Fireworks

You may want to know about this advice issued by Kent Trading Standards:

STAYING SAFE AND LEGAL WITH FIREWORKS

Although fireworks can play a big part in celebrations like Bonfire Night, Diwali and Chinese New Year, they can pose serious dangers. Fireworks are explosives and burn at high temperatures so they need careful handling and storage. Kent Trading Standards advise people not to buy fireworks from anywhere they are not sure about - like a van or a temporary unlicensed market stall. Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114 or with a CE mark – this shows that the firework meets British or European safety standards. There are other important legal restrictions.

People under 18 years of age can’t buy fireworks or have possession of fireworks in public places. Offenders risk the Police giving an on-the-spot fine of £80. 

Fireworks can't be let off after 11pm except:
until 12midnight on Bonfire Night (5 November);
until 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali (13 November 2012) and Chinese New Year (10 February 2013). 

They must not be let off in the street or any other public place. Complaints about noise should be reported to the Environmental Health Office of the District Council. 

Fireworks can only be bought:
between 15 October and 10 November;
between 26 December and 31 December; and
three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year. 
For the rest of the year, fireworks can only be purchased from certain specialist licensed shops.    

Population increase

Figures just released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that Walmer and Deal's local population increased by an extra 1,317 people  between 2001 and 2011. For more on this and other changes from the 2011 Census, see www.walmerweb.co.uk/news-local.html .

Christmas and New Year Public Services

WalmerWeb's roundup of public services over the 2012 Christmas and 2013 New Year holiday period has information on bus and rail changes; council, library and waste tip closures; Royal Mail last posting dates and much more.

To take a look, go to http://www.walmerweb.co.uk/news-local.html