Lack of gender equality at DDC

Cllr Helen Williams introduced a motion at the last DDC full council meeting before the election about the lack of gender equality and the diversity of councillors on the council and how the council could try to become more representative of the residents of Dover district.

The council agreed that improvement was needed, as only 22% of the current councillors are women, and current councillors lacked diversity. This was poor in comparison with other local councils, the best of whom has nearly twice as many.

It was agreed that this topic will be discussed soon after the new council is elected after May 4th, and a committee will discuss ways in which community minded women and people from diverse backgrounds can be encouraged to think about standing for council in future.

Fracking motion by DDC Cllr Helen Williams

A motion was put forward by Cllr Helen Williams, Labour councillor “DDC completely opposes fracking in any land within our council area and will oppose any planning application for this” at full council on Wednesday 19th October.

Surprisingly, the chair of the Climate Change Group, Cllr Chris Vinson, spoke against the motion and along with 11 other conservative councillors, voted against it. There were 4 abstentions and all the 9 labour councillors and one independent voted for the motion.

There was a group of climate activist demonstrating outside the chambers where the meeting was held, and a question about fracking was asked earlier in the Council meeting. One wonders that the Conservative councillors do not identify with the large number of residents who are extremely concerned about the possibility of fracking in Dover , and that it would be a sensiblemove to publicly oppose it, like a number of other councils have done.

Use this link to access agenda a reports pack for the meeting, Wednesday 19th October

Dover District Council Full Council Wednesday 19th October

Press Release – Questions for Natalie Elphicke MP

Important questions for Natalie Elphicke.


As Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Dover and Deal, it is my duty to hold the current MP to account.

After a series of tweets from Natalie Elphicke today, I have some important questions that need to be answered:

Ms Elphicke claims that it “takes far too long for infrastructure to be decided and delivered” adding that we need to build what is needed in Dover for the Port. I am intrigued to know which infrastructure projects and funding she has applied for and that is taking so long?

I hope this is not another attempt to use smoke, mirrors and misleading statements to hide incompetence. The people of Dover and Deal are not stupid, they deserve to be treated with honesty and respect. 

I would also like to know what Ms Elphicke did to ensure there was resilience at the Port to deal with additional checks post Brexit. Was she aware that new checkpoints were dismissed by the Government? What did she do to counter this short sighted, poor decision?

Mike Tapp is the PPC for Dover and Deal.
He served in the Army where he deployed on 3 operational tours, and at the National Crime Agency and the Ministry of Defence working against human trafficking and in a counter terrorist role.

Councillor Sue Beer with Deal resident Annie Bone

Seagulls pecking at her purple bags and spreading waste across the street were driving this resident mad. Sue Beer, district and town councillor for North Deal ward, stepped in and discussed the problem with DDC officers. A solution was soon found and now Annie foils the thieving gulls by dropping her purple bag into this sturdy outer bag, ready for collection by Veolia.

One happy customer!

Press Release – Road Chaos

Backlog Britain starts in Dover.


Yet again the people of Dover and the surrounding area are suffering road chaos. People can’t get to work, kids can’t get to school and emergency service access is restricted.
The current MP has not made progress on this long running problem.
Where is the problem solving? Where is the investment in digital solutions? How far are we on exploring the feasibility of alternative freight methods? Why are the residents being made to suffer?
The people of Dover and Deal deserve better than this!

Mike Tapp is the PPC for Dover and Deal.
He served in the Army where he deployed on 3 operational tours, and at the National Crime Agency and the Ministry of Defence working against human trafficking and in a counter terrorist role.

Press Release – Dover Labour elects Mike Tapp

Labour choose former soldier as candidate for Dover and Deal.


Dover and Deal Labour Party has selected a new candidate to stand for Parliament at the next election.
Mike Tapp served with the British Army on three operational tours including Afghanistan. He was later an officer at the National Crime Agency – where he worked to put human traffickers in prison – and then at the Ministry of Defence in a Counter Terrorist role.
“The way P&O workers have been treated is unacceptable. I will not stand by like the current MP and Conservative Government have. Turning up for photo opportunities whilst failing to vote in legislation to protect workers sums up what the Conservatives in Dover and Deal stand for.”
Mike added: Between now and the General Election, I will work hard for all the people of Dover and Deal. I will be a bold voice for the area and stand up for local residents.
“Whether its fighting bus service cuts, standing up for workers, protecting the NHS or looking into how we reduce violent crime – I will be there!”

Mike Tapp is the PPC for Dover and Deal.
He served in the Army where he deployed on 3 operational tours, and at the National Crime Agency and the Ministry of Defence working against human trafficking and in a counter terrorist role.

Improvements to flats in Mill Hill

I have been working on getting improvements to the dustbin areas around a block of flats in Mill Hill, my ward. The flats are called St Martins road flats. When EKH was passed over to DDC, this was a mess of insufficient bins causing overflow, bluebottle flies and maggots in the summer and generally pretty disgusting and depressing for the tenants. Also, there was no signage giving the flat numbers in the 3 blocks, and no sign boards up in the communal areas giving information to the tenants. Now, there are new bin areas, away from the walls of the flats, just recently finished, new recycling bins which they didn’t have before and easy access for the bin men. 

It has taken a lot of work to get this the waste sorted out. 18 months of time, and co-ordination between the helpful DDC estate officer and the waste department who had to be persuaded and getting the waste officer to meet with the tenants. Then physically getting approval for the concrete bases for the bin areas, getting it done, fencing put up and new bins ordered. During COVID as well!

Cllr Helen Williams

A win for Mill Hill

Cllr Helen Williams is the Labour councillor for Mill Hill, Deal.  She has been pushing DDC to get something done about the sad depleted play park and green area in Cowdray Square, since she was elected in May 2019.

Cllr Williams persuaded the community development team at DDC to take this on as a project. They organised an online survey for local residents, and held a community open day at the playpark., the aim being to find out what local people wanted to see here.

The results of this survey can be seen in the poster below – locals wanted a new playpark, a dog exercising area, trees, benches, a community garden.

Some COVID funding became suddenly available from KCC in December, specifically for parks and play areas. Some of this DDC proposed for Connaught Park, Dover for upgrading the tennis courts, and a big lump was proposed for Cowdray square project as it was backed by the survey demonstrating demand for this. DDC were allocated money on the condition that it was spent by 31 March 2022. Hurriedly writing off to playground suppliers for designs and equipment that could be installed within the time limit, officers and both ward councillors chose a supplier and a design… and with permission to install in mid-April, the contract has been signed. So, watch this space in spring and summer. Wonderful news for Mill Hill, and about time we had some good local news.