TOWN'S BID FOR FLORAL HONOURS

Final touches are underway to ensure Deal looks its best in a bid for top honours in this year's regional and national "In Bloom" competitions. With the support of residents, businesses and voluntary groups, the local Deal in Bloom organisers are hoping the town will beat last year's Silver Gilt Award in the South and South East in Bloom 2016 competition. The judges are set to tour the town on Thursday 14 July.

Then, on Wednesday 3 August, the town comes under the scrutiny of the Britain in Bloom judges. Having been selected from more than 600 entrants, Deal is one of 72 finalists from across the UK and will compete in the "Coastal over 12K" category. Now in its 52nd year, the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom competition encourages cities, towns and villages to take action to improve their local environment. For more on Deal's bid for floral honours, see: www.deal.gov.uk/Deal-TC/deal_in_bloom-13564.aspx.   (June 27, 2016)

In a shock referendum result, declared around 7am on Friday 24 June, Britain voted to leave the European Union. Voting at national level and for the Dover constituency was as follows:

ROADWORKS FOR PART OF KINGSDOWN ROAD

Plans by Kent Highways to carry out road road repairs and install high friction surfacing, new signage and road safety markings on a section of Kingsdown Road, Walmer, are due to start on Monday 4 July and take up to two days. The road approximately 60 metres south of the junction with Alexandra Road will be closed between 9am and approximately 4pm each day. There will be no through access during works - but the sections of Kingsdown Road either side of the works will be open for traffic. The alternative route is via Granville Road, A258 Dover Road and The Beach.

The scheme follows concerns by local residents about speeding traffic and agreement by Walmer Parish Council and local county councillors Mike Eddy and Eileen Rowbotham, using their members allocation of funds, to help meet the cost. For more information call the Highway Helpline on 03000 418181.   (June 17, 2016)

TWO POLLS FOR MIDDLE DEAL VOTERS

As well as casting a vote in the EU Referendum on Thursday 23 June, residents in Deal's Middle Deal Ward can choose their representative for a vacant seat on Deal Town Council. There are two candidates for the town councillor appointment: Juliette Short (Conservative) and Nick Tomaszewski (Labour). Polling stations for the Referendum and the town council by-election will be open from 7am to 10pm. Verification and counting of Dover district's votes is in Dover after the close of the polls, with results expected around 2am on Friday 24 June.

Dover District Council has reminded residents that, if they aren’t already on the electoral register, they must register by Tuesday 7 June to be able to vote on 23 June. For more information, see www.dover.gov.uk/Council--Democracy/Elections/Future-Elections.aspx or call 01304 872344 or e-mail elections@dover.gov.uk.   (June 1, 2016)

Walmer Parish Council’s newest member, nineteen-year-old Amy Herring, is believed to be the District’s youngest councillor. Amy, who is currently studying politics and law at the University of Kent, takes up a vacant seat on the parish council following a unanimous vote for her at its annual meeting on Wednesday 11 May. Keen to get working, Amy has chosen to serve on the Walmer in Bloom and Amenity and Environment committees. Council chairman Cllr Pat Heath said: “We are delighted that Amy has joined us and we are certain she will enjoy getting involved in local issues."

The annual meeting saw Cllr Heath re-elected as chairman and long standing councillor Clive Grant chosen to serve as vice-chairman. Cllr Grant’s first civic responsibility will be to represent the people of Walmer at Deal Town Council’s forthcoming Mayor-making ceremony.   (May 29, 2016)

WALMER BUSINESSWOMAN IS NEW CHIEF GUIDE

The new head of the UK's Girlguiding movement is Walmer resident Mrs Valerie Le Vaillant. Married and with three daughters, Mrs Le Vaillant officially takes up her position as Chief Guide on Saturday 28 May. Her involvement with Guiding goes back to joining as a Brownie aged seven, achieving a Queen's Guide Award and serving as an adult leader and a commissioner - a role in which she has represented Guiding locally, nationally and overseas.

