Thursday, October 24, 2013

End Of An ERA

With millionaires steadily deserting Ramsgate's sunny East Cliff for the artificially warmer climes of the Arsonists' Playground, it appears that the local residents' association has gone down the gurgler.

Which is a shame, as the ERA was instrumental in tarting up the area, not least by installing lovely girls on the Festival of Britain fountain on the front!

Still, it's not all doom and gloom, as there are still many civic-minded souls emailing me daily with their thoughts, discoveries and issues here on the trendy east side of town. So I've pulled together a round-up of the latest news, and called it The Round-Up Of The Latest East Cliff News!

A spate of graffiti has recently affected the East Cliff...
Apparently the Duffers' finest have been alerted and their crack team of graffiti removalists will be on the case soon.

One of the tykes that threw stones and smashed the glass in our lovely, restored shelter has apparently fessed up to the cozzers, and will no doubt spend the rest of his life in clink.

Finally, the pulhamite on the Grade II listed Winterstoke rock gardens is cracking...
This is apparently due to neglected, overgrown trees and mature shrubs, as the rocks and terraces were only intended to hold small plants.

Mind you, I was in Boredstares yesterday, now there's a place that really is looking shabby!

And that's The Round-Up Of The Latest East Cliff News!

143 comments:

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

Broadstairs High Street looks a LOT better than those of Margate and Ramsgate (not as good as Birchington though!).

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Let's get this straight Mr Gays: you're saying that weeds should be removed because they may ruin the cliffs, yet overgrown trees that clearly ARE ruining the cliffs - or at least the rocks above them - should be left alone?

Surely it's in everyone's interests to get these removed?

Solo Gays said...
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Shin said...

Over here in trendy Margate we just call that art and take a few black and white photos.

Anonymous said...

What do you make of 500 houses and a supermarket, shops and hotel for Discovery Park, as supported by Carter and Sandys, rather than a science park ECR?

Peter C said...

What's "undignified" about car lamps at night? Unless you're getting up to no good that is...

Very near there's a quiet park and an even more quiet seafront for you to hide away - oops, I mean "avoid car lamps". Let's campaign to restore it to it's former glory rather than into something secretive and sordid.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_FmQkYHVIrrc/ReMnJ_JztrI/AAAAAAAAALU/vIxLDPA1kK8/s1600-h/old_wgpav.JPG

Anonymous said...

Well said Peter, why doesn't Mr Gays get a room rather than bumming in the bushes or park?

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

The same people who restored the Victorian shelters perhaps.

I don't know what this aversion to light is with you, but I certainly wouldn't call the park "floodlit". I've walked and cycled through there at night a number of times and if anything I've found the darkness a bit unnerving.

Maybe 6:34 is right about the room (and don't forget to switch off the light!).

Anonymous said...

Shops etc for Discovery Park would make it Sandwich 2 wouldn't it? Carter's KCC are pouring concrete again. So much for skilled pharmaceutical jobs.

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

So you'll agree with others who'd like to restore it to it's former glory, including getting rid of the huge trees and replacing them with small shrubs?

Who's inciting hatred you idiot? I (like most normal people) feel exctly the same about heterosexuals indulging in sexual activity in public.

Anonymous said...

Is the Discovery Park in Ramsgate? I'm confused.

Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

Hmm, but you don't mind taking photo's of people in the buff in public nor rambling in the noddy during the day?

I think what Mr Gays gets up to in the trees at night is a lot less offensive than seeing you or your photo specimens in broad daylight!

And remember Peter - it's all down to personal taste, so don't take offence and you easily do. It's just an opinion.

Peter C said...

SG (7:18), you didn't answer my question so I'm not answering any of yours.

SG again (7:22), the difference is that what you're doing is illegal, and what I'm doing is not!

They should put halogen lights there to disperse these perverts.

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Ah, probably a certain gay cllr with a persecution complex then!

