More and more local people of all ages and backgrounds are joining community environmental organisation 'Deal With It' to work on environmental projects that will continue to make the Deal Dover and Sandwich Kent area a great place to live, now and in the future.
Community and environmental Organisation "Deal With It" are a large proactive group, tackling the important issues that impact on our local environment in and around the Deal Dover and Sandwich Kent area.
Formed in 2007, this proactive community environmental organisation is made up of enthusiastic local people from all walks of life from the Deal and Dover area.They all have a common interest in trying to minimize environmental impact and tackling climate change on a local level.
These days most of us do our small part which we hope will include all or some of the following:
- Recycling - our area is lucky to have a black box scheme underway to recycle tins; newspapers; cardboard; plastic ; bottles
- Energy conservation - switching off unwanted lights and electrical appliances - this not only helps global warming but SAVES YOU MONEY!
- Ban Plastic Bags! - Most of us now take our own reusable bags when we do our shopping and there are plenty of financial incentives for doing this provided by local traders as well as the obvious environmental ones as the Deal Dover and Sandwich Kent area looks much better without heaps of plastic bags littered along the streets and roads of our lovely towns.
Community Organisation 'Deal With It's' objective is that by engaging with, and inspiring individuals to take personal action, no matter how small, they can show that everyone is capable of making a contribution to help slow the rate of Climate Change (see www.campaigncc.org ) and decrease the dependence on oil. The overall belief is that:
Small Actions x Many People = Big Change
The ages, political manifest and backgrounds of members of community environmental organisation 'Deal with It', are as diverse as the topics of interest that they tackle.
The first campaign launched by community environmental organisation 'Deal With It' was "Ban the Bag" which aimed to rid Deal town of plastic bags. With huge national media as well as local support, the campaign is estimated to have contributed to a 65% reduction in bag use and an immeasurable increase in awareness of the environmental impact of plastic bags.
'Deal With It's' second major event in February 2009 was an evening with Caroline Lucas, the South East MEP, at the Deal Town Hall. Ms. Lucas spoke to a capacity crowd and answered questions on local and national environmental policy. She was ably supported by Sean Furey, the Deputy Director of the local chapter of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Protect Kent ( www.protectkent.org ) who emphasized the direct impact of climate change on Kent.
The major business within the Deal Dover and Sandwich Kent area is Tourism so the condition of our local environment is crucial to its survival as well as its economic growth and this has an impact on us all in many ways.
While "Deal With It" holds no political affiliation as a community organisation, it does understand the power of political lobby to influence change.
In June 2009, the group met with Dover and Deal MP, Gwyn Prosser, to discuss environmental issues and the impact of climate change. Mr. Prosser described the meeting as
" a friendly and lively exchange on a whole series of subjects which varied from waste recycling and plastic bags to Heathrow expansion and public transport in Deal "
He further stated:
" We didn't reach full agreement on all the issues but I've promised to take their message back to Government and I readily agreed to meet with them again ".
The level of expertise within this community organisation means that they are often looked to for advice and support for local issues that may impact the environment and local community.
Early in 2009 'Deal With It' worked in collaboration with Protect Kent to counter Dover District Council's Local Development Framework proposal for more than 10,000 new homes on greenfield sites around the Deal Dover and Sandwich Kent area.
More recently Deal With It were selected by the Energy Saving Trust ( www.energysavingtrust.org.co.uk ) to take part in their Green Communities- Local Support project. This is hugely exciting opportunity which should directly benefit the Deal community by providing them with help to access the means to cut their fuel bills and reduce their carbon footprint. They also regularly collaborate with a large number of other local and national organizations including The Pines Calyx, Rippledown , Kent County Council and the Green Footprint Group.
Community Environmental Organisation 'Deal With it' actively encourages new members so anyone in the Deal Dover or Sandwich Kent area interested in being involved can do so by emailing dealwithittoday@yahoo.co.uk
or by coming to their monthly meeting held the 4th Tuesday of the month at The Prince Albert Pub, 189 Middle Street , Deal , CT14 6LW .
Deal With it, and join those who want to make a difference and ensure the Deal Dover and Sandwich Kent area remains a great place to live.
Call 01304 363381
Please mention
the Best Of Deal Dover and Sandwich
when you Deal With It!