Thursday, March 20, 2014

Ramsgate Prices Soar As Airport Plummets

By Isle of Thanet Gazunder Property Editor Sammy Detached

House prices in Ramsgate are surging following the news that Manston Airport is to close.

Estate agents throughout the town have reported a 'tidal wave' of interest in Ramsgate's Georgian and Victorian properties now that the blight of all-night flights, cargo planes carrying rotten bananas and endless training loops by knackered old jumbos has been lifted.

One agent, who didn't want to be named, said: 'Whilst it's obviously bad news for the half a dozen people who worked at Manston, there is an upside. We're getting property inquiries from as far away as Scotland from buyers who have heard the news and are now actively seeking to relocate in our fantastic seaside town.'

One local property expert told the Gazunder that he now expects well-presented homes to double or even triple in value over the next five years. 'It's going to be a new gold rush,' he said, adding: 'I've always maintained that Ramsgate would take off once the take-offs stopped taking off, if you see what I mean.'

Meanwhile redundant airport workers are being urged to 'get on their bikes' and look for work at one of the twelve other airports in the south east. Said one recruitment specialist: 'If you want to work at an airport, stop moaning and move to where there is one.'

That's enough property news - Ed.

57 comments:

Don Wood said...

Prediction are housing bubble too burst due to over supply of shoddy houses at Ramsgate airport site former gizzilionaire dickie eastcliffe destitute after Clifftop Manion falls into sea squashing pleasurama flats. Guzzunda headline for 2020 Dickie?

I aim to invent airport runway demolition machine do you want in? I have some plans on the back of a fag packet somewhere, found the down the back of the sofa we will only be paid in Brown envelopes stuffed into Tesco carrier bags which I am led to believe is an old Thanet custom.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Have you been on the sauce again Don?

Tony said...

Richard, my estimation of you has gone down 100%, do you really enjoy kicking people (airport workers} when they are down with your juvenile comments?

Richard Eastcliff said...

Like the airport, your estimation was bound to go down sooner or later.

If you must know, it's by way of serving up a cold revenge for all the times I've been told to move somewhere else if I didn't like the airport.

It seems that, now the shoe is on the other boot, those that dish it out can't take it. Hey-ho.

BTW, for my next article I'm planning a piece on why the port should close. Interested in contributing?

Tony said...

Not really. My hope is that the Port and the airport both stay open, contributing to the local economy and keeping people employed.

Anonymous said...

Now the airport is gone we can support a manston parkway for all those London commuters that will be buying executive homes in the new manston village.

Kings Hill has taken decades to build, employing hundreds for years. Much more than manston ever has or ever would employ.

One certain way for Thanet Council to get the unemployed ratio down is to import a train load of DFL's as commuters. Simple.

It will be quite amusing to watch the manston lovers start petitions, hold meetings and create groups to stop a load of houses for being built there.

I think you should also start saying to supporters of manston "if you like living next to an airport so much, move to gatwick".

Anonymous said...

Somebody should tell those ad executives at KLM that the airport is to close possible by 9th April. Last night at 8.15 Meridian ITV were showing that KLM advert showing the delights of flying from a deserted Manston Airport.

Don Wood said...

I worked around Gatwick 20 years ago and the area had virtual ZERO unemployment we could have had the same. But like the port to little too late. TDC always react 10 years after the need for action. Sad fact of life in Thanet. Still we can always grow tomatoes.

Unknown said...

Appreciate this is one of your tongue in cheek postings, Richard, but the trouble is that we have local idiots who will believe it. Perhaps the real test of public opinion lies in the responses to consultations and petitions. When TDC called a consultation on night flights, the 'no' brigade raised a little over 2,000 supporters. The current petition to save Manston has already attracted three times that and rising in signatures.

Anonymous said...

ECR You are no doubt mindful of the Canterbury University sociologist research circa 1987 ?

As thousands of Kent mineworkers faced unemployment and 15000 Chatham Dockyard workers faced unemployment (the price worth paying according to Mrs T) the sociologist noted five possession orders per day at Thanet County Court for minimal mortgage arrears (3 months or less) and noted that with 27.1% unemployment oddly it was people in low paid work who should get on their bikes. IE 100% of possession orders against low paid.

And the people being forced out of Thanet were the types who volunteer for St Johns and red Cross bona fide cadet force leadership martial arts clubs instructors etc. And the sociolgist said the lossof the fabric of a society in Thanet would cause problems.