From a long professional career in construction and development, Mrs Le Vaillant now runs a consultancy in sustainable development, based on The Strand at Walmer. But fitting in time to enjoy family life is important... as she explains: "When I'm not working or supporting Girlguiding, my joy is having fun with my girls, usually by going out cycling together or walking our dog". Supporting youth work runs in the family. Husband Robert is a former Scout Commissioner and has taken a leading role in charities and family support work in East London. For more on Valerie Le Vaillant's thoughts on her new role as Chief Guide, see: http://new.girlguiding.org.uk/latest-updates/blogs/hello-from-your-new-chief-guide-valerie-le-vaillant.   (May 19, 2016)

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT COUNTY HALL

The regular monthly reports by Mike Eddy, the Kent county councillor for Deal, to Walmer Parish Council provide a useful insight into recent events at County Hall. A number of the topics raised in committee meetings and in discussions with officers may well affect our part of Kent. The latest report - for May - mentions residents' parking schemes for two roads in Deal, the need for better bus services for hospitals, improvements for Kingsdown Road, an extra bus shelter on Dover Road and a petition objecting to increases to the Young Persons Travel Pass. To read the full text of Cllr Eddy's report CLICK HERE.   (May 18, 2016)

LOCAL PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR EU REFERENDUM

Local MP Charlie Elphicke has organised public meetings on the EU Referendum in Dover and Deal for people to hear speakers for both Remain and Leave. The meeting in Deal is on Thursday19 May at the Astor Theatre in Stanhope Road starting at 7pm. The speaker for Leave will be Gordon Henderson, Conservative MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. The Remain speaker will be Peter Kyle, Labour MP for Hove. Mr Elphicke said: "It is a chance to ask questions and for everyone to have their say. I hope these debates will be useful for everyone to get a better understanding of the issues and hear what both sides have to say."

The meeting in Dover is on Wednesday 1 June at Dover Town Hall, starting at 7pm. The speaker for Leave will be Chris Heaton Harris, Conservative MP for Daventry; the Remain speaker will again be Peter Kyle MP. For more details, see: www.elphicke.com/local-news/...public-debates.   (May 13, 2016)

POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER ELECTION RESULT

Kent's new Police and Crime Commissioner is Matthew Scott (Conservative) from Swanley. He received 16,162 votes in the county-wide election on Thursday 5 May - beating his nearest rival UKIP's Henry Bolton who gained 14,679 votes. The overall turnout for the election was 21.5%.

Matthew Scott takes over from the current Commissioner Anne Barnes on Thursday 12 May. For more details, see: www.kentparo.org.uk/Election-Results.aspx.   (May 6, 2016)

Local communities are being encouraged to join in the national celebrations for HM The Queen's official birthday on Sunday 12 June. Dover District Council anticipates that some will wish to hold street parties on this date and has produced information on what is involved.

For the council's "Guide to organising a street party" and "Street Party Information, Guidance and Application Form", see www.dover.gov.uk/Community/Queens-90th-Birthday
/Home.aspx.  (April 15, 2016)

WALMER TO JOIN IN NATIONWIDE BEACON CELEBRATION

Walmer will be celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday by lighting a beacon on Thursday 21 April at 8.30pm. The Deal Victoria and Barns Close Cricket Club will join in a nationwide chain of beacons at its ground on Court Road, Upper Walmer.

The club is throwing open its clubhouse doors at 7pm and inviting the public to take part in the celebrations. Drinks and light refreshments will be available prior to the lighting of the beacon by club chairman Stephen Thompson. The organisers say they are grateful for the support for the event by Walmer Parish Council and local heating and plumbing specialists R. G. Williams and Company.  (April 14, 2016)

IS YOUR DOG MICROCHIPPED?

Dog owners are being reminded that, after Wednesday 6 April, all dogs in England and Wales must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. Owners who do not comply could face fines of up to £500. Most local vets can provide the service - but it could cost around £20. However, there are some cheaper options.

