Showing posts with label Fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fire. Show all posts

Monday, May 20, 2013

Wheelie Bins On Fire, Rollin' Down The Road

Apologies to the late, great Bob Dylan (He's not dead - Ed.) for appropriating his lyrics, but there appears to have been a spate of what can only be described as 'arson about' across the island recently.

Not that earner burners and the like are unknown here in Fannit. But having torched all the big stuff (Dreamland, Pleasurama, most of Margate), the local ne'er-do-wells have now turned their attention to the slightly more trivial pursuit of popping the odd Bryant and May into our wheelie bins.

Showing a modicum of talent for the job, they are targeting the recycling bins, being, as they are, full of combustibles such as paper and plastic. Even the local fules know it's hard to set light to cat turds, soiled nappies, and used condoms.

Regular contributor Steve has put an FOI request into the boys in brown at Kent Fire and Rescue, and come up with some startling figures. In the three-and-a-bit years since records began, there have been 74 wheelie bin fires on the Ile de Thanet, that's around two per month. Out of those 74, almost a third (26) have been in Central Harbour ward, down here by our lovely Ramsgate Royal Harbour. Thus confirming my theory that the closer to large amounts of water something gets, the more likely it is to burst into flames.

I guess it's all in the name of 'fun'. But, as they say, it's all fun and games until someone gets burnt to death.

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Thumbs Up For Dreamland Scheme

This just in here at the Big Blog newsroom - The Duffers have been given the final go-ahead for the compulsory purchase of the Dreamland site over in The Smoke (Margate).

The decision, by High Court Judge Phillip Sycamore, paves the way for a £12m 'heritage theme park' (knackered old rides to you and me), with top designer Wayne Hemingway at the helm.

On balance it's probably good news for the Arsonists' Playground, but I can't help wondering when Thanet Council are going to start spending tens of millions on our derelict seafront here in Ramsgate. Is it because they are based in Margate? I think we should be told!

Click here for the full story on the KOS website.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

In Crematoriam

In Memoriam
Jimmy Godden
Funpark operator and, er, pyrotechnician

So, farewell
Then Jimmy Godden.

'Strike a light!'
That was
Your catchphrase.
And 'Stop arson about!'

Now an act
Of Godden
Has taken you
To that great
Funpark in the sky.

Or that other
One, down below.

Either way,
You were probably
Insured.

E. C. Richard (29)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Confibula Comeodi


Or 'Clamp Comedians', as we say in the Queen's English. I see intrepid yourfannitinnit newshound Tom Betts has followed up his video of Dreamland's queer clampers with an exclusive front page splash today!

According to the paper at least one of the CSS Parking Solutions operatives who've been clamping little old ladies and demanding £120 for the release of their vehicles has not been properly licensed by the Security Industry Authority. It could mean that the poor, disabled 80 year olds with terminal illnesses that these people have been preying on at Dreamland, the Lido and other north island beauty spots may be able to reclaim their folding. Hurrah!

But that's not the end of Tom's revelations! The kitten-loving former Tory Mayor of Margate Ted Watt-Ruffell, who used to be Chief Clamper at Dreamland, reveals in the story that absentee former Tory councillor Panama Steve Broadhurst's company Probe no longer has the Dreamland security contract from our Jimmy's Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company. So who's keeping an eye on the place now? A carelessly discarded cigarette end, a clumsily knocked over can of unleaded, and it could be 7/4/08 all over again!

Click here to read full story in yourfannitinnit

Update: Knickers! Thanks to all who pointed out my link to yourfannitinit was bogus. It's fixed now. That's what you get for having to drink half a bottle of Buckfast just to take the edge off in the mornings.

Friday, February 26, 2010

More Smoke On The Water

Rumours that there's been a fire, possibly arson, at the controversial Lilybrook development in Pegwell. More later.

Update: The story's now running on the Gazunder website. Click here for more. Thanks to derick97 for the info.