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

In other words, you wouldn't support the trees being chopped down to help to return the place to it's former glory (as well as to stop the stonework splitting).

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

As ECR said:

"... the pulhamite on the Grade II listed Winterstoke rock gardens is cracking. This is apparently due to neglected, overgrown trees and mature shrubs, as the rocks and terraces were only intended to hold small plants."

But clearly this doesn't bother you, as long as you're hidden from car lamps!

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Or they could take a 1 minute stroll (2 minutes if they're slow) to the park where there's 100s of trees. I'm sure even the foxes could manage that.

No, I do not live in Margate, and never have done. Not that it's any of your business.

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Because Arlington Tesco is just a couple of mintes stroll for me... nearer in fact than it is to most people who live in Margate (unlike me).

Because I care about all of Thanet's heritage and history.

What's with all these builders questions? I'm not interested in your sordid fantasies, yuk!

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Winterstoke Gardens was built in 1923, when there was a train station, a theatre and a swimming pool below it! So it was probably noisier then than it is now. I believe electric street lighting was invented by then too...

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Who's "our"? The people of Ramsgate?

Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

Crikey, come along you two ...
you're leaving no scope for the off topic discussion of polluting the water supply or noisy jets.

Peter C said...

Or the discovery park!

Unknown said...

I enjoyed that exchange, Peter and SG, and am with the former all the way on outraging public decency by whoever. Parks and gardens should be for all age groups to enjoy, but with respect to sensibilities and rights of each other. They should never be the exclusively domains of any one group.

The blending of history with current need is a difficult one at times requiring a sensitive approach to move forward whilst preserving the best of yesteryear. I think we are perhaps better at it now than say in the 50's to 70's when much was lost in Thanet.

Anonymous said...

I just read your Thanisaurus definition of Big News Margate.

Still laughing.

Of course if you added together all the ill informed chatter about "Libel" on Big News Margate and Thanet Online it would exceed all the comments about the aquifer.

SG the way to go is, like other areas, form a volunteer garden group. Do not let the council tag the group on to its contractors but source your own insurance.

Then you and your group can get stuck in clearing up after the area's nocturnal use. Wear protective gloves. Make sure you have a medical sharps box.



Anonymous said...

Presumably 10:07 is referring to uphill gardening.

Anonymous said...

Tim is not commenting yet on noisy jets or the aquifer, 8:52, as he is still jet lagged after his trip. (Dashes off to doctor to get sides stitched after splitting them).

Anonymous said...

Much to your obvious disappointment John.

Anonymous said...

Yes gardening that addresses the gravity of the situation.

The point being that people who wish to furtively and anonymously use publicly maintained gardens at night should consider cleaning up the area free of charge.

One problem with volunteer groups is that you don't want to be confused with service to the community offenders and you don't want to be mistaken for work for benefits people. Nor would volunteers want to be confused for the sort of gay something of the night type.

My view is that gays have a right to do what they want on private property. But don't monopolise and pollute areas that are public.



Anonymous said...

Another Discovery park-style housing development in the Gazette today: Manston Green of 500 houses with KCC support, Parkway etc etc.

Just what is needed for an area full of empty houses and pensioners on their way out.

Peter C said...

I'm with you there 10:48; not sure what that has to do with this thread 10:49.

Unknown said...

Peter, 10:49 has nothing to do with the thread, but then his comments seldom do. The obsession with pensioners, as the fear grips him marching into middle age, should tell you all you need to know. He does not keep himself fit like you.

Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

Is Holyer popping up as an Anonymouse now? He seems obsessed with Tim. Is Holyer gay?

Anonymous said...

Discovery Park wans mentioned in the topic of council funds being spent/wasted ie the garden snot repaired yet KCC producing plans for housing at the Pfizer site. Especially concerning as the site was meant for skilled pharma jobs not a New Town or WC2.

Peter C said...

