Eastry Village News
Kent Miners' Festival 2010 Latest News
As interest in the Kent Miners Festival 2010 surges, organisers are appealing for a main sponsor to back the popular event. The two day spectacular aims to draw former Kent Coalfield communities together at the same time as remembering the rich mining heritage unique to the county's pit towns and villages.
Former Betteshanger miner, Gary Cox said: "This is a community event which is free to enter, but to continue in this way, we need as much financial help as possible. This Event is all about giving something back to the people of our communities. We are keen to secure a main sponsor, but any sponsorship is welcome, be it donations for our prize draw, or performers staging a set for free, or taking part in anyway you can."
Held at Fowlmead Country Park, a reserve built on the former spoil tip of the nearby Betteshanger Colliery - the festival has doubled in size since it was inaugurated last August. This year, it will be held on the August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday. Among the impressive list of activities are events including a miner’s reunion, live music, dancers and a boxing exhibition to name but a few. Other sporting events are in the planning, but local groups - especially youth-based organisations - are urged to get in touch to see how they can become a part of the fun.
"We would like to get a youth representative to step forward and join our committee so we know we are representing youngsters properly and it is important we have an adult representative from Thanet," added Mr Cox. The Miners Festival was originally planned as a one off to mark 20 years since the closure of the Kent Coalfield last year. He added: "It soon became clear there was interest in making it a yearly event, but it has become too big to be confined to just one day."
The festival is organised by Mr Cox, along with Jimmy Davies, a former Miner and mining history enthusiast and Mark Kilmurray, Education and Events Manager at Fowlmead Country Park with the backing from the MoveTheMiner Committee. Teaming up with the Kent Messenger Group via their reporter Beth Easton and linking up with Phillip Moore of GC- Publishing has helped us to move this event up to the next level. It is hosted in association with Friends of the East Kent Road Car Company who will provide a Park and Ride service on the Sunday with the welcome return of bringing in visitor’s from our Village’s & Towns and a static Vintage Bus Display on the Monday.
The Sunday will be dedicated to youth, music and sport, while the Bank Holiday Monday will focus on heritage, including the popular miner’s reunion.
There are endless possibilities for sponsorship and clubs and organisations are still urged to get in touch with entertainment ideas to make this year's Kent Miners Festival one to remember.
Gary Cox is available for interview by calling 07800 545135 or email kentminersfestival@sky.com.
New Kent County Neighbourhood Watch Assoc. Website
Dear All, could I please invite you to look at the new website for the Kent County Neighbourhood Watch Association? It is: www.kcnwa.org
It will aim to keep you up-to-date with all news and events as well as allowing you to see what's going on in other parts of the county. Some pages are still waiting to have information updated onto them and there are a few development issues to be completed. This will all be done as soon as possible. Your views and observations of the new site would be very much appreciated.
Very many thanks,
PC Mick Wright - County Watch Liaison Officer
Unsolicited Phone Call Warning
Kent Police and Kent Trading Standards are getting many calls
from concerned residents that they are being hassled by
unsolicited phone calls from a company calling themselves
Crime Research UK.
First and foremost this company has no connection whatsoever
with Kent Police despite what they may tell you.
Trading Standards are aware of them and their advice is, as
always, not to have dealings with cold callers whether on the
doorstep or via the telephone.
This company may be offering free security equipment, but as we
say so often nothing comes free in this life. The charges that
they make for the monitoring service is far beyond the cost of
the original security equipment.
Please make your elderly and vulnerable neighbours aware of this
company.
Please remember that if you register with the Telephone
Preference Service that can stop these companies from pestering
you.
Missing Person - Can You Help?
Peter Phillips
Age at disappearance: 71
Peter has been missing from Hythe, Kent since Friday, 12th
February 2010.
There is concern for Peter's safety.
Peter is known to have a bus pass and to use it frequently.
Peter is 5ft 10in tall, with green eyes and grey, short hair.
When last seen he was wearing a grey flat cap and a tan
sheepskin lined coat.
If you believe that you have seen Peter or know of his
whereabouts please either call Kent Police on 01622 690690
or the Missing People freephone 0500 700 700
www.missingpeople.org.uk/peterphillips
Ref 10-000378
'Watch out for Gold Diggers'
Trading Standards have issued a warning entitled 'Watch out for gold diggers'!
As the price of gold reaches an all time high, Trading Standards is warning consumers interested in selling their jewellery to shop around amidst mounting reports of scams across the country. Make sure you are not dealing with conmen.
Trading Standards urge people to shop around to make sure they are getting a fair price for their gold.
Their top tips are:
* Never deal with people who visit your home asking if you have any jewellery to sell as they may be rogue traders or even would-be burglars
* Don't respond to adverts offering to buy your gold if the trader has no fixed premises
* Remember that if someone tells you that they will give you x amount for your piece of jewellery, that is not the same than saying that this given piece is worth that amount
* Get several quotes to make sure you are getting a fair offer for your jewellery
* Make sure your jewellery is weighed with accurate scales, verified and stamped by an authorised person, before you are given a price for it
* If your jewellery contains any precious stones be sure that their value is taken into account. If in doubt get such items valued by a reputable jeweller first
* Any precious metals dealer is required to display a hallmarking notice in the location where he deals with customers - it is an offence not to do so
* Look for the carat marking on your jewellery's hallmarking stamp to check the gold's purity - it is likely to be either 9 or 18 carat.
BBC to Share Video Content
The BBC is to share some of its video news material with newspaper websites. The newspapers will be able to choose the content from UK politics to business, health, science and technology.
Initially four national newspapers will be able to use the content - free of charge - the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Independent.
ITV's "Independent Television News" division has complained to the BBC trust, warning that the move will undermine independent news providers, undercutting a very important revenue stream.
The agreement marks a thaw in relations between the corporation and commercially-funded media. Previously newspapers complained that the corporation stifled efforts to expand online and criticised the BBC for using the license fee to break into new media.
The government has outlined proposals to allocate 3.5% of the TV license fee to other broadcasters, including ITV.
...courtesy of the Audio Visual & Information Technology Association.
Kent Police Arrests and Cannabis Haul
On
Tuesday, 2nd February, officers from South Kent executed two
search warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Ethelbert Road,
Dover and Each End Ash. These were in response to reports that
cannabis was suspected of being cultivated by the occupier of
these premises.
During the search of the property in Ethelbert Road a full-scale cannabis cultivation was discovered consisting of around 50 plants. Further to this the electricity meter had been by-passed and EDF Energy were required to attend in order to make the building safe. During the search of the property in Ash several motorcycles were seized two of which have already been identified as being stolen from the Dover area. As a result of the seizures a 41 year old male was arrested and subsequently charged with producing a class B drug and abstracting electricity and appeared at Folkestone Magistrates Court on 03/02/10 where he was remanded in custody. He was technically bailed for further enquiries in respect of the stolen property.
