slinkydevil Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Herne Bay Christmas lights switch-on booed by disappointed crowd http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-20467316 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramseyrocks Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Just to correct a couple of points - it was NOT organised by the Commisioners but the Ramsey Chamber of Trade & Ramsey Rotary . Pudsey was there because they were raising funds for Children in Need. They had given the primary school kids a xmas bauble to decorate and enter a competition for £1 donation to CIN. Santa and Pudsey were putting these on the tree in the Town Hall. Yes there was a lot of people there. Yes it was totally under estimated. Yes it was switched at the last minute from an area that was far more suitable for purpose than Parliament Square. However, a responsible parent ensures their own kids safety. No one was hurt. The road closed itself as people didnt even turn down the street when they saw the people there. For the record. The guest appearance of Pudsey was THE main reason so many kids went to see the switch on. God forbid someone organises something for the community that was a victim of its own success. Either you were not there or you are telling a damn lie. "The road closed itself as people didnt even turn down the street when they saw the people there" Firstly cars DID turn into parliament street, the narrow point by the crossing was the worst, are you completley stupid to make a comment like that. Cars even had to reverse back out of parliament street because of the bottle neck created. And it WAS absolutely the responsibility of the organisors to ensure safety and adequate crowd and traffic control. there is not a single excuse or reason to justify the complete shambles and total lack of organisation. I sincerely hope you are not either an organisor or associated with them if you think it is acceptable for a road to 'close itself', which it DID NOT! and if you continue to press this point i know of at least 5 other familes who have photographs of the cars trying to get through. If the commissioners were not the organisers, then they are totally irresponsible for allowing a bunch of unorganised 'business owners' to use their premises. Nothing to do with the organisers. Don't think it is acceptable for a road to "close itself" but fact is it happened and the majority of cars avoided the area totally. Not saying that it is right to put motorists in that position but for 20 mins Ramsey had a bit of a crowd problem and the whole world comes crashing down. The kids with me were held very tightly and were not allowed to roam. We were not stood on a road but on a walkway. Parents made their own choice to stand on a road. No one forced them and certainly no one advocated the roamfree attitude that some empowered their toddlers with. The situation was far from ideal but ffs a bit of perspective on the situation. My children were my responsibility. No one elses. I believe they are talking about a Road Closure Order for next year so lessons have been learned. They are not ignoring the fact there was a problem. Just dont feel a need to totally berate them for putting something on which attracted by their own admission more that the usual 30 strong crowd. Ok , so you say you are nothing to do with the organisers, DO NOT BELIEVE YOU, you seem to be aware of ‘beliefs’ very soon after the event, which would suggest you are in an inner circle of communication with the organisers, especially given how quick you could state these beliefs! And regardless of what you say, the ROAD DID NOT CLOSE ITSELF, that is actually a physical impossibility, to close a road you need human intervention (which there was none), but I digress. Also the organisers WERE absolutely aware of the potential turn out, a letter was sent home with the pupils of both primary schools, every day for a week! The children with me were also held close BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS ON THE CONGESTIOED ROAD, I agree parents made their own choices, but I’m damn sure they did not expect to be put in danger, which WAS the case. I don’t think there ever was a roam-free attitude; there was simply no choice but to use and stand on every square inch available. As for your ‘argument’ and I quote “ffs a bit of perspective on the situation”, you did not actually quantify that with an explanation of your point, so we can disregard that. Also looking at your contribution history on these forums, evidence would suggest you are of the same age, if not the same social circles as the ‘organisers’ Steven Bevan and Chris Blatcher, who were seen and documented as being the organisers of the event that night. Now Mr Bevan is an elected Ramsey Town Commissioner and also, I will be corrected if I am wrong, the secretary of the Ramsey Chamber of Trade (without actually having a publicly accessible business in Ramsey) so bearing in mind the Ramsey Town Hall was freely used as a focal point, my question is who exactly were the ‘organisers’ of such a shambles? You also say there is not a need to berate them on here for putting on an event. I disagree, there absolutely is, as the visible representatives of this failure of a public event, either Mr Bevan or Mr Blatcher need to be held accountable for the actions of whichever organisation they were representing. The RCT and also RTC and Rotary Club have completely failed in their civic duties with regard to Christmas events (and safety of events) in Ramsey, it is also worth noting that the only advertising banner to appear on the balcony of Ramsey Town Hall is, Britannia International, also the sponsors of the tree!!!! do they really want to be associated with such a failure?, I would suggest that you communicate a ‘belief’ that the people of Ramsey feel let down by the organisation of Christmas events this year and it really does not instil confidence in other things they do. If the elected representatives of Ramsey and also the business owners truly listened to what the people of Ramsey expected and wished for, there really would not be as many pointless vanity projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 To close a road, you need a road closure order which they didn't have time to obtain. You should really take up Mr. Blatchers offer of a chat to discuss the concerns you have - you are the same person that wrote the anonymous letter to the paper judging by the wording of your posts. I wouldn't blame them if they just didn't