Gerry O'Donnell

My attempts learn about the Pleasurama project have lead me into a dialogue with Thanet District Council about their website and the way they pass on correspondence to councillors. Click on the links above to read the correspondence.

----- Original Message -----

From: Gerry O'Donnell

To: Sandy Ezekiel ; Ezekiel, Sandy

Cc: Duncan, Julia ERA Chairwoman ; Gazette ; Editor Gazette, Isle of Thanet

Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 12:48 PM

Subject: East Cliff railings and lift

17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS

Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918

Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com

Thanet District Council

Margate, Friday 13th April

The ‘protective fencing’ on the East Cliff overlooking the Pleasurama site was discussed at an ERA meeting last night. It is nearly two years since they were erected yet nothing has been done to justify their existence.

Everyone knows that it is to protect the building site from protesters. There is no evidence, whatsoever, to justify the assumption that any of the anti-Pleasurama protesters would put other peoples’ lives in jeopardy.

It is quite clear the cliffs and railings are safe, as safe as any of the other on the cliff tops of Ramsgate.

If there is concern that that once building work commences the cliffs might be compromised by piling then that is the time to erect fences but only then.

I would like, under the Freedom of Information Act, to see the appropriate District Engineers’ or Health and Safety reports justifying this eyesore.

The summer season is fast approaching and as it is self-evident that building work on the Pleasurama site will not be starting for some months, perhaps not until the autumn, I would suggest that they are removed until such time as they are required.

Today while I was delivering leaflets I spoke to the residents of Kent Terrace, as a result of which I immediately contacted the Gazette. It appears vandals have been throwing parts of these so-called protective fencings down onto the houses. One anchor block weighing at least 20 kilograms (40lbs) had been hurled onto a resident’s house and bounced onto the front path causing damage. If it had hit someone they would have been certainly killed.

The result of your council’s decision is to put more people’s lives at risk, not less. You can no longer justify the existence of these fences. Do the decent thing and remove them until you can prove to us they are needed.

I would also draw your attention to the crumbling concrete wall protecting the rear of Kent Terrace between the lift and Kent Steps. Some of the exposed bricks and mortar are being prised out and thrown down at these house. Again, how long before someone is injured or killed? I am surprised that the District Engineers department has not noted this hazard and dealt with it.

On a more mundane but illustrative point the East Cliff lift was out of operation for the Easter weekend and I was informed by TDC today that the reason is because the engineers were waiting for a spare part. This excuse echoes "the cheque is in the post" classic. This lift should have been serviced long before Easter and the spare part obtained before, not after. Can you please ensure it is opened and remains open? People’s livelihoods depend on giving our visitors a positive view of Ramsgate and not a negative one.

Because of the attendant dangers towards which I have drawn your attention I am sending a copy of this letter to ERA and to the Gazette.

Original Message -----

From: Gerry O'Donnell

To: Editor Gazette, Isle of Thanet

Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 11:43 AM

Subject: Letters Page

Gerry O’Donnell, 17, George Street, Ramsgate, Kent,

CT11 9AS 01843 584678

To The Editor, Letters,

Isle of Thanet Gazette,

By email. 16th April, 2007

Dear Editor, "Achtung!"

How many times have we heard the expression "the cheque’s in the post"?

When I asked Thanet District Council why Ramsgate’s East Cliff lift was closed over Easter I was informed "we are waiting for a replacement part." And just how many times have we heard that one? What they really mean, of course, is that "whoops, we’ve forgotten."

The toilets in King George VI Park were also closed all over Easter. (Perhaps they were waiting for a replacement washer?)

Then we have the fenced off railings on the East Cliff, which just happens to match, in length, Wellington Crescent and the Pleasurama site below. Apparently the railings are unsafe. All of them? For two years they have been unsafe and nothing has been done. Perhaps they’re waiting for "replacement concrete"? I suspect that this has more to do with punishing the residents of the East Cliff for daring to criticise the Council over their Pleasurama development. It’s either that or incompetence.

The District Council is doing everything it can to discourage visitors to Ramsgate. Short of rounding them up and bussing them over to Margate or Broadstairs, what else can they do?

I suppose they could use the their eyesore fencing to ring off Ramsgate altogether with regularly placed notices stating "Achtung! Ramsgate is closed to visitors."

----- Original Message -----

From: Gerry O'Donnell

To: Verrall, Paul

Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:09 PM

Subject: Albion Hill/Madeira Walk

17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS

Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918

Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com

Saw the builders lorry sorting out the railings on Madeira Walk. Thanks for the promptness. But don't these guys have smaller builders fences instead of the six-footers?

Any idea how long before a permanent repair?

----- Original Message -----

From: Gerry O'Donnell

Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:15 PM

Subject: updates

17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS

Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918

Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com

Letter to Ezekiel fwded to you.

I asked Paul Verrall yesterday to repair the holes in Albion Hill balustrades and Madeira Walk railings that could have been tempting for small children to crawl through and fall. He promptly did so today. So full marks to him.

