Christmas is coming and it's time to enjoy a White Cliffs Country Christmas.  There's a whole range of great places to visit, and events to enjoy, including activities from the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership.     

Don't forget the environment this Christmas, and keep recycling. We've confirmed our seasonal recycling & waste collections. Please note changed collection days on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

There's free parking in DDC-owned off-street car parks on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. 

We've also published our 2019 Destination Guide as White Cliffs Country gears up for an exciting year of new openings.

• See the 2019 Destination Guide
• More on Christmas Arrangements
• A Christmas greeting from DDC

The £26m Dover District Leisure Centre is all ready to make a big splash in early 2019. 

The exciting new centre will include: a county-standard competition swimming pool; a learner pool with moveable floor; spectator seating for 250 people; a sports hall; a clip 'n climb climbing arena; a health and fitness gym; squash courts; multi activity studios; and outdoor 3G pitches. 

Cllr Keith Morris, Leader of DDC said: "The new Dover District Leisure Centre represents a major investment in the health and well-being of the district.  It's going to be an amazing facility for all the family."

• New Dover District Leisure Centre

Deal Pier Kitchen on Deal Pier has announced it will celebrate the New Year with a full opening launch on the weekend commencing Friday 4 January 2019.

The Kitchen is holding a series of ‘soft opening’ events this month, introducing the business to the town and visitors. Events have a limited number of tickets, for more details, see their social media pages.

Work on the major refurbishment of Deal Pier continues, with a new surface laid, a range of painting and maintenance works completed, and work on benches and grilles set to be completed early in the new year.

• More on Deal Pier

A new beauty salon is the first business to receive a grant under DDC's new Town Centre Business Grant Scheme.  The new salon was officially opened by the Chairman of Dover District Council, Cllr Sue Chandler.

DDC's new grant scheme offers grants of up to £10,000 to bring commercial properties back into use, or to upgrade or improve the appearance of empty premises in designated town centre areas in Dover, Deal & Sandwich.

• Town Centre Business Grants

Would you like to help make a difference to your local community - we have launched our Community Caretaker project.

A Community Caretaker is a local resident who is able to volunteer time to help the local community. This could include litter picking, painting, planting, sweeping, basic DIY, and with winter upon us, even snow clearing.

Community Caretakers will be supported by DDC and able to access equipment through a new network of DDC community stores.

• More on Community Caretakers

DDC continues to work hard to tackle fly tipping - and we've launched a new web page where you can help us by taking a look at our recent appeals for information.  If you have any information, please email us at envcrime@dover.gov.uk

Fly tipping is a crime, it looks unsightly, it creates health hazards, and it costs money to clear. We work closely with all our partners to tackle this issue, including a recent multi agency county-wide campaign to raise awareness and help #SCRAPflytipping

• Tackling and reporting fly tipping

DDC is welcoming news that water quality at all three designated bathing water beaches in the district has been rated as excellent.

Latest news from DEFRA is that the water quality at the three Environment Agency designated bathing waters at Deal Castle, St Margaret's Bay and Sandwich Bay (pictured) remains excellent.

This comes as we continue to support the Beauty of the Beach campaign to celebrate our beaches and keep them clean.

• More on water quality

We all feel the effects of cold winter weather but it can be even more harmful for people with long-term ill-health or those aged 65 plus. 

The NHS campaign - stay well this winter  - gives you information about how to prepare for winter and keep common winter illnesses at bay. 

There’s also a range of advice on our health and wellbeing pages to help you stay well this winter. 

• More on staying well this winter