Work is progressing on the review of the Local Plan, a blueprint for future development in the district, covering the period up to 2037.  

Specialists have been appointed by DDC to look at shopping and leisure patterns, which will include 800 telephone interviews. 

We're asking land owners to suggest sites they consider have future development potential, as part of the Local Plan Review. The call for sites is open to 7 August 2017. 

A public consultation on the key issues for the Local Plan will be held in the autumn.  

• More on the Local Plan 

As part of our ongoing commitment to support opportunities for young people, DDC has welcomed three new apprentices to the Council, (pictured here with Nadeem Aziz, DDC Chief Executive).

As well as these new starters, DDC already has three apprentices working in Finance and Community Services.

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. For more information on training opportunities in the area, see the Skills 4 Dover website.

• More on apprenticeships

To mark the start of Armed Forces Week, flag raising ceremonies are being held across the country to raise the Armed Forces Day flag on Monday, (19 June). This includes a ceremony at the Guildhall in Sandwich from 10.20am on Monday. The Chairman of Dover District Council, Cllr Sue Chandler, will be hosting the event with the Deputy Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Veronica Lioté. 

Other Armed Forces Day events in the district include events in Aylesham and Dover on 24 June, and Deal on 25 June. For more details, see the White Cliffs Country's What's On pages.

• Armed Forces Covenant 

A range of events is lining up for all the family across Dover, Deal & Sandwich this summer.  For more details on what's on, see the White Cliffs Country website. 

For more information on planning and running events in Dover District, please see our Event Planning page, or contact our events team at events@dover.gov.uk  

The White Cliffs Countryside Partnership continues to hold events for all the family, including guided walks, like the free High Meadow Walk, from the Ark Centre, Dover, every Wednesday, 9.15am, up to August.

• Events in White Cliffs Country

Work is underway on the £3m restoration of Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens, following the Kearsney Parks project's successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund. 

As part of the project, a series of events continues in the Kearsney Parks. Forthcoming events include Shakespeare Rewired on 17 June, the Big Leaf art installation on 18 June, Yoga In The Park on 18 June, the Big Tree Climb on 1 July, a talk about historic gardens on 19 July, and a wildlife survey and bat walk on 22 July. 

We are also currently advertising the Kearsney Parks Project Manager post.

• More on Kearsney Parks 

A Later Life Address Book is now available across the district, following a successful launch at our Later Life Celebration event in Pencester Gardens in May, (see video).

The book is a vintage-style address book, designed to be easy to read, with details of local businesses/services that have come forward as Dementia Friends and attended training sessions. The book is available at locations including DDC offices and Age Concern centres. DDC has been recognised by Dementia Friendly Kent as a ‘working to become dementia friendly’ organisation.

• More about celebrating later life

Our innovative Keep Me Posted email alert service continues to grow - with more than 59,000 subscribers and more than 45 different topics to choose from.

Even if you're already signed up, there's a whole range of different topics to choose from, and new topics continue to be added, as we continue to develop the service.  So check out whether there's anything new for you, and make sure you stay informed.

For more information, see our new Keep Me Posted video. 

• More on Keep Me Posted  

Although most of us welcome the summer sun, too much sun can be harmful to your health. For more information, see our Health and Wellbeing pages.

And don't forget our four-legged friends. For advice on keeping pets safe on hot days, see our dog warden pages. 

Next week is also Food Safety Week, so whether you're having a BBQ, or preparing food for the family, always remember food safety - see our safe summer eating page.  

• Keep healthy this summer