Serco retains £40m contract to empty bins in Canterbury

SERCO has retained the £40 million contract to empty the bins of Whitstable, Herne Bay and Canterbury. The city council announced the decision on Tuesday.

It followed a controversial three-way pitch where councillors were forbidden to know which firm was bidding. Among them was Veolia which attracted many protests because of its connections with Israel. The new contract starts on April 1.

Councillors made the decision based on price and quality but could not release details until a ten-day "standstill" period to allow failed bidders the chance to appeal.

The new contract will include fortnightly doorstep collections of glass for the first time and a return to weekly collections of food waste.

Serco was Bidder 2 and came in with the lowest price of £39,289,911. The most expensive was almost £45.5 million. Decisions on the type and size of wheelie bins or boxes will now take place.

Head of Neighbourhood Services Larissa Laing said:

"All three companies put in very competent bids. We would like to thank the two unsuccessful companies for their interest. This is one of our most high profile contracts providing essential services to residents. The tender process has allowed us to create a high quality service while achieving excellent value for money for taxpayers. We now have a lot of work to do on getting the new waste collection system ready."

Council spokesman Rob Davies said:

"The tender was based on a price to quality ratio of 60 per cent/40 per cent. While we understand the concerns that were raised, we have been clear throughout this process that allegations about Veolia's activities in Palestine could not be a factor in determining who won the contract."

Other contracts still to be awarded include grounds maintenance, public toilets, building maintenance and office cleaning. Serco continues to hold the contract for these until the end of March. But councillors have taken the decision to split them into four smaller contracts from April 1.

Canterbury Times

Herne Bay Pier Trust reveal plans for country's first pier marina

This is how Herne Bay's Victorian pier could look if a £70 million plan to build a marina around the derelict old pier head goes ahead. The ambitious scheme was unveiled last night by the Herne Bay Pier Trust and would be the first of its kind in the country.

Members also announced a raft of short-term plans, which include creating a beach hut village and restaurant on the existing platform and to allow weddings on the pier.

Trust member Jason Hollingsworth, part of the group tasked with finding ways to rebuild the pier, said the key was to make it financially viable. He said:

"A heritage pier based on the past would be a lovely idea but when you look at the economics, it is not going to happen."

But he said the team had been speaking about the marina concept - known as Kent Pier Marina - to trust fund managers who wanted long-term investments for pension funds.

He said it would be an "attraction of national significance" and could include hotels, an aquarium, conference facilities and boat trips. Mr Hollingsworth said:

"I am convinced the project can be delivered and bring extensive benefits to Herne Bay and the wider area. There are investment opportunities for a private sector developer but the scheme will also need public sector funding."

The marina would have 275 berths and, because it would be so far out to sea, offer 24-hour berthing for sailors because it would not be affected by tides. A road would run along the pier with parking for 150 cars at the end.

The marina was given the official stamp of approval in a consultant's report which concluded it was the best option for the long-term future of the pier. The trust plans to publish the report and more details of the scheme on a website to be launched next month and will then begin formal public consultation.

More trustees are needed, particularly those with expertise in law and fundraising. Those interested should send details to the Pier Trust gallery in Central Parade, Herne Bay.

thisiskent LCrudgington

Future Pier design?

Plans for Herne Bay hovercraft rides are rejected by council

Plans to introduce hovercraft rides from Herne Bay's seafront have been sunk by council officials. Officers decided the adrenalin-pumping experience would not fit in and dismissed the proposals as "inappropriate".

But bosses have agreed for kayaks to be rented from the beach near Lane End and are in talks with a potential operator. Canterbury City Council's outdoor leisure manager Richard Griffiths said:

"We were approached with an idea for a hovercraft concession but we said no because it was felt it was not appropriate for the town. But the kayak concession could start from April 2013."

The scheme is part of a host of new attractions planned for the seafront, including refreshments at the Hampton play area, deckchairs and toddler swings at Central Parade near the children's amusements and more telescopes along the seafront to allow people to see passing ships and other activity off the coast.

But plans for military-style fitness sessions at the Downs led to battle lines being drawn up between campaigner Phil Rose, of the Friends of the Downs, and council bosses.

At a meeting of Herne Bay Area Members Panel on Tuesday, he raised concerns that agreement had already been given for the circuits, to be run by British Military Fitness from January, with no consultation. Mr Rose, of Beacon Hill, said:

"I am involved with the Friends of the Downs and I am not aware of this. There has been no contact at all. It says something about the nature of the relationship between the council and community groups – we should have been involved."

Mr Griffiths told councillors the scheme had his full support. He said:

"The Downs is a well-used area and I don't see any problems with this."

He said existing concessions, such as the ice cream cart at Spa Esplanade and marketing booth for Bay Blast boat trips, would continue along with the refreshments in the park.

Tory member Peter Lee, of the council's ruling executive committee and the Herne Bay regeneration group which also discussed the plans, said it was a win-win situation for the town.

Herne Bay Times

QE2 Coastal Park Consultation

This is where you get to have your say about the future of our town's greatest natural asset - its coastline. Here's the link to the consultation documents:

http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/main.cfm?objectid=6439

The important bits are the plan itself:

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Field, Herne Bay's Coastal Park Management Plan

and the various action plans:

• A welcoming place
• Healthy, safe and secure
• Landscape management
• Improving the fabric of the seafront
• Community delivery
• Accreditation

Comments on management plan, maps and action plans are welcome by 30th November 2012 please email rosemary.selling@canterbury.gov.uk

This is also your chance to say what you think should be done about the Victorian Shelter. And the rest of Herne Bay's seafront, come to that.

