FORS

For those that do not know Friends of Ramsgate Seafront was formed by a small group of people who were concerned about the ongoing building site on the seafront at Ramsgate. The rumour at the time was the freehold was being handed over to SFP Ventures (UK) Ltd the current owner of the site.
I got involved in the steering group and helped with the petitions which ultimately forced TDC to give up that idea.
During the hiatus in the autumn of 2013 when several members of the steering group decided to take a step back a meeting occurred in Kandy's house and all present agreed to constitute the group. This constitution was the agreed format straight off the Charity Commissioners website. When it was ready and checked by a member with experience in setting up groups a meeting took place at the Belgium Bar where a committee was put together with Bayo as Chair, Duncan Smithson as Secretary and myself as Treasurer.
We then went to Natwest in Ramsgate High Street to get a Community bank account. Now despite the lies told by Kandy we provided the passport and utility bill identification to the Ramsgate Branch and that included Kandy herself. In no way did we set up an out of town bank account as she has stated. Natwest has a central branch in Chatham to administer all Community accounts but the local branch is more than happy to administer issues.

In January the newly constituted group decided to hold a music Festival in May and Kandy and Duncan Smithson were the organisers. They completed several forms and Kandy and Duncan went to the Safety Advisory Group and presented to the TDC officers, Police, and Fire Brigade. However on the Thursday (17th April) before Easter 2014 with around 5 weeks to go Duncan had a hissy fit and walked away from the organising. Kandy pleaded with me to take over as (we found out at the debrief) we were about to have the Festival pulled on Health and Safety grounds.
I was presented with a massive problem as Duncan had completed the Festival Plans with details like the St John's Ambulance for First Aid who hadn't even been booked.

When questioned Duncan's reply was very clear:

"Subject: St Johns ambulance

On form “Step 2_Event Management Plan_v4 2” sent to Kandy and me you have filled in St John’s to supply 1^st aid cover. Do you have an email confirming their booking and number of staff and equipment to be supplied. Have you a contact name and number so I can top & tail this form

Barry"

"To: Barry James
Cc: 'kandice jones'
Subject: Re: St Johns ambulance

No. It was just put down for a name."

With this grief and only 5 weeks to go it was a daunting task and I devoted 5 weeks of my life to getting the Festival on completing many risk assessments and action plans, organising the funding, the Licences and all other aspects of the event and it became a huge success and rightfully the others in the team were rightfully thanked for such a successful event.

I do find it ironic that today looking back Duncan Smithson, who had left FORS in the lurch, now seems to be friends with Kandy and me who did so much for FORS and Kandy personally, including taking her to the hospital when she broke a bone in her hand, then taking her for follow up visits over several weeks am treated with such hatred. It makes me wonder just why I do these things for people who seem so ungrateful.

Now Kevin, who just happens to be Kandy's partner should know better seeing as he wanted to punch Duncan's lights out when he left the Festival in the lurch.

Further from yesterday we have this comment on FB from the 20th February 2015 after Kandy had abused me and my wife outside 7 Hibernia

To take each part in turn

I apologised to FORS for not getting pleasurama to parliament wtf hes been slagging me off on other sites im not part of.

Absolute bollix as I was defending her stance and explaining to her detractors on NNF why she had posted. Now I have no way of knowing who on NNF told her about the post and my comments but I can guess seeing as this person is now using her trusted position to manipulate Kandy to take over FORS. Still as they say not my problem.

canoodling up to councillors

Now this is really funny seeing as she said to me in January "I'm glad you can negotiate with the Council as all I want to do is stab them in the face " This is not a clever way to discuss things as you might understand. Also its hypocritical as these same Councillors awarded FORS £7000 to put on the Festival.

allowing them on FORS

Bullshit only Mike Harrison was asked to come into the FB page by me to answer questions on his Portfolio

allowing them to sign up as constituted members

sorry then why did you agree when the Greens were asked to join the constituted group

ruining our funding potential etc dealt with here http://promote-ramsgate.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/fors-era-winterstoke.html

The rest is just a further example of the screaming fits Kandy seems to find necessary which has happened on more than one occasion,