This is viewed as being a significant result in the ongoing efforts to combat drug supply and associated criminality in the Dover area. It re-assures the public that South Kent Police take their concerns seriously in accordance with the 'You Said We Did' campaign. The seizure of the stolen motorbikes is a positive step towards identifying perpetrators of vehicle thefts and burglaries in the local area and is seen as a real breakthrough in the ongoing battle against crime impacting on the community.
Latest information from Operation "Cubit"
Operation
Cubit targeted Dover District from 25-29 January and removed 40
abandoned and untaxed vehicles from the streets of the district.
Operation Cubit is run in partnership across the county by Kent
Police, Kent County Council, Kent District Councils (including
Dover District Council), Medway Unitary Authority, Kent Fire and
Rescue Service, NSL (formerly the National Car Parking Service),
and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Launched in 2001, the scheme continues to work across Kent
districts and has contributed to a significant fall in the
number of abandoned and untaxed vehicles across the county.
Once removed from the streets, abandoned and untaxed vehicles
are taken to a compound. Vehicles not claimed within the
prescribed period (usually seven days) may be destroyed.
Vehicle owners have to pay a minimum of £100 fine, plus a £160
surety fee (refundable on purchase of a tax disc within 14 days)
to reclaim their vehicle, as well as a storage fee of £21 per
day.
Nadeem Aziz, Chairman of the District of Dover Community Safety
Partnership said: "We continue to work closely with all our
partners to make sure the district remains a safe place to live,
work and visit. Operation Cubit continues to be a great success,
removing untaxed and abandoned vehicles from our streets as
quickly as possible. Residents have said that untaxed and
illegal vehicles are of concern to them, and together partner
agencies have removed 40 vehicles over the last week."
Also read the report
on Operation Cubit
here...
To report an abandoned vehicle in Dover District please call
01304 872428 or visit
www.dover.gov.uk
Kent County Watch Warnings
Kent
Trading Standards are warning consumers to be wary of companies
claiming to be or associated with the satellite television
company Sky. Sky customers are being contacted and offered
extended warranties. Sky only approves Sky Protect which is
provided by Domestic and General who administer and provide the
service on the company's behalf. Kent Trading Standards would
advise customers to check the identity of any company by
contacting Sky directly. Be sure to read any terms and
conditions. The Financial Services (Distance Marketing)
Regulations give you a 14 day cancellation period. Be sure to
send any cancellation notice by recorded delivery so you can
prove you cancelled in time. If you require advice, please
contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
Kent businesses are being advised to be on their guard when they
have inspections/services carried out on equipment, such as fire
extinguishers. Kent Trading Standards are advising businesses
to be aware of what they are signing. Some traders ask for a
signature on a 'job sheet' after the service of the equipment,
when in actual fact you may be signing a contract. These
contracts can run for many years and may be very difficult to
cancel. Always read what you sign. If traders already have a
contract for this type of service, then it is advisable to make
all staff aware of the name of the company you already have a
contract with, and make it clear to all members of staff who has
authorisation to sign paperwork. Failure to do so may result in
having two legally binding contracts running at the same time,
which can be very expensive.
Thefts from Vans Warning - Kent Police
Following
the theft of tools left in an unattended van overnight in Eastry
a number of vehicles in the area have been broken into.
Please make sure that all tools and items of value are removed
from vehicles when they are left overnight.
Kent Miners' Festival 2010
The Kent Miners Festival is a free community event taking place on Sunday and Monday, 29th and 30th August 2010 at Fowlmead Country Park, Sholden, Deal. Open to ex-miners and non-mining people throughout the whole of Kent, it is organised by Gary Cox, Jimmy Davies and Mark Killmurrey of Fowlmead with the support of the "MoveTheMiner" Committee, the East Kent Road Car Heritage Trust and the Kent Messenger Group.
Preparations have started already for this year’s Kent Miners Festival and organisers are appealing for help from the community to make it a show-stopping event. Youth Groups and Organisations are urged to plan and take part in fun events at this summer’s Kent Miners Festival at Fowlmead Country Park.
A day dedicated to youngsters has been planned as part of the FREE two-day Community Event which will take place on August bank holiday Sunday and Monday and youngsters are urged to get involved. The committee would like to invite a youth or representative of the local youths to join them in helping with organising the event.
The idea behind last year’s festival was born when different groups got together with their ideas of how to mark the 20th anniversary of the closure of the Kent Coalfield. Among the ideas was a miner’s reunion, while the “MoveTheMiner” Committee hoped it could unveil the Waiting Miner statue - which is still to be moved from Dover Seafront back to the Miners Trail at Fowlmead.
Like last year, the festival will be free to enter but Gary Cox, one of the organisers, said the success is dependent on help from the community:
"We are so grateful to everyone who got involved in last year’s Miners Festival especially the organisations who awarded grants and donated money, time and prizes. This year we are looking for sponsor’s to get behind us and help us to put on an Event to fit for our Communities. We also need good quality donations for our draw, such as restaurant vouchers, ferry crossings, short breaks," he added.
The Sunday (August 29) will be devoted to youth groups, with sporting events planned and local acts performing live music, followed by a heritage day and miners reunion on Bank Holiday Monday.
The festival is being put on in association with the East Kent Road Car Heritage Trust who will run Park & Ride on the Sunday and lay on vintage buses to ferry people to the festival from the mining villages, Deal and Sandwich on bank Holiday Monday.
Among the activities will be sporting events, brass bands, boxing, exhibitions, fairground rides, and the Miner’s Reunion. A beer tent will serve refreshments and food and soft drinks will also be on sale.
Gary Cox is available by telephoning 07800 545135 or email: kentminersfestival@sky.com
Cold Callers for Rubbish Removal...?
Some of you may be approached by people offering to take your
waste away, whether you are at work or at home. Beware, they may
be trading illegally and not licensed to carry waste and could
fly tip your rubbish. If you're not satisfied that they are bona
fide, we'd suggest you don't employ them. You can help us to
identify these people by reporting their details to us
immediately.
Call Kent County Council on 0845 345 0210 or e-mail
clean.kent@kent.gov.uk.
Further information about using a third party waste collector is
available online at
www.cleankent.com
Latest Trading Standards Alerts
The following consumer alerts have been issued by Kent Trading Standards:
Alert for All Business in the area
Council Tax "Credit" Scam
We have been advised by Dover District Council's Business &
Community Transformation - (Council Tax & Housing Benefits) of a
current scam that has been operating in Dover District.
A council customer in Deal was called at 8.30pm last night and
told that they have a credit on their council tax account. The
caller then asked for their bank details and said that the money
will be credited back into that account.
The caller was aware that this person held a Halifax account.
They told the customer that if they refused, the money would be
given to charity.
Obviously this customer was alert and refused. They dialled 1471
and was able to get the number that had called – 03652 147896.
Dover District Council, like Kent Police and Trading Standards
advise that you never give any personal details to unknown
persons irrespective of how persuasive they might be. Dover
District Council do not operate such a scheme, nor would they
ring and ask you for your banking details.
Please make sure that your vulnerable neighbours or relatives
are aware of this scam and understand not to divulge personal
information.