If you don't tell them, they'll never know.

Derelict Methodist church in Herne Bay High Street is sold

A derelict Methodist church in Herne Bay High Street has been sold to be turned into flats after languishing on the market for the past two years. The historic landmark was opened in 1885 but the Methodists moved out ten years ago and the pigeons moved in.

The building, on the corner of the High Street and Beach Street, has planning permission for 11 flats on condition that the exterior remains untouched. Peter Goodwin, manager of estate agents Wilbee and Son, said all that was left was the facade.

The organ, which was first played in the church in 1896 was dismantled, catalogued and shipped to a European buyer. The pews were also sold off. Mr Goodwin said:

"It was in total disrepair. The pigeons had taken over and were living in the building rent-free. All we sold was the shell with planning permission. We gave it a clean-up and opened the windows, and the pigeons flew away. It is one of the longest sales we have had because of the planning issues. It is a huge development project and will cost about £1million."

The church was put on the market for £425,000 in 2010, but difficulties with potential buyers securing a mortgage on the property meant it had to be a cash buy. It was eventually sold last month to a London developer for around £300,000. The deal took months to complete while the new owners made sure all the paperwork was in place.

David Birch, chairman and trustee of Herne Bay Historical Records Society, remembers having lessons in the church during the Second World War. He said:

"From the air, schools could look like military bases, so we would register at the school in the morning and then take our lessons at various churches in the area. Eventually they built an air raid shelter around the corner from the school. I spent a lot of time sitting on the biscuit tin that contained our emergency food rations. At that time churches were busy for one day a week, Sunday, morning, noon and night, but were empty during the week so they were perfect for lessons."

The church closed ten years ago because of dwindling attendance. The congregation joined with the United Church in Mortimer Street. Maintenance on the empty building was costing the Methodists thousands of pounds a year until it was sold to Whitstable developer Paul Langston. Mr Birch said:

"It closed because of sheer lack of numbers. We wondered what was going to happen for a long time. I'd still like to know what they are going to do with the 100-ft stone spire. I wouldn't like to own a flat and be responsible for the maintenance of that roof. There's also a plot of land alongside the church. It will be interesting to see what happens to that."

Mr Langston owned the building for the past four years with the intention of developing it into flats but never proceeded with the project. There have since been about four offers on the building and he sold off the fixtures and fittings before it changed hands.

Evelyn Bissett, city councillor for Herne and Broomfield, said:

"It has been a long time coming. People can do marvellous things with churches now. I think it will help the town considerably."

Herne Bay Times

Survey shows huge support for Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's plans for a £40 million out-of-town shopping complex at Herne Bay have received the thumbs up from residents.

According to figures released today (31st October) by developers, 84 per cent of locals support the scheme at the Altira Business Park. This follows a display of the plans at the Premier Inn's TableTable restaurant earlier this month which attracted nearly 600 visitors.

Nigel Wakefield, development director at developers Terrace Hill, said: "We are obviously delighted with the response. We would like to thank the people of Herne Bay for the interest they have shown in our plans.

"We are now working through the comments before submitting a planning application to the city council. We are fully committed to delivering our plans, which represent a real opportunity for increased supermarket shopping choice and local job creation.This could act as a catalyst for further investment in Altira Park and Herne Bay town centre."

The scheme at Beltinge includes business starter units and a footbridge across the Ramsgate to London railway line at Blacksole Bridge.

By Friday, October 19, 682 comment forms had been completed. 11 per cent objected to the idea. The remaining five per cent were undecided.

Herne Bay Times

Ancient Hallowe'en traditions go on

Dylan Hampshire

I loved reading the front page of the Herne Bay Times last week ("Church set to save Bay from Zombies"). It is interesting that exactly the same thing was happening 2,000 years ago.

The roots of Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night stem from pagan times when, all across northern Europe, the local Celts knew this time of year, Samhain, as the change between summer and winter.

It was, they believed, when the barrier between the real world and the spirit world was at its thinnest. This was the time when mortal man could cross to the spirit plane to meet ancestors and the Gods. And the dead could cross the other way to visit their descendants – for good as well as ill.

The tribal Celts would light fires and lamps to guide the good spirits to them and protect from the bad. They would use iron and masks to frighten away evil. Sometimes people would disguise themselves to mix with the spirits. There were many ceremonial folk customs to ensure good fortune.

Early Christianity spread and confronted pagan beliefs. It adopted some, like gargoyles on churches and nails in church doors to frighten spirits. Others they opposed, like consorting with spirits. Samhain was stamped with All Souls' (Saints') Day to diminish the bad influences.

Here in Herne Bay, we are seeing direct echoes of 2,000 years ago, with people in disguise mixing with the dead. There are Hallowe'en pumpkin masks to scare bad spirits and people using lights to ensure evil returns to where it came from.

We have big fires on Bonfire Night to keep us all safe for the hard winter times. I think the whole thing is brilliant – angels and zombies alike. Saturday night's event is going to be a great community custom for years to come.

I applaud it all.

Dylan Hampshire,

Cocketts Mattresses & Templar Beds

Herne Bay Times