What really upset me was the phone call from Kandy screaming at me in the afternoon of the 4th Feb just after we had returned from an all night session in A&E QEQM with mum having been diagnosed with Pneumonia. Her apology at 4:44am on the 5th Feb said:

I'm sorry barry.I should never had argued with you. None of that post was aimed at you. I am sorry they wrote to you not me.X and I am sorry to debs too"

That apology was not genuine because the post above shows she never meant a word. And after the screaming session on the 20th I decided enough was enough and I left the Facebook page, I just want to make it clear I have never resigned from the Constituted group and as far as I am aware I am still a member of the group and as far as I am aware because I haven't resigned I am entitled to see minutes of the various meetings of the committee.

There is much more that has been said to me and my wife including the secret video taken during the visit from the FORS Mafia when they called for the treasurers stuff which had already been handed over. Something I, and many others, find underhand immoral and dishonest

FORS, ERA, & Winterstoke

Now I am safely moved to Southampton I feel it is time to post some facts about the winding up of the Eastcliff Residents Association, subject of much debate on the FORS Facebook page.

Further I think it time to put my story out there seeing as Kandy Jones has accused me of colluding with RTC Councillors in stopping the Friends of Ramsgate Seafront from having the ERA wind-up money placed in their bank account and having control of its use.

 This conversation took place on the 20th February 2015 just after Kandy had a screaming fit at me outside 7 Hibernia  Street where I had gone to get a FORS cheque countersigned. She also abused verbally my wife who had accompanied me for no apparent reason except she was in the car with me. More about this in the next blog however this screenprint shows clearly that Kandy accuses me of "ruining our funding potential for Eastcliff by saying to Councillors the funds will be used to promote a non signed member" Kandy knows this to be a complete nonsense as the incident she refers to occurred in October 2014 and was dealt with by myself at the time and she was kept fully in the picture at the time. So Kandy is not averse to lying to people on Facebook to big herself up and in a strange way her manipulations is symptomatic of those who are so involved in conspiracy they forget its easy to expose a lie.





The history of FORS constituted group's involvement with the ERA windup goes back to the beginning of 2014 then in April 2014 David Green confirms that TDC officers have no issue with the funds transferring to FORS. In June 2014 a series of emails from TDC, Rick Everitt and David Green were sent to me confirming there were no strings attached to the money.

So now FORS were just waiting for the windup meeting to occur so that the money could be paid to FORS with one proviso the money would be spent at Eastcliff.
So you can imagine my surprise when I get a private message from Paul Warrick on the 29th October 2014 as follows
"Barry - re the ERA money. We asked the opinion of Dave Green, Liz Green and Rick Everett and whilst 2 of them seemed to agree we should give Ramsgate Arts £1k and FORS £5k we received an email yesterday from Rick Everett (below). We (Chris Welch and I) just want to give the money to be spent on the Eastcliff to the most appropriate body. We don't want to be later accused of mis-handling the situation. Can you shed some light onto Rick's opposition to you getting it?
His message: "I am wary of giving the money to FORS at this stage. I know they have a constitution, but I am unclear about to what extent they might intervene in the local elections next year and I don't think it would be acceptable for this money to be used to fund a political campaign, for example."

I immediately rand Rick to find out what and who was the problem to be told Duncan Smithson was the issue.
After I confirmed Duncan wasn't even a member of the FORS committee Rick seemed satisfied.

Kandy was told of the messages and we had a laugh about it.

There have been no other incidents of this type so why this is still an issue for Kandy I have no idea as is also the fact that I have no personal knowledge of any other reason as to why know the ERA Committee paid the money into RTC so that constituted groups could apply for the just over £5000.

So cynical people might look at the current position and make up of the FORS Committee and the fact that in January 2015 I announced my move to Southampton and another would have to become treasurer. Some might think the events are linked some might not however what is clear between November 2014 and February 2015 ERA lost confidence that FORS could be trusted.

More to follow

Credit where credit is due

The Eastcliff renovations have moved on apace with planting already completed on Maderia Walk, The sloping bed next to the Granville theatre removed ready to be laid to turf and a huge difference at the Winterstoke end with much of the overgrown vegetation being removed ready for replanting.