The question is "is there no one at TDC whose job it is to walk the streets and spot the hazards for which they are cupable?"

As Manuel would say - "is crazy!"

Is he a bird? A plane? No. Just a fat nuisance.

----- Original Message -----

From: Gerry O'Donnell

To: Sandy Ezekiel ; Ezekiel, Sandy

Cc: Verrall, Paul ; Duncan, Julia ERA Chairwoman ; Gazette

Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:04 PM

Subject: Cliff top Ramsgate

17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS

Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918

Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com

Thanet District Council

Wednesday 18th April 2007

Well I suppose it was a small development, today, to have 17 of the worst of the builders fences replaced with new ones on the East Cliff. So rather than a completely hideous eyesore, it is now ‘an almost completely hideous eyesore.’ Unfortunately the builders left three pipes on the grass. The vandals will assume they were left there for them to play with and drop them on the residents of Kent Terrace as well. One point for frightening a child; ten for killing one. Please ask them to remove them today. Just in case you’re not in I’ll also ask Paul Verrell to have them removed.

I am given to understand that parts of the cliff face, if unreliable, might be brought down by piling on the Pleasurama site. I am also given to understand that the area surrounding the bandstand is honeycombed with various size holes – one or two cavernous. Yet no proper survey has been made of them. It seems that an awful gamble is being taken with the area. TDC should pay for an independent surveyor and engineer to justify the present situation but probably won’t. Is it not time to have a public enquiry?

We can’t let this issue go Sandy. If the cliff is unsafe it should be repaired before the piling. After all you don’t want masonry falling on the builders. Not nice for them, their families or TDC when their lawyers come calling for millions in compensation.

Look forward to seeing the lift working and the toilets opened in KGIV Park

cc Paul Verrell. Gazette. ERA.


