Village Green: how you can help

Two years ago, I applied to Kent County Council to register the Downs as a Village Green. In November this year, Kent County Council will be holding a public inquiry to decide whether to register the Downs as a Village Green.

If we’re successful, Canterbury City Council will have to continue maintain the Downs, but they won’t be able to sell the land, build on it, or use some of it for car parking as was suggested for the King’s Hall end.

Village Green status will protect the Downs as an open space for Herne Bay people to use for freely and free of charge forever… just as we use it today.

To succeed in persuading Kent Council to register the Downs as a Village Green, we need people like you to come along to the public inquiry to tell the independent inspector about the use you make of the Downs.

Can you help us?

Read more...

Herne Bay's political future

The boundaries of the electoral wards are being redrawn, in the hope of making the constituencies more uniform in size. As a by-product of the exercise, we'll end up with slightly fewer MPs. Our beloved Roger Gale will find that his consituency has been cut in two: here's what they have in mind for Herne Bay end:

 and here's what will happen at the Margate end:

Curiously, Canterbury will include Faversham:

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Here's what the Boundary Commission for England have to say for themselves:

The 2013 Review of Parliamentary constituency boundaries will introduce substantial changes. It will reduce the number of constituencies in England from 533 to 502 and make sure that each constituency has a similar number of registered electors.

Why do we want your views?

The final shape of the new constituency boundaries will be informed by consultation. We encourage you to comment, whether in support of or objection to our initial proposals – we will consider all representations fairly and may revise the constituency boundaries as a result.

How can I get involved?

You can have your say in one of two ways: in writing (either by using the online form, by emailing us at reviews@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to the Boundary Commission for England); or by attending a public hearing in your region.

All representations will be published on this website in spring 2012 for further comment. Any revisions will be published in autumn 2012 and may be subject to a further consultation before we make our final recommendations by 1 October 2013. You can find more details about the conduct of the 2013 Review by reading A guide to the 2013 Review.

Friendly fire?

Across Herne Bay there are arched eyebrows, knowing looks, thoughtful "hmmm's" and I-told-you-so's.

The very thorough fire that gutted the Bun Penny in the small hours of 1st September was no accident.

The Kent Fire experts have decided that "an accelerant" was involved, so Kent Police are treating it as arson, and are asking for witnesses... see below for details.

What next for The Burnt Penny? Clearly it's a shell, but it's unclear whether the shell is solid or unsafe. Is it worth keeping or restoring? It's a prime location, but hadn't (apparently) been very successful as a pub for a while. Any and all suggestions welcome.

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Kent Police has confirmed that it is treating a blaze which severely damaged the Bun Penny pub in Central Parade, Herne Bay, as arson. The building was empty at the time and no-one was injured in the blaze. The fire was discovered at about 1am on Thursday 1 September. Detective Inspector Nick Greenan said:

'Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s fire investigation team have now completed their report and we are satisfied the fire was started deliberately using an accelerant.'

Were you in the area on Wednesday night?

'We are appealing for anyone who was in the area on Wednesday night and saw someone going to or leaving the building to contact us immediately. Because an accelerant was used to start the fire it is likely it took hold fairly quickly so the crucial times are between about midnight and 1am.'

Can you help?

If you have information phone Kent Police on 01622 690690 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime number EY/14335/11.

Bun Penny PH, Herne Bay

As it was

Toasted Bun

Apparently the Bun Penny burned last night.

The emergency services were still there at 6am. Hopefully nobody hurt - I think the upstairs was residential.

I'm told the place is now a windowless, roofless shell. And this is after spending months and £,000's refurbishing. Hope the insurance was up to date.

More anon.

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Struck by lightning or struck by matches?

As it is

Nobody was hurt.

Currently being treated as suspicious...

Apparently the building is "locally listed", presumably because of its age, history, and being in the conservation area. Local listing doesn't, however, offer the same level of protection as being a Listed Building.

