UKplanning – Pleasurama

Cllr Ian Driver’s recent post containing a “secret” document regarding allocation of the development site known as Pleasurama, Ramsgate, gives considerable credence to the notion that there is something untoward about this transaction. The report may or may not be genuine but it deals with a part of the timeline (2002-3) for this project which has interested me of late.  This was the period when the Audit Commissioner was preparing a report about Thanet District Council, following a complaint to his office by a member of the public, that scathing report was not published until October 2003.

During this period the Labour administration had been ousted by a Conservative victory in the 2003 elections, and reading the above “secret” report a planning application was eagerly awaited for the Pleasurama site. The earliest document I have seen for the SFP scheme on Pleasurama is one shown on Michaels Child’s blog here. This was prepared in 2002 by PRC Fewster Architects of Surbiton in Surrey and appears to be a preliminary scheme by SFP Ventures backed by Whitbread plc.

So, coming to the point of this post. I have examined the UKplanning documents for the Pleasurama development and what appears to be the same scheme at a more advanced stage, submitted on 4 Nov 2003 by the same architects, PRC Fewster of Surbiton, Surrey, states that the applicant for the site is Robert Leonard Group plc of Southend on Sea, Essex. They paid £22,000 for the privilege of submitting the application for approval.

Even more curious is that some 3 months later, the application was approved but the approval document carries the name of SFP Ventures Partners Ltd. The Robert Leonard Group would have had to advise Thanet District Council of a change of applicant and that correspondence should be on the planning file. It also means that The Robert Leonard Group must be aware of the identity of SFP Ventures Partners Ltd. This is particularly strange because the only UK based company which would have a "Ltd" suffix is SFP Ventures (UK) Ltd which was not formed until 2006.

P.S It has since occurred to me that a planning permission issued to the wrong applicant, who is in fact a fictitious company may be null and void

A “hole” load of potential.

Ramsgate Tunnels have now reached another phase in their objective to open for the public. A successful completion of feasibility studies to ascertain if there were any insurmountable problems to opening has confirmed that subject to a suitable cleanup there is nothing to prevent the tunnels from becoming a heritage asset for the town

There are two aspects of the tunnels, the older and larger railway tunnel dating back to the 19^th Century and the smaller but more extensive Air Raid Protection tunnels which were constructed in 1939 as a precaution against the imminent outbreak of the Second World War.. Having been closed for over forty years these tunnels provide a fascination to many who wish to explore the subterranean environment. Rather than having illegal break-ins to explore the tunnels, it is proposed that the tunnels should become a tourist attraction for Ramsgate and safety conscious guided tours arranged for visitors who can experience the exploration of this forgotten world. An excellent new blog, RAMSGATE TUNNELS gives an insight into the world under our feet and explains where the project goes from here.

There are already over 1000 “Friends of Ramsgate Tunnels” all supporting the project’s future, and an enthusiastic committee are planning ever more exciting outcomes for this project , visit the BLOG and add your support.

Who is SFP ????

Buying a flat?  Want to know who built it?

It is a reasonable request to identify the developer who is responsible for constructing the accommodation in which you intend to invest your life savings.

Considered purchasing a seafront flat?  Maybe in Ramsgate?

Well, SFP Venture Partners Ltd is (supposed to be) building 100+ flats on Ramsgate seafront. It is a fantastic position facing south, overlooking a sandy beach, adjacent to the only Royal Harbour in the UK and views of the English Channel.

Sounds idyllic, but who is the developer?

A 20 page marketing brochure and a 16 page specification brochure say nothing about the developer of the project. This is surprising considering they are supposed to be an international company with developments as wide as Dubai and Ipswich. 

A front company SFP Ventures (UK) Ltd is supposed to be constructing the building but that company was only formed in 2006 and the agreement and planning permission for Royal Sands goes back to 2002-3 when SFP Venture Partners Ltd (SFP) under the guise of  Société Financière Privée SA (SFP) (A Swiss based stockbroker, now defunct) secured a long lease on the development site

 

The Royal Sands website states the “Developers for the Royal Sands development are SFP Ventures (UK) Ltd a UK based Commercial and Residential Development Company with experience in mixed schemes in both the UK and overseas”  A Company Check shows that company is worth exactly minus £3399, also an internet search finds  no previous developments. 

So if any SFP Venture Partners Ltd directors are reading this and I KNOW you are local,

 RAMSGATE has no confidence in your track record or ability to deliver.

The message is “COME CLEAN IF YOU WANT THE FREEHOLD OR RETIRE GRACEFULLY AND LET A “REAL” DEVELOPER TAKE OVER.

Austal 270 – WOW.

                                                   AUSTAL 270 (click here)

I have to admit to being very disappointed by the many failed starts of Euroferries, as I travel to France regularly and my preferred route would be high speed from Ramsgate to Boulogne-sur-mer.  I have to give EF full marks for trying to get this service up and running, their main problem appears to be obtaining a suitable craft for the service.

Their latest offering is the Austal 270, a state of the art Trimaran built by the Australian company Austal whose factory is in Henderson near Perth, Austrailia, where the said ship can be found on Marinetraffic.com. The company confirm a four year lease agreement on the vessel to EF, so we all await its arrival with bated breath.

I for one will be using the service, if or when it arrives next year. That will show real progress in Ramsgate Port

Dreamland or Paramount?

The high speed train service is attracting development into Kent.  One hour seventeen minutes from London is a proposal on a 16.5 acre site to rebuild Dreamland Margate as a Heritage Theme Park, it is not yet in for planning permission, but plenty of grant money for the construction has been pledged.

BUT just 17 minutes from the capital on an 872 acre site, also on the HS line, at Swanscombe in Kent is a proposal to build Paramount’s answer to Euro Disney.  Outline planning permission is already applied for and an estimated opening date of 2017 has been set.

