The Front Page. - Copy 148 (Snow Blizzard, Election Result, Motorcycle Run)
16 December 2010
This is Dover at 3pm saturday afternoon. Blizzard conditions of extraordinary proportions hit the town very hard indeed. On a bitterly cold day, the town centre was covered completely in a matter of minutes.. so heavy was the snowfall. Once again throughout the southeast conditions have been dire for all travellers. The picture left shows the main road to the docks in the blinding blizzard. The Port as ever is working very hard to keep open, while all other modes of transport shut down.
To keep running and open, the Port has to prepare for the inevitable and snow seems to be the inevitable factor this winter with some of the heaviest and most frequent snowstorms ever seen.
A spokesperson for the Port of Dover said the following a day or so ago...
"As the weathermen warn of more snow on the way, the Port is stocking up on those small comforts that will ensure customers, who may have endured hours of freezing travel to get to the port, receive a warm and caring welcome at the Port of Dover.
Early preparation in a crisis can make all the difference and as we learnt during the volcanic ash situation, having items such as baby milk on hand provides some well needed respite for hungry mouths, while there’s tea and coffee for the frazzled mums and dads. Port operations staff have also taken delivery of hundreds of sachets of shampoo, disposable brushes and toothpaste to freshen up those who have endured a long journey as well as the essential items such as bottled water and blankets. Fingers crossed we will not need to use the provisions but staff will be ready to respond to our customers needs whatever the weather!" ENDS.
One wonders if the 69 MOTORCYCLE CLUB were able to do the run to Kent and Canterbury Hospital...see the news item below.
Maybe they were able to get there but would they have been able to return to Dover in the awful conditions???
Not weather for motorbikes!
* *
Yet you look into Marks and Spencers at the same time and many many women were there rumaging through the clothing sale bargains, most I suspect, blissfully unaware that a vote of any kind was taking place. Look around Biggin St and there were no posters, no banners, no sign of politicking of any kind, just people rushing about doing their Christmas shopping. Hence a very low turnout. It begs the question...Why bother with all this election expense, why not wait until May 2011 when it all has to run again but on a wider scale. The only place it had any real discussed coverage was here on this Forum.
My thanks to Barry Williams for the following info..and CONGRATULATIONS to Gordon Cowan.
County result:
Labour 1491 - 43.7%
Conservative 1348 - 39.5%
UKIP 404 - 11.8%
LD 170 - 5%
Turnout 16%
Geoff Lymer won for the Conservatives at DDC level for Lydden/Temple Ewell
Georgette Rapley won for the Dover Alliance in Castle Ward at DTC level
More political details in the AWAITING the RESULT thead in our Forum section see menu left.
The Mayor of Dover herself, Cllr Sue Jones, pictured left in supercool black and white with Cllr Ronnie Philpott, who is our Mayoress, has asked us to publicise this event which is for a very good cause indeed. Christmas is a great time for kids but sadly some are languishing in hospital wards. So up to the plate steps The Mayor with the motorcycle guys from the 69 Club. Best just to reproduce now the essential bits of The Mayor's email to make it clearer....and here we are...
"
I have a favour to ask of Doverforum. The 69 motorcycle Club and the Mayor (me!) Are organising a toy run to the children's ward at Kent and Canterbury hospital next Sat 18th leaving about 12 weather permitting on various custom bikes and trikes. We need donations of new toys, games and goodies which can be wrapped but must be labelled with the contents.The Council offices is the drop off point.
"
A huge thankyou comes from Sue Jones and the kids if you can contribute to the above good cause.
PB
Dover Gets a Pasting!
This is Dover at 3pm saturday afternoon. Blizzard conditions of extraordinary proportions hit the town very hard indeed. On a bitterly cold day, the town centre was covered completely in a matter of minutes.. so heavy was the snowfall. Once again throughout the southeast conditions have been dire for all travellers. The picture left shows the main road to the docks in the blinding blizzard. The Port as ever is working very hard to keep open, while all other modes of transport shut down.