As it happens I got on my bike after our family lived on a campsite homeless for a while. And ended up contracting on a grand a week in Birmingham then on to industry contracting aroundn the country.

So cry no tears. We are all Thatcherites now. A job is a job not a right or a welfare benefit.

Hats off to the Tower Colliery buy out who went on to develop eco fuel technology (Clean fuel using coal to recycle household waste into a generating fuel). Funny Maggie was supposed to be a scientist but yet could see no further than the end of one years annual accounts.

My benefits tenants now know nothing. Their landlord is too good to them ! Perhaps I should send them some bikes as a hint ?

Peter C said...

Exactly William. Meanwhile we have local politicians doing lots of talking - but only when it suits them! Ian Driver has said that anything built on Manston should create substainable employment, but ignores my questions when I asked him for business suggestions, and Clive Hart said he'll do what he can to help the airport, but ignored my question (on Twitter) when I asked him if that includes allowing more night flights. At least the Tories (Roger, Laura, Simon) have made their thoughts and intentions a little more clear.

John Holyer said...

I live under the flight path close to the threshold and night flights would not disturb me, especially in the knowledge that they were bringing prosperity to the town.

Manston was there before I was born.

Besides modern aircraft are not that noisy, there won't that many flights and modern aircraft are becoming quieter all the time.

I used to spend nights at Hatton Cross which is part of LHR.

John Holyer said...

Kings Hill: big houses cramped together with postage stamp gardens. If the PR is to be believed Kings Hill is doing well, a commuters paradise, so clearly what they need now is an airport.

Richard Eastcliff said...

Sorry Mr E and Cheggers, but I don't take lectures on Manston from people who don't live in Ramsgate!

Good to see that people haven't entirely lost their sense of humour over this, though.

Richard Eastcliff said...

As for petitions, at least the 2,000 people who signed the 'no night flights' petition were from areas that were directly affected by the airport. There's probably only a single figure percentage of the 5,000 who have signed the 'save Manston' petition who could say the same thing.

Anyway, it's game over as you all know. The lady Gloag is not for turning.

Anonymous said...

Kings Hill, a very successful local community with shops (including Asda and Waitrose), pubs and restaurants, schools, health centres, sports facilities and local businesses employing many of the locals. And I think you will find wide roads and plenty of houses with big gardens if that's what you want but most people today are not gardeners, they have other things to do.
Its taken over 20 years to develop but there's no shortage of people that want to live there.

Anonymous said...

Kings Hill is my idea of hell tbh. Not somewhere I would live in out of choice. Small houses, no style, uniform space, central planned nightmare.

John Holyer said...

Anon 1039,

Indeed the Kings Hillians do have other things to do, such as spending over 12 hours day commuting and working just to pay the mortgage on their overpriced houses.

On your other point: Thanet also has shops (including Asda and Waitrose), pubs and restaurants, schools, health centres, sports facilities and local businesses employing many of the locals. It also has a Marina, Port and airport.



Anonymous said...

John H. People working to pay off their mortgages. Shame on them! Are you another Thanetian who believes in a god-given right such as thou shall not commute more than 10 mins?

John Holyer said...

Anon 12:12,

The operative word in my earlier comment was not 'mortgage' but 'overpriced'.

As I have told you many times before ad nauseum I need no lessons from you on commuting. In the 70s I commuted from Ramsgate to Westminster for three years when the journey time to Victoria was 2hrs 8mins.

Your pejorative use of your invented word Thanetian suggests that you do not originate from this area.

Are you by some chance connected to property development? I immediately withdraw that question for fear of getting into a discussion with someone that I do not know, namely you. I find such discussions tiresome.

Peter C said...

Still no comment from Steve Higgins aka Smeggy?

Anonymous said...

That's because Steve Higgins now works for a firm that is connected to the airport.

Anonymous said...

I don't think anyone would disagree with you on houses being overpriced John, but that's surely their choice and more fool them if they can't afford it.

Anonymous said...

If the people at the airport want to continue to work at an airport they could move (or commute) to Crawley, Luton, or Hounslow, surely? There must be plenty of jobs for them there.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I see Town Councillor Epps has finally popped up on this blog again after being so shamed in the Facebook strand earlier in the year. Come to aologise for calling others liars, have you Epps, when the proof of your actions was presented to you with total clarity?

Unknown said...

5:37 what proof of what when and where and, for the record, I do not use Facebook.

The reason I do not pop up too often these days, as you describe it, is because the blogs are dominated by mindless twits like you.

Anonymous said...

