Dover News - January 2015

Dover Marina has once again been re-accredited for '5 Gold Anchors Award' after its recent assessment by The Yacht Harbour Association.

Detectives investigating a serious assault in Dover have released CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to.

Dover is the port of choice for more than 25 individual cruise liners and 250,000 passengers annually who can relax and sail away knowing that the Port has once again been awarded the Park Mark Award for safe, secure car parking.

The Port of Dover has just recorded its busiest ever year for freight with 2.42 million freight vehicles handled in 2014. That is a growth of 9.7% compared with the previous year and is 2.5% higher than the previous record of 2.36 million set in 2007.

Dover Harbour Board have today advertised a Harbour Revision Order seeking further modernising powers.

A lorry driver caught smuggling 19 kilos of cocaine into the UK through Dover was sentenced to nine years at the Old Bailey last week.

Following Friday's decision by the Competition Appeal Tribunal to dismiss an appeal by MyFerryLink, the Port of Dover has said it will work to maintain an effective ferry operation for its customers and seeks to minimise negative impacts for the community of Dover.

Officers investigating a fatal collision on the A258 near Deal are appealing for any motorists who might have witnessed the incident to contact police.

Dover District Council's Cabinet has agreed a recommendation to freeze parking charges across the district for the next financial year - the decision will cap charges at existing levels for the year ahead for all the Council's on and off-street parking.

Dover District Council is reminding residents that they still have time to sign up for Energy Deal, the collective switching campaign that aims to help residents looking to reduce their gas and electricity bills - and registration closes on 2 February.

Ground-breaking work has started on the construction of eight new homes on behalf of Dover District Council within the multi million pound St James's development.

Police are urging people across Dover and Deal to contact them if they suspect anyone of growing or supplying cannabis.

Dover District Council is welcoming news that the district has been ranked 21st out of 229 English District Councils for levels of residual (non-recyclable) waste per person.

As part of the £3.3m Heritage Lottery Fund 'Parks for People' project for the Kearsney parks, Dover District Council has welcomed a key new Project Manager, Jon Winder, to develop ideas, involve local communities, and to continue to bring the parks to life.

Kent Police is appealing for witnesses to come forward following a burglary at a Dover petrol station.

The Port of Dover has announced that the Port of Dover Community Fund is now open for applications. Focused on skills, jobs and the community, the Port recently gifted the Fund £250,000 to launch it and will contribute 1% of pre-tax profits each year to support it.

Officers investigating a robbery in Aylesham have released an e-fit of a man they would like the public's help in identifying.

Three people are to appear in court in connection with assaulting police, drugs and driving offences in Dover.

Dover District Council is welcoming news that Government has ordered an urgent review of the resilience of the road network in East Kent to cope with periods of severe congestion at Eurotunnel and the Channel Ports.

Michael Gough, 27, of Buckland Avenue, Dover, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 22 January where he was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.

A strategy aimed at improving provision, raising standards, and helping to direct future investment and funding for playing pitches and outdoor sports facilities is being recommended for adoption by Dover District Council. The Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy will be discussed at a meeting of DDC's Cabinet on Monday.

With record freight traffic volumes currently being handled between Dover and Calais following phenomenal growth of 20% over the past two years, the need for investment in additional capacity and resilience has become ever more pressing.

Dover District Council has unveiled plans for a potential £75 million investment in social and affordable housing in the district by 2028.

Kent Police is appealing for witnesses to a robbery in Dover yesterday.