Does this sound familiar? From Saturday's Guardian
Pierre Cardin, the millionaire Paris fashion designer and businessman who has spent millions restoring the castle, is trying to turn the village into a "St Tropez of culture". After establishing his own music festival, he has started buying up scores of cottages and buildings in the village of 430 people.
The ageing couturier says he wants to "leave his mark" by turning Lacoste into a refuge for world artists, complete with luxury hotels, a top restaurant, a de Sade cafe and a piano bar.
But the French are revolting! There is a feeling in the fillage that his plans are ruining the community. If they truly do hound you out with pitchforks and torches Pierre, come to Folkestone. Perhaps a bit of competition from another quarter will speed our seafront development up a bit.
I thought we already were the St Tropez of culture anyway?
This is my website The 'Gerald that I set up in a fury of excitement when I first moved to Folkestone in approximately 2004. I'd been a regular visitor for a few years previous to that but I am technically one of those DFLs you get now. The site was updated more frequently with a calendar of events and voting for best venues and things, and I know it was a handy reference for those who were thinking of moving to the area. Now I've moved out of Folkestone again (though only a couple of miles) it doesn't get as much attention as it used to. Ironic really as Folkestone itself is becoming the exciting place we always thought it was just about to. My name is not Gerald BTW, the name comes from a pretend newspaper in an episode of Brasseye or something, the Portsmouth Gerald, and how there is a local newspaper here called the Folkestone Herald. Puns like this are GRATE aren't they? Do contact me if you have anything to contribute, email anythign @ this domain, or try @folkestone or @pauly on Twitter.