So where does this leave Dreamland? Yes it is a heritage site not a futuristic attraction but given that theme parks are generally aimed at the younger generation can they be attracted to historic rides, or would they prefer to take a high speed ride on a train to experience the latest in high tech amusement? One interesting observation will be which opens first, if either gets off the drawing board.

A Walk in the Past.

On sale now !    In shops throughout the town (including Michael’s Bookshop) The Ramsgate Town Trail booklet, written and produced by the Ramsgate Society. It features seven seafront walks from Cliffsend to St George VI Memorial Park. The walks are continuous but can be taken individually, or as long as time and energy permit.

The walks will take you back into the grand history of this remarkable town, starting at a Viking ship called “Hugin”, on to see the work of A.W.N.Pugin, “God’s own Architect”, and then contemplate a sketch done by Vincent Van Gogh, maybe in his lunch hour, whilst teaching at Royal Road and living in Spencer Square.

Visit the most remarkable harbour in the UK, the only one with royal recognition, the guide explains how this happened and shows you the work of many famous people who crafted the Ramsgate we know today.

A wealth of bygone celebrities and architectural masterpieces jump out of the book and are displayed in real life before your eyes. You will walk past, squares, crescents, mansions, churches, lighthouse, waterfall, harbour, military installations, monuments, gardens and each one will tell a different story, from the past to the present.

The book is 80 pages, packed full with information about Ramsgate, together with a postcard attached to the last page which can be detached and sent to family or friends saying “wish you were here” and they will when they read the guide. Ramsgate Town Trail booklet costs £5.99 and is available from outlets in the town displaying “Town Trail on sale here” posters. All the proceeds will be re-invested in charitable projects about the town by the Ramsgate Society.

Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Thanet District Council for funding the initial project. Also thanks to Pomegranate for great work in designing and publishing this complex project. Brilliant job !

Weak Euro or weak £

The graphs say it all, we may not be part of the Euro but we are tied into the system. I thought it was no coincidence when on the same day Euro rates were dropped, the Bank of England announced another £50 billion round of quantitative easing, so I started to dig deeper. Before Sept 2008 the Euro hovered between 65 to 70p, since the global bank crash of 2008 when UK interest rates dropped to almost zero, the Euro has maintained a value of 80p to 85p with the occasional spike to 90p..

News sources in 2012 would have us believe there is a Euro crash at the moment and we all assume from that they mean the Euro is weak but if you read the following extract written in April 2008 you will appreciate that an 80p Euro can be described as STRONG.

T

Q&A: Why is the Euro so strong????? (date April 2008)


Holidaymakers will find their pound does not go so far in Europe

The pound has touched an all-time low against the euro - meaning that the eurozone currency is now worth 80 pence.

Euro notes and coins were physically introduced in 2002, although the currencies of the initial 11 member countries had their values fixed in euro terms as early as 1999.

There are now 15 eurozone countries, with a total of 320 million inhabitants.

But why is the currency so strong now and what does it mean?

Why is the euro doing so well?

Put simply, the euro is an increasingly attractive currency for investors compared with its rivals.

The US dollar is in freefall because of problems in the US financial system, driven by the credit crisis.

Interest rates in the US have been slashed in recent months, as the Federal Reserve tries to stave off a recession.
And the Bank of England has cut interest rates in the UK to 5% from 5.25%.

(10 APRIL 2008)

Rate cuts generally encourage investors to switch to other currencies which have a higher rate of return.

As a result, there has been a flow of investments into the euro, as well as commodities such as oil and gold.

What will the impact be people taking holidays in Europe?

Well, your pound will not buy as many euros, making things more expensive for you.

The euro has been edging higher for some time.

But the price of a baguette at the boulangerie, an espresso on a Milan pavement cafe or a beer in a Spanish bar may come as a shock for anyone who has not been to Europe for a while.

While a euro is worth 80p now, it was 71p at its physical launch in 2002 and 57p at its all-time low in 2000.

But how about the broader economy? What will the impact be?

Overall, a strong euro is good for the UK economy.

It makes imports from the eurozone more expensive, while UK exports become cheaper to those paying for them in euros.

This is clearly a boost to the UK manufacturing sector.
"Given the eurozone accounts for such a large percentage of UK exports, companies should be taking significant advantage of a weaker pound," said Jeegar Kakkad, senior economist at manufacturing group EEF.

"Whilst there is a twinge of concern about higher costs of imported raw materials, the benefits from greater pricing power should outweigh these."

The eurozone accounts for about 60% of UK exports.

Does the strength of the euro bolster the case for the UK to join the currency?

This argument is shrouded in politics and patriotism, as well as economics.

One drawback is that the European Central Bank's interest rate applies equally across all 15 eurozone countries, whether their economic growth levels are sluggish or breakneck.

But the euro has many things in its favour, especially when it is at such highs.

It seems to be a safer bet than the dollar at the moment. Even the former head of the US Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, has said that it is conceivable that it will one day "replace the dollar as reserve currency or will be traded as an equally important reserve currency".

There is also a strong argument that joining the euro would help lure more foreign investment.

And while many eurozone residents also expressed opposition to the euro when it was introduced, it is proving popular with citizens as well as business, especially those involved in cross-border trade.

So what is the truth? It would appear from the graphs that there is an inverse relationship between the value of the Euro and the level of UK interest rates. The UK rates are so low that quantitative easing is necessary to maintain a weak pound against the Euro and help exports, but a real Euro crash would not make a strong pound, just expose our weaknesses and send the pound into free fall. Sad to say, that the British public are being fed this mis-information as an excuse to leave the EU.