suggested 2 pedestrian crossings are installed, one in
place of the existing 'traffic refuge' by the entrance of the
ALDI store, and another close to No 50 Boundary Road for children
on their way to school, and to access ASDA. It is the policy of
KCC to not improve access across busy roads until there has been
sufficient accidents/deaths. This is unacceptable, why wait for a
child to be killed, or injured before installing crossings?
The cycle paths in Thanet are mostly in an appalling condition!
Many more are required, and a thorough upgrade, and improvement
of cycle paths, especially resurfacing them, complete with a
cycle path logo every 50 meters, would encourage people onto a
cycle, which will also have many health benefits.
4) PROTECTION AND CREATION OF OPEN SPACE ETC: Serious
consideration must be given to 'dog toilets' which should be
installed in all Public Parks throughout Thanet! The fouling of
open spaces, such as pavements, is now at plague levels! This is
caused by anti-social dog owners, who will not clear up their
dogs faeces, or who do so, and then throw the bags into bushes,
and trees, or just drop them on the pavement!
cont'd 4/
Page 4/
It has been proven that the installation of dog toilets, which
are cheap to install with building sand, say 20cm deep, in an
area 20 meters by 10 meters, surrounded by a Chestnut piquet
fence, with a gate, will decrease dog fouling considerably,
possibly by upto 60% or 70%, as a recent Television programme
showed after several towns, and cities installed dog toilets.
Dog ownership it has been reported, has now reached 20% of the
population, and few owners have any idea about dog welfare!
Persistent dog barking, crying, whimpering isn't just a neighbour
nuisance, it indicates a dog being left alone, and in distress
from acute "Separation Anxiety". Dogs are a pack animal, and
only feel secure in a social group, even if that is human!
The use of suitably experienced volunteers to provide Dog
Training schools on Saturday/Sunday mornings should be
considered. There are probably sufficient people who have the
necessary skill, and expertise to train and advise dog owners
about the welfare of their dogs. Encouraging dog owners so their
dogs defecate in a controlled area such as a dog toilet, will
help eliminate the disgusting sight of dog faeces in the street.
The installation of A3 size luminescent posters, erected say 4
meters above ground on lamp posts, or similar, showing a pair of
eyes and saying "DOG OWNERS, WE ARE WATCHING YOU" has a proven
deterrent affect on dog fouling. Some estimates put this at up
to 60% to 70%! Portsmouth is one such town!
I have been spraying pink biodegradable paint on dog faeces since
last April, and to date have sprayed a total of 90 in 19 streets,
30 of them were in my road alone! I do not go out looking for
dog faeces, and don't use the same road every time I go out, but
most of these are in Upper Dumpton Park Road, Boundary Road, part
of St Lukes Avenue, Church Road, and the High Street, Ramsgate.
I have a theory some areas remain free of dog faeces because
responsible dog owners use rubbish bins kept in the front gardens
of some houses, however many older terraced houses do not have
bins, so people who don't like carrying their dogs faeces around
with them, don't bother picking up after their dogs!
The replacement of Houshold Rubbish Bins should be considered
instead of Sea Gull Proof Bags (SGPB), even if they are placed on
pavements! Many people are tardy using SGPB's, and seem baffled
as to what can be placed in them, or how to secure them properly.
Many house with SGPB'S could have these replaced with bins
without any inconvenience to pedestrians, which will help towards
keeping streets free of dog faeces, and scattered rubbish from
unsecured rubbish bags.
CONCLUSIONS: If Thanet is not to be seen as an area in decline,
seedy and run down, then the built environment must be given
priority not only for the residents, but to encourage inward
investment! Derelict buildings, and disused land such as in the
port, Cavendish Street, the gas works site, filthy streets
covered in dog mess, and litter, create the wrong impression!to/5
Page 5/
In Britain 15 million adults, about one in three live alone,
mainly pensioners. In Thanet there are 59,500 households, and
98,000 registered electors, but the largest single group are
pensioners (24.2%) and they are a huge financial asset, as many
retired here! But their needs, and quality of life are often
neglected, many pensioners no longer drive, due to infirmity, and
poor eye sight. This means they tend to witness more of the
filth, and mess left in the streets than most! Some social
engineering must be considered to make Thanet a more pleasant
place to live, invest, and holiday in!
But its not just the elderly who tend to use more of Thanets
streets, just recently I saw some dog mess in the street, with
twin pushchair wheel tracks through it! A young mum will not
knowingly push a childs pushchair through dog faeces, but she may
do so in the dark! She may then have unknowingly wheeled her
pram home, and deposit dog faeces onto the carpets, carpets her
children may play on. Dog faeces can cause blindness!!
I have been trying to get KCC to not only improve the street
lighting in my road without success, I have been urging them to
have the street lights cleaned! As much as 30% of light can be
lost due to filthy lamps, probably covered in traffic film, but
KCC do not routinely clean them!
RECOMMENDATIONS: The problems with making suggestions for the
two Local Plans are exasperated by the 3 layers of Local
Government, KCC, TDC, RTC! This overlapping of responsibility
makes it difficult to provide an adequate response to both local
plan consultations, if not impossible! For instance, road, and
lighting improvements are the responsibility of KCC, and many of
my suggestions should be considered for all of Thanet, not just
Ramsgate! I will list my RECOMMENDATIONS for the two local plans
as follows, and hope they may be given sincere consideration:
1) Sell off part of Ramsgate port for development of luxury
flats, and use the money realised to build social and affordable
housing on the Gas Works site in Boundary Road, Cavendish Street,
and 79/85 High Street. Consider CPO if necessary.
2) Promote the use of Richborough Port, and surrounding
industrialised land for light industrial, commercial use.
3) Pedestrianise Broadstairs High Street, Albion Road, and
Harbour Street to make it more user friendly for young and old!
4)
Introduce a 20 MPH speed limit throughout Thanet.
5)
Install two new pedestrian crossings in Boundary Road.
6)
Improve/increase Cycle Paths throughout Thanet/Viking
7)
Provide Dog Toilets in every open space/park in Thanet.
way.
8) Promote, and encourage volunteers, suitably experienced, and
qualified, to provide regular dog training classes.
cont'd 6/
Page 6/
9) Install fluorescent A3 size posters, 4 meters above ground on
lamp posts etc, saying "THOUGHTLESS DOG OWNERS, WE ARE WATCHING
YOU" Obtainable from "Keep Britain Tidy" tel: 020 7545 0300
10) Replace Sea Gull Proof Bags with Rubbish Bins.
11) Get KCC (Probation Service) to provide people on Community
Pay Back to patrol the streets, and after training, and with
suitable equipment, clean dog faeces from pavements.
12) Arrange with KCC to routinely clean street lamps, say at
least twice a year.
Can you please ensure the above finds its way to the appropriate
people for consideration? I will also copy it to people I
consider appropriate for information purposes, and in the
meantime sincerely hope both of you will ensure maximum use of
its contribution to the debate, and improvement of Thanet.