Terence Painter is quoted in yesterdays Extra, as saying the development is still going ahead, but has been delayed due to problems with the cliff repairs and work won't start until the end of the summer.Last I heard from TDC planning department was that they are waiting for a set of plans that address some of the environment agency’s concerns, however my understanding is that the developer has no intention of doing the flood risk assessment, as strongly recommended by the environment agency, so if built it would be blighted.
If you look at what they are having to do as a result of the flood risk assessment for the Turner Centre you can see why they don’t want to do it, they would definitely lose a story and the roadworks they have already done would all be at the wrong level.
Funny really that a dangerous building can be allowed to be built, against the rules, the environment agency tell me that if they received the plans today a flood risk assessment would be mandatory, as the planning application was submitted before this was the case, everyone has abided by the rules.
The picture is from the approved plans and shows where the architect’s efforts to address the height issue have embedded the heads of the people shown in the concrete ceiling.
michael, top quality work on painting the cliff face. have the gaps where the scaffolding butted against the face been filled in? or the large gap?
ReplyDeleteWith the credit crunch and sites all over the island/country closing up, what we really need is another hole in the ground or half started/finished building to look at for the next 5 years. It will add some much to the surroundings.
of course, when manston is handling 10mm passengers a year (matt clarke and Paul Carter), it will fit right in with 747's going over every 5 mins.
Steve I believe the Painting is only there so it will have to be repainted every few years at our expense, jobs for the boys.
ReplyDeleteThey've painted out the gaps where the scaffolding butted against the cliff face.
ReplyDeleteThe large unpainted area is still there though - and there is still a small section of 'temporary' fencing on the top of the cliff above this.
I'm not sure whether the cliff isn't considered 'safe' until its been painted, or whether there is more work to do on the cliff face to secure it ...
I just cannot believe that uptodate EA advice is being ignored in respect of this development. Has TDC Planning not passed this to developers for comment or action? It might be a defence when the inquiry into loss of life begins to say we were acting on best available advice but a QC will have a field-day with 'we were updated by the EA but ignored the advice given'.
ReplyDeletemy understanding is that if a building has consent then the rules change that is ok. A bit like all those places with wriggly asbestos roofs. You cant use it now cos its harmful, but if its there its ok
ReplyDeleteIt really is a terrible reflection on the bureaucracy of local and national government, TDC and the developer have carried this ridiculous emperors no clothes farce on for years, to the detriment of Ramsgate.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that they have been allowed to lay a road system for the site of lose slabs and cobbles on sand is appalling, once the sea takes its toll on it the maintenance costs will be prohibitive.
Gerald I think this will give some idea of the difficulties involved http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/tdc/report.htm and this what can happen if they don’t get it right http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/collapse/