Saturday, August 22, 2009

Protesters Draw A Line In The Sand

As rosy-fingered dawn came up like thunder this morning, I was toddling back from an all night bender with my millionaire chums. Tooling along the East Cliff prom, I glanced out across our magnificent Blue Flag beach and clocked the above slogan: 'NO NIGHT FLIGHTS!' engraved into the pristine Ramsgate sands!

Quick as a flash I whipped out the old Box Brownie and snapped one off. Intrigued, I popped down to the beach and behold:


10 metre high letters raked into the sand with some kind of garden implement. Er, a rake, possibly. Clearly somebody has decided to fight the Manston kipwreckers on the beaches!

Well, well, well. Let's hope one of those knackered old 747s clocks that as it lumbers in with its cargo of rotten bananas 500 feet over our town on its way into Chas 'n' Dave Margate International Airport! Even better, let's hope the tide doesn't come in before some journo spots a photo op and bangs it in one of the papers. That'll kick sand in the eyes of our supine council, and the airport's Chief Poodle, Cllr Mike Harrison, who's busy licking his rubber stamp for the night flights already!

81 comments:

No to night flights said...

What a cracking idea - wish we'd thought of it first! Have you sent the photo to Matt Clarke yet? He should fill up all the daytime slots first before asking for more night flying time.

Peter C said...

An anti-airport protester must've got a little drunk last night.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone else seen the detailed letter in yesterday's Gazette pointing out a whole list of factual lies (both current & historical) by S.M.E.G.?

Richard Eastcliff said...

'Factual lies' eh? Hmmm. Let me ponder that one.

Anonymous said...

Whoever did it deserves the respect and admiration of us all. Let it be the first of many ingenious ways of letting the world know that night flights are absolutely unnacceptable. They will do nothing but harm the hopes of Ramsgate. More protest like this please.

Peter C said...
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Head, SMEG said...
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Head, SMEG said...

what a jolly good idea! I wish I had thought of it first.

Unfortunately mr 0838, the letter in the gazette was wrong on many counts, as was the story in the gazette about night flights.

The airport have asked for permission to schedule 747 freight flights 24/7. None of the press have actually picked up on what is really being asked by Infratil. They, and the council, have missed it.

So Peter and derogatory anon's, are you in favour of scheduled night flights ie, 3am 747 flights?

Anonymous said...

It was you who did it Steve. You obviously don't remember much about last night.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Peter - if you want any kind of respect or support for your todger dangling activities, I'd refrain from posting abusive comments here if I were you. I see you've had the decency to remove them yourself, presumably on hindsight.

If you feel that strongly, put them on your own blog. I read somewhere it has 'thousands of hits a day' [ROFL]. Remember, the only person allowed to abuse anybody on this blog is me! End of. Er, unless I actually approve of the abuse and then it's OK. End of. Again.

Actually, I may be feeling a little tetchy after all the fine wine last night. And the fact that Peter has published this week's East of the Wantsum on his blog before me, without so much as a credit. Tut tut.

Tony Flaig said...

As a reasonably intelligent person why on earth did you decide to live on the flight path.

I was sitting in my garden the other day and could hear the noise of traffic on the hospital road and Margate/Ramsgate road, these are some distance from my property, should I a) form a one man action group or b) accept that I live in the 21st century.

I'm sure coming as you frequently claim to from London it must be a shock to live in Ramsgate after the tranquillity of the great metropolis, where if we're to believe your indignant tone unlike everyone else you didn't notice several hundred planes over your head from about 5am through 12pm.

I think ruffling your feathers is a price worth paying if one local resident has a job up a Manston.

As a media mogal you must appreciate a bit of hype particularly when you create it.

Peter C said...

I've never said that my blog receives thousands of his a day, but my website certainly does.

And what do you mean no credit? Apart from the fact that I said it's from yesterday's Gazette, it also says www.eastcliffrichard.blogspot.com on it...

I've also published yours & other Thanet bloggers' opinions on my blog today.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Oh Christ Tony, how many times have I asked you to put that chippy tone away? I seem to remember you got all uptight a while back over noise that was coming from a block of flats near Flaig Towers, over in Mingeville or wherever it is you live, and moaning that the council wouldn't do anything about it. So don't come the two-faced pillock on my blog!

Ramsgate was here long before the airport. Infratil should have done due diligence and checked before they moved here.

Now do move along before I do a blockie round your house at 2am on my old throbber. The one without the silencers that's almost as noisy as a crappy old 747 packed full of hookie fags!

