Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Anyone For Tennis?

Just a quick reminder that today sees the start of the Montefiore tennis courts inquiry at Albion House, here in the Ms' P. Campaign group HOOT (Hands Off Our Tennis Courts) is hoping to overturn a decision by Thanet Council to flog the facility to developers by having the tennis courts designated a village green, one of four such applications currently under consideration around the isle. The poor HOOTers have had to prepare all their evidence themselves, whilst the council has gone to great lengths to ensure even more taxpayers' moolah is wasted by hiring a barrister.

Of course, Albion House itself is also in the process of being sold off by the jurassic junta, begging the question of where future inquiries into asset sales would be held once all the assets have been sold. Er... Anyway, the inquiry's public, so do feel free to pop along. Or if you're trundling past in the old jalopy, why not give a honk for HOOT??!!! Let's hope it's game, set and match to them!

Click here for HOOT website

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

perhaps Canterbury will buy Thanet lock stock and smoking barrels.

Jane WJ said...

Absolutely! What TDC are trying to do is outrageous. Hurrah for Hoot, I say!

Jane WJ said...

The "absolutely" was about it being game, set and match to Hoot. Not about Canterbury buying Thanet.... sigh

JMM said...

Actually it's about the old putting green being made into a village green but the decision on that one would affect the tennis courts, of course.

TDC in conjunction with KCC would like to build behind Holy Trinity School joining the Montefiore Avenue site with Cliffside Drive.

That's what is really driving this whole nonsense whereby TDC is using our money to stop locals enjoying some of the only decent tennis courts around.

TDC did try to have some new building in the park but that didn't happen.

Anonymous said...

Those were the days when TDC took over the garden in the middle of Vale Square and actually turned it INTO a tennis court!

Anonymous said...

Oops I meant Spencer Square not Vale Square.

Anonymous said...

TDC is nothing more than a public joke.

What is the point of voting if we have a pointless Local Authority?

Anonymous said...

Have just spent the morning at Albion House - very interesting if a little long-winded - but if you go along you might need thermal underwear, a flask of coffee and sandwiches. The front door of Albion House was kept wedged wide open all morning so it got very cold in there even if you were not in a direct line to the front door. The Village Green gets my vote - we all know what TDC are really up to. Hands off our assets.

Michael Child said...

2.57 I think the problem here is that Albion House looks shut even when it is open, if the town council and TDC intend to use it for events that are open to the public then they should have a priority of making some sort of inner porch, so that front door can be left open and locals feel comfortable just walking in.

Anonymous said...

The report to the Asset working party actually showed that no properties have actually been sold yet !hence the budget panic! next meeting the finance officer is meant to be attending to say how the money is going to be spent! What seems to be lost here is that it is OUR assets and OUR money!

Anonymous said...

4:01

I hope she will be explaining how TDC is manufacturing its cash reserves by creative accounting.

Perhaps TDC will also be explaining to the chairperson how they are using section 106 money (amongst other things) to creatively account their budget reserves.

Anonymous said...

Too many chefs cook the books

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael (I think the problem here is) Child.
I think the problem here is that you constantly think that the problem is somewhere other than where everyone else does.
The problem there is that it leaves everyone else wondering where (and what) your problem actually is.
How does this tennis court thing affect the aquifier, BTW?

Anonymous said...

09:59 I rather think that you have a serious problem and need to get help A.S.P - alternately hire a nice darkened room - or do us all a favour.....mooooooooove.

Michael Child said...

9.59 or should I call you the thirteenth commentator, looks like I have hit a nerve, my point here is that public meetings in Ramsgate should be just that and I have made it very clear to our new town council that Albion House with it’s door shut, even when it is not locked, would be daunting for many people to enter.

It looks like a private and exclusive club and such is the perception that many have of our local government, the compromise of leaving the door open so that people attending are freezing cold is just not good enough,

Here in Ramsgate many of us feel isolated from government based in Margate and hopelessly uninformed by local government about major Ramsgate issues.

To you of course, the powers that be making us Ramsgate residents as uncomfortable as they reasonably can when we try to engage in issues about our town that concern us is of little matter.

Anonymous said...

Many of us in Margate feel isolated froma "government" based in Margate too.

Anonymous said...

3:01 indeed you do, as well as us Ramsgate residents - who have had a failing local democracy for decades.

This same democracy failed us by voting to get out of Albion house...Junta just love living in the developers paradise!!

Now the burning question is....will John Kirby resign over Albion House?

John Kirby said...

By John Kirby ; -
What a sad person your last comment was from 4.04 I have more than most people in ramsgate supported Albion House in the real world - but when push comes to shove the top floors have had nil occupancy since 2004 - and after Public consultation - the best way forward was for upstairs development which would have left the council chamber and Mayor's |Office intact for future use - but unforunately our nice new Town Council rejected this plan on Monday last with our 2 "independents" Gerry o'Donnell and Ralph Hoult throwing in the towel and voting for nice new shiny offices at the Custom House which no doubt will leave the current Mayor saying he will need another year to bed things down with the new arrangements. Well done the Conservative Group and Steve Ward on the Town Council for voting against this arrangement which leaves Albion House high and dry - the Custom House deal is all promises - promises John Kirby - I do not do "anonymous" like your 4.04

Anonymous said...

would the real John Kireby post please!!!

Anonymous said...

My official number in the R.N was P/050001 and my mothers maiden name was Marriott - it is me - John Kirby

Anonymous said...

So its official then, TDC can intimidate the very people that pay it, how bizarre.

Anonymous said...

9:04:- I agree, however would TDC propose the route that they have taken if they could not use public funds to defend themselves from the tax paying public?

I cannot see any public interest in TDC doing nothing more than intimidating the tax paying public and falsely claiming to consult when they are manipulating asset management?

This inquiry is not a level playing field it is one sided as HOOTS (and I am not a member) has clearly not got the financial ability to obtain council.

Given the parlous state of TDC's accounts and using funds to shore up the reserves from elsewhere, one could argue that TDC would not be able to use the funds for this site in the way that they so flippantly state.

The same department who is organising the destruction of Ramsgates public spaces is not applying the full allotment fund to open spaces, and is attempting to get the Montefoire woodland passed on to the Parish of Ramsgate with even less money than they should have obtained in the current 106 agreement.

John give me a ring

Malcolm

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, WTF was 'John give me a ring' all about.
Will he not let you have his number, then?
Or do you think it's neccesary to make a public announcement before your very important call?
Nice one Malcolm!
ROFL!