The Dogs Trust charity provides free microchipping by appointment at all their rehoming centres. The nearest centre is at: Dogs Trust Canterbury, Radfall Road, Chestfield, near Whitstable CT5 3ER ( 01227 792505). See: www.dogstrust.org.uk/our-centres/canterbury/.
The Pets at Home store at Unit B, White Cliffs Retail Park, Honeywood Parkway, Dover CT16 3PS ( 0845 266 0143) currently have a discount offer of £10 for microchipping. See: http://community.petsathome.com/stores/DOVER/.  (March 26, 2016)

CONSULTATION ON BUS SERVICE CHANGES - UPDATED

The public is being invited to have a say on proposals to reduce some local bus services. Kent County Council says cuts in Government funding mean it is having to review its subsidies to bus companies for a number of uneconomic routes. The council has identified 17 such services across the county - with two affecting late afternoon and evening journeys in the Deal and Walmer area. The proposed local changes are:

• 14A Canterbury to Deal. The existing 22:00 journey from Canterbury will run at 22:35. The 22:50 from Canterbury and 23:30 from Sandwich will no longer run.
• 15/15A Deal to Sandown. The 17:47 (15A Deal to Sandown) and 18:16 (15 Dover to Sandown) which arrives at Deal at 18:56 will no longer run. The 17:54 (15A) and 19:03 (15X) from Sandown to Deal will also stop entirely.
• 542 Deal to Sandwich service on Thursdays. The part of the route from 9:20 Walmer (Lord Warden Avenue) to 9:34 Upper Deal (St Leonards Church) will no longer run. The 542 service starts at Great Mongeham at 9:38.
• 544 Deal to Canterbury service on Wednesdays and Saturdays also loses the Walmer to Upper Deal part of the route and starts at Great Mongeham at 9:38 instead.

For details on the proposed changes and how to take part in the consultation, see: http://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/BusReview/consultationHome. The deadline for submitting views is Sunday 15 May 2016.  (March 21, 2016 - updated March 26, 2016)

LIFE SAVER FOR KINGSDOWN

A device that could save lives is about to become available at Kingsdown. Local resident Jane Banks says a community Defibrillator is being installed on the forecourt of Kingsdown Village Hall in the village's Upper Street. Much of the cost of providing the new life-saver has been met by a local family, the Perrys, in memory of their mother Joyce Margaret Perry.

Defibrillators give a high energy electric shock to restore a more stable heart rhythm for someone who has just suffered cardiac arrest. The community devices can be safely used by anyone and can ensure speedy help where seconds count. For villagers who would like to know more, Jane says there will be free training for the equipment in the village hall on Monday 4 April. For details and to book a place, contact her on 01304 373774.  (March 19, 2016)

NEW CHILDREN'S PLAY AREAS FOR DEAL

Three new-look children's play areas are on the way for Deal. At North Deal work is due to start shortly on a brand new play area at the Playing Field. While at William Pitt Avenue and Wilson Avenue, residents will see refurbishment of the existing local play areas. The works follow consultations by Dover District Council with local people and the North Deal Community Partnership last year on what equipment they would like to see provided.

The district council says it has appointed Wicksteed Leisure of Kettering, Northants, to carry out the work. The new facilities are designed for children up to the age of 14 and construction will go ahead once all design details have been finalised. For more information about each scheme, see Dover District Council's website.  (March 14, 2016)

Dover District Council has agreed local Council Tax for the coming financial year which starts in April. The average total bill for a Band D property in Dover district for 2016/17 will be £1,592, an increase of £55.44 or 3.61% on the 2015/16 bill of £1,536.56. . The money is collected by the district council and includes sums for:

• Kent County Council (£1,133.55),
• Kent Police and Crime Commissioner (£152.15),
• Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (£72.00) and
• the district's town and parish councils (an average of £61.86).