Snow Clearance Information from KCC
"Dear All
I thought it would be useful and timely to set out a statement of the essential law surrounding the clearance of snow and ice from public highways and pavements.
Duty of local highway authority
The local authority is responsible for clearing ice and snow from the public highway and pavement. Under Section 41(1A) of the Highways Act 1980, the authority must ensure that safe passage along the highway is not endangered by snow or ice. Section 41(1A) of the Act was inserted following the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 to clarify the law following the decision in Goodes v East Sussex CC (2000) in which it was held that the duty under section 41 to maintain the fabric of the road in good repair did not encompass a duty to prevent or remove the formation or accumulation of ice and snow. The local authority can prioritise the roads and pavements which they consider should be cleared first. This is a defence in law to a claim that personal injury occurred because the road or pavement had not been gritted. There are no reported cases apparently because of the relatively small amount of snow in England since the amendment to the Act came into force in late 2003.
Private individuals
Private landowners are not obliged to clear snow or ice from the highway, even if the road or pavement passes over their land. It is risky for an individual to clear these areas. Accordingly, KCC would be unwise to endorse or recommend to members of the public to go out and clear the pavement themselves. By moving snow from one part of the pavement it could create a danger in another area or the melting of the snow by using water could create black ice. In such circumstances if someone is injured the individual would be liable in negligence or nuisance. The snow should not be brushed onto the public pavement as it is a public nuisance to block the pavement or the road by sweeping snow from property onto the highway.
In many Northern European countries the public are obliged to clear snow and ice from the paths adjoining their land i.e. it an offence not to do so. There are arguments for such laws to be passed in Britain and several MP's websites for example John Redwood MP's blog discuss lobbying Parliament to pass such legislation and this has been raised in parliament from time to time.
Businesses
Unlike private individuals, businesses carry public liability insurance and have a duty of care to their employees. It is in their interests in terms of keeping open and less risky for them to help clear snow and ice from pavements outside their shops and businesses, although the principles of liability outlined above still apply and it would be wise for them to check the position with their insurers.
Overall, the good forward planning has put us in good stead; we have maintained adequate salt stocks and kept Kent moving in this exceptional weather.
There will be a report in March which will give more detail on how Kent has coped with this severe weather.
There will also be a review of KCC's winter maintenance programme in July which will be an opportunity to discuss, debate and make recommendations to KCC's policy."
Nick Chard, KCC Cabinet Member - Environment, Highways & Waste
Parish War Memorial Update
The Parish Council has kindly offered to update the names on the War Memorial. Anyone who lost their life on active military service, or was in the fire or police service, since 1946 and who came from the Parish of Eastry, can have their name added to the memorial.
Please contact Mr Sam Shevde on 01304 611601, or write giving details to: 8 Mill Bank, Mill Lane, Eastry, SANDWICH, Kent, CT13 0EX.
Eastry Hospital Planning Applications - DOV/09/00348 & 9
The above applications will be considered at the next meeting of the District Council's Planning Committee which commences at 6.00pm on 14/01/2010.
This link below will take you to the committee agenda which includes the comments from consultative bodies and the officer’s recommendation.
http://www.dover.gov.uk/councillors/council_meetings/update/docs/agendaplanning140110.pdf
For information of speaking at a planning committee meeting use this link
http://www.dover.gov.uk/planning/commenting/speaking.aspx
Sarah Wells, Clerk to Eastry Parish Council
01304 614320
Burglary Initiative Launched in South Kent
Kent
Police, in South Kent, have launched a burglary initiative today
to disrupt and target offenders and deter crime.
Throughout December, as well as the normal police response and
attendance to burglary crime, two extra detectives from Tactical
CID will respond to calls where houses have recently been broken
into. The aim is to gather evidence to identify offenders as
quickly as possible, and to provide reassurance and support to
victims.
Officers will also be patrolling areas that have seen a slight
rise in burglaries in the past several weeks including
Whitfield/Temple Ewell in Dover; Hawkinge in Shepway and
Godington Park/Great Chart and Mersham/Sevington in Ashford.
Kent Police has circulated information to all patrol and
neighbourhood officers about offenders who are suspected of
breaking into people's homes. Officers will take advantage of
every opportunity to target offenders and carry out search
warrants to disrupt their criminal activity.
Police believe that burglary offenders see the Christmas period
as an opportunity to commit crime, and this initiative is
designed to tackle those opportunist thieves.
Kent Police is also hoping to raise public awareness of what
people can do to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a
break-in or theft. Neighbourhood officers have been giving out
leaflets and displaying posters in public areas. (These posters
are attached).
The message is that people can take some simple steps to deter
thieves by keeping Christmas presents and other valuables safely
locked away and out of sight:
·avoid leaving presents or your sat nav in your car
·close your curtains in the evenings so thieves aren't tempted
by the presents under your Christmas tree
· use a timer to switch your lights and radio on and off to
make your house look occupied while you're out
· lock doors and windows and avoid leaving bags and car keys
near windows
· don't leave the boxes that gifts have come packaged in
outside your house by your wheelie bin - the box alone can tell
someone what sort of property is inside your house
· avoid keeping large amounts of cash at home
Detective Sergeant Pip Richardson who is heading up the
initiative said: "South Kent has the lowest burglary rate in the
county, with 4.1 per 1,000 households in October 2009.
"The chances of being a victim of burglary in South Kent is
relatively low, but we are not complacent, we know burglars and
thieves can use the festive season to commit crime and we will
we working rigorously to keep burglary and crime down." He
concluded.
Dangerous Cycling Issue
The issue of irresponsible and dangerous cycling is a subject
that is close to many of you I am sure, certainly if judged by
the number of letters and e-mails that I receive on this topic.
The vast majority of the recent correspondence asks for police
action, as many of you have witnessed dangerous and
inconsiderate cyclists acting in a reckless manner, and thereby
endangering pedestrians. However, this morning I received an
email from someone who felt that our current operation was
unfairly biased against cyclists, and that there should be some
leeway due to the potential dangers of cycling on the roads.
Both views on this subject have valid points, applicable in some
cases and not in others. My officers and I work within the
framework of the law and enforce the law on behalf of our local
communities. However, within this framework is quite rightly the
area of discretion. In some cases this allows my officers to
have regard to each set of circumstances and to take a lower
level of action against those committing wrong, whilst in other
areas of the law, there is quite rightly no discretion at all.
The difference of opinions expressed on this one topic have
served to highlight the need for all of you to have a say into
the setting of priorities for your local area, as we are all
different and do have different views. By respecting these views
we are all able to live alongside one another, with tolerance
and acceptance.