Further update (6 March): Police have now said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding this fire.

Click here for more on Lilybrook at Pegwell in the Times

Saturday, February 06, 2010

KFC Sizzler

As you can see from my News Nibbles on the right, the BBC News website is reporting a major fire at KFC in Westwood this morning. If anybody's got any eyewitness reports or photos, do email me at richardeastcliff@yahoo.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Update: Staff now say the fire was caused by squirrels. Click here for more.

More here, plus photo, on Kent Messenger website

Friday, January 08, 2010

Bush Tucker Trial

While you lot freeze your knackers and/or clackers off, I'm suffering in my jocks in 40+! I've moved up country to Jimmy Wicket's holiday home (he's taken a bit of a shine to me), where I'm undergoing ordeal by barbie and esky, which involves being force fed juicy steak, yummy prawns and slabs of ice cool stubbies. At this rate, I'm very tempted to take up Jimmy's offer of becoming his stooge and making Oz my permanent place of abode.

Mind you, the heat brings its own risks. The whole state is dry as a nun's nasty, and everywhere is on bushfire alert. When you consider that almost 200 people lost their lives due to bushfires in this area a year ago, it puts a few Poms whingeing about a bit of snow, some disrupted trains and a lack of grit into perspective, doesn't it?

I'll leave you with that thought, and to show I'm not totally out of touch with the latest happenings in the Cannes of Kent, here's a couple of shots a reader sent me of how the Pleasurama/Royal Sands/Titanic development is coming along!


Sunday, May 17, 2009

Blazing Margate

Nope, nothing to do with the weekend weather. While I've been off cavorting with my new druid chums, it appears half of Cliftonville has gone up in smoke. For those of you who are still unaware of the major fire in Northdown Road, you can catch up here, here, here, here, and here.

Inspector Knacker is said to be investigating. Not for nothing is it called the Arsonists' Playground!

Updates here and here. Anyone with any information should contact Margate police station on 01843 231055 or talk to one of the Cliftonville plastic bobbies as soon as possible.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Beauty And The Beach...

...to quote the best line last night! In case you missed the Margate edition of The Apprentice, it's available on BBC iPlayer until 13 June. Just click on the link below.

Mr Eastcliff senior rang me after the show to add his two penn 'orth about rebranding the Arsonists' Playground. Despite being in his dotage (63), his chuckle balls are still pretty much intact. After all, we are talking about the man who compered Miss Blackpool 1974. Taking a broader approach he sagely opined: 'Rebranding Thanet's easy. All they need to do is rename Margate Ramsgate, Ramsgate Whitstable, and, er, leave Broadstairs as Broadstairs.' Wise words indeed, although I'm not sure what Canterbury City Council would have to say about that.

Meanwhile Blackpool has really been thinking outside the box, and has rebranded itself as French! (See link below.) Watch out for the lovely French lovely's line: 'Oui. 'Otpot'!

The Apprentice does Margate on BBC iPlayer
Torygraph plots Margate's tourism plot
Blackpool goes all garlicky

Friday, February 20, 2009

Arson About

Not for nothing is the seedy north of the island dubbed the 'Arsonists' Playground'. According to the BBC News website, Foreness Water Ski Club in Palm Bay has received a visit from the chaps in the Swan Vesta sponsored tracksuits, and may now have to be demolished.

As ever, Kent's finest are on the case. And as ever, that's probably the last we'll hear about it.

Click here to read full story on BBC News website
Click here for picture on Thanet Extra website

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Burning Issues

Unholy smoke! A brand new property development has gone to blazes in suspicious circumstances over on the charred north side of the island! The property has now partially collapsed and looks for all intents and purposes a gonner.

When word of the fire reached the old Eastcliff lugholes this morning, it had me wondering if it was the Endcliffe Hotel over in Cliftonville (it wasn't). If you recall, the Endcliffe also burnt down, but has since been rebuilt. But not in the way that was stipulated when planning permission was granted. Our beloved council now seems to be thinking about getting the developer to knock the whole thing down and start again. If you were faced with that, or a nice little earner-burner, which would you choose?