I'd much rather they built there than on farms as they're doing elsewhere. Besides, in some ways they;re restoring history: in the middle ages there were similar sized towns in both Sandwich and Stonar.

Peter C said...

So SG, you're agreeing that sexual activity goes on there and that you don't want to eliminate it and turn it into a family-friendly area instead?

Multiple Hetro said...

Peter, do you check there are no children around when you do your naked photo shoots or walk around without your clothes on?

Because Winterstokeccan accomodate family friendly and adult activities because one happens in the day, the other at night.

When your photo exhibits strip off or you get your knackers out in the day it sort of spoils whichever part of the world you are in for most.

Peter C said...

Yes I do, but seeing a topless woman on a beach isn't quite the same as seeing blokes having bum sex.

Let's chop the trees down and put some bright lights there asap.




Unknown said...

Well said, Peter, for there is a time and a place, but that is never in public day or night.

On the Discovery Park issue, they cannot attract anymore companies in there so shops and housing are the only alternatives. It is a bit like saying Manston could be turned into a business park. To do that you have to have businesses that want to move there.

Anonymous said...

More foolishness from Epps. Who says they can't attract more companies

Peter C said...

Who says they can, apart from someone posting an anonymous comment on a blog?

Unknown said...

With you again, Peter, though it is worrying that even though Discovery Park is offering ready facilities left by Pfizer, considerable tax advantages and support from on high, there are no more takers. Even some of the businesses that have gone in there have simply relocated from elsewhere in East Kent.

The now inevitable mixed development of hi-tech firms, shopping mall and housing may not be such a bad thing though. You are right about the town once stretching both sides of the Stour and Sandwich could do with a decent supermarket without spoiling the old town centre.

Anonymous said...

Peter, the fact they could attract pharma companies was the reason they took over Discovery park.

It certainly wasn't to turn it into houses and shops. Those are in Sandwich and the Thanet towns. And the disastrous WC.

William's last point is a good one that several of the firms are not pharma but accountants etc moving from within Thanet.

If the company can't attract pharma companies (the area has lost c.5k of those jobs) then an alternative should be found.

Anonymous said...

4:44, how exactly?

Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

4:49 Just as you would sack underperforming staff or close/reform an underperforming company the development company can be sacked etc.

You agree I am sure that its remit was pharma not the usual KCC roads and houses and shops. We have town centres and WC for that.

Why would we need more? We certainly don't need to fund the council-construction industry(s) to do that.

Even EKO's 500 houses has now been cancelled

The slipway development seems to have slipped through too? And the horrible Beach Resort houses on the seafront?

Peter C said...

You're right SG, I loath sexual activity in such a public place. I'd be very disappointed if a cllr did NOT agree with such a stance.

Maybe a compromise would be to keep the trees but install security cameras? They will be needed there anyway to stop vandalising if ever the place is refurbished.

Anonymous said...

SG neither William nor Peter are anti-gay or being strident. They -and almost certainly most people- don't agree with the seafront/park being used for sex.

Get a room or go somewhere more isolated.

Hopefully the Police will arrest anyone who is dogging/littering/dogpooing/parking etc etc - and the councillors will encourage them to do so more often.

Peter C said...

Thank you 5:36.

If ever I'm walking or cycling through there and see anything like that going on, I'll soon put a stop to it.

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

"Very little sexual activity" is still too much. Try to wait until you get home, like normal people do!

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

It has nothing to do with your sexual preferences. Or are you saying that in this day and age people should be allowed to indulge in sexual activity in a public place, one that's just over the road from housing and children?

You didn't answer my question from earlier: Maybe a compromise would be to keep the trees but install security cameras?

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

There's surveillance all along Margate seafront and I think most people welcome it. As long as it's not facing people's property then I don't see anyone having a problem with it.

Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

It is a strange argument for SG to suggest some sort of gay club in the seafront bushes/park in the dark is positive. It would be equally off-putting if it was a hetero club of dogging etc. Or there were muggers there etc etc.