As for you Peter you're treading on very thin ice publishing my strip on your blog. You have been warned. [Or it might be the hangover speaking!]

Peter C said...
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Richard Eastcliff said...

Hoho!

I think the Alka-Seltzer's kicking in!

Peter C said...

Actually it was my strip that was featured.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Er, how many more of your comments are you likely to delete today Peter?

Richard Eastcliff said...

Fuck me backwards with a rusty hacksaw! This is like having a conversation via heliograph!

I'm off to do a five knuckle shuffle over some of those gorgeous ladies on your blog!

bcnu

JP said...

Infratil are asking to schedule 747's through the night - why? Because, since no other local council allows it (night time noise is highly detrimental to health, which in turn costs a lot more than the few jobs it creates) it gives Manston a unique selling point, albeit a rather squalid and seedy one. It is a desperate last attempt.

Tony and Peter - come on guys, wake up. Ramsgate isn't your enemy, it's your neighbour. Support us, please. If you tolerate this you'll be next in the firing line for some TDC approved idiocy.

Peter C said...

I live next to a train station, & very occasionally they wake me up (though they're much quiter these days than the old slam-door type). But I knew about the train station when I moved here, so I don't intend to start a campaign to stop trains from running early in the morning or late at night.

Head, SMEG said...

Pete, scheduled flights at night. You a supporter or not?

Anonymous said...

It seems that a few folk in ramsgate are everyones enemy

Peter C said...

I'm a supporter of the airport being used to it's full potential. I'll leave it up to the experts to decide whether or not this involves day or night flights / scheduled or unscheduled flights / passenger or freight flights. I don't know how to run an airport any more than you think you do...

Peter C said...
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Anonymous said...

a one way ticket to libya would be good for smeggers, that would get the annoying little bloke out of our hair

Don Wood said...

Beach cleaner not working in Ramsgate that'll be TDC fault everything else is so it must be them thats wrong. Well said Peter. Hows your thick head Richard? wonder you could focus your camera

Anonymous said...

I used to support Peter's campaign for a nudist beach but seeing his pigeheaded attitude towards the airport and childish scoffing at the blight that night flights will cause Ramsgate I will now be signing Mrs Helen Miller's petition against nudism in Botany Bay.

She already has more than 300 signatures and I would urge anybody who disagrees with Peter's moronic support of night flights to do the same. After all why should I support something that will give Peter enjoyment when he supports something which will do away with what I enjoy ie eight hours guaranteed sleep a night?

Head, SMEG said...

302

Anonymous said...

where do I sign up?

Peter C said...

Apparantly she's walking around Botany Bay beach most days, so if you want to sign her petition you'd better get down there. Only trouble is that she's been getting the signatures under false pretences (see my blog for more details), & word has it that TDC are going to completely ignore this petition for that reason.

As for the beach giving me enjoyment, I'm rarely ever down there (I've actually only stripped off there once so far this summer). Unlike some people, I'm considering what the vast majority want, & not just my own selfish needs. I'm thinking of Thanet as a whole, the same with the airport. Of course, as with Botany Bay, there are a handful of campaigners giving the wrong impression & not the full details in their desperate attempt to get support, but they too are generally dismissed as loonies.

Peter C said...

Thanks Steve, just about to ammend my blog post! : )

Anonymous said...

303, the vile little man. Who the fuck does he think he is?

JP said...

Peter, you knew there was a train station when you moved there. I knew there was an airport when I moved to Ramsgate. I also knew I was protected against night flights by the S106 agreement because Steve Ladyman told me so. Now, if I was planning to run the biggest dirtiest trains throughout the night past your flat you would oppose it. I am simply opposing the imposition of something that was not extant at the time I moved here. And something that has been proven for many years to be highly detrimental to health. And something that has proven to impair our children's academic achievement and thus life chances. For god's sake, what on earth do I have to say to get you to listen?

Anonymous said...

OK Peter, where is the proof that any action at the airport is good for Thanet? Exactly how much money will be injected into the local economy as a result of night flights? How will this change our lives for the better?

Peter C said...

Blimey you are busy today Stevie my son. Haven't you got some more sand to play with?

Anonymous said...

Why do nudists need their own beach? Why can't they just get naked on any beach? Is it because they know everybody is going to laugh at them or is it because its a sex thing?

JP said...

Thanks for the grown up reply Peter. Have you shot your load in this debate? Nothing left in the bag?

I haven't even got started yet.

Peter C said...