It's not the first time a development has been completed here on the Ile de Thanet, only for the planning department to realise it doesn't look anything like the drawings they were shown years earlier. The odd extra floor here, a few extra metres there. Kushti. Admittedly, there are nine serious bones of contention against the Endcliffe, and judging by the photo above it does look like the proverbial box of bollocks compared with what's left of the Edwardian hotel it stands next to. But why oh why can't the planners pop round every now and then to check on progress? That way they could nip these diabolical liberties in the bud. Before they have to be knocked or burnt down, leaving us with yet another decade-long eyesore to replace the decade-long eyesore we had before!

Click here for Margate fire story on Gazunder website
Click here for pictures and video of fire on Thanet Extra

Thursday, July 03, 2008

When Will Margate Stop Burning?

My spies on the seedy north side of the island tell me that Margate has gone up in flames yet again. Firefighters were called to the Arcadian on Fart Hill to tackle a blaze this morning. Apparently their progress was impeded somewhat by the seemingly interminable roadworks along there as part of the crazy, pointless, multi-million pound de-dualling scheme.

The Arcadian looked to be in a sorry state anyway - just about ripe for an earner burner if you ask me. I'm told it was originally a photographer's studio in Victorian times. With the loss earlier this year of Ramsgate's Marina Restaurant, also a former Victorian photographic studio, the chances of cashing in on our marvellous, seaside heritage seem slimmer by the day.

Update: It now transpires this was a rubbish fire round the back of the building, so apologies for the, er, rubbish report. Click here to read full story in the Thanet Times.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Dusting For Prince

You know me, I could never be accused of cynicism. Ahem. But news that the Prince's Regeneration Trust has been commissioned by Dreamland developers Waterbridge to scribble yet another report on future uses for the site seems a tad like Charlie's eponymous forbear being asked to fill out a post execution survey for the Choppers' Union.

There have been so many schemes, plans and inspections regarding what is now effectively a deserted piece of prime sea front real estate with a few bits of Grade II listed charcoal scattered about, that most Thanetians have given up wasting their precious head space on the topic. Our beloved council have come out in favour of a 'mixed development', giving over the majority of the site (well, 51%) to a 'heritage theme park', with the rest consisting of the usual luxury apartments etc. Even the Save Dreamlanders appear to have given up the ghost and gone over to the other side, getting into bed with the developers on the promise of a funfair full of knackered old rides that have been bought up from other seaside towns who've been glad to see the back of them.

The Princes Regeneration Trust is no doubt likely to reiterate the same old nonsense. Meanwhile Her Majesty's Rozzers have yet to come up with anything other than a big, fat zero in their arson investigation. So if any of you harboured any thoughts of PC Plod and Big Ears coming to the rescue - dream on! (PS: I have now removed the O' from my name as this post has no doubt put paid to any chances of me copping something in the New Year's Honours.)

Click here for Dreamland story in yourfannit
Click here for press release from the Prince's Regeneration Trust

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Every Minute Helps

As Waitrose had run out of millionaire shortbread, I found myself schlepping out to the Tesco megabarn at Westwood Chaos this afternoon. Except they weren't even open, having evacuated the store due to a fire alarm.

Hundreds of bemused shoppers were hanging around outside wondering why the fire brigade had taken so long to turn up, given they're only based next door. After all, it's not as if the Tesco site's owned by one of our misfortunate, arson-prone local developers, for whom a considerate, half hour delay seems de rigeur these days!

Update: The cops are urging people to ignore an email hoax that is doing the rounds which states that a small girl was snatched from the Manston Tesco. Apparently there's absolutely no truth in it. Click here to read more. Meanwhile credit-crunched shoppers are deserting the Big T for cheaper supermarkets like Aldi and Netto. Oh well, as they say, every Lidl helps!