In the last blog I wrote about the funding for this work and now want to inform the reader about how this and a further funding stream was found and the history behind why NOW.

Vattenfall (the windfarm people) gave a sum of £100K to TDC in 2009 which was to fund a project to "benefit the local community and environment". For whatever reason the members sat on the funds until now*1.

Now call me cynical if you like but until the Cabinet sat in September and made the decision to make use of the funding very little action had been taken on this pot of money, now suddenly the Cabinet decide to spend half the money renovating the Eastcliff and Winterstoke area just before an election in May.

The fact that the Friends of Ramsgate Seafront had been lobbying since the beginning of 2014 for work to be done at Winterstoke because TDC Parks & Gardens had done minimal work on the listed Pulhamite rocks and the listed Janet Stancomb-Wills memorial (summer palace) has been left to get ruined due to inaction over many years seems, until now, to have fallen on deaf ears. 

Dave Steele has worked tirelessly on the overgrown, neglected shrubbery in an effort to reduce the Antisocial behaviour, Kandy Jones and the author have had numerous meetings with the Powers that Be all to no avail until suddenly an election looms and I wanted to ensure that the credit for the massive works and its funding are given to the right people.

Parks & Gardens have worked hard with an ever decreasing budget and local volunteers have done much to improve the area and on Valentines day 2015 FORS got a massive boost for the project when the defunct Eastcliff Residents Association (ERA) was officially wound up and their massive vote of confidence in the work of FORS by granting us the sum of £5400 to be spent on the Eastcliff. This money will allow the planting of Phase 1 at Winterstoke (1500 plants) and the funding for phase 2 to follow in due course.

Thanks to Morgan Harris & Paul Verrall TDC, Paul Warrick (ERA)(for the trust in FORS and the funding) Dave Steele & Kandy FORS and Tim Young (Landscape Architect).
Finally the funders Vattenfall (£40K for a local project), ERA (£5400 for planting), Commissioners Fund (£1000 initial seed money) and £300 for plants for a sensory garden from one local counciloor in Montifiore Ward.

*1

Cabinet
Thursday, 11th September, 2014 7.00 pm

Vattenfall provided a grant to TDC of £100,000 in 2009 with the objective of delivering a project benefitting the local community and environment. The planning application for the initial project brief was for the provision of a raised walkway through the saltmash at  Pegwell Bay and was withdraw in June 2012 following environmental concerns raised by key stakeholders. Cliffsend play area and Eastcliff Gardens were the two alternative project options that had been identified for funding under the grant.

Councillor Bruce and Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure Rule 24.1.

Councillor Harrison proposed, Councillor Everitt seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  That £50k of the Vattenfall funding be allocated to the replacement of the play area in Cliffsend and that £40k be allocated to the Ramsgate Eastcliff and Westcliff Gardens project. The remaining £3k will be allocated to support the project management and delivery of the two projects.

History

1.0              Introduction and Background

1.1              In 2009 the energy company Vattenfall started the construction phase of the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm. As part of this they confirmed their intention to support a project which benefits the local community and environment. The company provided a grant of £100k to Thanet District Council for this purpose.

1.2              An outline project brief was proposed for a scheme on and around the former Hoverport at Pegwell Bay. TDC formed a project group consisting of elected members, key local stakeholders and other consultees such as Natural England and the Kent Wildlife Trust. Vattenfall were also represented on the group. The project team refined the proposal for a project to promote the sustainable enjoyment of the former Pegwell Hoverport and surrounding area with improved pedestrian links to the main part of the Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve.

1.3              The main focus of the project was a raised walkway through the saltmarsh at the rear of the bay which was to be constructed from recycled materials. The final project scope was agreed in February 2011 and was then designed in detail. Some questions over the nearby informal car park on Sandwich Road and the overall environmental impact delayed the scheme development as an Appropriate Assessment was undertaken to assess the impact on the environmentally designated site and inform a planning application. This application was submitted in June 2012 but was withdrawn shortly afterwards following new concerns raised by members of the project group.

