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Public institutions and organisations never cease to amaze me in their arrogance, and single-minded mentality, and the recipient of my anger today is the Chatham World Heritage Partnership.
Once again the truth behind their twisted plans has emerged, and once again I am forced to go on the offensive against a partnership which seems hell-bent on getting their own way and screw anybody else.
Once again it falls upon me to tell you, the Partnership, in the strongest of all strong possible terms, to sod off!
Now, you may be wondering what has rattled my cage so much as to break one of my biggest unwritten rules, but those of you who have been following this website for a while will already have a good idea.
About eighteen months ago, a question was lodged with the Partnership regarding the Gillingham Air Cadet building in Marlborough Road, as it “borders” the planned new community centre. The response was as follows:
The Air Cadet building is reaching the end of its viable life, and is likely to be removed / replaced. The council is working with the cadets to find a suitable nearby replacement venue.
After being informed that, surprise surprise, the Partnership had been misinformed, an apology was issued by them after this angry rant. All documents from that incident – and before it – have been documented, and all are accessible in the public domain.
So what has set this rant off, I hear you cry? Well last night there was another meeting of the Partnership, which I sadly had to miss. However, I was there in spirit, and my spirit picked up on yet another ridiculous attempt to destroy one of the last remaining great places for young people in Gillingham.
Answering a question from the audience, one of the new project officers spoke of demolishing the “two buildings” at the bottom of Marlborough Road to make way for a new community building – namely the old Kindergarten and the Air Cadet building.
The ensuing argument, which I believe she lost, went, according to my spirit, along the lines of the Partnership doing everything they can to evict the Cadets, and relocate them anywhere the Partnership pleases.
Thankfully, the reality is different. Thankfully, the land the Air Cadets occupy is currently held by the MOD (or one of its derivatives – I haven’t got the money to check the Land Registry details – yet!).
If the Partnership wishes to bulldoze away an important part of Gillingham’s society – they can expect a huge fight all the way.
I cannot fathom why they can’t get the picture!
It should be noted at this point that none of the views expressed above reflect those of the Air Training Corps, Gillingham Squadron or any individual therein. I am not a member of the Air Cadets, and have not been for several months, but will continue to support any fight to keep the squadron going. If you liked this post, please donate. A portion of your donation will go to charity.
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