If you would like to contact me there is a direct email address:
doverdistrictcommander@kent.pnn.police.uk
Chief Inspector Ken Elmes - Dover District Commander, Kent Police
Trading Standards Information
Kent Trading Standards
wish to remind people that we always need to receive information
about poor trading practices. This information is vital as it
enables us to effectively target our campaign work. If you wish
to make a report to us, please call Consumer Direct on 08454 04
05 06. They will take the details and forward the information to
us. Examples of matters that you may wish to report are:
Sales of Cigarettes or Alcohol to under 18's
Sales of Fireworks to under 18's or outside the permitted dates
Doorstep sellers, e.g. fish sellers, carpet / rug sellers
Cold Callers who offer to do work on your property e.g. driveways, guttering, garden clearance, tree surgery
Sales of Counterfeit goods, dangerous goods and wrongly described goods
Roadside car dealers
Out of date food sales
Traders who purport to be private sellers
Any other trading practice that causes concern
Any business seeking advice about Trading Standards legislation are welcome to call 01732 525291 if they are based in West Kent or 01233 898825 if they are based in East Kent.
If you wish to find out more about your rights as a consumer please call 08454 04 05 06.
The limited edition book :
"EASTRY - PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES OF A KENTISH VILLAGE"
are available from Bickers Newsagent and local bookshops or direct from the author:
Douglas Welby, 35 Boystown Place, Eastry, CT13 0DS
price £15 (by post please add £4 p&p).
Launched just a few months ago, this major photographic history book on our village has proved to be of great interest not only to the people of Eastry, but country-wide and overseas.
Creating Areas For Nature
Why not try creating a pond or tree planting, composting,
building raised beds, making boggy areas or building bird or bat
boxes?
Any piece of ground can be transformed into a haven for wildlife, whether it is at school, in a community space, in your back garden or even on a rooftop. No matter how much space you have available, you will find ideas here that can be adapted to suit your needs.
Across the county, Kent ’s Countryside Management Partnerships, supported by Kent County Council, the Kent Eco-Schools Project and the London Borough of Bexley, have collaborated to produce this pack on behalf of the Kent Biodiversity Action Plan.
The guide is the first of its kind in Kent and takes the form of an online series of PDF information sheets that provide a step-by-step guide to creating wildlife habitats in your garden or grounds. As well as a helping with the practical side of creating nature areas, it also includes information on the kinds of wildlife you can expect to attract, planning tips and lots of useful links for further reading and information. Health and safety information is also included.
The pack is available now at www.kentbap.org.uk/creatingareasfornature
Email cmp@kent.gov.uk with your ideas on how you could improve your garden or grounds for wildlife and you will receive a packet of free poppy seeds!
For further details, please email cmp@kent.gov.uk or contact Isabel Sturdy at the North West Kent Countryside Partnership, 01322 294727.
Gas Contractor Issue
Kent Trading Standards are investigating the activities of a
builder/plumber by the name of Ivan Taylor who comes from
the Canterbury area and uses telephone numbers which begin 01227
4***** and 07834 9*****. Ivan Taylor is prohibited by the Health
and Safety Executive from carrying out work on gas supplies and
appliances and we would like to speak to anybody who has had any
plumbing or general building work completed by him where this
work has involved any work to or modifications to gas supplies
or appliances. If you haven't had work done yourself but your
neighbours or friends have, Trading Standards would also like to
speak to them. If you have any information about this individual
please contact Kent Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on
08454 04 05 06.
Police Plant Theft Warning
Kent Police would like to remind businesses and locations, where PLANT and large machinery are used and stored, of the importance of securing these vehicles when they are not in use. During November, a National Initiative will be taking place around the UK specifically aimed at reducing PLANT theft and to encourage the owners of such equipment to register their items with the National PLANT scheme.
To report any suspicious activity regarding PLANT equipment or to request specific crime prevention advice via your local Crime Reduction Officer please contact Kent Police on 01622 690690
New Road Safety Campaign
Kent Police, KCC and Dover District Council are launching a joint road safety operation today to reduce child casualties in the Dover district.
Statistics show an increase in Child Casualties every October and November. For slight injury accidents, Dover is second in the county for the most casualties involving Children. There is a marked increase at the age of eight onwards which shows those walking home, perhaps without an adult, are more likely to be involved in a road collision. The peak time for accidents is between 3pm to 5pm. Kent County Council Community Wardens have also been giving talks in some Primary schools in the district about road safety.
Over the next five weeks Police Community Support Officers, Dover District Neighbourhood Task Team Officers and Civil Enforcement Officers from Dover District Council will be working together in the areas outside schools and surrounding roads. They will be looking at parking issues, illegal use of Mobile Telephones while driving, the wearing of Seatbelts and checking that the number of children is correct for the number of seats in a car. They will also be offering advice and working with Junior Road Safety Officers in Schools to promote road safety going to and from schools.
Sgt Guy Thompson of Dover District Community Safety Unit said: "This campaign is aimed at reducing the injuries to young children and young adults at this time of year. The evenings are getting darker and we have received concerns from schools and residents about parking around schools."
Dianne Hopper from Dover District Parking Services said: "We are pleased to work with our partners on the important issue of child safety. We receive many complaints about illegal parking around schools on a daily basis during term time, and we hope that this initiative will make drivers aware of the dangers that they can cause by parking illegally."
INVOKE - Help Guides for Those Over 50...
The INVOKE website, www.kent.gov.uk/invoke, gives details of the project funded by the Department of Health and managed through Kent County Council and is aimed at those aged 50+ to promote healthy, active ageing, independence, a sense of wellbeing and the ability to participate fully in the community.
The Dover Directory, first published in 2008, is now a widely used resource for local individuals and practitioners and is available for download here...
Each of the directories is a valuable source of information.
Pre-Planning Application Advice Charges
Dover
District Council have introduced new charges in respect of
Pre-Planning Application advice with effect from 29th July.
To clarify the new charges, and what can be provided, Dover District Council have prepared a document for information. A copy of the document is available here...
All About Kent trading Standards...
The
role of Trading Standards is to provide advice and guidance to
consumers and businesses. Amongst other tasks we try to disrupt
the activities of doorstep criminals. If necessary we can
prosecute the worst offences provided we have sufficient
evidence. Please take the time to report doorstep criminals to
us via Consumer Direct on 0845 404 05 06. The information we
receive is valued. Consumer Direct can also give you information
on your rights as a consumer. Visit our website at
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent to find out more about what
we do.
We have recently published a booklet "The Smart Guide to Scams -
How to deal with doorstep criminals, scam mail and unwanted
phone calls" to get a copy email
tsadvice@kent.gov.uk
or view it on line at
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent/documents/AE%20factsheets/The%20smart%20guide%20to%20scams.pdf
Doorstep Callers
Doorstep Callers offering most goods or services valued at
over £35.00 should provide you with a 7 day cancellation period
in writing. A recent change to the law means that you will be
able to cancel any contract made while in your home; this
applies to both cold callers and businesses you invite to call.
Always carefully consider any offer that is made to you at your
door. If you are told work needs to be done on your property
take extra care. There are very few jobs around the house that
need to be done immediately. Do not be pressurised into making
an instant decision.
Call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk for further advice or to report
any details that have been taken e.g. descriptions of the
caller(s) vehicle details/registrations, phone numbers.