Nudists don't NEED their own beach, as we can legally get naked anywhere. The nudists (or naturists) who support this are doing it more for the people who want to remain clothed than for themselves. A great many nudists actually think this is a waste of time. This is why there's far more naturists than ever yet there's fewer official beaches than 25 years ago; most nudists don't want them. So, unlike the anti-airport group / person, we'll win whatever the decision for Botany Bay is.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...
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Peter C said...

JP, Jean & all the anons, if you REALLY feel so strongly about all this (& you're not just one person), then why aren't you getting your face on TV, your voice on the radio, & your articles in the press? I'm reliably told that they won't work with Steve anymore after his TV appearance a few months back (not that I've ever seen it, perhaps he can put it on his website?), but I'm sure they'll listen to other people if you think you're up to it. So go for it, & prove (if only to yourselves) that you're capable of doing more than sitting in front of a computer!

Peter C said...

Oh dear, you'll never get on TV if you have to resort to personal insults rather than rational debate.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Well, well, well. As ever the airport has stirred up a hornets' nest!

Just to make my own position on Chas 'n' Dave etc crystal clear - I am against training flights, and I am against any relaxation of night flying restrictions. Flights during the week aren't too bad at current levels. Some useful passenger destinations wouldn't go amiss, but it's my opinion that Infratil are just showing the natives shiny baubles, and that what they really want is a 24/7/365 cargo airport, and I would be against that.

All in all I think the people of Thanet have been sold a pup, and a pretty ugly, noisy and smelly one at that. One that drags its arse across your carpet and leaves a brown smear on the Axminster. No real jobs have been created in the last decade, and I have no reason to believe any more jobs will be created in the next decade or even century. Its in the wrong place, serving a dying industry.

That's my position, and it's always been my position. Anybody on the council who isn't looking at a Plan B (which doesn't involve a sink estate) is a fool. But then Plan Bs were never a Thanet Council thing, were they?

As for calling somebody a 'nonce', having been on the end of similar treatment from Thanet Lifers in the past, I think that person should do the honourable thing and commit comment hara-kiri. Peter, if you find it objectionable do email me and I'll put it out of its misery myself.

Peter C said...

Thanks ECR, & yes I'd prefer it if you dealt with potentially libelous comments yourself.

Richard Eastcliff said...

There you go. All trace removed.

Your 'umble (but still disagreeing with you about the airport) servant,

ECR

Head, SMEG said...

Pete, commented whilst out working yesterday, logged in only. JP, anons- bugger all to do with me. If you think I have the time - say I worked evenings, part time- to sit around all day winding you up, there really is much more to life.

When I went to take a peak at ramsgate sands messgae yesterday, I spoke to 4 other people standing around. They all had 3 things in common- they lived in ramsgate, didn't know about the airports plans for scheduled night flights, and didn't support them either.

I know you are very thick headed, thick skinned, and touchy about your age, but the vanity of thinking it could only be me writing derogatory comments about you is quite remarkable.

Peter C said...

Where can we all see your TV appearance Steve?

Lucy Mail said...

In the bin, on top of yours, Peewee!

Anonymous said...

I knew there was a nuclear power station when I moved to Dungeness so I deserve to get cancer.

JP said...

Some of us are not that keen on publicity Peewee. That doesn't mean we don't have a say.

Peter C said...

Fair enough PJ & Duncan, but you're not actually making any difference by just commenting semi-anonymously on a blog, are you?

Peter C said...
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JP said...

It's JP, not PJ.

You're right, commenting here doesn't make much of a difference. Last week I spoke to 4 Ramsgate town councilors and each one of them was in total agreement that this request for scheduled night flights was completely unacceptable.

Unfortunately the decision is a TDC one and will therefore be made by people whose constituencies are unaffected.

Which is why we need the vocal support of people like you who don't live under the flight path.

So come on Peter, are you with us on this one?

Peter C said...

Mr Proby, you lot are like a scratched record! I gave my answer the other day in this very thread, but here it is again especially for you:

"I'm a supporter of the airport being used to it's full potential. I'll leave it up to the experts to decide whether or not this involves day or night flights / scheduled or unscheduled flights / passenger or freight flights. I don't know how to run an airport any more than you think you do..."

Now, are you supporting us on getting the naturist beach fully recognised? Naked people are far more of a priority to me.

JP said...

Proby? Sorry, you'll have to explain that one.....

Oh well, I tried. You are a lost cause after all.

Peter C said...
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Peter C said...

I answered your question, but you didn't even aknowledge mine. Which pretty much sums up the self-centred attitude of all you anti-airport protesters (all three of you).

Peter Checksfield is a... said...

How's your mate Gary Glitter getting on Peter?

