Agenda and draft minutes

1a. Apologies

1b. Matters arising from last meeting

1.  Welcome by Cllr Sue Chandler - Vice Chair

Cllr Sue Chandler welcomed the community of Sandwich and also those from the Deal & Walmer ward.

1a. Apologies

Cllr Julie Rook – Kent County Council.

East Kent Services representative sent her apologies due to family illness.

Cllr Leyland Ridings to arrive a little later due to other commitments.

1b. Matters Arising

Notes from last Sandwich Area Neighbourhood Forum on 1 February 2011 were agreed as a true record.  No matters arising.

Questions on this topic will be invited from the audience.

2. Agency Representatives – Introductions and Verbal Updates

Cllr Sue Chandler advised that a multi-agency meeting would now be an annual event for the forums where agency representatives will be asked to come along and update the public on developments within their service and to answer any questions members of the public may have.  After their brief introductions the representatives will select a table each and move around each table after approximately 15 minutes.

The meeting is due to end at 8.30pm but doors will be kept open until 9.00pm to give members of the public a further opportunity to look at displays and speak to individual representatives and councillors.

Toby Howe, Highway Manager for East Kent, Kent Highways Services

Provided a brief update of Highways issues in the Deal & Walmer and Sandwich areas. He explained how the service is nearing the end of a reorganisation and a new Dover district Manager and a new team working within Dover area are to be appointed. The East Kent Access road is due to be completed in February 2012.   The main work carried out recently in the Dover area are pothole repairs after two severe winters and Highways is currently spending £200k in the Dover District alone.  Other minor works being proposed – a new footpath at the Butts and Woodnesborough Rd to be discussed at the Dover JTB later in the week.

Gillian Gayton, DDC Project Manager for the Open Golf

36 days away from the Open Golf Championship to be held in Sandwich. Each household in Sandwich has been sent 2 resident access stickers plus an application form if additional parking/access permits are required for guests and additional cars. Permits for businesses will be issued week commencing 13 June 2011. The DDC website contains more information about the Open Golf including maps and application forms etc. 

Nick Thistle, Area Supervisor, KCC Community Wardens

Work closely with Kent Police. Currently no Sandwich Warden, the nearest one is Bob Priestly who is based in Eastry. There are currently changes going on within the team, one of which will affect Sandwich because there will be a Support Warden from the Dover District Community Safety Unit Partnership, who will be working in Sandwich from time to time.

Mandy Pile, Waste Services Manager, Dover District Council

Explained that a new recycling and waste service would commence in September 2011. There will be a weekly food collection and new containers would be provided with an enhanced recycling service to collect more plastics and empty aerosols. Mandy intended to provide more information about these new containers being provided for collections as she moved around the tables.

Guy Thompson, Neighbourhood Inspector for Dover District, Kent Police

Present to represent both Kent Police and also the Community Safety Partnership, a partnership of a number of agencies, including Kent Fire & Rescue, DDC, KCC, Probation, Health Service and Neighbourhood Watch and was happy to answer questions on any of these services.

Andy Biggington, Watch Manager, Education,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Brief feedback on what was discussed and the priorities identified to be taken away.

3. Question and Answer Session

The audience were seated around six tables and agency representatives spent approximately 15 minutes at each table answering questions and discussing issues and concerns. The main points and questions arising from the discussions held at each table are detailed below.

Maps were displayed showing the traffic routes for the residents to avoid the golf traffic.

The map, traffic routes and walking routes are all available on the DDC website. There will

also be mobility transport provided for the disabled and extra trains will be running during

this period as well.

Q:        When is it?

A:        10-17^th July 2011

Q:        The last time the Open Golf was held at Sandwich there was a surprising lack of visitors to the town

A:        Once the visitors are in the grounds they are unable to leave and get back in again so they can’t pop out for lunch.

Q:        How will residents know what is going on?

A:        Information will be publicised on website/press release and letters sent out on 6 June 2011. There will also be a signed route into Sandwich from Golf to encourage use of local facilities

Q:        What route from HS1 to Golf?

A:        Walk or bus for those that can’t will be clearly signposted. There will also be 14-15,000 parking places near course. Park and Ride at Barville Farm.

Q:        Are residents of Worth entitled to a permit if they need one?

A:        If a resident of Worth has a legitimate reason to need a permit (such as taking prescriptions to a chemist) they will get one.

Q:        How will residents in Worth travel to Sandwich?

A:        Residents in Worth will need to come via Eastry/Woodnesborough Road and will

need a local resident permit to go via Deal Road, 6am – 10pm.

Q:        Has golf cost DDC anything?

A:        Organisers paying for event, DDC only paying for things that fall under their statutory duty.

Q:        Can we go?

A:        Yes but need to obtain tickets.

Q:        Cost analysis – has it been carried out? 

A:        Yes economic impact in 2003 - £17 million benefit to Sandwich. 2010 St Andrews - £47 million benefit

Q:        Where did it go?

A:        Local businesses

The point was made that local businesses should maybe stay open late so that visitors

could come and shop after the golf has finished.

Q:        How do local residents benefit?

A:        Local residents benefit via renting out rooms/house/economic buoyancy of the town.

Q:        What happens to businesses who lose business – raised by Phoenix Centre – groups such as surestart are concerned and have cancelled bookings for that period of time.

A:        Gillian happy for people who have cancelled bookings to be given her contact

            details so she can persuade them otherwise and re-instate the business/booking.

Distributed leaflets providing advice criteria for home safety visits.  These are targeted at residents rather than landlords in order to prevent fires, e.g.

• safety devices for cookers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Opportunity for the audience to ask the Councillors present any questions and to make any points about the structure of the forums in the future.

4. Any Other Business

None. The Chair then thanked everyone for attending the meeting which closed at 8.15pm.

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