Archive of news articles published on this site:

Mains Drainage for New Romney and Greatstone
30th August 2005.
Work has now started at the New Romney sewage treatment works and we hope to be reporting on the progress and road closure schedule as things progress.

Refuse Collection
15th August 2005.
Shepway and Cleanaway between them seem to be struggling with their new recycling and refuse collection scheme which started in July. Although the intention is undoubtedly good and the public and businesses are generally supportive, there seems to be a lack of communication which is rather worrying. Let us know of any problems you are having and the Club will try to help get things resolved.

Computer Security
When you go ahead and get broadband make sure that you are aware of the security implications of having a permanent connection to your computer or network from the outside world. Very real dangers exist that are causing problems to many businesses. At the very least, you should have the following:

• Regularly updated Anti-Virus software.
• A hardware firewall (preferably) or firewall software
• Anti-Spyware and Adware software
• Backup software (and use it)

If you have a wireless network, make sure that use its security settings. The default settings are usually for NO security! Make sure you know all about SSIDs, WEP and WPA (or find someone trustworthy who does!). Your wireless equipment supplier should be able to help. There is good information at the Netgear site http://www.netgear.co.uk/securing_wireless_network.php most of which applies to other makes as well. Members can get further information from Malcolm.

Broadband in Lydd, Brookland and Appledore
by Malcolm Watkinson April 29th 2005.

Lydd, Brookland and Appledore have now joined the list of ADSL broadband enabled exchanges. If you are near enough, you can now get an ultra-fast business grade 2Mb on-all-the-time internet connection for as little as £17.01 plus VAT per month. I am using www.prodigynet.co.uk which is the least expensive that I could find for a 20:1 contention ratio. This includes up to 2GB (Gigabytes) a month of data transfer with extra GBs at £1.99 each. I have found the 2GB quite enough for my network of 4 PCs with normal business use, although for heavy download use you might need a different tariff. (And no- I don’t get a commission)

Oh - and take my advice - don’t use BTConnect if you can possibly avoid it. I did for two years. Since I closed my account they have (accidentally I think) managed to prevent anyone with a BTConnect account sending me emails at RMRBC or Dartpoint! Suppose I’ll have to ring the 50p a minute helpline in India to sort this one out...

Shepway closes public toilets
Shepway District Council have closed many of the public toilets in the Shepway area as a cost saving measure. The toilets in New Romney’s Church Road car park and Littlestone Greens are currently shut. The New Romney closure is causing problems for local traders, both with having people asking to use their loos and also the possible effects of loss of trade due to coaches and cars not stopping in the town. If you have a view on this, please write to SDC.
(by Malcolm Watkinson, 18th April 2004)

New Romney Main Drainage
On 20th March, a public meeting was held at the Assembly Rooms in New Romney to discuss the proposed main drainage scheme for the town. The meeting was chaired by Rt. Hon Michael Howard QC and was attended by Stuart Derwent, Managing Director of Southern Water (SW) and John Spencer, his Project Engineer, Howard Davidson of the Environment Agency (EA), Philip Fletcher of OFWAT and Cllr Carol Crees, in charge of environmental well-being at Shepway District Council (SDC), Cllr. Barbara Palmer and a contingent from New Romney Town Council were also present. Both the hall and ante-room were full to capacity with local traders and residents

Proposed dates given to the meeting by SW were:
Start of work - Spring 2005
Completion of the town part (drains usable) - September 2007.
SW and the EA were questioned as to the reasons for the delays so far and it appears from their responses that this was largely due to bad communication between the two organisations. Apparently the EA are now requiring SW to construct a “Long Sea Outfall” to carry treated effluent from the upgraded New Romney Sewage Treatment Works to below low tide mark at Littlestone beach. The original plan was to allow the outflow to continue through the existing open ditch and pumping station near Varne Boat Club and onto the beach, as at present.

SW and EA were asked to improve communciations between themselves and names were taken of key people in each organisation to act as information gateways for this project. New Romney Town Council, along with many irate traders and residents, felt that the town had waited quite long enough for mains drainage (100 years or so) and asked the OFWAT representative what measures were being taken to enforce SW’s compliance with the requisition placed by SDC. He explained that budgets are agreed between the water companies and OFWAT and are used as a basis for working out how much all of their customers will have to pay. There is also the EU Urban Waste Water Directive which will require completion of the project.

Although there is a proposed change in legislation which might change things in the future, it was clarified that, as things stand at present, each connection will involve the residents paying for installation and ongoing maintenance of the “external lateral” (the pipe between the property boundary and the main sewer) as well as a connection charge and for any alteration to the drains on their own property.

SDC were questioned as to why the Council’s subsidised cesspool emptying service was being removed in June 2005, before completion of the new drains. Their answer was that two new lorries would need purchasing and the cost would be prohibitive. SDC said that people who were badly affected by this (those with small capacity cesspools) should contact them for advice and possible help.
See also SDC press release: follow this link

The meeting was seen by most as a step forward in getting the various parties together to discuss the matter and the speakers were thanked for giving up their time on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
(by Malcolm Watkinson 10th April 2004)