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eastry coffee break

This morning i went with my wife to the coffee break. We met a number of residents. The new recycling scheme was very much the topic of the day and i was able to answer a number of question and alert council officers to some missed properties.

There was also discussion on health topics including the proposals for a new hospital for Dover.

Current mood: Happy


Dover Forum

Just back from family holiday to Brittany - pics to follow.

This is my youngest son and my daughter at Mont St Michael.

It was snowing at the time!

just catching up with emails etc. Great to see the Diwali coverage on the Dover Forum website

 

Current mood: Cool


in Brittany

This week is half term break and I am having a short break with my family in Brittany. we are seeing the sites such as the aligned stones near Carnac.

Current mood: Happy


Great Mongeham Consultation Day

today I am at the consultation event for the village design statement. the draft document is available for consultation so the committee is seeking views of stakeholders in our community. there is a steady stream of visitors coming to the hall to express their views.

Current mood: Cool


diwali

this evening I am at a celebration of Diwali at the ramada hotel in Whitfield. a number of local gignatories including our MP Gwynn Prosser are here. I chatted to people on a number of issues including recycling and the location of a new community hospital for Dover. a number of local GPs would prefer to see such a facility in Whitfield rather than a town centre location.

Current mood: Cool

Promise Kept

Last year during the election campiagn many residents were concerned over the recycling of cardboard and plastic bottles. They wanted both of these items included in the kerbside recycling scheme which the council provides.

Yesterday i received my new paper and cardboard recycling container and forms part of the new service which starts from Monday 3rd November.

I must pay tribute to my colleague Cllr Nick Kenton who has been the architect of this new service and delivers our key manifesto commitment.

I look forward to increasing recycling figures for the council following this service improvement.

Current mood: exhuberant


Eastry Coffee Break

This morning i went to the coffee break and spoke to a number of residents. There was talk about Deals links with the arts and the Astor Theatre. I was also discussing the propoals around Manston airport.

New Bus timetables are available from Stagecoach and a number were distributed by the parish council.

 

Current mood: Happy


Great Mongeham drop in

this morning i went to the drop in

our community warden Dave Bish came along to talk to residents about personal safety and demonstrate some security devices.

While there i spoke to residents about a number of issues including the village design statement, The upcoming art show in the church ( Saturday 8th November to Thursday 13th November from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm) and the joint council meeting yesterday.

Current mood: Great Mongeham, Community Warden, Great Mongeham Art Show


council meetings

This afternoon i went to a joint council meeting between Deal Town Council, Great Mongeahm Parish council and Walmer Parish Council

There was much discussion about the Astor Theatre in Deal as well as the Greaty Mongeham Village design statement and litter.

This evening we had full council meting for the district council. We had a presentation about the proposal for a new hospital for Dover as well as the global credit crunch and how the council is responding to this challenge

Current mood: Cool


Full Council

Tomorrow night is a meeting of the full council at Dover DC

The agenda is available on the council's website

Indications are that it will be a long meeting as I know there is much feeling about the hospital proposal for Dover as well as the current economic climate.

Current mood: Cool


Tilmanstone Parish Council

This evening I went to Tilmanstone for their parish council meeting

It was a full agenda with items on tree wardens, planning and changes in personnel.

I was able to update the council on the work of the Neighbourhood Forum as well as briefing them on the work of The Alliance.

My Colleague Nick Kenton was able to brief them on planning matters as well as the latest from the cabinet at DDC.

Road safety in the villages

Thsi morning at church, a number of residents spoke to me about road safety in the villages. They are concerned that traffic still speeds through sections of the village. (see my entry for 7th October)

I have noticed that some drivers crawl along the rural roads between villages but then speed up in the villages.

ie do 20-30 miles per hour between the villages but over 35mph - 40mph in the villages.

Is this considered good driving ?

Current mood: Sceptical


macmillan Cancer support

This morning i was collecting for the Macmillan Cancer Charity  at one of our local superstores. While there I met a number of local residents whom I knew.

I was also touched by the stories from shoppers there about how Macmillan had helped them during their battles with cancer.

I am only too pleased tro help such a worthwhile charity. They bring practical help to those in need and deserve our thanks and praise.

Current mood: Happy


caerphilly

this morning i am at a meeting of the alliance in Caerphilly.

the council here has a magnificent new building.

It is good to catch up with colleagues from around the country to network on common issues such as finance and regeneration.

