Thursday, September 17, 2009

Transport News

My spies across the water with the dapper moustaches and the 'little grey cells' tell me that the ferry Primrose is steaming back to Ramsgate. If you recall, it was taken out of service by TransEuropa back in June, and chartered off to do a Spain/Morocco run. Although it was supposed at the time we would never see the thing in the Millionaires' Playground again, reader Hercule now writes:

Primrose is back in Ostend. I do not know why, maybe back in service? TEF logo is not yet on the ship. After a charter in Spain he returned, but for how long...

Primrose left this (Wednesday) evening for Ramsgate.


Hurrah! Still no sign of anything faster making the Boulogne run, though.

Meanwhile tonight's the night the Airport Rubber Stamping Committee meets to, er, rubber stamp the council's Daft Consultation Plan for all night flying over Ramsgate. I'm told a fully fledged residents' group has now been set up to fight the move, which would see knackered old jumbos full of rotting bananas allowed to rattle your windows and blast the tiles off your roof at any time during the small wee hours.

Coincidently, it seems, our very own international man of mystery and head of SMEG Steve Higgins has closed his Stop Manston Expansion Group blog, ending on a high with the news that Flybe's Jersey route from Chas 'n' Dave Margate International Airport was such a success this year that, er, they're not repeating the exercise next year!

Click here for Stop Manston Expansion Group
Click here to sign the NO NIGHT FLIGHTS! petition

30 comments:

Gazza said...

Will be interesting to see how many join this resident group. Got a funny feeling no more than a couple of hundred, and the faces you will see in the press will be the same that protest about everything else.

Peter C said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Richard Eastcliff said...

Sorry Peter. That was just a blatant link to your blog. And as you don't have the good grace to link to my blog anymore, I'm buggered if I'm going to give you free publicity.

As for the same old faces Gazza, I think you'll find Ramsgate Town Council, the democratically elected body that represents everybody in Ramsgate, has voted against the night flights.

Peter C said...

Actually I do link to your blog, via the excellent:

http://thanetblogs.blogspot.com/

The only blogs I directly link to are a few not included there (The Thanet Star, Mrs Tara Plumbing, Thanet Underground, etc).

Gazza said...

so you are saying then that there is no need for the resident group, it least it will keep there mugs out of the papers.

Saying that though they would get awfully bored with nothing to do during their QUIET retirement.

Richard Eastcliff said...

'Via' isn't the same as linking, Peter.

You removed the direct links after a hissy fit, and asked everyone else to remove their links to you, which I was only too happy to accommodate you on.

And of course there's still a need for a residents' group, Gizza. No harm in reminding our elected representatives that if they don't speak up against the night flights they'll be out of a job in two years' time!

Jean said...

Gazza,

I understand your point regarding nimbys but I think there is clear difference between objecting to, say, a wind farm based 15 miles away and a 747 based 800 ft above your roof at 3am.

And as far as I know the people objecting are not serial objectors, rather reasonable people frightened by the prospect that their town, and the surrounding environment, may well be ruined by a heavy industry that isn't offering any of value in return.

Don Wood said...

YEP same old faces....... Which site of Peters didnt you like Richard www.nakedinthanet.com/ or his blog http://nakedinthanet.blogspot.com/?

Anonymous said...

Don on other blogs you seem to be against Westwood Cross is that because it affects you personally?

Peter C said...

Jean, are you going to be the new face of S.M.E.G.?

Anonymous said...

Loads of us are the new face of SMEG. Including moi.

Jean said...

No Peter, I have one (just one) of my own.

SMEG, (rip) was totally against all airport activity and whilst I understand his position I do not share it. I'm simply wanting to see the airport operate responsibly.

Don Wood said...

anon.4.42 nope not againt westwood cross I am against shopping full stop, the older I get the grumpier I have become

Anonymous said...

Primrose docking as I type! and yep ... no logo

Anonymous said...

ECR, Manston won't appear in SMEG's quoted Flybe press release as Manston isn't a NEW destination!

The Last Laugh said...

Hahaha, so much for him "ending on a high"! What a loser!!!

Richard Eastcliff said...

Er, yes, I wondered who was going to spot that first!

As SMEG points out, this is Flybe's early summer schedule, up until June. So far their website doesn't say if or what the schedule might be for Manston beyond that.

What it does imply, though, is that the Jersey route from C'n'DMIA isn't being extended into early summer.

Head, SMEG said...

If you actually read the posting, it says;

Ok, so where are the new Kent International flights that have been rumoured to be coming next year?

and later on;

Mmmm. Even more strange, if you want to book Jersey for, say, May of next year, you can - from Gatwick. It seems you can book pretty much everything you want at every other airport up to June of 2010. Nothing showing up for Manston for 2010 though. Nor Kent International. Nor London Kent Hub Chas'n'Dave International. Nothing.

Facts. No new routes for Manston. Jersey not bookable for 2010 from Manston when it is for Gatwick.

Peter C said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Head, SMEG said...

Jean, written at the top of SMEG since it started;

The purpose of this blog is bring like minded people together to stop the unchecked expansion of Manston, and provide alternative comment on the constant positive spin from the local press and our beloved Councils, TDC and KCC. If you want to get involved, email xxxxxxxx............

Jean said...

Steve my love, why have you shut down your blog then?

the chairman said...

This is what I posted on Smegger's blog

Blogger Jeremy said...

All jet movements were between 11:43 and 17:12, and still you moan. Your blog really is silly, and is about to fizzle out. As for the 737, get a spotters' book.

29 July 2009 09:58

Prescient, or what?

Anonymous said...

Watch this space Cracker-Boy

Anonymous said...

Primrose will not be here for long as regs mean she will have to retire next year she is 35 you know. TEF are said to be looking at ex P&O ships to replace their aging fleet.

Anonymous said...

Jeremy- were you so pleased with yourself after your comment that you retired to an empty room and went into a masturbation frenzy?

You're probably still cranking it now, from what I've heard.

Jeremy's mate said...

Stevie boy still hasn't told us why he's closed his blog.

Jean said...

Look 10:09am, whoever you are, I AM JEAN, I AM!

And I like SMEG, so stop trying to split us up.

My love.

Planespotter said...

Interesting that Steve writes "IS NOW CLOSED" in big letters to draw attention to the fact but has failed to explain why.

I'll have to find another comic blog to read now... maybe that bloke in Herne bay is just as funny?

Steve's mate said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Richard Eastcliff said...

Less of the bullshit please! Unless it's my bullshit, of course!