Latest news with #MichaelNee
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Rules banning anti-social drinking to be extended in Dover
Rules blocking anti-social drinking across several towns in Kent have been approved, but councillors insisted it was "not a blanket ban" on drinking alcohol in District Council (DDC) said people could still "drink a glass of prosecco" on beaches in Dover, Deal and Walmer as long as they behave authority had been seeking to renew its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), first implemented in 2022 and set to expire later this leader Kevin Mills said it would help prevent "shocking scenes of seaside disorder and violence", such as those that occurred in Broadstairs recently. DDC's cabinet approved the PSPO extension at a meeting on Monday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service rules make it an offence to refuse to stop drinking in public or hand over alcohol bottles when requested by police or an authorised council officer.A council officer said more than 50% of respondents to the public consultation had opposed the extension, but he believed this was due to them mistakenly believing it was a total ban on drinking alcohol in public said the areas covered, such as Pencester Gardens and St James' Church ruins in Dover, were supported by Kent Police Michael Nee said at the meeting: "Social media has taken Deal beach as an area where people want to drink a glass of prosecco perhaps – but it's clearly not a blanket ban, people drinking responsibly would not be targeted." If police officers or authorised council personnel see people drinking irresponsibly and engaging in anti-social behaviour, they can demand they stop drinking or leave the punishment is a £100 fine, reduced to £75 if paid within 10 PSPO also includes provisions on dog control, dog fouling and unauthorised camping across the entire an officer said unauthorised camping provisions would not be used to target the homeless and the council would "always try to provide welfare support first".The new PSPO will come into force from 27 July, lasting three years.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New-build estate built into chalk cliff abandoned to become ‘ghost town'
A new housing estate built into chalk cliffs has been abandoned after the developer went bust. The 29 empty homes in Folkestone Road, Dover, have been chained off after Wales-based Enzo's Homes collapsed. Drone pictures this week show what has been called a 'horrendous chalk scar' along the Kent Downs, left after the construction work. It is unknown whether any homes have already been bought off-plan. Last year, Dover district council (DDC) issued an enforcement notice to developers at Enzo's Homes, ordering them to reinstate the land to its previous levels and cover it with topsoil after concerns were raised about harm to wildlife and the area's 'scenic beauty'. The company, run by Fiorenzo Sauro, is now in liquidation. Its website said the houses in the White Cliffs Court development ranged in price from £300,000 to £550,000. Michael Nee, a Maxton ward councillor, raised concerns about the state of the half-finished houses, saying: 'I have huge fears for the immediate future and that it could be local people who are burnt. 'It could be a big hit to contractors or anyone who placed an offer on one of the houses ... It all seems to be up in the air at the moment.' He added that 'a new developer could come in and finish the project, but they could have to tear it all down and rebuild' leaving residents with 'another two years of mess'. Residents took to social media to express their concerns. One described the 'massive pile of unstable chalk' remaining, saying: 'The view from my house shows how deep the chalk is – it should never have been allowed.' Another wrote: 'Great, now it will be even longer before it is finished'. The development, even before closure, had been fraught with problems. In August last year, the council imposed a two-month halt on specific engineering work at the site following concerns about harm to the landscape. In November, the council issued an enforcement notice on the development. Enzo's Homes had been depositing chalk on the landscape without authorisation from the council. Hillwalkers claimed the marked land could be seen four miles away. Kevin Mills, the Dover council leader, remarked it was 'probably the only site you can see from the moon'. A spokesman at the time said the depositing of chalk was an 'unauthorised operation', resulting in an 'unsympathetic alteration to the site and wider landscape'. It has been confirmed that an appeal is currently underway on the enforcement notice. A council spokesman said: 'As far as the council knows, the appeal is still going ahead. It will be for the planning inspectorate to make a decision'. Stephen Goderski and Oliver Collinge of PFK Littlejohn Advisory were appointed joint liquidators on Feb 27. Mr Goderski said: 'Enzo's Homes traded for nearly 13 years prior to its liquidation. We will be engaging with all relevant stakeholders to maximise the return to creditors.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