Current mood: Happy


great mongeham drop in

this morning i went to the drop in. there seemed to be more residents there today.

i spoke with residents on a number of issues including the upcoming village design statement consultation day. That is on this sunday in the parish hall.

i hope many residents are able to attend this event.

Current mood: Cool


kent highways parish liaison meeting

this morning I am at a meeting to discuss the way kent highways authority works with the parishes. Highways continue to be an issue with many residents as well as parish councils. I hope the outcome is better understanding on how best to engage with kent highways.

there was an interesting update on speed and its relation to traffic accidents.

The message was that we all can make a choice how fast we drive on our roads.

Current mood: Cool


And now for something different

with the channel tunnel problems set to continue for months the french have their own unique contribution.

Operation Stack: serious freight and traffic delays expected in Kent if 24 hour French strike goes ahead on Wednesday

  

Hauliers and motorists urged to consider delaying journeys should Calais be closed by stoppage

 

Kent Police is warning that the county faces serious freight and traffic delays if port control officers at Calais go ahead with a threatened 24-hour strike on Wednesday.

 

Should the stoppage take place, ferry traffic will be unable to berth at either the ports of Calais or Boulogne from 7am on 15 October and police will have to implement Operation Stack.

 

Hauliers, lorry drivers and motorists are being urged to consider whether journeys are absolutely necessary and where possible to avoid travelling should the strike go ahead.

 

People living around the Ashford and Maidstone areas should also consider alternatives to avoid being caught in congestion, if they can do so.

 

Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas said: 'It is unfortunate that we are facing this situation, but the best advice I can give is that should the strike proceed if you can stagger your journey, car share, work from home or not make a trip unless it is absolutely necessary then you can do your bit to help keep the county moving and open for business.'

 

If the strike goes ahead, P&O and SeaFrance sailings to Calais would not operate while the port is closed by industrial action.

 

However, NorfolkLine will still operate sailings from Dover  to Dunkerque.  Sailings from Ramsgate will also be unaffected.

 

And Eurotunnel will continue to take freight and people who have already secured bookings, although services are restricted following the fire in September.

 

Eurostar services will not be affected.

 

ACC Thomas added: 'The volume of freight travelling through Kent on its way to continental Europe is usually at its peak midweek, so the consequences of Calais being closed by this planned strike action, coupled with restricted shuttle services through the Channel Tunnel, create a potentially dire situation on the county's roads.'

 

Phase two and one together

 

After holding urgent talks with partner agencies on Monday afternoon, Kent Police has agreed that if the French industrial action goes ahead, both phase two and phase one of Operation Stack will be put into place in sequence. This is likely to take effect from 5am on Wednesday.

 

Operation Stack is where parts of the M20 are used to queue lorries that are travelling towards the continent, to avoid causing gridlock across Kent 's road network. It is only introduced as an emergency measure after consultation with other agencies and implemented following a thorough assessment of issues, including safety concerns and disruption on the road network.

 

Phase two operates by closing the M20 motorway coastbound between junctions 8 ( Leeds Castle ) and 9 (Ashford West). Non-freight traffic is diverted onto the A20.

 

Phase one operates by closing junctions 11 (Hythe) and 12 (Cheriton) coastbound, with a contra-flow in place to allow traffic to continue to flow in both directions when lorries are being queued coastbound.

 

Lorry segregation and ticketing

  

If the strike goes ahead and Stack is implemented, lorry drivers will be segregated as they are directed into phase two at junction 8.

 

Lorry drivers will join one queue for Eurotunnel and NorfolkLine services. Those for other ferry operator services will be queued separately and can expect extended delays.

 

A freight ticketing system will operate in the Stack queue, with strict enforcement conditions, operated by both police and the Port of Dover .

 

Any lorry driver arriving at Dover without the correct ticket will be turned away from the port and told to drive back to the rear of the M20 freight queue.

 

Check with your operator

  

Eurotunnel

If you have travel arrangements with Eurotunnel please call 08000 969 992.

 

Eurostar

For more information visit the Eurostar website for further updates.

 

The Port of Dover

Find out more from the Port of Dover on 01304 240 400 or http://www.doverport.co.uk/

Travel operators can be contacted as follows:

• P&O Ferries:08716 646464
• Norfolkline ferries: 0870 870 1020
• SeaFrance sailings: 0871 22 22 500
• Speed Ferries: 0871 222 7456

 

Other solutions

  

Kent Police continues to support the principle that a lorry park will contribute towards providing a permanent solution to the problems caused by implementing Operation Stack when there is disruption to cross Channel traffic. Ultimately though, the location of a lorry park and the process by which it is approved are not decisions for the police.