For details of the new council tax charges for Band A to Band H properties in each parish/town area, see Dover District Council's website.   (March 11, 2016)

BETTER FACILITIES FOR WALMER PADDLING POOL

Works have started to provide new facilities for people with disabilities at the popular Paddling Pool on Walmer Green. The existing toilet block is being extended to introduce new toilets for those with disabilities and room for people to get changed for the pool. Work on the Dover District Council project is expected to be completed in time for the summer season.  (March 11, 2016)

CASH HELP FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS

There's good news for 34 voluntary groups across the district who have been awarded cash for projects in Dover District Council's latest community grants scheme. Groups were invited to apply for funding for projects that could show benefit to the local area. From a pot of over £26,000, grants of up to £1,000 were available in each of the district's five Neighbourhood Forum areas: Dover West, Sandwich Area, Dover North, Dover Town, and Deal and Walmer.

Successful groups in the Deal and Walmer area are:

• Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade - £1,000;
• Deal and Walmer Community Association - £750;
• Deal Community Carnival Association - £987;
• Disabled Friends and Family Association - £1,000;
• Downs Sailing Club - £651;
• PTFA Parents, Teachers and Friends Association of Sandown School - £651;
• Walmer Baptist Church - £983.

GREEN WEEKEND

Deal With It, Deal’s local green group, has a busy weekend ahead. On Saturday (12 March) it has its "Seedy Saturday" seed swap at the Landmark Centre garden on Deal High Street and on Sunday it is organising a Beach Clean at Walmer seafront. Imogen Jenkins, the group’s head gardener at the Landmark garden, said: “Our Seedy Saturday will start at 11am and finish around 1pm.  It is a great opportunity for people to get growing some of their own food and share knowledge and experience." To join in, people are asked to bring seeds and spare plants to swap. Ideally, spare seeds should be from the last growing season and labelled. There will also be stalls from AnSugan offering recycled and re-imagined clothes as well as local raw chocolatier Chocolution.

Sunday’s beach clean organiser Vicky Nicolls said the aim is to clear as much rubbish as possible in the time. Volunteers are welcome and should meet at 10am at the Sea Café on Walmer Green. All essential equipment - including pickers, gloves and bags - is provided and the session should last for about 90 minutes. For further details see: www.dealwithit.org.uk, or or call 01304 372673.    (March 7, 2016)

ENSURE YOUR VOTE

With two important polls scheduled for 2016, local residents are being reminded that it is vital to be included on the local electoral register. Failure to be on the register means you cannot vote. The first election is for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, to be held on Thursday 5 May. Then there is the European Referendum on Thursday 23 June.

Anyone who is not sure they are registered can check by contacting Dover District Council's electoral registration team (call 01304 872344 or ) or see a copy of the register held at Deal Library. If not included already, the deadline for registering to vote in the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election is Monday 18 April. Making sure well before the deadline also ensures eligibility for the Referendum in June.

For more on elections and registration, see: www.dover.gov.uk/Council--Democracy/Elections/Home.aspx.
For a useful guide to the European Referendum, see: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32810887.    (March 2, 2016)

NEW LUNCH DATE FOR WALMER'S SENIOR CITIZENS

A new initiative by Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club is set to offer a weekly lunchtime meal and get-together for local senior citizens. Starting on Tuesday 1 March at the rugby clubhouse off Canada Road, the sessions will include a two-course lunch at 1pm and time for people to chat and catch up on local events. Cost of a meal is £5 and pre-booking a place, by calling 07933 523112, is essential. Once the lunches are established, it is expected users will be able to book for the following week at each lunch session.

Chairman of the rugby club Ted Schofield said: "For some time, I have been considering setting up lunches for the elderly one day a week at the club. There is nothing similar at the Walmer end of town and, for some, getting in to town is probably quite daunting. We will be making a minimal charge just to cover the ingredients." He was sure the social aspect of the weekly meetings would be just as valuable as the meal itself. The club's attractive clubhouse, easy parking and disabled facilities also made it a good venue for the lunches.