Check out the Buy with Confidence Scheme for details of approved
traders you can trust at
www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or by ringing Trading Standards
on 01233 652385
Scam Mail
Scam mail could be mail order catalogues, letters asking for
your assistance in transferring money, letters telling you that
you have won a prize in a draw or offering to tell you your
future. Never respond as it could increase the amount of scam
mail that you will get. Dispose of it in your recycling bag
remembering to remove any personal information.
Unwanted Mail
By registering with the Mail Preference Service it is
possible to reduce the amount that is received. It is a free
service. It is unlikely that this will stop any mailings from
abroad.
Mailing Preference Service
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London
W1W 8SS
Tel 0845 703 4599
www.mpsonline.org.uk
Unwanted Telephone Calls
Register with the Telephone Preference Service to reduce the
number of unwanted calls. It is unlikely to stop calls coming
from outside the UK.
Telephone Preference Service
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London
W1W 8SS
Tel 0845 070 0707
www.tpsonline.org.uk
Roadworks Information on "the Web"
For many months now, this website has been advocating you use the "Electronic Local Government Information Network", or eLGIN.
The eLGIN website provides an up-to-date interactive map of both current and planned works on the road for a large area of the UK.
You can read more about the service by reading the poster here, or by viewing their website at: http://kent.elgin.gov.uk or www.elgin.gov.uk .
Kent Police Youth Panel
The Kent Police Youth Panel is made up of young people, aged 11 and over, who live in Kent, who tell Kent Police what they think about a number of crime and policing issues. The panel helps Kent Police understand the views and needs of young people across Kent and the information helps shape the service provided by Kent Police.
How
it works: During a year panel members will be invited to take
part in up to four surveys or discussion groups. Opinions are
sought by email, telephone or pot or at informal discussion
group meetings.
Get involved! If you are aged 11 years and older, or know a person who is, live in Kent and would like more information about becoming a Youth Panel member please email the Youth Panel or call 01622 652667.
You can also visit their website at www.kent.police.uk/youthpanel .
Sandwich Area Neighbourhood Forum
Have your say: Make a Difference: What do you want to discuss? Tell us about the issues affecting your community and what matters to you.
The Neighbourhood Forums discuss a wide-range of local and district wide issues, not just those involving Dover District Council or Kent County Council. We will invite speakers to come to the meetings to talk and answer questions about specific topics chosen by local people - these can be councillors, council officers, police, health and others.
Past topics include planning, community safety, active older people, climate change and youth services.
Let us know what matters to you so we can arrange meetings relevant, and of interest, to you. Please forward your suggestions to neighbourhoodforums@dover.gov.uk
Funding for local community projects: Small Community Capital Projects fund:
Grants of up to £5000 are available to local voluntary and community groups for capital projects of benefit to the community. Successful projects last year included new equipment, small building works, stage and security lighting, among others.
KCC is administering the Small Community Capital Projects fund – please contact KCC Community Liaison Manager, Anne Charman for an application pack (Tel: 01622 696389; Email: anne.charman@kent.gov.uk); You can also download the application pack from Dover District Council’s website: www.dover.gov.uk/neighbourhoodforums/funding.asp
We are keen to encourage applications from voluntary and community groups that have not applied to the Neighbourhood Forums before. Please let local groups know about this grant fund - the application is straightforward, with advice and help available from Anne Charman.
For this meeting to be a success we need as many members of the public as possible to come along to the meeting and have a say – your help in spreading the word is appreciated.
Kent Highways Survey of Speed and Traffic in Lower Street
During January and February this year Kent Highways conducted a traffic volume and speed survey in Lower Street, Eastry.
As requested at the Annual Parish Meeting a copy of the report has now been made available for download here.
Please be aware that the document is very large and will take some time to download.
Clean Kent teams up with Crimestoppers over Flytipping
In the fight against flytipping in Kent, the Clean Kent Campaign has joined forces with the national crime fighting charity Crimestoppers.
Anyone with information about flytipping or those involved can
telephone anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Callers
will be safe in the knowledge that their privacy is assured and
that calls will not be recorded. Information received is then
passed onto the Police and the Clean Kent Enforcement Team for
investigation.
Flytipping is unsightly and illegal and can lead to increases in
other more serious criminal offences. Flytipping is serious
criminal activity and offenders can face prison sentences of up
to five years or a maximum fine of £50,000.
Steve Mellers, County Manager of Kent Crimestoppers said, "We
are delighted to be working in partnership with the Clean Kent
Campaign. Kent Crimestoppers are committed to working with our
partners in Kent to tackle and eradicate this serious
environmental crime."
Mike Austerberry, Executive Director, Environment, Highways &
Waste said, "Flytipping is a damaging and illegal activity and
through the Clean Kent Campaign, local authorities will not
hesitate to bring offenders to justice, seeking criminal
convictions and financial redress. Kent as a county is to be
valued and protected from those engaging in this crime."
If you have any information about those who commit fly tipping
offences, please help Clean Kent catch and prosecute them by
calling 0845 345 0210, visit www.
cleankent.com or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555
111
Eastry Music Extravaganza
A report and photographs of the event are now available on our sister website:
St. George's Day Cream Tea
This year the government actively encouraged English Parish and Town Councils to celebrate what some would call the forgotten Saints Day, Saint Georges Day.
Eastry Parish Council decided to arrange a cream tea event in his honour. All villagers were welcome to attend and many did. It was a wonderful event and only made possible by the work of the parish council and in particular Margaret Pemble and Sandra Hooper, who made the cakes and manned the kitchen for the whole event. Thanks also must go to Andy & Ali Miller who organised and ran a children’s craft table, and to parish councillor Andrew Barwick for setting up and assisting with the washing up. Finally to Eastry Scouts who made the banners that adorned the railings advertising the event.
report from Shani Barwick
Kent Police & Project Kraken
In 2009 Kent Police are adopting a national strategy that seeks to improve the information on all aspects of the marine community – from nuisance, to vandalism, theft, and national security issues such as drug importation, immigration crime and terrorism issues.
This strategy is called Project KRAKEN and it is aimed at maritime users throughout the country. A poster is available highlighting the need for you to report what you feel is unusual or suspicious at our ports or coast and a half an hour presentation is also available for club nights or other forums where you can discuss this issue with a police officer.
The covert operations and sensitive inquiries carried out by specialist police teams, such as Special Branch Frontier Operations, might sometimes seem a world away from day to day matters in the community. But information from the people within the community can prove vital, particularly in relation to drugs supply, immigration crime and terrorism.
Detective Sergeant Simon Hiscock, from Kent Police Frontier Operations, said: ‘It is the marine community that are our eyes and ears. What you tell us contributes to an intelligence picture and operational profile that helps us support tactics to address both local and national needs. Sometimes the public are unaware of the key role that they can play in community intelligence gathering and the difference they can make to other people’s quality of life.'
The initiative is a partnership that has been formed in the Thames and Dover region which for policing purposes will run from Suffolk, through Essex, Kent, Port of Dover, and Sussex. We will seek to work together to protect our coastline by mounting joint policing operations and exchanging information.
