September 2007

My attempts learn about the Pleasurama project have lead me into a dialogue with Thanet District Council about their website and the way they pass on correspondence to councillors. Click on the links above to read the correspondence.

Firstly as I am sure most of you know there will be an open meeting that anyone can attend of the east cliff residents association at Albion house tomorrow 13th September 2007 the main item for discussion will be Pleasurama the developers representative TDC officials and the architect will be there.

I have been pressing very hard for the two main safety issues, the state of the cliff and its façade, and the flood and storm protection, to be addressed before any other work is started.

The access road from Harbour Parade is very close to the cliff façade and the damaged cliff wall behind Kent terrace and I am concerned that vibration caused by its construction could trigger a collapse.

I am also concerned that the flood and storm assessment does not make sufficient provision for the safety of the people living in the apartments and guests staying at the hotel, both in terms of the protection of the building and emergency escape to the cliff top.

The news as far as I can find out is that it is now the intention to repair the cliff properly, (tenders have been arranged) before any building work starts, the experts I have consulted tell me this will probably take about a year, so yes another years delay.

The environment agency tells me that they will not be attending the meeting as they have already advised the council so their task is completed.

The advice as far as I can find out is that the shown base line of the building is at the very lowest limit for commercial use much lower than would be allowed for residential, therefore the building will be subject to periodic storm damage. With the cliff behind preventing escape in a storm the residential part of the building would be like the Titanic without lifeboats. So a series of escapes will be necessary to the cliff top.

Finally it is my intention to press the council to move back the fencing around the site so it just leaves sufficient room for the work in the cliff façade to be carried out so the site can be used for parking and other leisure facilities for the next year.

Reply To:
To:	MichaelChild@aol.com
CC:	richardeastcliff@yahoo.co.uk, jocelynm@talktalk.net, dgreen.home@btinternet.com

Brian White started saying planning consent had been given but the detail that had been revisited was the final roof design and the material finish - we were shown a piece of grey material which will be on the roof. Janet Wood? Stated that residents had not been consulted about the roof changes

There is money this year to repair the cliff face - but from what was said they seem to be going to remove quite chunk too. Coping will be put back in place. Epoxy resin coating in light grey colour. Tenders go out next Wednesday

Knights on site from next Monday starting traffic changes in Harbour Parade - hope to have meeting soon with local traders and contractors to consult re how to deal with inevitable disturbance

107 apartments, 60 bed hotel, restaurant.shops etc. “virtually” at existing level. Environment Agency say it should be 5.5m above sea level but in fact is 6.05 m

Spaces for 184 cars on site i.e. 1 car per appt, 1 car per hotel room plus 17 spare for traders - none for visitors

Said quality NB - this was going to be a “stunning development” that will regenerate the town

Lady from Playbay asked re parking spaces for her customers - they had not been told work would start Monday. Waffly answer meant in reality they won't have any spaces

Cllr Alan Poole asked how site access would be managed - again meetings with traders were proposed

I then asked your question about what commercial interest there had been in the hotel and shops. Terence Painter said there was lots of interest- one hotel chain was on the point of signing but they were still talking with others.

Bert Battery asked how long work would take from start to finish on cliff repairs and if there would be any penalty clauses. Supposed to take 20 weeks - whole project 2.5 years

Geoff Woods asked if SFP Ventures would be willing to support bandstand project financially - Terence Painter said he was willing to discuss it

Someone asked if there were any parking spaces for visitors - lots of waffle but the answer was NO

A new resident who has moved into Kent Terrace also asked about this as obviously traders and residents along there will need spaces too - again fluffed answer

Jocelyn McCarthy asked about which route all the building lorries would take into town - the reply was twisted to mean just site access but that was not what Jocelyn asked. Terence P said there was a meeting next week to discuss this.

Gerry O'Ramsgate asked again about the effect on the harbour traders during two and a half years of building works - said their concerns were not really being taken seriously (applause)

Cllr Michelle Fenner said that at the very least she expected that as a result of this meeting a meeting of stakeholders would be set up to discuss all the issues with local businesses

Mary Wood asked if they would pay for any damage to the bandstand. They said engineers had said they did not anticipate any damage

I then asked your question about the Hoarding and was told by man from Knight's that the new waist high railings would be protection enough

Young Architectural student said he had done a lot of research on the site - he thought the design for the flats was fantastic but why were there no amusements planned on a site that had been used for that purpose for many years? Brian White said it was a commercial issue rather than a planning issue

Someone called Tanya asked what assurances that we would have safe access to the beach with our children over next 3 years - none given

Rita Tobin asked if people buying the flats would be asked to sign a document showing that they understood and were in agreement that concerts could be held in the band stand - which after all will be directly above their heads - people laughed but she did not get an answer - but I think she was making a very valid point

Peter Landi rounded off the meeting very succinctly saying he was horrified that they had come to the meeting so ill-prepared- were council aware of extent of tunnels under east cliff - he lived on east cliff during war and remember the vibrations from the bombs and anti-aircraft guns - not sure east cliff going to stand all the work just about to be done to it - also was told that in the event of a flood like the one in 1953 shops in new development would flood but flats should be OK

Not enough parking places - Doug Brown went off at a complete tangent claiming it was political to assume people would use cars less in future and raving on about walking buses to schools which had nothing whatsoever to do with the evening's topic.

I'm sure there were more questions - I'm sure to have forgotten somebody but that was the jist of the meeting