Strong support for the new venture has come from the Rev Seyan Tills at Walmer Baptist Church and the Rev Seth Cooper of Walmer Parish Churches. Together with other members of the Walmer Partnership Group they felt the rugby club's plan would make a valuable contribution to meeting Walmer's social and welfare needs. Membership of the group include a parish councillor, school family liaison officer, local GP and police community support officer.   (February 12, 2016)

MODERNISED MILL HILL POST OFFICE TO OFFER MORE SERVICES

Residents at Deal's Mill Hill and the surrounding area can look forward to an improved Post Office service later this month. A newly modernised Post Office main branch is set to open at 1pm on Saturday 20 February at the Co-operative Food store in Beauchamp Avenue, off Mill Hill.

The new open-plan layout features three counter positions in the form of two full positions and a "combi-counter" where a Post Office terminal will sit alongside the retail till. The main counters will open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm and offer the wide range of regular Post Office services. Included are bill payment, banking, benefits and travel money, postage, home shopping returns, local collect and a selection of on-demand holiday currencies. Selected Post Office products and services will also be available from the retail counter during shop opening hours. As a result, it means a number of the most used services will be available seven days a week from 6am to 11pm.  (February 9, 2016)

RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS IN MARCH

Southeastern has announced two sets of planned rail engineering work that may affect some local passengers. The first, on the line between Dover Priory and Ramsgate, is from 4am on Saturday 12 March to 2am on Sunday 13 March. Replacement buses will connect Dover Priory and Ramsgate via Martin Mill, Walmer, Sandwich and Deal.

More engineering work will take place between Ashford International and Dover Priory from 4am on Sunday 27 March to 2am on Monday 28 March. All services will be replaced by buses between Ashford International and Dover Priory via Sandling, Folkestone West and Folkestone Central. A separate mini-bus will run between Sandling and Westenhanger. For more details, see: www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/engineering-work/filter/    (March 2, 2016)

ROADWORKS: STATION ROAD, WALMER

The section of Walmer's Station Road between the junctions of Cross Road and Court Road will be closed to traffic from Monday 29 February to Friday 4 March. This is to enable carriageway repair works to be carried out by Kent County Council. The alternative route is via Cross Road, St Richards Road and Court Road.    (February 26, 2016)

CHANGES TO MOBILE LIBRARIES SERVICE?

Kent County Council is inviting the public to comment on proposals to change its mobile library service. It has published a consultation document in which library stops that have only had, on average, two or less visitors between October 2014 and September 2015 will be withdrawn. This would reduce the number of stops from 651 to 283. The council says redesigning routes will allow a number of improvements for the remaining stops. These include:

• a new fortnightly schedule with minimum stop times increased from 10 minutes to 30 minutes;
• changing the days to Tuesday through to Saturday to overcome Bank Holiday Mondays problems and to increase opportunity for wider use;
• save fuel and cut costs through the redesigned routes.

The proposed changes in the Deal and Walmer area are:

For full details of the consultation and how to take part, see: http://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/mobilelibraries. Views have to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 4 March.
 (February 10, 2016)

SECOND DIRECT TRAIN FOR EARLY MORNING COMMUTERS

With the introduction of an additional early-morning high speed train from Dover Priory to St Pancras via Ramsgate on Monday 8 February, local commuters now have a choice of two direct services to London. These services are now as follows:

Other services to London from the affected stations between Dover and Sandwich offer a choice of travelling via Ramsgate where changes have been made to the timetable to reduce waiting times for some connections. The alternative is to travel to Dover Priory and use the emergency bus service to Folkestone West. This will remain in place while repairs to the damaged sea wall and line at Dover's Shakespeare beach take place.