As others have noted, there's a real risk that this could be a boarded up blot on the townscape for some time (years?) before anyone gets round to doing anything about it... Car park? Flats?

Aug 2011: most read

1. HBiB welcome
2. How we all love this map...
3. A reader writes (to Bob)
4. Waitrose gets 20-year lease in Canterbury
5. Sticky numbers
6. A reader writes
7. Needle and threat
8. Gallery: HerneBayMatters
9. Gallery: Herne Bay in Bloom
10. PoundForPound

Hospital Fête

Good news - the QVMH Fête is going ahead as planned, despite CCC/Serco trying to rush them hundreds of pounds of charitable donations to advertise themselves with a banner across the High Street. (Apparently Serco are a bit red-faced about this over-enthusaistic charging. Good.)

Anyway, here's a copy of their poster. Just click it to enlarge it. Better still, print a copy and pop in it your window.

Oooh, look - we're on telly!

The BBC have been doing a video survey around Britain's coast, and arrived at Herne Bay:

Larger seaside resorts in the South East such as Hastings, Eastbourne and Margate have attracted significant investment with millions of pounds being spent on the Jerwood, the Towner and the Turner Contemporary galleries. How are smaller resorts such as Herne Bay holding their own and keeping tills ringing?

A pretty upbeat and optimistic piece - have a look and see for yourself.

The Friends' Fête and the Council's greed

Oh look, here's another good thing that Our Council seems to be hell-bent on stamping out. Like the recent bus rally (but much more worthy) it doesn't take many brain cells to figure out that the hospital fête is a good thing that deserves encouragement and support, not fleecing. CCC are happy to fritter £17,000 of our money on new ceremonial robes for the Lord Mayor (which will benefit how many people, and how?) but insist on chiselling £400 from the Friends of QVMH (which benefits how many people, and how?).

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Street advert grounded by red tape

How much does it cost to put up a banner? Council bean-counters wanted £400 from hospital fundraisers to erect one over the High Street advertising their annual summer fete next Saturday. Organisers were stunned to be told of the cost - up from £200 last year and £120 the year before - and decided to scrap the aerial advertising and use the money to help patients instead. But Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital League of Friends spokeswoman Sandy Winkworth said it was a bitter blow to the hard-working team of volunteers.

Read more...

Village Green: the final furlong

Two years ago, I applied to register the Downs as a Village Green. In November this year, Kent County Council will be holding a public inquiry to decide whether to register the Downs as a Village Green.

If we’re successful, Canterbury City Council will have to continue maintain the Downs, but they won’t be able to sell the land, build on it, or use some of it for car parking as was suggested for the King’s Hall end. Village Green status will protect the Downs as an open space for Herne Bay people to use for freely and free of charge forever… just as we use it today.

To succeed in persuading Kent Council to register the Downs as a Village Green, we need people like you to come along to the public inquiry to tell the independent inspector about the use you make of the Downs.

Read more...

Kitewood Hillborough Extension

Property developer Kitewood has unveiled plans to develop a new primary school, shopping centre and up to 1,375 homes on the outskirts of Herne Bay, on land between Hillborough and the Altira Business Park in Broomfield. This idea first surfaced in July 2010, when everyone was up in arms about the increasing risk of death on Blacksole Bridge. Click here to read up on the back-story, and find out who the bad guys are.

The plans for the proposed development will go on show during a public exhibition at Reculver Primary School

• between 12 noon and 8pm on Wednesday, August 31, and
• between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, September 3.

Kitewood have also set up a website to keep people updated on the plans, and say they intend to compile reports on the feedback and use them if proposals need re-shaping. Visit: www.hillboroughextension.com

Click it to big it

The 190 acre, £240m scheme is planned in three phases.

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Phase 1

• Would use the land which lies to south of the railway line and north of the Thanet Way, all of which is controlled by Kitewood.  The land adjoins Altira Business Park at Bogshole Lane, and is crossed by the un-made Maystreet Road which goes over the railway line at Maystreet Bridge.

Read more...