Just get a room or face being arrested. It's the seafront and main park.

Hopefully the houses opposite will call out the police more often.

Solo Gays said...
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Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

What nasty, petulant comments Sologays.

Solo Gays said...
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Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Or perhaps he just doesn't like perverts having sex in the bushes opposite his house.

Solo Gays said...
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Peter C said...

Solo Gays must've had a cold shower or something, he's removed all his comments!

Anonymous said...

http://gay-in-thanet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/checksfield-exclusive-ban-bum-sex.html

Anonymous said...

I was going to reply on there but it looks like he's decided not to publish any more comments after making a fool of himself.

Anonymous said...

Likewise, 10:17, but he has got all beside himself at the nasty comments and minced off to sulk in a well known public shelter.

Solo Gays said...
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Anonymous said...

Talking of pains in the arse, anyone else getting annoyed by the endless training flights over Ramsgate since 9am today?

Anonymous said...

Not sure what all the fuss is about here. You can do pretty much what you want around here without fear of crossing someone in authority, unless of course your parking ticket ran out 2 minutes ago.

To please everyone, can we just all ramble naked along the clifftop to Winterstoke gardens where Peter can then take pictures of the ladies while all the men have sex with each other and we all prune the bushes afterwards?

Anonymous said...

The lawyers are looking at those shots on monday morning SG.

Anonymous said...

In a word, 12:33, no! It is all revenue for the jolly old airport so bring it on.

Anonymous said...

Very annoying training flights especially as the airport has crashed

Anonymous said...

3:17, why don't you get back to the beach and your crossword or just invent another trip to Hanoi. You are becoming boring again - the airport has not crashed and you only have to look up to see the planes are still using it.

Anonymous said...

What has Hanoi got to do with Manston going bust again? And a training flight and a couple of flights a week are hardly a successful airport. The sooner it closes completely the better.

Anonymous said...

Parking/overnight sleeping on the clifftop with HGV's or in the park is annoying as buggery in the bushes. What are the police and council doing?

Anonymous said...

12:33 the training flights provide a few hundred quid of revenue to the airport: hundred quid or so in tax. They are completely useless for the town as a whole and very noisy.

Anonymous said...

Bugger all!

Anonymous said...

How can we ensure there are no more flights over the town? Safety as hardly TDC or Infratil's strong point and with the end of the airport that will only get worse as people leave.

Ban overflights (again) and restrict flights to daylight hours: 8-5?

Anonymous said...

The airport will close at the end of the month as Infratil no longer own it and Ann has only a shell company.

Peter C said...

This thread actually stayed on topic until Mr Gays got a strop-on! Back to abnormality now...

Anonymous said...

The flights go over the Eastcliff disturbing Mr Gays antics and everyone else - perfectly ontopic.

Training flights ban?

Anonymous said...

I'd be far more concerned if there were pilots flying over us who were not trained!

Anonymous said...

Garbutt you are a total and utter moron and everyone is sick of your Manston comments. Now either shut up or sue me.

Solo Gays said...

Dear ECR and All
Having just finished a shift at the local hospital I have had time to reflect on my behaviour, and I don't know what came over me really?
I wish to apologise for any offence caused and especially William Epps, whom I now feel was perhaps right when he said I took his words out of context. I have now deleted the offending post and would hope he accepts my sincerest apologies.
I will now have to look at where I am going with my blog, ie can it serve any useful purpose in the community, and among gay people especially? I just don't know? It would be useful ECR if we could break our links at this present time whilst I sort my head out as I feel I have made a right tit of myself with your readers - thanks.

Anonymous said...

I'm still showing those screen grabs to my solicitor SG.

Anonymous said...

It's not Garbutt but leave your address here so we can consider suing you 9:38 but why do you want training flights

Anonymous said...

Why do I want training flights? Because I don't want inexperienced pilots crashing you moron!

Solo Gays said...

