DOVER COUNCIL SERVICES OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Dover Council has published its arrangements for the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Refuse collections are on usual days, except for Monday, 27 December when there is NO collection and two weeks refuse will be taken on Monday, 3 January.

Black Box recycling collections are on usual days, except for Monday, 27 and Tuesday 28 December. The next collections for these households are on Monday, 10 and Tuesday, 11 January respectively.

Council offices: The main offices at Whitfield are closed from 5pm (cash office 4.30pm) on Friday, 24 December to 9am on Tuesday, 4 January. Area offices, including Deal, close 4.30pm on Friday, 24 December to 9am on Tuesday, 4 January.

Out-of-hours emergencies: phone 01304 821199.

Deal Pier and Tides Leisure Centre: closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Opening times on other days over the holidays may vary. (07 December 2004)

FIREWORKS AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Residents need to know they could be in trouble if they don't abide by the new fireworks legislation - now in force.

On most nights - including Christmas - it is an offence for anyone to let off fireworks after 11pm and before 7am. The only exceptions are New Year's Eve, Diwali and the Chinese New Year when fireworks are allowed up to 1am and on 5 November up to 12midnight .

For full details see the Department of Trade and Industry's fact sheet.
(13 December 2004)

PLANS FOR LITTER BINS

Following further consultation and discussion, Walmer parish councillors have agreed that two new litter bins are to be located near the Parochial School and a dog waste bin at the end of the alley from The Strand to Gladstone Road. Dover Council has agreed to provide a litter bin at the bus stop opposite the Thompson's Bell pub in Dover Road. A proposal for a dog bin at The Shrubbery won't go ahead. Instead, it is intended to install dog fouling notices and request greater surveillance by the dog warden. (9 November 2004)

NEW POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER

Mr Justin Marriott has been appointed as the new Police Community Support Officer for Walmer. Justin, who lives locally, took up his new post on 4 October and, following a period of training, should start patrolling the area in mid-December. He will be based at Deal Police Station. (10 October 2004/updated 8 November 2004)

BRITISH LEGION BRANCH CELEBRATES 80TH YEAR

Deal, Walmer and District Branch of the Royal British Legion celebrates its 80th anniversary on Sunday, 28 November with a parade and service at St Andrew's Church. The parade, headed by the band of Deal Air Training Corps, is from the Union Road car park, along Union Road to the church, arriving for the service at 12noon.       (9 November 2004)

CRUISE ADVISOR'S ACHIEVEMENT

Local travel advisor John Watson, who specialises in cruising holidays, is claiming a unique achievement. He says: "I have just been awarded Cruise Agent Accreditation from PSARA - the Passenger Shipping Association. I am the only agent in the local area that has earned this recognition."

To gain accreditation, John had to attend cruise line training sessions, make numerous ship visits, complete self study packs and finally put on a public cruise travel exhibition. All the hard work now means that John can use the PSARA logo, an added reassurance for his customers that he is able to offer detailed and accurate advice on cruising holidays.

There's more information on PSARA at http://www.psa-psara.org/ and John may be contacted by or by phoning 01304 379250. He's also on the web at www.cruise-dover.co.uk.      (28 October 2004)

FIREWORKS - TOUGHER LAWS

Kent Police have issued a guidance on the use of fireworks. New legislation - now in force - makes it an offence for:

•  anyone under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in a public place;
•  letting off fireworks in the street;
•  un-licensed people to possess "professional use only" fireworks; and
•  anyone to let off fireworks between 11pm and 7am*.

*The only exceptions for the overnight curfew are extensions to 12midnight on 5 November, and up to 1am on New Years Eve, Diwali (12 November 2004) and the Chinese New Year (9-11 February 2005).

Regulations on the retail sale of fireworks are also much tougher. Penalties for offenders include on-the-spot fines of £80 with serious breaches carrying penalties of up to £5,000 and/or six months' jail.

For fuller details see the Department of Trade and Industry's fact sheet.   (18 October 2004)

LOCAL ROTARY PREPARES FOR CENTENARY YEAR

Walmer resident Mr Gerry Costa has contacted WalmerWeb to draw attention to the South Foreland Rotary Club which draws members from an area covering Sandwich to Dover. Gerry says many of its members live in Walmer, including the current year's President, immediate Past President, the Secretary and Gerry himself who acts as the club's Public Relations Officer.