An example of this partnership is a Kent Police operation that targets the criminal use of small fast craft in the channel and estuary. This operation involves colleagues from UK Police, French, Dutch and Belgian Police, the Marine Coastguard, and the UK Border Agency and is one layer of protective security that is provided year round.
The Kent Police Marine Unit continue to patrol on a regular basis and will be happy to speak about any issues – in particular if a cup of tea and a hobnob biscuit is made available!
Source: Kent Police Frontier Operations
You can call Kent Police on 01622-690690 (or 999 in an emergency). You can also call the counter terrorism hotline on 0800-789321.
Are You Licensed to Drive?
Many people are unaware that a photocard driving licence is only valid for 10 years; after that it needs to be renewed with a new photo. Renewing it costs £17.50 currently.
Some of the oldest photocards are now 10 years old. Is yours about to expire?
The front of the licence carries two dates:
4a - the date the photo is valid from, and
4b - the date by which the licence needs to be updated. This is generally 10 years after the licence was initially issued but for drivers nearing or over the age of 70, is the date at which the entitlement to drive ends.
If you change address or name then you must tell the DVLA so that the driving licence details can be updated. In this case the licence is free as long as the '4b' date has not been passed. Having a licence which has not been updated will pose problems, particularly if you want to hire a car or if you have to prove your entitlement to drive to your employer. It could also lead to a fine of up to £1000.
More information is available from the AA here...
Repossession Advice Pack
A repossession advice pack, with practical advice for homeowners worried about meeting their mortgage repayments, has been created.
The pack gives step-by-step advice to households and advises on how they can avoid making their situation worse.
You can download and print your own copy by clicking here.
60-Year Light Bulb!
Cambridge University has announced the development of a light bulb which lasts up to 60 years and can cut electricity consumption by 75%.
The key ingredient of the white LED-based bulb is Gallium Nitride. Scientists have discovered a method of growing the man-made material on silicon, instead of costly sapphire. The new LED bulb burns for 100,000 hours and is 12 times more efficient than conventional tungsten filaments.
The new bulb is expected to be on sale within 2 years at a projected retail price of £2.
Support Our Small Shops
Small shops are at the heart of our small towns and villages. They offer diversity and choice and provide a personal service to the community. Yet in many small communities these independent retailers are under threat, facing a rising burden of regulation and tax, a daily battle against crime and violence as well as competition from the growth of large shopping centres. It is estimated that 2000 shops close every year.
Small Business Rate Relief
Rising business rates are hurting small shops - and yet many shops don't claim the rate relief they are entitled to because they either don't know about it or because it's too complicated. Rate relief could save some small businesses up to £1,100 a year, so it's vital we help owners claim the full amount they're owed.
With the help of Leaseholders United we have provided an online tool via the link below to find out what relief - if any - you're entitled to. If you run a small business and want to see if you're entitled to rate relief simply click here.
Get "ICED"!
We all carry our mobile phones with names and numbers stored in its memory. If we were involved in an accident, or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call! yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored; but which one is the contact person in case of emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.
The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As mobile phones are carried by the majority of the population all you need do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency). The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones with patients; but they didn't know which number to call.
He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognised name for this purpose. In an emergency situation Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number you have stored in 'ICE'. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc.
PLEASE LET ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES KNOW - IT MAY SAVE A LIFE!
Crime Mapping
The new "Crime Mapping" section of the Kent Police website (http://www.kent.police.uk) means that everyone will be able to have immediate access to crime figures for various types of offences, down to Ward level. The data is updated monthly.
The website provides interactive maps and drop-down menus to ensure that accessing the information is simple and efficient. The information ties-in to extensive details, already on the website, about neighbourhood policing.
New Neighbourhood Watch Website
The website that supports the new organisation; Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (England and Wales) - (NHWN) - and represents Neighbourhood Watch nationally is:
Please try logging on to the new site and explore what is going on around the country with NHW. You'll find it very interesting!
"FreeView" Extra HD Channels
ITV, Channel Four and the BBC are to launch high-definition channels on FreeView in the Autumn of 2009. A fourth HD service, expected to be operated by Channel Five, will be available in 2010.
The Discovery Channel has also accepted a slot on FreeView. The slot will be a departure from its traditional pay-TV model. The channel will draw its content from Discovery's broad library of factual, entertainment and lifestyle programming.
Nearly 17 million UK households currently have access to FreeView.
Policing in Eastry
PCSO Annmarie Benson and our Community Warden continue their duties in Eastry.
Annmarie can be contacted on 07772 226155, or 01304 218000. If you need to report a crime please call 01304 240055, and in case of an emergency 999.
Buttsole Pond Restoration Plan
"Work has begun on the implementation of a management plan for Buttsole pond, located alongside Lower Street. The plan had been drawn up by the White Cliffs Countryside Project and approved by the Parish Council and will greatly improve the diversity of wildlife and general amenity value.
The area of surface water has reduced considerably in recent years due to the encroachment of plants like reed mace and suckering from the roadside willows. The first phase is to reduce the area of these plants in about half of the pond. Conscious of the impact of habitat changes to existing wildlife the remedial work is best done at this time of year and much of the pond has been left untouched to act as a refuge for the animal population. Although the change in appearance is dramatic there will be re-growth in spring from remaining roots and we will encourage a more diverse range of native plants.
Since the pond is not stream fed a major problem for the pond has been the lowering of the water table probably due to greater extraction. The gulleys from the road have been cleared to capture more rain run-off and so partly compensate.
Another issue with the pond is that a couple of non-native pond weeds have been accidentally introduced (Parrot’s feather and Australian swamp stonecrop) and have to be removed they will upset the ecosystem. People should refrain from bringing any pond life from their own ponds.
We can all watch with interest as the pond recovers from this temporary shock and a richer fauna and flora are allowed to develop."
Simon Dundas - Eastry Pond Warden
Shore Watch
If you see any seals, dolphins or whales washed up onto our local beaches please call British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on 01825 765546.
Hopefully this will not be a frequent occurrence, but some of you may remember the huge whale that was washed up in Pegwell Bay several years ago and which, sadly, could not be saved.
New Refuse Rounds
"Please find here a list of all new collection days for refuse, recycling and green waste - refuse remains weekly, black box fortnightly and green waste fortnightly (where applicable). The new scheme and collection dates will start from Monday 3rd November 2008.
Leaflets, bags and calendars for all collections have started to be delivered in Deal, will move up to the top of the district - Ash, Preston, Sandwich next, then onto the middle Nonington, Tilmanstone, etc., and then finally down to Dover, Capel, Whitfield. It is estimated that deliveries will take around two weeks to complete therefore they will be in certain areas for more than one day.
