This is the latest newsletter I've just sent out:
Good Morning
In this week's newsletter:
Raising funds for Children with Leukaemia
Dover War Memorial Project and the Royal British Legion
Dover Carnival is alive and well
Quality Bus Partnership
Pfizer Update
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Children with Leukaemia A walk has been organised to help raise funds for children with Leukaemia - please help if you can.
6 MILE CHARITY WALK
Barham, Nr Canterbury
10am Saturday 2nd April 2011
My daughter Claire is running in the London Marathon on Sunday 17th April and is raising money for the charity 'Children with Leukaemia'.
I am helping with the fundraising by leading a walk on Saturday 2nd April. The walk is 6 miles long and starts promptly at 10am from Valley Road, Barham near the primary school. Please arrive by 9.40am.
The grid reference of the start is TR 206500. At the end, there will be an opportunity for drinks and lunch at the Duke of Cumberland.
If you come on the walk, you agree to buy a ticket for £5 (£10 for families) and walk at your own risk. The pace will be easy and the terrain undulating but not very hilly.
Please wear substantial footwear in case of mud and bring rain gear, a snack and a drink.
If you cannot come, you are still invited to make a donation.
For further details, visit Claire's fundraising page
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ClaireJJones
We hope you are able to join us.
Thank you for your support
Alan Clewer
PS If you enjoy walking with others and are interested in joining the Ramblers please ask me on the day.
If you have any queries please call 07545 777 131
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Dover War Memorial Project are to receive an award from the Royal British Legion on the 18th, of March, in recognition of the valuable work they do
Please visit their web-site (www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk) for more information and to see if your parents or grandparents or perhaps other relatives, have been researched; so many families have had their lives lifted, by having their families researched.
The Royal British Legion do so much more than sell poppies; please visit their web-site (www.britishlegion.org.uk) to find out what they really do.
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Dover Carnival is alive and well. The Committee and the Court of Dover would like to thank the people of Dover for their support for this years event. We have had a truly uplifting response from Dover Residents and Businesses alike.
To name but a few:
Dover Town Council Grants Committee have allocated Dover Town Carnival Ltd £1000 towards the running costs of The Court of Dover, they have also allocated £500.00 sponsorship for a float for The Court of Dover which will bear the Town Crest and £750.00 to pay for a marching band to take part in the Carnival itself on 3rd July 2011.
The White Cliffs Hotel and Guest House Group have sponsored all the Crowns for the new Court of Dover to be selected on 14th May 2011 at Bluebirds at a cost of £110.00.
P&O Ferries have sent 6 day trips and 1 standard return for use as raffle prizes.
Flying Fish Hovercraft have sent 2 vouchers worth £75.00 each to be used as raffle prizes.
Various shops and businesses throughout the Town Centre have given raffle prizes for use at the Selection and Carnival Events, these shops will be recognized by the Selection posters in their windows as of 2nd April 2011.
Posters on Dover Forum have come together to offer their services and materials in order to build the float this year, which we hope to get started on now we have the funds in place.
KOS Media have sponsored Dover Town Carnival to collect for the Carnival and promote the Event at the Travel and Leisure Show on 13th March at Dover Cruise Terminals and we hope that this will bring many more people into Dover for Regatta and Carnival weekend.
The residents of Dover and in particular regulars at Dover Athletic FC have given generously to our collections and we are extremely grateful for the support and the Carnival Spirit which is so clearly still alive here in Dover.
The Court of Dover 2010 will be in the Town Centre on 2nd & 3rd April to promote the Selection Event, anyone interested in entering can also download information from our website
www.dovertowncarnival.co.uk.
Further information from:
Michelle Sheppard 07515 434649 or email
michellesheppard@live.co.uk
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QUALITY BUS PARTNERSHIP - MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER FOR QUALITY SERVICES
As part of the Dover Quality Bus Partnership, Dover District Council has funded 17 new bus shelters across Dover District for the 2010/11 financial year - with 10 already installed and 7 on order for the near future.
Kent County Council has confirmed that this makes Dover District the area with the greatest number of new shelters installed in Kent over the last year.
This is part of an ongoing programme to improve the community facilities across the area that has seen new buses provided by Stagecoach and raised kerbs by Kent County Council, with Dover District Council also providing some bus stop clearways.
Representatives from Dover District Council, Kent County Council and Stagecoach signed the Quality Bus Partnership agreement in April 2009. The partnership agreement represented a set of agreed principles and actions, and a commitment to continue to work together for quality local bus services for the area.
Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Access and Property Management, said: "The Quality Bus Partnership is a great example of successful partnership working, and we are very pleased to have worked together to improve community facilities, and to have installed these shelters. We continue to work with our partners to develop services and support sustainable transport, and move forward for the future of the district."
Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, Bryan Sweetland, said: "We welcome this investment by Dover District Council in new bus shelters, which complements the work undertaken by Kent County Council and the investment in new buses by Stagecoach in East Kent. This partnership working demonstrates the value of the Dover Quality Bus Partnership in improving the bus network and encouraging modal shift from car to public transport."
Jeremy Cooper, Commercial Director for Stagecoach said: "We commend Dover District Council for recognising that waiting facilities are an essential part of the travel experience that make bus journeys even more pleasant for bus users, and rightly complement the significant investment we continue to make in quality buses and improved frequencies."
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PFIZER UPDATE
Key partners have presented a major report to Ministers in Westminster today following news last month that Pfizer will exit its research and development facility in Sandwich by the end of 2012.
The Sandwich Economic Development Task Force, including representatives from Dover District Council, delivered its first Report to Ministers this morning. The report, requested by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Minister of State for Universities and Science, makes important recommendations regarding the site, which will stimulate business growth and employment in Sandwich and East Kent.
The Task Force has made significant progress, and has identified key phases of action, moving from an immediate focus on preserving jobs and activity on site, through to the longer-term delivery of wider opportunities for East Kent.
The Task Force, chaired by KCC, recommends focusing activity in three main areas:
Firstly, action must be taken quickly to support the staff, contractors and communities directly affected by Pfizer's exit
Secondly, it is recommended that Government designates the Sandwich, Manston and key sites within the East Kent Assisted Area as a Research, Innovation and Technology Zone, (RITZ)
Thirdly, these incentives need to be supplemented by investment in critical infrastructure, (particularly improvements to rail connections), jobs and skills to support substantial economic growth. The creation of an East Kent Recovery and Growth Package is therefore recommended, to add value to the RITZ, building on Assisted Area status.
Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: "DDC has been working hard with partners, including KCC, to engage with Government and with Pfizer to identify solutions for recovery and growth and how best to support local employees, families and communities. It is vital that early action is taken to maximise the potential of the world-class facilities at the Pfizer site, and we are very pleased that DDC has been actively participating in the delivery of this first Report to Ministers, and we continue to work together for the future."
For more information on the report and today's briefing in Westminster, please see:
www.kent.gov.uk/news_and_events/news_archive/closure_of_pfizer/30_day_report_to_ministers.aspx
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Kind Regards
Roger Walkden.
Dover Business Support Manager
Channel Chamber Of Commerce
The Former Post Office
Charlton Green
Dover,
Kent CT16 1AA
T: 01304 207781
M: 07712 626245
E:
roger.walkden@channelchamber.co.uk