Message from Christopher Allen, Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour Manager

Dover District Council and other public and private sector organisations provide services within the District that make a difference to the streets, roads and footpaths where we work, live, walk, study and relax.

Over the years new services have arisen that have added to the quality of our 'street scene', responsibility for some services has changed and the economic environment has tightened. Because of these factors and the need to ensure that all aspects of our built and natural environment transform with the Council's ambitious regeneration plans, Dover District Council has carried out a major review into street scene. The review has included initial market research into public views, which were tested within the Council and then in Neighbourhood Forum events covering the whole District. This strategy is based on all of the research, benchmarking with other local authority areas and community feedback.

The draft street scene strategy has been developed from public feedback and professional analysis of statutory and local priorities. This draft is now being published to enable challenge and comment from the wider public, communities, partners and previous consultees.

Comments are invited on the whole of the strategy, but we are particularly interested in responses to the following questions:


· How closely do our final service areas, Appendix 1, reflect your views of what Street Scene should be?

· What other actions, Appendix 2, do you believe should be taken?

· How do the priorities, Appendix 3, match to your own priorities?

· What service standards do you expect, Appendix 3, and how would you wish to take-up enhanced service levels?

· Have we identified the correct zones, Appendix 3?

· Have we missed your community group?

· Have we got the right balance by not providing any Street Scene grants without community contracts?

· How can you take ownership of your streets?

· How can you build on our aims to educate and prevent poor street environments?

· How would you see Street Scene developing to support town centre improvements in evening and night-time economies?



A copy of the Draft Street Scene Strategy can be found on our website at:

http://www.doverdc.co.uk/consultation/current_consultations/draft_
street_scene_strategy.aspx


Ideally, comments are sought on the draft Strategy by Thursday 5 February 2009. However, we will take into account comments received up to Wednesday 4 March 2009.

Please send your comments to consultation@dover.gov.uk.

Christopher Allen
Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour Manager
Dover District Council
Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3PJ

Tel: 01304 872054
Fax: 01304 872168
Email: christopherallen@dover.gov.uk
Web: www.dover.gov.uk

PS: Please consider the environment before printing this email



email: dover7@msn.com

Last edited at 6:58am on 25/01/09 by PaulB

There was an interesting launch meeting to do with this initiative at the Maison Dieu House a short time back. It was well attended and a real 'think tank' evening. Although I say well attended , it was well attended by those who usually well attend. The same faces, the same movers and shakers if you like, the same councillors. The ones often photographed because they are the doers. We covered it on Doverforum...but very few members of the general public attended though, so hopefully getting this message out at this juncture more will be tempted to have their say.

email: dover7@msn.com

Did Chris Allen send that to you Paul B. or Andy Steele ?

Every aspect of how we view our Town needs reviewing, but in most if not all cases, it is obvious what needs doing - it's actually doing it that matters.




Roger

Roger have just popped an email over to you.

This initiative should be getting considerable response from communities but I have a feeling there is some confusion about it all... but here is a chance to do something about
your immediate neighbourhood, your street lighting, your anti social behaviour problems and so on so forth.

email: dover7@msn.com

Whilst I applaud the desire to do something about the things listed, it is clear from the documentation that all of these are currently the responsibility of various departments and bodies.

So why do we need a new initiative?

Why can we not expect these departments and bodies to do their job?

Also the documents are a little thin on the important points of how do we enable local communities/people to reclaim our streets and how do we educate the totally disinterested to behave better.

"Soylent Green is people."

Yes Ross that point was made at the meeting a couple of months back at Maison Dieu House...already the reponsibilities of various departments so why cant they just get on with it. But Chris Allen at the time made the point that they want to know what YOU want done specifically. Due to expenditure problems things have to be prioritised..what are those priorities? Hence the consultation...

Im not of course a spokesperson for this initiative but thats my take on it. There were alsorts of concerns raised about wide ranging problems but within their budget they cannot accomplish all, but if a large group of people want A they will do A.

email: dover7@msn.com

Ross come and join us .That point was expressed by me in no uncertain terms .Still I press on sometimes my ideas get noticed,then its a man who thought of it not me .

I know exactly what you mean..........

Bern

Sue dont dismiss it out of hand as the scheme is now up and running and in a position to help the local community in the specific areas they may want help. For example a dark street area where unsavouries gather might be helped by improved lighting and so on so a lot can be done.Its about environment improvement in targeted areas.

Will add a picture from the meeting which shows Chris Allen addressing the usual movers and shakers for Dover...


email: dover7@msn.com