Paper and cardboard would be collected in the blue bag - once collected it will be stored and then it will go to Aylesford Newsprint where the paper is recycled on site back into paper and the cardboard will go to Smurfit Kappa in Kent.
www.aylesford-newsprint.co.uk/
The mix of plastic bottles, cans and glass will be collected from the black box, it will be stored and then transported to Veolia Materials Recovery Facility in Rainham, Essex. www.veoliaenvironmentalservices.co.uk/pages/int_materialsrecovery.asp
The materials will be sorted and the glass will be recycled by local contractors for road aggregate, the plastic bottles will be recycled by closed loop, Dagenham www.closedlooprecycling.co.uk/ and will be recycled back into plastic packaging and the metal and aluminium will be recycled by several outlets of Veolia, where the market demands are."
Mandy Pile - DDC Waste Services Officer
BT SuperFast Broadband
British Telecom plans to spend £1.5 billion on the roll-out of fibre-based "SuperFast" Broadband by 2012.
The service will deliver speeds of 100Mb/s with the potential for speeds of more than 1000Mb/s in the future.
It is planned for the service will be available to 10 million homes.
Digital Radio Switchover
The latest interim report from the UK Government working group described moving fully to digital radio as "...a long-term plan." It suggested that the change-over should be completed by 2020.
One major barrier has been the unpopularity of digital radios in cars. Of the 34 million vehicles registered in the UK only 150,000 (less than half of one percent) have DAB radios.
The working group found that only around 30% of new cars are offered with DAB as an option.
Parade Opening Ceremony
Eastry Parish Council are pleased to announce that the project to revitalise the are in front of the Parade of shops in The High Street, Eastry, has now been completed. The project was launched in the late 1990s and was originally to be the Parish Council's "Millennium Project". There were, however, many delays during each stage of the project.
Early in 2007 Cllr David Carr, then Chairman of the Parish Council, established the Council's Working Party which finally, by March 1st 2008 were in a position to start work to create this amenity area for the local community.
The Parish Council are very grateful for the financial aid of Sandwich Neighbourhood Forum, Dover District Council Community Safety Partnership and a Member Community Grant from Kent County Council.
The Parish Council would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Mr Theodore (Teddy) Birnberg, a previous Parish Councillor who generously left the Parish Council a Legacy that has been used to part-fund the project.
In addition the local community has helped raise over £1600 with a "Buy-a-Brick" campaign, raffles and even a sponsored sing by the parent and toddler group!
The opening ceremony was held on Friday 26th September 2008 at 10:00am; the ribbon was cut by Mr Donald Eldridge; retired Parish Councillor and one of the instigators of the project. Pupils from Eastry Primary School also were in attendance to bury a time capsule.
Official Press Release here...
The Clean Kent Campaign
The Clean Kent Campaign recognises that Kent is a clean and beautiful County in which to live, work and enjoy. One of the ways in which the campaign aims to protect and preserve the natural beauty of the county is by reducing instances of fly-tipping and littering, thereby improving the overall quality of the Kent environment.
"Litter, rubbish, fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles are seen as key manifestations of anti-social behaviour and potentially in turn, crime and fear of crime. The Clean Kent Campaign recognises all of these issues and the adverse effects they may have on the quality of life, tourism and economic development. Where anti-social behaviour is present, crime may follow. Clean Kent aims to eradicate fly-tipping offences and ensure high quality environments and support safe communities." - PC Mick Wright, County Watch Liaison Officer.
To find out more about Clean Kent log onto www.cleankent.com or call 08453 450210
National CCTV Database
The Association of Chief Police Officers working group on CCTV and video is exploring the feasibility of storing CCTV images of crime and matching them against databases of offenders, similar to the store and search systems currently in use with DNA and fingerprints collected at crime scenes.
It is proposed that the new initiative is to be titled the Facial Images National Database (FIND).
The working group recognise that it is vital that CCTV standards are improved. The Metropolitan Police Service recently reported that their success rate in using CCTV for criminal prosecution is as low as 3%
The British Standards Institute, the Department of Justice and the Information Commissioner's Office are working together to develop standards for anyone who wants to produce CCTV images that the police could use in prosecutions.
The majority of the estimated 4.2 million CCTV systems installed in the UK are owned by local authorities and the private sector. Currently few systems produce images that would be usable by police to secure convictions without corroborating evidence.
Workplace Regulations Update
Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide
The 2007 Act has now come into force. The legislation makes it easier to prosecute organisations when their gross negligence causes death. The prescribed fine is between 2.5 and 10% of the annual turnover and their is also the introduction of publicity and/or remedial orders.
Noise at Work
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into effect on 6th April 2008 for those establishments using live or recorded music. Employers have the responsibility to protect their employees hearing and should conduct noise risk assessments. They should also ensure that the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded.
Consultation of Employees
The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 have now been extended to cover establishments with more than 50 employees. Employees have the right to be informed of the establishment's economic situation, be informed about employment prospects and be consulted about decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation.
Sex Discrimination
From April 2008 the Sex Discrimination Act 1974 has been amended.
The definition of sexual harassment has been extended to include situations where a person's dignity has been violated. There is also increased liability on employers for third party harassment of employees.
Hospital travel information
Kent County Council have recently issued leaflets on travel to local hospitals and are available as a download by clicking on the appropriate link below:
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Margate
Kent and Canterbury, Canterbury
Buttsole Pond Management Plan
A Management Plan for Buttsole Pond has been prepared by the White Cliffs Countryside Project on behalf of the Parish Council.
The paper will be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting and you are invited to read a copy, together with the Appendix:
Kent County Council - "Buy With Confidence"
Kent County Council's Trading Standards Service have launched a "Buy With Confidence" good trader scheme. A copy of the notice is available here.
The scheme provides customers with a list of reliable local businesses that have proved their commitment to trading fairly.
These businesses will have had to undergo and audit by Trading Standards Officers and passed a series of detailed checks before being approved under the scheme.
Full details are available from the website at www.buywithconfidence.info .
Eastry Parish Council Adopt New Code of Conduct
At the Parish Council meeting of 2nd July 2007 it was unanimously agreed to adopt the new Code of Conduct for Town and Parish Councils in the Dover District.
The new Code of Conduct contains the Ten General Principles for Public Life, as laid out in the Relevant Authorities (General Principles) Order 2001.
A copy is available for you to read: please click here. Remember: this document is large and may take some time to download.
What is a Parish Council?
There are over 8,700 parish and town councils representing around 16 million people across England. They form the most local level of government and cover many rural areas.
What services do they provide?
Eastry Parish Council provides the following services:
| Allotments | Dog waste bins | “poop scoopers” | Public lavatory |
| Street cleaning | Burial ground | Open spaces | Bus shelters |
| Play Equipment | Litter bins | Picnic site | Buttsole pond |
| Coffee Break |
They also work with Dover District Council, and Kent County Council to get other services for the parish. Eastry Parish Council meets 11 times a year on the first Monday of the month (except January and May, when it’s the 2nd Monday).
The booklets “All About Parish and Town Councils” and “The Good Councillors Guide” can be found on the parish council web-site http://www.eastrypc.co.uk.