7.53
I have published my email and I would rather we resolve any difficulties you still may have with me there if you think that might help? We are talking here about a small audience late on a friday night whereby I might have said something I should not have out of hurt, but quickly rectified the situation by deleting ALL my comments to be on the safe side. All I have been doing is pushing boundaries on behalf of myself and the people I know and respect, but I fear all I may have done, in respect of this site at least, is stigmatise and marginalise us further. But hopefully the damage can be contained since nobody really knows me/us and I am breaking off links, even though there may be some sorry to see me go. You will of course have to prove that I have caused you financial loss through the brief appearance of my words at an unsocial hour, if you feel the matter has not been contained. And then if your solicitor is minded to support you in a claim, then you will be pitching yourself against someone on low wages. I would just ask you again to consider accepting my apologies if you felt threatened by my words. They are sincerely meant.

Anonymous said...

10:50 AM, if you are not Garbutt you are not the subject of the moron label and therefore could not sue. As for leaving addresses, how about you start with yours so I can pass it on to my brief. Second thoughts, don't worry yourself because it is c/o the Surin Restaurant in Harbour Street.

Anonymous said...

Shut up John you imbecile!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to disappoint you, Tim, but I am not John. Your fame has spread far and wide and there are lots more of us that now realise you are a complete prick. Cyril.

Anonymous said...

Nice one Cyril!

Anonymous said...

Nice one son!

Anonymous said...

Let's have another one!

Anonymous said...

So a trio of really old Spurs supporters have appeared.

Anonymous said...

Spurs? It's from the Wonder Loaf advert!

Anonymous said...

Tottenham fans used to sing it to Cyril Knowles, specifically when he scored a goal. Are you one of those millions of illiterates Tim was going on about?

Richard Eastcliff said...

Er, what's been going on here then?

I dunno, you pop out to Cannes for the weekend and when you come home, there's all this mullarkey to deal with. As they say, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye, or issues a writ!

if any potentially litigious material was allegedly published here on my blog, you'd better sue me too. Please address your legal missives to:

Richard Eastcliff
Cliff Top Mansion
Victoria Parade
Ramsgate
Kent

Those with long memories will know that I don't scare easily, and have access to some of the best libel lawyers in the land. So just make sure you've taken top advice before letting one off!

Anonymous said...

You don't scare easily, but Solo Gays obviously does!

Solo Gays said...

Depends who we compare ourselves to 4.09. I look up to ECR because he is experienced in these matters and takes risks to give us all a voice. But I look down on you because I barely notice you.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Is there a 'like' button on here? :-)

Anonymous said...

"Don't scare easily"?! ECR shut down his blog for over a year because someone put the frighteners on him!

Anonymous said...

You two will be meeting behind a tree in the dark next!

Solo Gays said...

maybe the one pictured in this post 4.58 - if we can save it! ;)

Anonymous said...

12:31 somebody could sue on behalf of Garbutt. Do keep up. And you haven't left your address yet scaredy-cat?

And he's supposed to leave his address before suing you? Are you a complete moron? A TIB again.

They could sue ECR too, but not necessarily.

Anonymous said...

Problem is 5:31 that you deny all these anonymous posts are Garbutt so, if they are not, you or he can hardly sue anyone for making replies to them.

Anyway, who is Garbutt, does anyone know? Never saw him once anywhere in the 2010 election campaign but he said he was a candidate. Maybe he does not exist and the blog and twitter are all make belief. Come to think of it, they cannot be real can they?

Anonymous said...

7:44, probably just another creation by Holyer, as is Mallinson and nearly all the anonymous comments here. No wonder even the Gazette complained about him ruining the blogs!

Richard Eastcliff said...

You really need to make sure both your brain cells are engaged before you comment, 4:56pm!

This blog has never been 'shut down for over a year because someone put the frighteners' on me. I admit, there was a hiatus in 2011, but that was more to do with my ennui at having to engage with the feeble-minded than any legal worries.

