Kent’s Community Warden Service – Public Consultation
Kent County Council’s Community Warden service has launched a consultation today on proposed changes to the service.
As set out in the 2023/24 budget, the Community Warden service has been asked to reduce its annual budget by £1 million by 2024/25. Setting this budget was the most challenging it has ever been due to increasing demands on services and the cost of providing them.
To achieve this level of saving they are proposing to redesign the service, ensuring that there is a core Community Warden presence across the county, with teams covering two district authority areas. This would retain the community-based way the service currently works but use data and information to identify need and where best to place wardens so they can have the most impact.
Please visit www.kent.gov.uk/communitywardenreview to view the proposals in full and have your say.
The consultation runs until the 3 October.
Temporary Road Closure – Orchard View, Ash – 14th August 2023 (Dover District)
It will be necessary to close part of Orchard View, Ash, from 14th August 2023 with estimated completion by 14th August 2023.
Orchard View, Ash, will be closed the entire length, between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 only. To the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
There is no alternative route. Every effort will be made to maintain access for residents whenever it is safe to do so.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while allowing resurfacing works to be carried out, works are undertaken by Kent County Council.
For the most up to date information on these works please visit: https://one.network/?tm=134812187
For information regarding this closure please contact Kent County Council, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.
The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks, please see One.Network
National Highways & Transport Survey
This year, for the sixth year running, Kent County Council is taking part in the NHT Public Satisfaction Survey on highways and transport services. Whilst the main survey is being carried out by Ipsos, who will be sending forms to a representative sample of households, we have also opted to take part in six web-based surveys on specific issues:
- Highway maintenance
-
Accessibility
-
Walking and cycling
-
Public transport
-
Road safety
-
Tackling congestion
These surveys are publicly available online, and will remain open until the end of February 2024. They may be accessed via our website using this link:
The greater the take-up of the surveys, the more useful they will be in helping us to understand the priorities and concerns of people who live or work in Kent, so please feel welcome to complete any of the surveys which interest you, and to use your work and personal contacts to publicise them and to encourage other people to take part.
Anti-Social Behaviour Week
Today is the first day of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) awareness week, running from Monday 3rd July to Sunday 9th July 2023.
 |
ASB is not a low-level offence and devastates the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime. It can result in a range of negative emotional, behavioural, social, health and financial impacts.
This year’s theme is “know your rights”.
Today we are raising awareness of the ASB case review process. Victims of ASB have the right to request a review of their case of ongoing ASB if they have reported 3 separate incidents of ASB within 6 months. The Case review demands that Police, Local Authority, and other relevant agencies (such as housing providers) come together to find a solution to stop ASB.
For further information on ASB case reviews please see click on the following links:
https://www.kent.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/sf/asb-community-trigger
Community Trigger – Kent County Council
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) case review | Community safety in Medway | Medway Council.
Finally, we are very keen to understand local views and concerns with regards to ASB. We invite you to complete the below short survey on ASB which will enable local officers to formulate up and coming targeted activity in local communities.
Antisocial Behaviour – Tell us about ASB in your neighbourhood (office.com)
If you are the victim or have witnessed antisocial behaviour, then please report it to us. If there is a danger to life or a crime in progress then this should be reported on 999.
M20 Moveable Barrier: project update
Information from National Highways
Work on the M20 Moveable Barrier Scheme would be paused due to the Operation Brock contraflow being activated, I now wanted to provide a fuller update on the latest position regarding our scheme.
As you know, we’re working to move the moveable barrier to its permanent position in the central reservation, which will allow quicker deployment of Brock at times of cross channel disruption.
The Christmas and half term deployment of Brock has unfortunately resulted in a delay to the completion of the moveable barrier project by nine weeks. To avoid the need to stand down this work again due to any potential deployment of the M20 Brock contraflow for the summer holidays, we have revised our work schedule. Provided there is no further need to implement Brock before then or any unforeseen circumstances, we intend to now accelerate the works to enable the completion of all the central reservation works over the coming weeks before the summer.
As a result, following the deactivation of the M20 Brock contraflow, we are keeping the moveable barrier in place in lanes 2 and 3 of the London-bound carriageway and have extended it to between J9 and halfway between Junction 8-7. The 50-mph speed restriction will need to remain in place during this time to protect the workforce and travelling public.
Whilst the works area will initially be 13 miles long, this is expected to be reduced by half by the end of June as the works progress.
Having looked at all the options I am confident that this revised plan will be the least disruptive for the travelling public and local communities with works being carried out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will also utilise the lane closure to carry out other routine maintenance activities such as vegetation clearance, signage and drainage maintenance, reducing the need for further closures in the future.
I do appreciate that this work has been ongoing for some time, particularly given the need to postpone it whilst we’ve had to deploy the Operation Brock contraflow system several times in the last year. However, once the work is finished it will improve safety along this stretch of road and enable us to deploy the barrier more easily when needed. I am grateful for your patience whilst we complete this final stage.
You can find all the latest information on our Twitter feed, Facebook page, and the traffic information pages of our website at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/.
DDC LAUNCHES CONSULTATION ON DRAFT AIR QUALITY ACTION PLAN
To mark Clean Air Day (15 June 2023) Dover District Council is launching a consultation on a draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) that aims to improve air quality in the district over the next five years.
Poor air quality has a profound impact on the environment and public health and contributing to conditions from asthma and heart disease to cancer.
The Action Plan seeks to address emissions from cars, lorries and buses which are the main cause of poor air quality in the district.
To review the Air Quality Action Plan and have your say, visit Air Quality Action Plan Consultation (dover.gov.uk)
Please note that the consultation opens tomorrow and closes on the 27th of July 2023.