The Upper Red Lion at Herne, Tesco, and Peter Vickery-Jones

What do the locals make of the tale of an old village pub, a greedy supermarket and a local Councillor? Disgusting, stupid, ignorant... and they're not talking about the pub or the supermarket.

Here's how the tale has been unfolding over the last couple of weeks in the HB Gazette. The pub closed in March 2011, and is up for sale at £¼m. Tesco will take it off Punch Tavern's hands if they can get planning permission, although both sides are being tight-lipped about the deal. Ignoring the concerns of local businesses, Cllr Vickery-Jones wades in, spouting daftness.

Read more...

Reforms to the Planning System

Our beloved Government is thinking of changing the Planning System. By and large property developers love the proposals, and groups like the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the National Trust are against them. That tells me a lot.

The National Trust have an online petition and plenty of background information, posters etc. so pop over and have a look.

For decades England's planning system has protected much loved places from harmful development – and steered development to the places where it's needed. If you care about preserving the places important to you, make your voice heard before October 12th.

Click here to find out more.

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...

Spam Scams

Like most people, I get a steady stream of spam emails promising me unexpected wealth from unlikely sources. Most of these are so absurd (and so poorly written) that I'm astonished anyone is ever taken in by them, but they do have some entertainment value in their own right...

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Dear Friend,

I am Dr. John C.C Chan a Korean Republc, happily married with children, and i am a Director of Hang Seng Bank Ltd, in charge of the International Remittance department. I have a confidential business you of 25.5 million dollars for you.

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?