 

Kent Police has worked with Kent County Council, the Highways Agency and other partner organisations for a number of years to identify options to ease the disruption caused by implementing Operation Stack.

 

ACC Thomas continued: 'From this force's repeated experience of having to run Operation Stack, it is abundantly clear that an alternative permanent solution must be found eventually. There is general agreement that a lorry park, wherever that may be adopted finally, remains one of the best options to help alleviate what is a recurring problem for Kent .'

 

End

Current mood: Mad


shaping homes and communities

This morning I am attending a conference on the set up of the new Homes and communities agency which is due to be launched on December 1st. There is much emphasis in the business model termed "the single conversation " there is concern from delegates about existing regeneration projects and how these will be taken forward.

Current mood: Sceptical


back to Doncaster

today I have been in Doncaster for the EP alliance forum. This is an annual event and gives an opportunity for alliance members to engage with English Partnerships and the regeneration of the English coalfields

Current mood: Cool


Sutton Parish Council

Last night I also managed to attend briefly the Sutton Parish Council. I was able to update them on the Neighbourhood forum as well as some of the work of the Alliance.

The work on village design statements was also discussed.

I try to ensure that the parishes are kept up to date with the wider local government movement so that they can be properly supported for the benefit of residents.

Current mood: Cool


Dover North Neighborhood forum

this evening I attended the forum. The topic was community safety with representatives from the police, community wardens and the district councils anti social behaviour unit. I raised the issue of traffic speed through the villages as a resident contacted me about this issue today.

 She told me about this accident at the weekend where the car ended up  on a neighbour's front lawn and she believed that excessive speed was part of the cause.

The police response was that the new organization means that they can be more responsive and can use local police and have also acquired a speed indicator device to help assess this issue.

Current mood: Cool


Eastry Parish Council

This evening I went to Eastry for their monthly parish council meeting.

One of the items for discussion was the problem of litter in the village. This seems to be a growing problem and I believe that it also needs the help of residents to tackle the problem.

I was also able to update the council on the work of the Alliance especially in relation to health matters and the recent report of the Alliance which was launced at the conference in St Helens.

Current mood: Cool


Harvest Festival

This morning at church we celebrated our harvest festival.

members of the congregation brought in some of their harvest produce which was later auctioned.

I was also able to raise the upcoming Dover North Neighbourhood Forum as i hope some residents will be motivated to attend this event on Tuesday evening.

Prayers were also said for those in the farming community who are going through difficulties at this time and for those who lend support such as the Farm Crisis Network

Current mood: Hopeful


Bits and Pieces

after my blog this week on the work of the waste team and the pic which i took using the camera on my mobile phone, the team sent me in some better ones which they felt more accurately depicted their work.

  

 

and yesterday I took a photo on my trusty mobile phine at the National Coal Mining Museum

 

 

Current mood: Cool


Life in a northern town

Today I have been up to the National Coal Mining Musuem just outside Wakefield. I was there to attend a meeting of the Liaison Committee. This is a group made up of local government members, mostly from authorities around the musuem including parish councils, district and borough councils and city councils. They are also inviting representatives from wider afield including Bolsover, The Forest Of Dean and Dover.

I am only to keen to help as I believe that the museum serves the mining community well in providing a source of understanding about the role that coal mining has played  and continues to play in our nation's history.

Today we were also reminded about the cost of the industry in human terms as we observed a minutes silence for a coalminer who died following a mine incident last week.  

Current mood: thoughtful


Great Mongeham Drop In

This morning I went to the drop in.

It was announced that last weeks effort for Macmillan Nurses raised £130.00

I was also chatting to residents about issues such as home heating and government finance.

Current mood: Happy


war on waste

I dropped into the council offices today and was checking up on the recycling arrangements which come into force next month. This will be another leap forward in the district's recycling collections.

The team are in the process of ensuring the service is optimized across the district and I understand that this may mean a change in collection days for some residents.

 

The collection of plastic bottles and cardboard is important to many residents  and I am sure they too will welcome this expansion of the recycling collection service.

well done team!

Current mood: Big-Smiley