1.4              The project was put on hold at this point due to limited resources and the need to focus upon other major construction projects late in 2012. The scheme design had reached an advanced stage with contractors shortlisted for tender invitation; a full site investigation had also been completed. As a result the cost of this development work reduced the value of the remaining grant to just under £93k.

1.5              It is proposed that alternative projects are now progressed and delivered using the remaining funding. The issues encountered with the raised walkway project proposal cannot be easily resolved without significant compromises which would affect the desired objectives. Therefore, two new projects are being proposed which fulfil the original criteria of providing a local community and environmental benefit. These projects are described below and recommended for approval by Cabinet to progress to detailed design and delivery as replacements for the original scheme.

Eastcliff Improvements

Thanet District Council are hoping spending some money (£40K from Vattenfall) will improve the look of the Eastcliff and at the same time reduce their maintenance costs.

The work is due to commence in October and will also include the removal of the raised bed by the Granville Theatre along with removal of undergrowth and some self-seeded trees in the Winterstoke area.

The work at the Winterstoke, which has already been started by volunteers , will also improve sight lines and take away the many dens currently being used as hidey holes by those committing Antisocial behaviour.

The Memorial to the fallen of WW1 will need to be relocated albeit on a smaller plot to ensure that the people who have dedicated a cross haven't done so in vain.

Video

Augusta Steps

A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.

Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.

Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.

The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.

Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves. The businesses in the town will benefit and so too will the residents for having an uplifted town.

“It is going to be what the seaside is all about. Fun, sunny colours and something to take home. A conversation piece.”

The team are asking for volunteers to help with the work and also to inspire them with colourful Ramsgate photos. They also plan to work with schools

A team spokesman said: “We definitely have a multi-coloured town and sky. The colours will be bright and cheerful and we plan to involve school children in creating collages of each colour, chosen showing where those colours are seen around the town. These collages will be displayed on each landing of the Augusta steps.

“Each school will receive a colour and we are asking the children to think about what that colour means with regards to Ramsgate - orange sunsets, pink rock, red lighthouse, blue sea, green palm trees. Each board will be hung on the landings with the school name. We also have school children who will be helping with the initial sweep up of the steps. Any age volunteers are welcome with their parents as long as they can paint without going over the lines!

“The idea is paying homage to Istanbul's retired engineer who started this and I am sure he would feel proud that it is inspiring other communities across Europe to copy him and help bring their communities together.”

Read more: http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#ixzz325JYoxQi

What a transformation and people walking past where very complimentary and wondered whether other parts of Ramsgate would benefit from the same treatment.

A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves.


Read more: http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#ixzz325HfDDkL

Read more at http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#s74BVJ8MvkifHCko.99

A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves


Read more: http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#ixzz325HyDcj3

Read more at http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#s74BVJ8MvkifHCko.99

A TOUCH of Istanbul will be coming to Ramsgate when the Augusta Steps on the seafront get a colourful makeover.
Inspired by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel who decided to carry out a guerrilla paint job on steps in the neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir in Istanbul, the Ramsgate Town Team plan to give the stairs a rainbow hue.
Mr Cetinel spent four days and $800 decorating the huge staircase which then went viral as people from across the world came to see the artwork.
The team has permission from Thanet council to paint the stairs, which were jet-washed on Tuesday in preparation for work.
Businesswoman, Jo Hanchett, who is part of the team, said: “There will be so many people talking about it and Ramsgate that they will want to come to the town and see for themselves.


Read more: http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#ixzz325HfDDkL

Read more at http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Ramsgate-rainbow-steps-start/story-21105529-detail/story.html#s74BVJ8MvkifHCko.99

Twinning

For those that don't know Ramsgate is twinned with Conflans St Honorine and today we hosted a visit from the French contingent. We were entertained and fed at Shipshape along the Military Road. Ramsgate needs to do more but this was fun.

I was asked along to promote the Memorial Garden on the Eastcliff so a short plug in pidgin french

Mesdame et Messieurs. Pardon me my French was learnt en ecole plus ans ago. Il est cent ans since WW1 started et je built a Memorial Jardin pour commemoration.