bother with community based events in the future if this is the sort of shit they're going to take for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 If the elected representatives of Ramsey and also the business owners truly listened to what the people of Ramsey expected and wished for, there really would not be as many pointless vanity projects. How do you suggest this be progressed further - a public meeting perhaps? How many people do you know that would actually turn up, offer constructive ideas and offer to help organise things? The meeting rooms in the town hall are available for such use, if there really is a big demand from the public for change/fresh thinking maybe one of the school halls could be provided for a meeting. I don't think Mr. Blatcher reads MF. I'm sure you know where he works though so why not give him a call and set something up, maybe the Commissioners would be keen to get involved as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addie Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The tree in Parliament Square is quite small but very pretty. What you can see of it, that is. The garish plastic sheet of a banner hides almost half of it which is a shame. And really, what would the cost diffeence be between a big traditional one and a recession-sized tree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 If the elected representatives of Ramsey and also the business owners truly listened to what the people of Ramsey expected and wished for, there really would not be as many pointless vanity projects. How do you suggest this be progressed further - a public meeting perhaps? How many people do you know that would actually turn up, offer constructive ideas and offer to help organise things? The meeting rooms in the town hall are available for such use, if there really is a big demand from the public for change/fresh thinking maybe one of the school halls could be provided for a meeting. I don't think Mr. Blatcher reads MF. I'm sure you know where he works though so why not give him a call and set something up, maybe the Commissioners would be keen to get involved as well. Time for a Ramsey Rate Payers' Association? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Basically that's what the comissioners are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade Runner Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The tree in Parliament Square is quite small but very pretty. What you can see of it, that is. The garish plastic sheet of a banner hides almost half of it which is a shame. And really, what would the cost diffeence be between a big traditional one and a recession-sized tree? It is a pity about the banners as you say but I really think the size is not that big a deal. This years tree may be short in stature but it makes up for it by being very symmetrical and Christmas tree shaped. Some of the trees in the past may have been tall but they were often very lop sided. I remember one year, Ballaugh's Christmas tree was very lop sided, missing all its branches on one side. This it turned out, was because the branches had been worn off, when it was dragged down the Glen Road behind a truck by the "characters" that thought they would just help themselves to one of the trees in the plantation at the top of the Glen. Them were the days................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Basically that's what the comissioners are. But do they organise meetings with the Ramsey rate payers to find out their ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shake me up Judy Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Didn't Felton's offer to sell them a toilet brush that was bigger than the tree ? With a few lights and a fairy on it, it could've done the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 It's not THAT small lol - it would be some toilet brush to be bigger than the tree (or some toilet to need such a brush). I'm not sure on who donates what towards the trees but for sure, Britannia donate a substantial amount (maybe all?) so banners advertising themselves aren't too much to ask really. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this, maybe some new volunteers will step forward, or maybe it will be a case of some useful dialogue between the residents, traders and the commissioners. For sure there is a will to communicate with the public but it should be done in a structured way and on a face to face basis in meetings, not anonymous rants on here and in the papers. It would be great to see the town buzzing at Christmas again like it used to in years past and maybe from this, other events throughout the year can be formulated. I've always thought we need something during the summer like the Tin Bath races, Viking Longboat Festival etc for Ramsey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIVER Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 We did have annies week,can we not have alan and lenny's week in the summer in Costa square ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 National Week still happens although the weather was a bit crap this year so the street party got canned as a result Lots goes on that week island-wide though (just like TT) it would be nice to have something else that only Ramsey does once a year imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 it would be nice to have something else that only Ramsey does once a year imho. What about Ramsey wash week? Some kind of soap festival could prove quite popular? Or perhaps international 'Don't mention the pier' day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Next time they take you out Albert ask to swing through Ramsey, you may be pleasently surprised (but I doubt it). The Commissioners and Traders work together often, after all lots of the Commissioners are traders as well. It's not as easy as you seem to think being in public office and every knockback can harm ones confidence and make you wonder if it is worth it. Try it yourself, you never know you might even enjoy it. Persdonally I don't care if there is a tree or not but the kiddies of all ages like it and it brightens up a rather windswept part of the town. The one in the TOWN square is in a building site but actually making an effort shows the willingness of the commissioners to at least try to make the best of a mess. I thought the point of a tree was symbolic and not about how big it is, a bit like your intellect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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