Latest news with #DoverDistrictCouncil
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Highly contagious disease could return to UK as it's just a 'matter of time'
The highly contagious disease was eradicated in Britain in 2007 - but it's poised to make a return if the UK Government doesn't act fast, health officials have warned Health officials are sounding the alarm over the possible return of a highly contagious virus to the UK, warning that unless swift action is taken, the country could face a major outbreak. Foot-and-mouth disease, which causes painful blisters in the mouths and hooves of livestock, was eradicated in Britain in 2007. While harmless to humans, it can contaminate animal products like meat and milk. Rare cases have been linked to people drinking raw milk from infected cows, though such instances are extremely uncommon. Now fresh outbreaks across Europe are raising serious concerns. The disease was first detected on a Hungarian cattle farm in early March and spread within two weeks to three farms in neighbouring Slovakia - the first reported cases in both countries in over 50 years. Germany has also reported infections, sparking border closures and mass culls. There are fears the virus could now slip through without suitable checks at UK borders. Jamie Pout, Dover District Council's environmental lead, warned that authorities at the Port of Dover are 'barely scratching the surface' when it comes to adequate checks. 'It's a matter of time' before foot-and-mouth or African swine fever crosses into Britain, he said. The economic toll of an outbreak could be devastating. Affected farmers face huge losses - from culling herds to reduced milk yields. The wider agricultural industry could also take a hit, with the potential loss of access to foreign markets for British meat, dairy, and livestock. In response, the UK has banned all commercial imports of livestock - including pigs, sheep, cattle and deer - from affected countries. Meat and dairy products are also restricted, and health certificates for animal-origin goods from those regions are no longer being issued. In April, the Government also enforced a ban on "bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain". It means Brits must avoid bringing dairy products from certain animals back to the country when returning from the EU, EFTA States, the Faroe Islands or Greenland. Labour MP Josh Newbury - a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) - highlighted poor conditions at UK ports last week, saying he witnessed health inspections happening under "rusty canopies, with nesting pigeons [in buildings] that had no walls". He added that these facilities had "no ability to wash down" and lacked PPE equipment, other than gloves. Last week, the Government lifted restrictions on livestock from Germany after the country was declared disease free. Following allegations from the border, the government said it will do "whatever it takes" to protect British farmers from disease, incuding increased seizures of illegal meat products and a £200million boost towards research and lab testing facilities to help protect against animal disease.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Officials warn it's 'a matter of time' before highly contagious virus spreads through the UK
Health officials have warned that a highly contagious virus will inevitably return to the UK if the government does not act quickly to stop it. Foot-and-mouth disease, an infectious virus that causes blisters to form inside the mouths and under the hooves of animals, was eradicated from the UK in 2007. The painful condition can cause lameness and problems feeding in animals. It is not transmissible to humans, but any products of animal origin—such as meat and dairy—could potentially be contaminated. Cases have been reported of people becoming infected with the condition after drinking raw milk from contaminated cows, although it is thought to be incredibly rare. The warning comes as outbreaks of the disease have been reported across Germany, Hungary and Slovakia, prompting border closures and the culling of thousands of animals. In the current outbreak, the virus was first detected on a Hungarian cattle farm in early March. Within two weeks, it had spread to three farms in neighbouring Slovakia - marking the first outbreak in both countries for more than 50 years. Now, a councillor responsible for environment at the Port of Dover has said the authority is 'barely scratching the surface' when it comes to suitable checks at the Kent port. Jamie Pout, of Dover District Council, added that it was 'a matter of time' until foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever arrived in the country. The UK suffered major outbreaks of the disease in 2001 and 2007, leading to millions of pigs, cattle and sheep being slaughtered across the country and costing both the public and private sector billions. The disease can have a devastating financial and emotional impact on affected farmers, who face production losses like reduced milk yields and culling their livestock. But it can also lead to wider economic impacts with the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries. All commercial imports of livestock—such as cattle, pigs, sheep and deer, as well as meat and dairy products from the affected countries —are currently banned from entering the UK. Health certificates, which approve import requirements for animals, fresh meat and animal products, are also no longer being issued to those susceptible to the disease. And in April, the British Government placed a ban on 'bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain'. Britons must refrain from bringing dairy products from certain animals back to the country if they are returning from the EU, EFTA States, the Faroe Islands or Greenland. But Labour MP Josh Newbury, who sits on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), said last week that he saw health inspections at the port being done under 'rusty canopies, with nesting pigeons [in buildings] that had no walls'. Facilities had 'no ability to wash down' and lacked personal protection equipment other than gloves, he added. The government lifted restrictions on livestock from Germany last week, declaring the country disease free. A case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected near Berlin in January—the first in Germany for over three decades—prompting swift bans and culling. But after review, the UK health authorities say they're now satisfied that Germany has contained the outbreak. In response to allegations from the border, the government has said it will do 'whatever it takes' to protect British farmers from disease. It added it had significantly increased seizures of illegal meat products, restricted animal products from EU countries with outbreaks and banned personal meat and dairy imports for EU travellers. It also said it was investing more than £200 million in the UK's main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Foot-and-mouth outbreak 'when, not if' - Port of Dover boss