	July 2007 \| home thanetonline.com michaelsbookshop.com Click here for books about The Isle of Thanet Dangerous cliff ? this link takes you to the rest of my Pleasurama site this link takes you to my previous correspondence July 2007 \| Thanet District Council press release \| Pleasurama update 6/6/2007 another years delay! \| The temporary railings \| Ramsgate \| latest news \| heads embedded in the concrete \| Simon Moores Thanet life \| Michael Child \| Latest views \| Details from the latest plans \| Pictures 2007 \| April 2007 \| April replies \| Replies to my email about the new introduction January 2007 \| David Green \| pleasurama update \| Seafront site ready for rejuvenation \| Companies House Search \| correspondence \| prompt replies \| Action \| Riddles \| Committee \| more \| Follow up \| councillors \| councillors revised \| spam your councillors \| Councillors responses \| Economical with the truth \| The Member Portal \| Taking the member out of the portal \| Ken Gregory \| Gerry O'Donnell \| survey \| May 2007 \| Cracks over the voids \| Engineers report on the condition of the cliff \| more report \| election results My attempts learn about the Pleasurama project have lead me into a dialogue with Thanet District Council about their website and the way they pass on correspondence to councillors. Click on the links above to read the correspondence. Gerry O'Donnell Michael: Info ----- Original Message ----- From: Gerry O'Donnell To: Sandy Ezekiel ; Ezekiel, Sandy Cc: Duncan, Julia ERA Chairwoman ; Gazette ; Editor Gazette, Isle of Thanet Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 12:48 PM Subject: East Cliff railings and lift 17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918 Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com Sandy Ezekiel, Leader, Thanet District Council Margate, Friday 13th April Dear Sandy, The ‘protective fencing’ on the East Cliff overlooking the Pleasurama site was discussed at an ERA meeting last night. It is nearly two years since they were erected yet nothing has been done to justify their existence. Everyone knows that it is to protect the building site from protesters. There is no evidence, whatsoever, to justify the assumption that any of the anti-Pleasurama protesters would put other peoples’ lives in jeopardy. It is quite clear the cliffs and railings are safe, as safe as any of the other on the cliff tops of Ramsgate. If there is concern that that once building work commences the cliffs might be compromised by piling then that is the time to erect fences but only then. I would like, under the Freedom of Information Act, to see the appropriate District Engineers’ or Health and Safety reports justifying this eyesore. The summer season is fast approaching and as it is self-evident that building work on the Pleasurama site will not be starting for some months, perhaps not until the autumn, I would suggest that they are removed until such time as they are required. Today while I was delivering leaflets I spoke to the residents of Kent Terrace, as a result of which I immediately contacted the Gazette. It appears vandals have been throwing parts of these so-called protective fencings down onto the houses. One anchor block weighing at least 20 kilograms (40lbs) had been hurled onto a resident’s house and bounced onto the front path causing damage. If it had hit someone they would have been certainly killed. The result of your council’s decision is to put more people’s lives at risk, not less. You can no longer justify the existence of these fences. Do the decent thing and remove them until you can prove to us they are needed. I would also draw your attention to the crumbling concrete wall protecting the rear of Kent Terrace between the lift and Kent Steps. Some of the exposed bricks and mortar are being prised out and thrown down at these house. Again, how long before someone is injured or killed? I am surprised that the District Engineers department has not noted this hazard and dealt with it. On a more mundane but illustrative point the East Cliff lift was out of operation for the Easter weekend and I was informed by TDC today that the reason is because the engineers were waiting for a spare part. This excuse echoes "the cheque is in the post" classic. This lift should have been serviced long before Easter and the spare part obtained before, not after. Can you please ensure it is opened and remains open? People’s livelihoods depend on giving our visitors a positive view of Ramsgate and not a negative one. Because of the attendant dangers towards which I have drawn your attention I am sending a copy of this letter to ERA and to the Gazette. Yours sincerely, Gerry O’Donnell Original Message ----- From: Gerry O'Donnell To: Editor Gazette, Isle of Thanet Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 11:43 AM Subject: Letters Page Gerry O’Donnell, 17, George Street, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9AS 01843 584678 To The Editor, Letters, Isle of Thanet Gazette, Margate, Kent By email. 16th April, 2007 Dear Editor, "Achtung!" How many times have we heard the expression "the cheque’s in the post"? When I asked Thanet District Council why Ramsgate’s East Cliff lift was closed over Easter I was informed "we are waiting for a replacement part." And just how many times have we heard that one? What they really mean, of course, is that "whoops, we’ve forgotten." The toilets in King George VI Park were also closed all over Easter. (Perhaps they were waiting for a replacement washer?) Then we have the fenced off railings on the East Cliff, which just happens to match, in length, Wellington Crescent and the Pleasurama site below. Apparently the railings are unsafe. All of them? For two years they have been unsafe and nothing has been done. Perhaps they’re waiting for "replacement concrete"? I suspect that this has more to do with punishing the residents of the East Cliff for daring to criticise the Council over their Pleasurama development. It’s either that or incompetence. The District Council is doing everything it can to discourage visitors to Ramsgate. Short of rounding them up and bussing them over to Margate or Broadstairs, what else can they do? I suppose they could use the their eyesore fencing to ring off Ramsgate altogether with regularly placed notices stating "Achtung! Ramsgate is closed to visitors." Gerry O’Donnell ----- Original Message ----- From: Gerry O'Donnell To: Verrall, Paul Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:09 PM Subject: Albion Hill/Madeira Walk 17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918 Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com Paul Verrall Dear Paul. Saw the builders lorry sorting out the railings on Madeira Walk. Thanks for the promptness. But don't these guys have smaller builders fences instead of the six-footers? Any idea how long before a permanent repair? Gerry O'Donnell ----- Original Message ----- From: Gerry O'Donnell To: Gazette Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:15 PM Subject: updates 17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918 Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com Kathy, Gazette Dear Kathy, Letter to Ezekiel fwded to you. I asked Paul Verrall yesterday to repair the holes in Albion Hill balustrades and Madeira Walk railings that could have been tempting for small children to crawl through and fall. He promptly did so today. So full marks to him. The question is "is there no one at TDC whose job it is to walk the streets and spot the hazards for which they are cupable?" As Manuel would say - "is crazy!" Gerry O'Donnell Is he a bird? A plane? No. Just a fat nuisance. ----- Original Message ----- From: Gerry O'Donnell To: Sandy Ezekiel ; Ezekiel, Sandy Cc: Verrall, Paul ; Duncan, Julia ERA Chairwoman ; Gazette Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:04 PM Subject: Cliff top Ramsgate 17 George Street, Ramsgate, Kent. CT11 9AS Tel: 01843-584678 Fax: 01843-587918 Email: terra_nova@btconnnect.com Sandy Ezekiel, Leader, Thanet District Council Margate, Wednesday 18th April 2007 Dear Sandy, Well I suppose it was a small development, today, to have 17 of the worst of the builders fences replaced with new ones on the East Cliff. So rather than a completely hideous eyesore, it is now ‘an almost completely hideous eyesore.’ Unfortunately the builders left three pipes on the grass. The vandals will assume they were left there for them to play with and drop them on the residents of Kent Terrace as well. One point for frightening a child; ten for killing one. Please ask them to remove them today. Just in case you’re not in I’ll also ask Paul Verrell to have them removed. I am given to understand that parts of the cliff face, if unreliable, might be brought down by piling on the Pleasurama site. I am also given to understand that the area surrounding the bandstand is honeycombed with various size holes – one or two cavernous. Yet no proper survey has been made of them. It seems that an awful gamble is being taken with the area. TDC should pay for an independent surveyor and engineer to justify the present situation but probably won’t. Is it not time to have a public enquiry? We can’t let this issue go Sandy. If the cliff is unsafe it should be repaired before the piling. After all you don’t want masonry falling on the builders. Not nice for them, their families or TDC when their lawyers come calling for millions in compensation. Look forward to seeing the lift working and the toilets opened in KGIV Park Yours truly, Gerry O’Donnell cc Paul Verrell. Gazette. ERA.