What does the future hold for the pier?

A public meeting has been called to discuss of Herne Bay's iconic pier.

Ed Targett, the prospective Green Party MP for Herne Bay, has called a meeting (7pm Sunday, 23rd November at the King's Hall) in order to discuss how the pier could be extended or rebuilt. He claims the short term plans of the Pier Trust, which runs the pier are "profoundly lacking in ambition" and accused them of standing in the way of proposals to rebuild the pier as a £70 million marina.

But Doreen Stone said the timing of the meeting was just a day before the trust is due to take part in ITV's People's Millions programme. She said:

"It is very short notice for the meeting as this is the day before the People's Millions and we will be working on that. I have been working my socks off with the trust for our plans for the pier and we presented this to the Herne Bay members panel (last week). We have no objection to the marina plan. If someone came forward with £70million we would support it. Ultimately, I want to do what is best for Herne Bay because I love the town.We are just trying to provide something fun for people in Herne Bay."

Ed Targett says the public meeting date was chosen to accommodate a group member coming from Spain and said he hopes the pier trust is in its People Millions bid. He added:

"This meeting is a great opportunity for the Pier Trust to present its short term and long term plans and face some robust questioning about them. I've invited them and I really hope they'll turn up. We’ll be revisiting the mothballed Pier Marina plans and three Pier reports for the sake of frank discussion."

Asked what he was hoping for from the meeting, Ed Targett said:

"We can have a robust discussion about should be a vital town asset, perhaps finding some common ground for the future between people who are too frequently at loggerheads, and hopefully we can clarify some apparent confusion about the various plans and reports out there.

No personal attacks, throwing of rotten vegetables, or shouting please... It’s an emotive topic but I'm sure people can 'play nice'. Please do come along and invite friends and family."

The public meeting is at 7pm Sunday, 23rd November at the King's Hall.

HB Times 16th Nov 2014

Free money for the Pier! Well, sort of free...

Vote for £50,000 for your pier.

Herne Bay pier is in the finals on ITV Meridian on Monday November 24th. Please phone up to 10 times per landline and mobile. You can vote 10 times on landline at 11p a time. You can vote 10 times on mobile at 15p a time.

The number will be available on the day on ITV Meridian news and in the Daily Mirror and on the Herne Bay Pier Trust website and Facebook.

Peoples Millions voting ends at 10pm on Monday.

Thank you.

John Gilbey's blueprint for Herne Bay

The Leader of our Council has produced a blueprint for debate. As he says:

Cllr John Gilbey

As a member of the City Council for 11 years and as Portfolio Holder for Regeneration for 9 years, I have had a unique insight into many issues across the District and the County.

I don’t have all the answers to questions that are asked and would never make such a claim, but I would like to use my years of accumulated knowledge to present my ideas for the future of the Canterbury District.

This is not a plan, or a proposal, these are merely my own personal thoughts, a blueprint to encourage meaningful debate on these issues. This is a document to encourage you to write to me with your views and opinions, to stimulate positive ideas on the ways forward for all of us.

After a little chat about how in love with the Local Plan he is, and how we will all be living in "garden towns", basking in the glow of "sustainable urban design", Cllr Gilbey goes on to focus on specific areas.

Here's what he has to say about Herne Bay [with my comments] - do feel free to add your own comments below.

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Herne Bay

The council will complete the town centre upgrade [after how many years, while you were portfolio holder for regeneration?] including moving the market and preserving some of the buildings currently in a state of decay [examples?]. There is a need to re-open some disused buildings and homes [examples?], and tax second homes appropriately [why, how, and how much?].

A proposal to open up Beach Street and rejuvenate that environment will also be completed [completed? has planning been approved?] as part of the upgrading of the town and in that context the sea front itself should be the subject of renewal/upgrading with analysis and decisions to be taken in the light of local views and aspirations [NO! it should be DRIVEN by local views and aspirations] on the future purpose of such an attractive location. We should widen the appeal and facilities of Herne Bay even further to encourage both tourism and business to provide local jobs.

We will have a solid foundation for a greater marketable attraction with all these planned developments. I strongly believe we should also support the Pier head activities [I think you mean the Pier stub - your Council has long since admitted it has no intention of rebuilding to the Pier head], satisfactorily resolve the future of the Museum [after YOUR Council cut its opening hours, following YEARS of neglect] and continue protection for the Downs [your Council is the ONLY objector to the village green application - village green status is the greatest possible protection under English law]. King's Hall needs to be fully supported in its endeavours to become a self supporting venue for events while providing community facilities. The replacement of the Beach Huts at the base of the Downs should also be part of the package [NEVER!].

The Roman fort remains at Reculver need to be enhanced and protected. The general environment of the coast at Reculver needs firm and direct action to provide an environment worthy of the history, nature, culture and attraction of this unique area [yes, it could be a great place for a caravan site...]. Overall Herne Bay should strive to be a modern vibrant town that provides attractions and facilities for residents and tourists, both taking advantage of the seaside location. The Bends should always be protected as a valuable green gap and open space.

This council has, over the last 9 years made huge progress in Herne Bay and this is often forgotten about. We have renovated the clock tower (with the recent announcement there is much more renovation to come) [so how good was your first renovation?] and sea front flood defences [er, no - this was Environment Agency funded], we have enhanced the whole concept and environment of Memorial Park, designated large Queen Elizabeth II Fields which permanently protects green open spaces from development [it affords no such protection - QEII land can be developed on, if a matching area nearby is provided as a replacement - in contrast, a village green can NOT be developed, which is why the Council is objecting], upgraded the Leisure Centre facilities and cleared the pier head [knocked down a building which had become unsafe through Council neglect, and put down a poor tarmac surface]. We have built a sports centre at Herne Bay High School incorporating a roller hockey rink while also encouraging and supporting local involvement throughout. We have prepared an Area Action Plan for the Town Centre and work is now underway. With residents there is much to be done still to preserve and enhance the ambiance and economic well being of the Town but we are well on our way.