To keep running and open, the Port has to prepare for the inevitable and snow seems to be the inevitable factor this winter with some of the heaviest and most frequent snowstorms ever seen.
A spokesperson for the Port of Dover said the following a day or so ago...
"As the weathermen warn of more snow on the way, the Port is stocking up on those small comforts that will ensure customers, who may have endured hours of freezing travel to get to the port, receive a warm and caring welcome at the Port of Dover.
Early preparation in a crisis can make all the difference and as we learnt during the volcanic ash situation, having items such as baby milk on hand provides some well needed respite for hungry mouths, while there’s tea and coffee for the frazzled mums and dads. Port operations staff have also taken delivery of hundreds of sachets of shampoo, disposable brushes and toothpaste to freshen up those who have endured a long journey as well as the essential items such as bottled water and blankets. Fingers crossed we will not need to use the provisions but staff will be ready to respond to our customers needs whatever the weather!" ENDS.
One wonders if the 69 MOTORCYCLE CLUB were able to do the run to Kent and Canterbury Hospital...see the news item below.
Maybe they were able to get there but would they have been able to return to Dover in the awful conditions???
Not weather for motorbikes!
* *
Thursday's ELECTION:
There was a very low turnout indeed. In fact it is obvious to one and all that very few people knew there was an election taking place at all. In Biggin Street yesterday at approx 10am I was told by one of the candidates that only 40 people had voted in central Dover, yet the Polling Station had been open since 7am. Apathy on a grand scale. The candidate in question didnt know this at the time but yours truly was one of the 40, therefore only 39 others had voted. By 2.30 in the afternoon according to a post by Phil Eyden here on this frontpage, only 65 people had voted at the same central Dover polling station(St Mary's). So in seven and a half hours only 65 votes. Yes indeed....apathy on a grand scale!Yet you look into Marks and Spencers at the same time and many many women were there rumaging through the clothing sale bargains, most I suspect, blissfully unaware that a vote of any kind was taking place. Look around Biggin St and there were no posters, no banners, no sign of politicking of any kind, just people rushing about doing their Christmas shopping. Hence a very low turnout. It begs the question...Why bother with all this election expense, why not wait until May 2011 when it all has to run again but on a wider scale. The only place it had any real discussed coverage was here on this Forum.Latest News:
Picture shows man of the moment Gordon Cowan who has won the the KCC seat for Labour in fine style.My thanks to Barry Williams for the following info..and CONGRATULATIONS to Gordon Cowan.
County result:
Labour 1491 - 43.7%
Conservative 1348 - 39.5%
UKIP 404 - 11.8%
LD 170 - 5%
Turnout 16%
Geoff Lymer won for the Conservatives at DDC level for Lydden/Temple Ewell
Georgette Rapley won for the Dover Alliance in Castle Ward at DTC level
More political details in the AWAITING the RESULT thead in our Forum section see menu left.
Motorcycle Run!
The Mayor of Dover herself, Cllr Sue Jones, pictured left in supercool black and white with Cllr Ronnie Philpott, who is our Mayoress, has asked us to publicise this event which is for a very good cause indeed. Christmas is a great time for kids but sadly some are languishing in hospital wards. So up to the plate steps The Mayor with the motorcycle guys from the 69 Club. Best just to reproduce now the essential bits of The Mayor's email to make it clearer....and here we are...
"
I have a favour to ask of Doverforum. The 69 motorcycle Club and the Mayor (me!) Are organising a toy run to the children's ward at Kent and Canterbury hospital next Sat 18th leaving about 12 weather permitting on various custom bikes and trikes. We need donations of new toys, games and goodies which can be wrapped but must be labelled with the contents.The Council offices is the drop off point.
"
A huge thankyou comes from Sue Jones and the kids if you can contribute to the above good cause.
PB