The last time we exchanged words (on here), Town Councillor Epps, you called me a liar. This time I'm a "mindless twit". You clearly have a bit of a mouth on you and like spitting insults - so typical of your (political) breed.

I wasn't referring to the social media site, Facebook, but to a posting strand on this blog dated 6 February. It was in fact headed "Faecebook". My apologies for the spelling error. Our exchange is all contained within that strand.

In that strand, I referred to your comments on another blog late last year about the (then) reported arrest of John Worrow. I quoted the salacious, gossipy contributions you had made and the titillation you and your cronies had clearly experienced over the news. You tried to deny you had made them and called me a liar, even when I gave you the dates of all the relevant contributions.

Then you disappeared, when I asked if I would be getting an apology. Now you have emerged from the gutter again, obviously keen to gain publicity for yourself on other subjects.

You can hope people will forget your excesses. Sadly, for you, they will not.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:09,

You come across as a rather disgusting little creep and I'm wondering whether John Worrow would really want you as his champion.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Anon. I am no champion of John Worrow, just a critic of disgusting - to use your term - behaviour. The sort evidenced by Town Councillor Epps.

Peter C said...

What are John Worrow's thoughts on the airport? Or is he waiting to see which way Labour go?

Anonymous said...

Given the supposed criticality of the topic, Peter, perhaps every locally elected politician should be asked if efforts should be made (and funded) to save the airport or what other realistic plans might be developed for the site. Then we'd know.

Peter C said...

I agree totally 1:55. On twitter, Will Scobie is refusing to even discuss it, as is Clive Hart (apart from sitting-on-the-fence press releases). At least Tories Laura Sandys, Simon Moores and Julie Marson have made their thoughts clear, something to be respected whether we agree with them or not.

Unknown said...

Tim, you may not forget the excuses you made up for me, but most people do not even know what you are talking about. As for me and my cronies, as you put it, talking about John Worrow's arrest, you seriously have your wires crossed. I never made any comment about that arrest preferring to let the law and enquiries take their course before leaping into print.



Anonymous said...

Town Councillor Epps, firstly my name isn’t Tim, so I don’t understand the basis for your last contribution or your reference to excuses being made up for you (sounds intriguing though!). Secondly, others may well not know what I am talking about here. That isn’t an issue for me, as my remarks have been addressed solely to you.

I have been referring back to “the salacious, gossipy contributions you…made [late last year] and the titillation you and your cronies…clearly experienced [over news of the arrest of John Worrow]”

On this blog, this week, you said:

“I never made any comment about that arrest”.

On Thanetonline, in a strand dated 30 October (2013), you said after someone asked what was the latest news about John Worrow:

“Look in the Gazette… Yet to get my copy but the phone has been buzzing this morning at the news”

When someone then queried why the subsequent “conversation” wasn’t about John Worrow, and suggested it should be, you said:

“True…, but no juicy details yet. Have you heard anything on your grapevine for no-one I have spoken to knows any more than was in the Gazette? Be interesting to see if he [John Worrow] still shouts “criminal” across the Council Chamber at Ken Gregory after this.”

When someone mentioned the presumption of innocence before proven guilt, you said:

“Seem to recall many people were not so generous…when Sandy Ezekiel was arrested and Ken Gregory only accepted a police caution. He was never tried and convicted by a court of law yet certain councillors still dubbed him a criminal. As you say, though, we must not prejudge.”

You went on, about John Worrow:

“Bit like his story now that he is standing down, not because he would be kicked out by the electorate, but because he is a victim of a homophobic hate campaign.”

So far from making no comment, you were singing like a ****ing canary, and probably almost having a little private accident due to your excitement at the “juicy” news.

You then said, about the Sologays blog:

“I tried to point this out to [Sologays] on his site, but I am not one of the accepted persons – perhaps I should be glad about that."

I wonder what that last little bit means.

I challenged you about all of this, here, on this blog, in the February strand headed “Faecebook”. I asked you to apologise for calling ME a liar. But you disappeared.

Now you are back, apparently as forgetful, or mendacious, as you were back in February.

Anonymous said...

Thanks John.

Anonymous said...

1:02, how is William (or anyone else) supposed to know which anon they're talking to? You obviously haven't really thought this through...

Anonymous said...

To Anon 1.13, sorry, my name isn't John either. To Anon of 1.15, I don't think that's Epps's issue or problem - certainly not one he's raised. But my posts in this thread are, in order, those timed at 5.37, 12.09, 1.35 and 1.02 - and now this one. That should clear up any doubt.