DESIGNATED PUBLIC PLACES ORDER
A Designated Public Places Order, which will control the consumption of alcohol in public places in specified areas, will be introduced by Dover District Council with effect from 1st February 2007. The order is commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as an alcohol exclusion zone.
The effect of the order is that a Police Constable may require a person to stop drinking alcohol in a public place within the designated area. Any person so required, but who refuses to stop, commits an offence which could result in them being arrested. Drinking alcohol in a designated area is not in itself an offence. The offence is created if any person refuses to stop drinking once required to do so by a Police Constable. Any enforcement of this law is carried out entirely at the discretion of the police.
This order has been made following analysis of relevant crimes and extensive consultation with the public. The relevant work was undertaken by Dover District Council's Community Safety Unit.
The order will apply to all public places lying within the boundaries of Dover, encompassing Castle, Town and Pier, Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory, Tower Hamlets, St. Radigunds, Buckland and Whitfield wards; Deal, encompassing Walmer, Mill Hill, Middle Deal and Sholden and North Deal wards, Sandwich and the following parishes: Ash, Aylesham, Eastry, Eythorne, Guston, Ringwould / Kingsdown, River, St. Margaret's, Shepherdswell, Temple Ewell, Wingham. Signs are being placed across the district to indicate designated areas.
For more information, please log onto the Dover District Council website at www.dover.gov.uk/asb
Coffee Break
Just a reminder that Jigsaw puzzles are available to borrow on 2nd Friday of the month at Coffee Break. Also on the 2nd Friday Hi-Kent hearing-aid re-tubing clinic is available to assist you with your hearing-aid needs. Hearing Aids should be re-tubed every 3 months!
Play and Recreation Facilities
The Parish Council own and maintain a number of play areas and play equipment in the Parish. Play equipment is situated in Gun Park (off Wilmott Place) and at the Allotment play area behind Centenary Gardens and Mill Green. Three goal posts are in place at the bottom (Wilmott Place) end of Gun Park and two small goals are situated in the Allotments play area for general use. Also in Gun Park are a skate ramp and basket-ball hoop.
The Parish Council also maintain a Recreation Ground in Church Street opposite the Church. This area is well used by smaller children and their parents.
Minimum Wage Information
National Minimum Wage
The national minimum wage applies to nearly all workers and sets hourly rates below which pay must not be allowed to fall.
It is an important cornerstone of Government strategy aimed at providing employees with decent minimum standards and fairness in the workplace. It helps business by ensuring companies will be able to compete on the basis of quality of the goods and services they provide and not on low prices based predominantly on low rates of pay.
The rates set are based on the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission. The rates change on 1st October each year.
New National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2009 are:
Workers aged 22 and over - £5.80 per hour
Workers aged 18-21 - £4.83 per hour
Workers aged 16-17 - £3.57 per hour
To find out more:
-
see the guide to the National Minimum Wage for workers or for employers or
-
check www.direct.gov.uk/nmw or www.businesslink.gov.uk/employingpeople.
For free
confidential advice about the National Minimum Wage call the
National Minimum Wage Helpline on
Proposed changes to how the National Minimum Wage is enforced are being taken forward by the Employment Bill which is currently going through Parliament. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Government intends the NMW provisions to come into force on 6 April 2009
Casual staff, agency staff and short-term contract staff are all eligible for the NMW. More information is available on the Government's website here.
Age Discrimination Law
New regulations require employers to remove bias on the grounds of age. This includes policies and practices relating to the following areas: recruitment, selection, promotion, criteria for benefit entitlement, provision of in-service training, retirement, redundancy and occupational pensions.
From 1st October 2006 it is unlawful to directly discriminate on the grounds of age. This is where a person is not employed or promoted because of their age. It is also unlawful to indirectly discriminate on the grounds of age. This is where an employer has a requirement for a number of years previous experience, which younger people are unlikely to have.
The employer cannot allow any harassment, bullying or victimisation on the grounds of age, either by the business or by any employee.
The regulations on discrimination on grounds of age are in addition to the other forms of discrimination - sex, race, disability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation and religion or belief - which continue to remain in force.
Useful Contact Numbers
The Parish Council are receiving more and more phone calls reporting things that they do not have a direct responsibility for. In these instances the Clerk can only pass on the report to the correct department and does not always have enough information to do this efficiently and errors could be made. Parishioners are asked to contact the responsible authority directly, as below:
Dover District Council
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent
CT16 3PJ
Telephone: 01304 821199
E-mail:
customerservices@dover.gov.uk
Minicom: 01304 820115
All problems relating to refuse or recycle collections. Rubbish and Dog waste bin emptying Street cleaning, Street nameplates, and Council housing problems should be directed to DDC. A full list of services and direct dial numbers can be found in the phone book
Kent Highways Services –
Kent Highway Services
Kent County Council
Invicta House
County Hall
Maidstone
Kent ME14 1XX
08458 247 800
kent.highwayservices@kent.gov.uk
All problems relating to street lights, roads or footways, road signs, pot holes, road works, overgrowth hedges, drains and ditches on the highway, vehicle crossings, dropped curbs or empty salt bin should be directed to Kent Highways services.
Public Rights of Way Office – 01304 216307
Problems with footpaths (Not tarmac) including Horses using public footpaths.Young Drivers
The Kent and Medway safety Partnership have a web site that contains a lot of information on the partnership and a section for young drivers. You can get free downloads and information on advance driving skills, please pay it a visit. www.kmscp.org/gusd.
Memorial Inspection
Following a recent inspection of all memorials in the Cemetery the Parish Council is trying to trace the owners of some of the memorial stones. If a member of your family is buried in Eastry Cemetery can you please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council on 01304 614320. For your information the Cemetery is the very bottom section of the Church Yard between the Beech hedge and the Holly hedge where the kissing gate is located.
Householders' Responsibility For Waste
Following the introduction of new Government waste regulations, Dover District Council is reminding residents that householders now have a responsibility to check who is taking their rubbish away, or risk a fine of up to £5,000. Householders now have a 'Duty of Care' to ensure that their rubbish is only collected by a registered waste carrier.
Dover District Council is already working hard to reduce the
problem of fly tipping. The regulations have been introduced to
help Authorities tackle this serious issue. Last year Dover
District Council dealt with 487 incidents of fly tipping, at a
cost of around £50,000.
The new regulations mean that people who need to have household,
garden or construction waste removed from their home must check
the waste carrier registration of anyone they employ, or who
offers to remove the waste for them. All builders and allied
trades, landscape gardeners, tree fellers, house clearers,
retailers who remove domestic goods such as fridges and sofas
when delivering new ones, and scrap metal dealers should be
registered waste carriers. The carriers will issue householders
with a 'waste transfer note', which should be kept by the
householder as proof that they passed their waste on to an
authorised carrier. This legislation does not affect any waste
collection service provided by the Council, including your
normal weekly household waste collection.
Registered waste carriers can be checked by contacting the Environment Agency on (08708) 506506, or online at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/publicregister. Householders can also contact Dover District Council on (01304) 872410 and for a small fee bulky items can be collected and disposed of in an authorised manner.