A councillor responsible for health at the Port of Dover has warned the return of foot-and-mouth disease to the UK is inevitable, unless government funding Pout, of Dover District Council, said the health authority was "barely scratching the surface" when it came to suitable checks at the Kent added it was "a matter of time" until foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever arrived in the port has been approached for comment, while the government said it would do "whatever it takes" to protect British farmers from disease. The government added that it had significantly increased seizures of illegal meat products, restricted animal products from EU countries with outbreaks, and banned personal meat and dairy imports for EU said it was also investing more than £200m in a new National Biosecurity Centre. It comes after recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany, Hungary and disease is a highly infectious virus that causes blisters inside an animal's mouth and under their hooves, which can cause lameness and problems poses no risk to humans and there are currently no cases in the products of animal origin, like meat and dairy, could potentially be MP Josh Newbury, who sits on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), said last week that he saw health inspections at the port being done under "rusty canopies, with nesting pigeons [in buildings] that had no walls".Facilities had "no ability to wash down" and lacked personal protection equipment other than gloves, he added. Roy Glover, a third-generation livestock farmer and butcher from Hartley Bottom Farm, near Dartford, called the UK's last foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001 "devastating" for local said it put "stress" on his family farm and business."It was terrible. I remember being unable to sleep worrying that our farm could be next," he said."You'd see other farms go down, and you'd spend your time thinking that it could be you next."Mr Glover urged the government to take foot-and-mouth disease seriously."More needs to be done. If foot-and-mouth disease comes through again, it could financially ruin our farm and butchers."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Demolition of pool building could begin in summer
The demolition of part of a leisure centre in Kent will be considered in the coming weeks as plans for its replacement gather pace. Last July a £19m revamp of Tides Leisure Centre in Deal was approved by Dover District Council (DDC). The swimming pool, gym, indoor tennis centre and sports hall were all initially slated for temporary closure, however an interim operator has since been appointed to keep the tennis centre and sports hall open. DDC's cabinet is now set to consider a recommendation to demolish the pool building, which has been closed since 16 March. If the cabinet approves this recommendation on 12 May, demolition works for the pool and the adjacent former nursery building would start in the summer. The works are expected to cost up to £600,000. A full planning application for the new Deal Leisure Centre is expected in the next month. The new facility, which DDC hopes to open in the summer of 2027, is set to have a six-lane pool, gym, inflatable sessions, and a toddler splash pad. Kevin Mills, DDC's leader, said: "We are delighted to continue to move forward with this major investment and to be considering this demolition. "It has been a long journey, and we are thrilled to be so close to work beginning on the new leisure centre." A competitive tendering process to find an operator to begin from April 2026 for "dryside facilities", and from the summer of 2027 for the full operation, remains ongoing. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Facilities to stay open as centre operator agreed Concerns prompt review of leisure centre closure Leisure centre set to close for two years for revamp Dover District Council
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
English coastal town reveals plans to become popular tourist destination with £10.4million attraction revamp
There's already some major multi-million pound building projects that have taken place CASH INJECTION English coastal town reveals plans to become popular tourist destination with £10.4million attraction revamp Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN English coastal town has revealed plans to become a popular tourist destination. £10.4million will be ploughed into the seaside location to give it a huge revamp and attract more people. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Developers have teamed up with the District Council in Dover to revamp the area Credit: Alamy 6 The public body wants to increase tourism and investment in the town Credit: Alamy Dover District Council plans to "boost regeneration and economic growth" and the body has teamed up with private contractors. It has also decided to collaborate with developers to reinvigorate the area and make it "a place to live, work, visit, learn and invest". The body has partnered up with Willmott Dixon and Milligan, as they seek to improve public areas. Together, the companies intend to increase living areas in the town centre whilst bringing together developments that are for mixed-use. It will also include a potential public sector hub in the centre of town which will provide health and public services to those living there. This comes as the historic town hall - called Maison Dieu - is set to reopen following a huge £10.4million restoration. There is also ongoing construction at a number of sites across the town which includes The Bench Building. The huge revamp is set to make the property a centre for business, education and for creatives in the area. Ongoing construction in the town also includes the new-look Market Square. Nadeem Aziz - who is the Chief Executive of Dover District Council - explained the work will help Dover "realise its full potential as a thriving town centre". The Dorset Hamlet of Seatown is Overlooked by Brits He explained: "We know how much potential Dover town centre has and we're already seeing this with projects such as the Maison Dieu and The Bench building. "But there is so much more it has to offer and this work will help realise its full potential to create a thriving town centre. "Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and blending public and private sector investment will create a transformational masterplan to benefit the community." The developers also gushed about the upcoming projects as they praised the potential opportunities the town will offer. Stuart Harris is chief executive at Milligan and he exclaimed: "Dover's assets, like its coastline, history, and connectivity, make it a prime location for transformation. "Working collaboratively with the council and local stakeholders, we will help shape its next chapter." 6 6 Over £10million will be ploughed into the area Credit: Alamy 6 The chief executive of the council wants the town to 'realise its full potential' Credit: Alamy