Anonymous said...

Night flights are not a good idea, full stop. The noise is disturbing, the fumes unhealthy and the damage to the environment has been noted time and time again by different groups. Naturalism is debatable but not dangerous / disturbing. It is a choice. Why can't you see the diffence and stop being so pigheaded, pretending it is not your problem because you live somewhere else. That argument is also shallow and childish. If you look closely the monies don't add up for the airport, there is no increase of availability to go to nice destinations for locals, there are no extra jobs. It is not the airport most people are objecting to it is the night flights. Will they help any of the above? No! Will it fulfill the airport's potential. No!

Why wouldn't you support us? Is your head so far in the sand that you can not see sense just because someone wont write there name to a message? We have secret ballots in this country...are those bad too?

Whereas if Ramsgate / Thanet was promoted more as a tourist destination, which it is becoming, jobs, money etc would come. Easy! You don't see the residents of Bath or other such places having to fight a council about an airport...or litter for that matter. What did the postcards say in the hate section of love hate hope Ramsgate? Council, airport, litter, chavs! Says it all really.

No, I am not Smeg, but you will have realised that already...but do I support him, too right...me and all the people I know. Will I sign my name? no, I don't have to, that is my right...will I speak to my councillor? Yes...and all the other people I can do that will make a difference.

I loved the message in the sand. well done to the person/s who did it. Looked great, got the message over! Thank you.

Peter C said...
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Peter C said...
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Peter C said...
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Peter C said...

"Naturalism" 11:03? I know nothing about that.

Paul said...

Pete mate, while reading these comments i can see why you might be getting just a little bit defensive (to say the least), but i feel you may be treading in hot water with your comment at 11.40.


And for everyone else why can it not be understood that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, mine for example (i live by ellington park, right under the flight path) is that i don't really care, let them get on with it, because, more cargo/pax = more revenue for aiport, which inturn obviously = more revenue for the other companies, this rolls on and on, this is the first stage of returning the economy to some sort of normality, so ok maybe it will not be beneficial for thanet in the first hand, but, in th wider view, it possibly could be.

Just my view, i'm not looking to get into a debate with anyone, just stating a point! :o)

Peter C said...

Wise words Paul.

As for the coward who keeps posting these comments about me, I'm pretty certain who it is (not everyone likes seeing naked photos of their family on the internet, despite the fact that the models are of legal age & have given full consent!).

Anonymous said...

Bullshit Mr Hahn, man!
You seem to love your opinion almost as much as you love yourself, Peter.
What with barking up those two wrong trees, and getting just about everything else wrong, isn't it time for you to shut up?
Attention seeking idiot!

Anonymous said...

how is it peter you point out the one mistake and miss the point completely!!! how like you!

Anonymous said...

Are you a coward if you don't leave your name on a blog?

This Is Not My Real Name said...

The best way to deal with contrary inconsequential braggarts is to ignore them. There is nothing brave about viral self-marketing. Just starve it of the foetid air it needs.

Anonymous said...

What the eff is Checksfield marketing? Doorman services with some dirty postcards in his inside pocket?

Peter C said...

Why is it so important to you anti-airport whingers (I'm told there's actually 4 of you now) get me on your side? Do you think I have some sort of influence over TDC / Manston / The Press / Councillors???

Try to convert Tony or Don instead, eh?

Anonymous said...

As you rightly point out Peter, you are not important. Just pigheaded.

Peter C said...

: )

Anonymous said...

And a last word merchant.

Anonymous said...

Please dont let yourselves down by even talking to PC. He is not entitled to a voice.

Anonymous said...

How about a PC?

Peter C said...

I'll gladly answer any questions via my own blog (though I'd prefer a live TV debate!).

Anonymous said...

Or, for fun, let's see how many times we can get the cock to poke that last word in.
Oh, and those comments that you delete because you don't check(sfield) your spelling first, don't count, peewee.

Peter C said...

And let's see how many of you have the courage to write to me under their true IDs. I suspect not you...

Isn't it time to collect your giro?

Peter C said...

Oh, and if anyone else attempts libelous comments on here then I won't hesitate to report this blog to Google & get your I.P. addresses revealed, as is my legal entitlement. OK?

Richard Eastcliff said...

Time gentlemen please! If you're going to fight, do it outside!

As for reporting this blog Peter, that wouldn't make a lot of sense would it? Not unless you've got a lot more money for lawyers than I think you have. Besides, I've already offered to delete anything you find offensive, but so far I don't recall getting any emails from you.

As ever here on Thanet's Premier Blog, I get the last word. Ha!