The club meets every Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Blue Birds Rest in Dover. Gerry says:"We belong to Rotary International, which celebrates its centenary in February 2005. As our local branch took the name of the National Trust lighthouse, we are commemorating our centenary by presenting them with a bench to be placed outside the lighthouse." Overlooking the Channel, it will be for the use of the local walkers and ramblers. A handing over ceremony is being planned for 25 February 2005.

For more information about Rotary and the South Foreland Rotary Club, contact Gerry on 01304 361574 or e-mail him .       (23 October 2004)

CONCERN AT UNFAIR ALLOWANCES

Walmer Parish Council has written to the Government to express concern at the present muddled legislation on payment of allowances to elected and co-opted councillors. Elected members are entitled to receive the payments, co-opted members are not. Until the matter is resolved, Walmer councillors have agreed to defer receiving any payments. (10 October 2004)

DEARER PARKING

The cost of Metered on-street parking in parts of Deal went up on Monday, 4 October. In King Street, Prince of Wales Terrace and Victoria Road it is now 40p for 30 minutes, 60p for one hour and £1 for two hours. In Beach Street, one hour's parking is 60p; two hours £1; five hours £2 and nine hours £3.50. Charges at meters in parts of Dover and Sandwich have also increased. (September 2004)

NEW BUS SERVICE

East Kent Heritage Buses introduced a new bus service serving Walmer and Deal on Monday, 13 September. The no:85 runs hourly Mondays to Saturdays between 9am and 5pm. Details of the route - which includes Deal town centre, The Strand, Dover Road, Station Road, Upper Walmer and Liverpool Road - are given in the September edition of "Walmer Residents Handbook". (September 2004)

USED STAMPS HELP ANIMALS

Walmer residents can help an animal charity, the Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust, by donating used postage stamps and empty printer cartridges. These are sold to raise funds for the Trust's welfare work. Stamps and cartridges should be left for the attention of Mr John Howard at Watchbell House, Hawksdown Road, Walmer. (September 2004)

PLASTICS BOTTLES RECYCLING

There's no need to put plastics bottles and containers out with the rubbish any more! Kent County Council has introduced collecting skips at its Household Waste Sites in Deal and Dover. So, at last, they can be recycled - instead of taking up dwindling space in landfill sites. (September 2004)

ADVICE ON CRUISES FROM DOVER

Local travel consultant John Watson has developed a new website to promote cruises that depart from Dover. It also has information regarding the ships, style and suitability. He says: "I have been fortunate to visit most of the ships listed on the site and can offer a personal view hard to find in a glossy brochure." You can see John's site at www.cruise-dover.co.uk. (September 2004)

CYCLE EVENT FOR 2005?

Members of Walmer Parish Council's Amenities and Environment Committee would like to see the successful Cycle Promotion event, held in June this year, staged again in 2005. If there is sufficient support, they hope Deal Town Council will take the lead. (10 October 2004)

COMPOSTING SCHEME - HELPERS NEEDED

The organisers of a new scheme to collect householders garden waste and turn it into compost are looking for volunteers to help with promotion and administration. The project is expected to cover Walmer, Kingsdown and parts of Upper Deal and start next Spring. For more information about helping, contact Cllr Paul Dawkins on 01304 381901 or 07837 515594 or by . (September 2004)

NEW LICENSING LAWS - YOUR VIEWS NEEDED

Dover District Council has invited local organisations and members of the public to have their say on setting up a new system for licensing the sale of alcohol, public entertainment, theatres, cinemas and late-night refreshment (including take-aways).

Under the Licensing Act 2003, Dover Council takes over full responsibility for these licences in 2005. Until now, some have been dealt with by Magistrates. Before the new scheme comes into force, the Council has to prepare a Policy stating how it will administer the Act.

A draft version of the proposed Policy and a form to help people to comment are available on the Dover Council website at www.dover.gov.uk. For more information, contact Mr Mike Ross on 01304 872281 or e-mail licensing@dover.gov.uk. Comments need to be submitted by 30 September 2004. (Originally published: September 2004)