A20 JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT WORKS AT DOVER

The first stages of roadworks to help reduce congestion on the A20 at the Prince of Wales and York Street roundabouts in Dover are set to start on Saturday 20 February. The full scheme is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

Works will commence with the first phase of the junction improvement at the Prince of Wales roundabout and involve night-time closures on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February from the Limekiln roundabout to just before the York Street roundabout between the hours of 8pm-6am.

The next phase starts on Monday 22 February with lane closures in place in both directions between the Lime Kiln and York Street roundabouts. There will be no right turn facility from A20 eastbound to Union Street and no right turn from Union Street to the A20 eastbound. Signage will be displayed to direct traffic during the works. For enquiries, the contractors for the scheme have published an   (February 5, 2016)

NEW COUNCILLOR SOUGHT FOR WALMER'S GLADSTONE WARD

Walmer Parish Council needs to find a new member to represent its Gladstone Ward following the recent resignation of Clr Alison Murphy. The vacancy can be filled through a by-election formally requested by ten or more local electors or, if this is not requested, by co-option of a candidate by the parish counci itself. More details can be seen on the parish council's website. (January 28, 2016)

TOWN COUNCIL SEEKS ACTION ON LOCAL FLOODING

At its meeting on Monday 18 January, Deal Town Council agreed to contact Kent County Council and Southern Water to seek answers to local flooding. The move follows severe problems for householders in parts of the town over a number of years, brought to a head by latest incidents in December and January.

The town council says it wants to see:

• a community flood prevention plan from KCC;
• a schedule of drain clearance from Kent Highways; and
• action by Southern Water to bring its pumps and drainage system to a satisfactory standard.

(January 23, 2016)

NEW SCHOOL BUS FOR SANDWICH TECH' STUDENTS

Local coach company Bayliss Executive Travel is to provide a solution to overcrowding on school buses from Deal to Sandwich Technology School. Responding to concerns by a number of parents, the company will be launching the X1 service on Monday 22 February, following the half-term break. It will leave Deal South Street at 7.40am, calling at London Road, Mill Road, Mill Hill, St Richard’s Road, Mongeham Road, London Road in Sholden and arrive at the school by 8.30am. The afternoon return service follows the same route, leaving the school at 3.45pm (except for 1.30pm on Wednesdays) and finishing at South Street at 4.35pm.

Pupils with a Young Persons Travel Pass or 16+ passes can use the new service at no extra cost. For more details, see: www.sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk/ and www.baylissexecutivetravel.co.uk.   (January 13, 2016)

NEW INTERNET RADIO STATION FOR DEAL

A new internet radio station, Deal Radio, launches on Sunday 24 January. Based at Deal's Astor Community Theatre in Stanhope Road, it will be holding a launch party in the theatre, starting at 4pm on the Sunday. The organisers are promising an "incredible" lineup of local groups with performances from "Ol Strap2", "Rhythmic Condition", "Accident of Chaos", "Adventures of Litespeed", "Ashes", "OMataeus" and a 45-minute headline set from "Splink".

The show will be broadcast live on www.dealradio.co.uk. The public is invited to join in the event which is free - although the organisers are hoping for £3 voluntary donations to help with the new station's finances. For more details, see www.facebook.com/dealradiostation/  (January 13, 2016)

Sewer repair works in part of Blenheim Road, Deal, mean it will be closed to through traffic between Monday 18 January and Friday 29 January. The works are in the vicinity of number 39, just north of the junction with Beaconsfield Road. There will be no through access between the junctions with Wellington Road and Beaconsfield Road. The part of Blenheim Road from the junction with Wellington Road to the point of closure will become two-way during the closure to allow access.

An alternative route via Wellington Road, A258 Victoria Road, Sondes Road, Beach Street, Prince of Wales Terrace, Victoria Road and Beaconsfield Road will be signposted. The sewer repairs will be carried out by Cappagh Browne Utilities Ltd, working with Southern Water and may over-run in the event of bad weather or unforeseen engineering problems. For advice, contact Southern Water Customer Services on 0845 278 0845 or the Highways Helpline on 03000 418181.   (January 8, 2016)