Monday, June 09, 2008

Goddenzilla Versus Margate

Flaming rollercoasters! It's amazing what you can pick up in the bargain buckets of those seedy shops in Cliftonville. This trailer for a long-forgotten horror flick was on a compilation DVD called Nice Little Burners! Will the locals escape before everything is burnt to a crisp????

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Burning De Margate (Another Time)

Investigators of the fire sifting through wreckage of a building listed in Kent to today discover early the cause of a severe flame. The property four-storey in one terrace Georgian in the street of Cecil, Margate, is a shield blackened and charred after the flame that engulfed soon after the midnight.

In the height of the drama, around 70 firefighters were in the scene. The fire became in the third and rooms wooden floors of the club previous conservative before spreading in the space of the roof and to an adjacent building. Eight peoples had been evacuated.

The local Iris Johnston of the said council member each effort must be made to restore 'old the building charming' previous its glory. The manager Andrew McPherson of the manager of the fire station of Margate, that was in the load of the operation firefighting, said that the building was good alight when the first group arrived. 'It was a difficult work because the roof had pulled down thus that he was not safe to fight of inside,' it said. 'The groups had made an excellent work to stop the propagation to an adjacent building and no-one was wounded happily.'

Mr. Eastcliff would put a funny commentary here but unhappyly my English not thus good.

Estale to read in line full history in Kent here

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Arson About

Reader Foxy writes:

I feel the local community needs to know what is currently happening in Ramsgate Cemetery allotments - my cabin was burned to the ground and there was another fire during the week. I also had to call the police a second time after spotting someone in the cemetry shooting the wildlife - recent count is 7 parakeets, 3 squirrels and 2 hedgehogs.

Considering the horrendous amount of money spent by Thanet Council on open prison type fencing all over Thanet including the Cecilia Rd allotments I am angry, especially since the vandalism here was minimal until the offending fencing was erected. Not to mention the entire destruction of my sanctuary by arsonists this week.


Sounds like the wild west over there, Foxy. Perhaps, instead of spending all that money on hideous fencing, the council would have been better off hiring a sheriff!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Under Pressure?

Amidst all the horror and anger following the arson attack on Dreamland's Scenic Railway a week ago, one small but seemingly important detail has been lost. According to Kent Fire and Rescue Service 'the biggest problem was that the water pressure around that area is very poor and it took a long time to get water onto the fire'.

If it hadn't been for the brave efforts of the boys in brown, who managed to put a fire break in the coaster, 'the whole thing would have gone'. Apparently insufficient water pressure was also a factor in the Ramsgate Library fire of 2004.

Now call me old fashioned but you would imagine that, for an island with such a smoky history, things like having enough water to put out fires would be something we'd have, er, on tap around here. There again, with the increasing number of developments being built due to our growing reputation as a property hotspot, perhaps it's inevitable that the best we can manage is a bunch of drips.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Psychic Dick

Yikes! Not only do you read the news here before it gets into the local rags, you can now read it before it actually happens! Here's what I wrote in 'Old Eastcliff's Almanac', my annual gaze into Thanet's crystal balls, last year:

This will be a hot month, and many buildings in Margate will suffer spontaneous combustion.

OK, I was out by a couple of months, that being the prediction for June, but spooky!!!! Not only that, but I was working on a post just a couple of hours before the Dreamland blaze which began thus:

What with another building in Thanet catching light in Ramsgate barely a week after the Tivoli Arcade fire on Margate front, it might seem like we're living in a tinderbox here on the Ile de Thanet. However, we can all sleep soundly in our beds, thanks to the soothing miracle of statistics.

Unfortunately that was interrupted by news of the latest conflagration. Probably not a bad thing, either, as the figures from the Office of National Statistics show that, while the number of fires across the South East as a whole has steadily declined, here in Thanet they've actually gone up slightly. Still, Derek Acorah eat your heart out, eh? I feel a whole new career coming on!