Many have tried (most notably The Flying Doctor and Eurof*****s), but none have succeeded!

Anonymous said...

&:47, Holyer lives in Ramsgate and is ex RAF. Mallinson lives Canterbury way (I think Fordwich) and was army. Their style of writing is totally different though that is probably beyond your powers of perception.

Some of the anonymous comments on here are me and I am neither Holyer or Mallinson. Do not kid yourself that it is just a couple of people who think you are a dickhead.

Anonymous said...

Last comment was directed at Tim at 7:47.

Anonymous said...

8:12 and 8:13 covering all the bases in insulting Tim or someone else or Holyer, and admitting to writing various anon comments. Hilarious and thick as two short ones. Duckhead should feature on this blog more often.

Anonymous said...

Worse than expected with a frenzy of harse-building at Discovery Park and now Manston Green: c.500-800 at each

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/thanet-parkway-blueprint-set-to-7993

The councillors have lost control: KCC are simply telling them what will happen.

Anonymous said...

OK, I'll try a THIRD time: why is housing and shops at the dicovery park such a bad idea?

I really don't see the point of just posting opinions if you're not willing to discuss them.

Anonymous said...

8:50 a bad idea beacuse:

a. We have plenty of shops and houses - and many empty so pointless construction

b. More importantly, Discovery Park was highlighted for pharma jobs ie future growth/skills not some tinpot new town/housing estate through the backdoor

c. the shift of existing accountants etc into DP is already bad enough (and Mayor Dave Green highlighted this a few years ago) rather than the jobs of the future required

Anonymous said...


8:13 write to Tim here:

@timg33

No doubt he'll ignore you as an idiot as will the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

The slipway and fire station and Beach Retreat site are just as bad and why can the old pool not be reopened? We don't pay councillors and civil servants to close things.

Anonymous said...

why do people think these 'overflights' are banned? They are on the track to the runway and quite legal

Anonymous said...

Because it says so in the S106 10:25 - the rural end of the runway is to be used obviously to reduce crashes and pollution. Overflights carry fines. Do try not to talk rubbish.

Anonymous said...

The overflights issue is this rather naughty and misleading statement by Carter and Gale of planes flying straight out to sea etc.

Very naughty of them.

And Clive lending support for Manston even now it's sold and knowing of the safety breaches and pollution and cancer.

Very naughty.

The Chemo Unit will be unnecessarily busy for years.

Anonymous said...

There's a Chemo Bus too for Margate which is useful. Shame Buchanan or Ann didn't fund that piece of transport!

Anonymous said...

Buchanan's Community Fund has funded almost nothing.

Anonymous said...

You can only land from the favoured end if the wind direction is suitable!

Anonymous said...

Cobblers - a 747 isn't reliant on wind speed/direction unless it's a hurricane. The overflights are just Infratil and TDC not bothering.

Anonymous said...

You choose a runway to be in use based on wind direction .. for ALL aircraft .. if light aircraft are using one direction you can't just let a jumbo come from the other way because it is bigger .. you muppet!

Anonymous said...

Not so muppeteer - Manston specifies the rural end. Pay attention. Occasionally there would be exceptions for strong winds or other aircraft but the rural end it is. Not overflights as they routinely happen. Why would you want jumbo planes flying over the town at night at low level?

Anonymous said...

The pro-Manston Brigade clutching at straws again. Must be one of the airport workers again although not many of them and like Buchanan must be polishing their CV's.

Anonymous said...

No need for CV polishing .. except for those who want to join the airport crew .. next year looks rosy :-)

Anyone seems Tims latest ravings at lovekentloveramsgate?

Anonymous said...

More likely it's P45's again at Manston. Gloag will be less forgiving that Infratil for pollution. And there are fewer flights than ever. So many Manstoneers prepared to accept poisoning their friends and neighbours.

Tim's rather excellent ravings are on Twitter @timg33