News

Dear Editor,

Re: Good to see that art in Folkestone gets people talking

Good to hear from the Creative Foundation and FHC, who are not best noted for their ability to listen and learn.

They have indeed already created a masterpiece of their own making along the seafront, albeit one that is totally devoid of the thousands of tourists which this town craves…. it is a desert.

Once again I believe they are not listening, despite the public consultations held last year. I am sure Peter and the Creative Foundation do believe in the positive benefits of art, derived from the current nationwide emphasis on its ability to regenerate.

It seems every region in the UK now has a contemporary gallery or a special festival of art. That we will inherit a legacy of long term exhibits is a positive result from the Triennial.

But, this has to be seen in the cold light of day. Do these individual pieces add up to a proper collection or will they end up a hotchpotch of loony ideas and just so much more street furniture?

This town deserves more investment of a real and tangible kind. Art is fine for those with the time and money to enjoy subjective discussions on the merits of one artists ideas…. ‘coffee table art’.

The Town Centre Management team are making huge efforts to entertain and encourage visitors by arranging various festivals and events., but they are starved of the basic funding to make each event anything more than can be seen at any village fete.

We haven’t even got a proper tourist centre and until 2010 this town could not even afford any new Christmas lights to make the shopping centre worth visiting. An absolute disgrace.

It is simple things like that which raise the spirits of the local population, not a bell ringing out the fact that it stands alone in the midst of a desert of tourism.

However, to end on a positive note, the harbour is indeed improving year on year and recent investment is obviously going to reap the benefits.

Thank goodness the recession wiped out the Folkestone Harbour Company master plan to demolish one of the few remaining things worth saving in this town .. its character.

Listen and learn… next, we need a funfair …. we really need a proper holiday funfair, with as many bells and whistles you can get.

Yours

Fred

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©