Posts

Ramsgate collapse continues - literally

The collapse of the Ramsgate Tunnels stage with minor injuries and the seafront cordoned off with police and ambulances highlights many of the same problems infecting East Kent. https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/live-updates-stage-collapses-ramsgate-2933010 An amateurish and sloppy and underfunded approach to the seafront by RTC council and TDC and KCC - many if not most of the councillors on all 3 organisations. Wasn't a Margate Council stage borrowed at one point before this homemade version of pallets and sellotape? Little change can be expected at TDC with Bob Bayford and Madeline Homer CE in charge: former councillor Ian Driver raising salient points: https://iandriverthanet.blogspot.com/2019/06/they-earned-1million-ramsgate-port-lost.html https://iandriverthanet.blogspot.com/2019/05/thanet-council-opposition-must-destroy.html While Dreamland on Ramsgate seafront is still clouded in murk that rivals only Ramsgate's Pleasurama: https://iandriverthan...

Manston airport: Helix/Riveroak reply

Hi Nick Thanks for your reply: can you clarify your role at Helix and in the DCO? I'm unclear why you are surprised at myself and the public, and police, participating in the DCO by requesting information of yourself. Especially given previous issues at Manston and media coverage. Can you advise on the questions I've raised that are unanswered and provide any documents you think relevant to support your view. Helix directors are also available media and public questions? Could you also clarify that you understand the East Kent drinking water is underneath the runway and there are missing Infratil/Stagecoach fines. Tim On Friday, 31 May 2019, 09:00:16 BST, Nick Rothwell wrote: Dear Mr. Garbutt, I am surprised by your e-mail if you are standing for Parliament as you should understand the public process that is a DCO. I further do not understand your reasoning for copying your e-mail to various persons of the Kent police. As with this public pro...

UK and Thai Parliaments similar?

Interesting article on Thailand and UK parliaments: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1686236/british-thai-democratic-systems-cant-be-compared A couple of other points to make are that the UK House of Lords also contains Church of England bishops (including the Archbishop of Canterbury here in East Kent) the only chamber to do so outside of Iran. A Religious Affairs committee could adjust that anomaly. While the 92 hereditary Lords is blatantly undemocratic and the only chamber in the world. Previous hereditary Lords ejected in 1999 but still the strangest elections of the elderly hereditary Lords as they die off having elections by just the other hereditary Lords. The Lords is also nearer 900 members than 780 - the largest outside China. And if the principle is that experts are appointed that's largely untrue with political party appointees booted upstairs form the Commons. And the Lords is distinctly aged: more members over 90 than under 40 - a particular f...

Garbutt: new Thailand-Cambodia railway opens

Tim Garbutt, East Kent MP candidate 2019 said: "I am delighted the new Thailand-Cambodian railway has been opened by both Prime Ministers. After 40 years since the destruction of the Khmer Rouge it is one more possible to travel from Bangkok to Phnom Penh. As a further part of my MP manifesto it's time for the link between Phnom Penh and HCMC to be built connecting ASEAN's main cities and capitals. Along with Kwai rail upgrades to Yangon, which would be ideal for Hitachi here in East Kent too with its Eurostar and Channel Tunnel and HS1 hispeed rail expertise. With the first UK Strategic Rail Group gaining the Cairo Metro contract it would be a Great British success, as the inventor of hte railway to deliver on ASEAN and India connectivity. Thailand as Chair of ASEAN this year and Vietnam next year would also be best-placed to deliver on the HCMC link and through to Hanoi and China. And galvanising the delayed Singapore rail. Along with 1M UK tourists to Thai...

Karen: Weekend of Blood Police review meeting

Dear Karen Just a quick note to thank you for organising the Ramsgate Police Review meeting. A very useful session airing lots of similar concerns by businesses and public and councillors. I've lived here c.18 years and with Surin Thai restaurant for most of that and stood as Mayor and MP and never seen it as bad as the last 12 months or so. Worth remembering specific lowlights in the recent decline: * tramp tent on High St near WH Smith for all last Summer and cops ticketing it * Weekend of Blood last week with airlifted stab victim * a dozen naughty KFC/Subway Kids * a dozen tramps and street drinkers at the crossroads, previously in Streetdrinker Square by the police station (!) and by Wilko. The cops can't even patrol around the cop shop. * knife fight outside Red Lion at 4pm(!) * tramps camped out on Harbour St for c.8 months * axe man on High St * BMX bikes on pedzone and cars, often the wrong way in the one way system - somebody will be knocked over and ki...

Claudia Thalmann Helix corp: Manston airport and Riveroak public inquiry

Archive Move Delete Spam / Sent tim garbutt To: info@helixfiduciary.com Hi Claudia I wanted to write to you as Helix Compliance Officer about your role/investment in Riveroak for Manston airport in Kent. I am standing for Parliament in the area and there is concern over the process and public inquiry eg recent news link below: https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2019/05/27/manston-dco-hot-topic-of-compulsory-acquisition-scheduled-for-resumed-hearings/ https://www.helixfiduciary.com/profiles/claudia-thalmann/ I presume there is no wrong doing in Riveroak funded via Belize, BVI, Delaware and now Switzerland with your firm Helix. Confusing perhaps via tax havens without full details of directors etc. Can you confirm your involvement and funds etc and any documents/emails provided to Riveroak/Planning Authority etc. Kent Police/NCA/Parliament copied for their information as Manston has already featured in various Parliament investigations and news repor...

Prem death premature for Thailand and UK stability?

General Prem has had a good innings dying today age 98. The former PM and Privy Council chief dies at a crucial time for Thailand. As with King Bhumibol dying last year, Prem marks the end of an era. And a changing of the guard in Thailand with the new democracy election. Prem's involvement in public and military life stretches back to WW2. And apt with the refurbishment of the Thai Army Museum is a reconsideration of that thinly-documented era. The French-Thailand War of 1940-41 not just the Thai Navy's finest hour but the first loosening of the Western Empires in Asia after the fall of Dunkirk an Ramsgate Little Ships. And the famous landmark in Bangkok of the Victory Monument, Thailand's Nelson's Column. That era ending to all practical purposes only with the Prem armistice of the Thai Communist Party in Northern Isaan in the early 1980's and withdrawal of the Vietnam army from Cambodia by 1990. And more symbolically with the return of Hong Kong in 1...