Anonymous said...

You're a liar 2:23, because two of the posts you listed are MINE!!!

John Holyer said...

Oh dear! Off we go once more with anon arguing with anon who is not the same anon as the anon who said that everyone has got wrong but him.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you, Holyer, that posting anonymously does create a recognition problem. But nowhere do I even vaguely suggest that everyone is wrong but me. I don't happen to think that, and would prefer to leave that sort of arrogance to your good, well practiced self.

Anon 3.27, take care when you hurl the term "liar"; you might find yourself as embarrassed as Town Councillor Epps. I have re-checked the posts and those listed are definitely mine. Unless you are claiming the one which prompted a critic to call me a "disgusting little creep" in reply; you would be welcome to that one. I fear you are mistaken, or being mischievous.

Anonymous said...

Only one person attacks me by name every time I make a comment and that same person invents stories about me maligning Cllr Worrow. Whilst I am no fan of Worrow's I did not join in the rejoicing at his arrest, Anon whoever you are, so you are still a liar. Please sue me if you can prove otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Of the 100's of anti-Manston comments on this blog over the past few days, only "Tim Clark" hasn't hidden behind anonymity (though I doubt if that's his real name!). So I wonder how many different people here are really against it? No more than 5 or 6 I suspect.

As for BHS closing, it was pretty obvious that someone else would take over the site fairly quickly. A bit difference to the decades of decaying concrete that we'll see (and our grandchildren will see) if Manston closes.

Unknown said...

How bizarre for we have anons arguing with anons, anons claiming they are not other anons, anons disowning comments they previously claimed and now, to top it all, an anon claiming he is attacked by name when he has not got one. All very weird, but there are some strange anons out there.

John Holyer said...

Anon 4:52,

I recognise you by your syntax, vocabulary, vacuity, tone and style. But I'm busy right now, do you mind if I come back and insult you later.

Anonymous said...

Town Councillor Epps, you have shown that you're not as effective at covering your tracks and blunders as some of your political allies. Now why not answer the points I put to you in my 1.02 pm post today. Or do principles, evidence and the truth make you gag?

There is no lack of clarity around the issue confronting you, or in which posts it is covered. Simply acting as a parrot for the side-stepping remarks of your crony, Holyer, does not make you look very bright.

Unknown said...

Tim, go f**k yourself, there's a good chap. I have nothing to answer to you on. If, however, you want to come out in the open and stop hiding behind your anonymous tag, then more than happy to have a debate.

Anonymous said...

Why does Epps assume everyone is Tim? The Anon post has confirmed he isn't Tim.

And the Anon post simply detailed how Epps had repeatedly referred to the Worrow case and then claimed he hadn't. We can see Anon is right.

We are at fault electing idiots like Epps. At least he won't be standing again and is back to being just another loudmouth.

Anonymous said...

When all else fails, fall back on the old chestnut of criticising anonymous blogging, eh, Town Councillor Epps?

And all else has failed you - demonstrated by your foul-mouthed response. You said you had made no comment about the reports of John Worrow's arrest last year, but the evidence shows your claim to be completely untrue. Moreover, it shows you to be a fearful gossip, who gets some sort of peculiar titillation with his cronies over what you - and no doubt they - see as "juicy" news.

This makes you look pretty low, Epps. Small wonder politicians have such an appalling reputation. In your case, you earn that reputation with distinction.

And no, my name isn't Tim - or John Worrow. You don't know me, and - thankfully - I don't know you.

Nemesis said...

But I know who you are, I know you.

Nemesis said...

My remark was addresed to you 5:16.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, Nemesis, I look forward to meeting you then.

Nemesis said...

Anon 9:54,

You have already met me. You know me. We have spoken. Think.

Anonymous said...

You may be right, Nemesis; I have absolutely no idea. But the issue here isn't your, or my, identity - or indeed anyone else's. It is the actions and behaviour of Town Councillor Epps. We should stay focussed on that.

Nemesis said...

Anon 11:28,

You stay focussed on whatever you choose . For my part I will stay focussed on you.

Anonymous said...

Whatever turns you on, Nemesis.

Anonymous said...

Tim, please try to get switched on. Everyone around the blogs knows who you are and recognises your style and repetitive comments. You talk of people being obsessed with Tim, but you are obsessed with anyone who uses a name and criticises you.

Why not try and help her indoors with the restaurant instead of sitting on your fat the whole time.

Richard Eastcliff said...

The end.