It is always disappointing to hear people say this after an event has been held.
A lot of time and energy goes into putting on many events throughout the Dover District during the year as many of you will know.
It can be quite expensive to advertise events and this cost could well be something that just cannot be met.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been looking at how events can be coordinated better and information accessable to the community.
With a number of excellent events of many types currenlty being planned throughout the District it is imperative that we all ensure that similar events, particularly large ones do not clash and maybe some smaller ones could compliment each other but naturally that would be up to promoters to arrange.
My findings so far are that, even at this early stage, there is likely to be an event of some description being held somewhere in the Dover District every weekend between May and the end of August this year.
I'm afraid it is a case of watch this space for the moment as my exercise is not yet complete but we already know that to add to our usual major events during this year there is likely to be two events with an Olympic flavour plus the celebration weekend at the end of August to commemorate Louis Bleriot's epic flight 100 years ago (www.dover2009.co.uk) - former hovercraft colleagues will also no doubt know that on the same day it will be 50 years since the first hovercraft channel crossing.
Currently to see many events already arranged you can visit
www.dover.gov.uk and select Community Pages under 'Welcome' on the right hand side. It is then possible to select a month to see what is going on. Great providing you have access to a computer.
After the marching band on 31st December that Mandie did a fine job on arranging, someone came up to me and said that it was a shame that it wasn't advertised better. I mentioned that it was in the local papers - didn't buy them and on local radio - didn't listen to that. I was also asked, the day after, why the fireworks display wasn't advertised last year so I pointed behind the person where there was a large poster - oh, 'I walk past that every day and never noticed it'.
So we need to have all the events listed together where the public can and know where to find the information. If we can get organised better overall as I hope, it's possible that we will get the message out that there that are so many events being held that we will be searching themselves to see what is on.
If you have an event that you would like to be included please Email
propertyservices@dover.gov.uk - some of you already have events listed
I am in touch with some of the major event promoters in the Dover District but we would like to know about all events however small so that we can work together to get the maximum attendance possible and help us all to get a better 'Feel Good' factor.
There are also a number of parks and open spaces in the District that can be booked for holding events, again,
propertyservices@dover.gov.uk will be able to provide details.
A full 'Toolkit' covering everything about arranging events, help that can be given and possible venues can be found at
www.doverc.co.uk/PDF/toolkit.pdf