Walmer Parish Council is encouraging Walmer residents and businesses to enter its annual Christmas Lights Competition. The event is now in its fifteenth year and judges will be touring the parish on Tuesday 19 December to spot the most eye-catching and colourful displays. For the winning residential property there's a trophy cup and the two runners up receive certificates. Local businesses can take part as well with the winning business display earning a special accolade.

The winners will be notified as soon as possible after the judging. Residents can nominate their own or a neighbour’s house or local business by contacting the parish council's assistant clerk Sarah Plews on 01304 362363.   (December 13, 2017)

DEAL CHARITIES SEEKING HONORARY CLERKS

Two local charities are looking for people to take on the roles of honorary clerk. The Mary Hougham Almshouses charity is responsible for maintaining and letting 12 properties in Griffin Street, Deal, and needs a new clerk to start, ideally, on 1 April 2018. The Deal Relief in Need charity also needs an honorary clerk when the position becomes vacant at the beginning of January. As its name suggests, the charity provides support for people in the Deal and Walmer area who are experiencing severe need, hardship or distress.

The current clerk to both charities is Walmer resident Ronald Pegden. He explained he is having to retire from his work in supporting them and would very much like to hear from anyone who might be interested in taking on one or both roles. He can be contacted by or by calling 01304 361050 or 07929 157871. Both single and joint applications will be considered and the date for the receipt of formal applications in both cases is 12noon on Thursday 14 December.   (November 16, 2017)

Work to maintain sea defences on the northern section of Deal beach starts today (Monday 30 October) and is expected to take two to three weeks. Trucks and excavators will be used to move material from north of the former Sandown Castle and spread it along the beach to between the castle and Deal Pier. The programme will mean moving 25,000 to 30,000 cubic metres of shingle.

Dover District Council, who are managing the works, say they are needed to remedy the effects of shingle being moved by the tide and to help maintain sea defences for North Deal. The council's contractors also aim to re-profile the beach and level out the slopes where possible. Planned works for the future include construction of a new rock groyne at Sandown Castle to reduce the effects of longshore drift.

Roger Walton, the district council's director of environment and corporate assets, said: “These are key beach management works for the area. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused, and hope local people will bear with us while we carry out this important work.”   (October 30, 2017)

DISTRICT COUNCIL'S NEW LEADER

Cllr Keith Morris has been elected as the new Leader of Dover District Council. A ward councillor for St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, Cllr Morris was first elected to the council in 2011 and has been a Cabinet Member since 2015.

Cllr Morris hails from Northumberland and began his working life in the army spending nine years in bomb disposal, followed by a short spell with the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He joined the Civil Service beginning in a local job centre and moving eventually to Whitehall where he worked in a number of policy jobs mainly in the employment and education departments. He has spent the last 20 years working in the charity sector at a local, regional and national level.

Outside of work Keith has, among other things, been the treasurer at a children’s nursery, a school governor, a trustee of the Dover and Deal Volunteer Centre and spent eight years as a governor of the then Thanet College, now East Kent College. He has an MBA from Durham University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He is a keen supporter of Newcastle United. Cllr Morris lives in the ward he represents, St Margaret’s, with his wife. They have two sons.   (October 20, 2017)

Tickets for the popular Royal Marines Sergeants Mess annual pantomime go on sale to the public from 9am on Monday 2 October. The 2018 panto is "Wonky Willy", running nightly at 7.30pm in the Astor Community Theatre in Stanhope Road from Thursday 4 to Friday 12 January. Ticket prices are: front rows £17; middle and back rows £15. They are only on sale at the theatre's box office and are not available by telephone or on-line.
For details, see: http://theastor.org/TheAstor.dll/WhatsOn? Programme=1384596.   (September 29, 2017)

ROADWORKS: COLLEGE ROAD, DEAL

Kent Highways have advised that College Road, Deal, between Cannon Street and Alfred Square, will be closed to traffic from Monday 2 October for six days. The alternative route is via Harold Road, The Marina, Beach Street, King Street and High Street. This is to enable Kent County Council to carry out carriageway resurfacing works.   (September 29, 2017)

Cllr Paul Watkins is to retire as Leader of Dover District Council and step down as a ward councillor on 30 September. Cllr Watkins has been Leader since 2003 and is one of the longest serving local authority leaders in Kent. He first joined Dover DC as a ward councillor for Lower Walmer in 1983 and, since 1999, has represented St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe. Cllr Watkins also served as Chairman of the Council from 1989 to 1992.   (September 24, 2017)

FREE PARKING AGAIN IN COUNCIL CAR PARKS ON 2 DECEMBER

Dover District Council has announced it will be supporting the national "Small Business Saturday" once again this year by offering free parking in its off-street car parks on Saturday 2 December. For local motorists, the free parking is only in the district council's car parks and doesn't include on-street parking places or car parks that are privately owned, such as Sainsbury’s and the Co-op in Deal.

For Deal, the free parking will be in the Beach Street. Middle Street, South Street, Stanhope Road, St George’s, Tides, Town Hall and Union Road car parks. For more details and the included car parks in Dover and Sandwich, see Dover DC website.   (September 24, 2017)

ALL CHANGE FOR LOCAL BUS ROUTES AND TIMES

Bus operators Stagecoach South East's changes to the bus network in the Dover, Deal and Sandwich areas come into force on Sunday 3 September. The new routes - with links to timetables - are as follows:

BUZZ ALONG FOR THE HIGH STREET "BEE FEST"

Local green community group Deal With It has a bee themed edition of its regular ‘Seedy Saturday’ plant and seed swap at the Landmark Garden on Deal High Street on Saturday 2 September between 10.30am and 1pm.

Imogen Kitching, head volunteer gardener at the Landmark said: “We will be joined by colleagues from Dover Beekeepers who will be bringing their bees, honey and produce. They will offer advice on what we all can do to make our gardens friendly to bees and other pollinators as well as giving information on how to get started in beekeeping or sharing your garden with a beekeeper. Bees play a vital role in our food chain and we must do as much as possible to support and sustain them."

There will also be a plant and seed swap at the free event – with some examples of "bee friendly" plants. Local gardeners are welcome to bring any surplus plants, cuttings and seeds and take home something new. And there will be entertainment provided by members of the Landmark Ukulele Club. For further details, see: www.dealwithit.org.uk.    (August 29, 2017)

GAS MAIN WORKS FOR GLADSTONE ROAD, WALMER

KCC Highways have announced temporary road closures affecting Gladstone Road, Walmer, starting on Monday 24 July and expected to be completed by Friday 1 September. These are to allow gas mains replacement works to be carried out. Gladstone Road will be closed to southbound traffic in two main phases, so that it becomes one-way, northbound only.

Phase #1 closes the southbound carriageway between the junctions with Canada Road and Cornwall Road. The alternative route is via Canada Road, A258 Dover Road and Cornwall Road.
Phase #2 closes the southbound carriageway between the junctions with North Barrack Road and Canada Road. The alternative route is via North Barrack Road , A258 Dover Road and Canada Road.

The timing of the phases will depend on weather and ground conditions, with dates notified to local residents and signposted on site. There's more information on Walmer Parish Council's website at: www.walmerpc.kentparishes.gov.uk/temporary-
southbound-road-closures-gladstone-road-walmer-
deal-from-24-july-2017.    (July 11, 2017)