Cheriton

Shepway Ward Profile May 2015 Romney Marsh

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Foreword...... 5

Brief introduction to area...... 6

Map of area...... 8

Demographics...... 9

Local economy...... 13

Transport...... 20

Education and skills...... 21

Health & wellbeing...... 23

Housing...... 28

Neighbourhood/ community...... 30

Planning and development...... 32

Physical Assets...... 33

Arts and culture...... 40

Crime...... 43

Endnotes/ websites...... 44

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-4- Romney Marsh Foreword

Dear Reader

One of Shepway District Council’s priorities is to and local community facilities and amenities. This provide opportunities for elected members and local information is grouped by themes in order to make it residents to work together to influence decisions as easy as possible to find the information you want. and shape their local community. We know how important good information is in helping people to The information on community assets for this profile understand local issues, identify service need and was gathered by working in collaboration with find ways to improve local services and amenities. partners and by engaging with local community and That is why I am proud to present the ward profile voluntary groups. I would like to personally thank for the new electoral ward of Romney Marsh, everyone who has contributed to this document. which I hope you will find an interesting and The statistical information was primarily drawn from informative read. the 2011 Census, unless otherwise stated. Other sources include: The purpose of the ward profile is to: • 2013 Midyear population estimates from • Provide a shared resource for people the Office of National Statistics1 wanting to find out about their local • Acorn Customer Insight Profiler2 community; • and Medway Public Health • Support elected members with their Observatory3 community role as civic leaders and • Kent County Council Research and community champions; Intelligence Team4 • Provide elected members with useful information about their new ward; Some of the data within this profiler was specially • Assist elected members with identifying commissioned by Shepway District Council so it priorities that could potentially be included may not be publically available elsewhere in the in their ward plan; displayed format. The data will evolve and expand • Provide a resource that is made publically as government agencies recalibrate their data available for wider use by the public and publishing to the new ward boundaries within voluntary / community groups (e.g. to Shepway. support funding bids). We will develop our ward profiles over time and we Our intention is for ward profiles to be used as would really appreciate your feedback on this ward widely as possible and to be made available to profile so we can make sure it is as up-to-date and Councillors, council officers, Town and Parish relevant as possible. Please provide any feedback to Councils, voluntary and community groups, as [email protected]. well as the general public on the council website www.shepway.gov.uk

This ward profile contains a variety of information Alistair Stewart on demographics (e.g. population, deprivation); Chief Executive population outcomes; the level of service provision

-5- Romney Marsh Romney Marsh ‘Unspoilt hinterland, historic churches and seaside holidays’ The Romney Marsh Ward covers an area of approximately 21sq miles. It has two Ward Councillors and encompasses the following communities:

Pop St Mary’s Bay is a relatively new development in the 251 area, it was created as a seaside village to cater for the 1920s boom in seaside holidays. The area had its Newchurch 268 heyday in the 1960s and today contains a number of 280 static caravan and holiday parks as well as a number St Mary’s Bay 2,375 of second homes alongside permanent residences. 3,102 Dymchurch gets its name from the Anglo Saxon Total electorate 6,276 place ‘Deman Ciric’ meaning ‘Judges Burial ground’ and was probably a place of execution at that time. The sea wall was originally built by the Romans and The Romney Marsh ward covers most of the area the settlement is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. of the Romney Marsh proper, which is one of the six marsh areas of the Romney Marsh that extends Dymchurch was the main centre of the marsh where from Shepway into East . the governors administered justice from the New Hall on New Hall Close which dates from 1575. The Dymchurch is a Rural Centre as defined in the area was run by 23 Lords of the Manors of Romney Core Strategy. St Mary’s Bay is a Primary village. Marsh (aka The Lords of The Levels). The Lords of Newchurch and Burmarsh are secondary villages. the Level, jurats and bailiffs met to discuss and rule the marsh area and this group still meets annually Burmarsh, one of the most easterly communities although they no longer have any powers. The court on Romney Marsh, has been established since was always busy as smuggling was rife in the area the Anglo Saxon period. Its name is derived from because of its remote location. Dymchurch is the ‘Burnwargamerse’ meaning ‘fortress’ and today it setting for the Dr Syn novels about smuggling. The has a public house and a church. Newchurch has courtroom is now a museum. its name derived from the Anglo Saxon ‘Niwe Circa’ meaning ‘new burial ground’ and is mentioned in the Dymchurch has been the frontline against threats of Doomsday Book. invasion, both by enemy forces, (including Napoleon and Hitler), and by the sea. The Martello Towers St Mary in the Marsh was originally called ‘Siwold provided security from invasion, and the great sea Circa’ derived from the Celtic meaning ‘burial wall from the risk of flooding. ground’. It was probably renamed after the church was built in 1133 AD.

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Outside the settlements, the main features of the area are an extensive network of drainage ditches, including the , winding roads, wide open spaces, huge skies and a flat landscape. The Marsh is famous for its churches, shepherding, wool and smuggling.

The area owes its existence to the sea wall as it lies below sea level. The first wall was constructed of bundles of thorn and clay in Roman times. It was 4 miles long and stood 20 ft high. Today, a new sea wall, costing £60m, opened in July 2011, protects 2,500 properties from flooding. The wall also provides a promenade between the and St Marys Bay.

Romney Marsh is an important biodiversity opportunity area as identified in the Green infrastructure Report5. Romney Marsh is included in the , Romney Marsh & Rye Bay Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) that covers 9090ha and the Dungeness, Romney Marsh & Rye Bay SPA and Ramsar site6. Due to increased recreational pressures a Sustainable Access Strategy is being developed by Shepway District Council and Rother District Council.

Organisations that are active in managing the area are:

• Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership • Natural • • RSPB • Environment Agency • Romney Marsh Area Internal Drainage Board7

Today, the commercial centre of the Romney Marsh ward is the coastal strip including Dymchurch and St Mary’s Bay. Both villages are popular holiday destinations and both have key services, good bus and walking links.

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-8- Romney Marsh Demographics

The 2013 midyear population estimates published by the Office of National Statistics gives the total population of Romney Marsh as 7,240, with 3,520 males and 4,720 females. The ward has proportionally less children and young people (aged under 19) than the Kent average, and it also has a larger percentage of people aged over 55.

Marital status

Romney Marsh has 3,352 people who are married and this equates to just over half the population aged above sixteen. There are also 1,039 single people and this equates to 17% of the adult population which is below the Kent and Shepway level. There are proportionally more people how have been widowed in the ward.

Romney Marsh Marital Status

Married 3,352

Cohabiting 608

Same-sex civil partnership or cohabiting 34

Single (never married) 1,039

Married or in civil partnership 96

Separated (but still legally married) 122

Divorced 388

Widowed 560

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Ethnicity

The largest ethnic group in Romney Marsh is English/ Welsh/ Scottish/ Northern Irish who equate to 96.7% of the population.

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent

English/ Welsh/ Scottish/ NI 6,950 96.7% 90.8% 89.1%

Irish 41 0.6% 0.7% 0.7%

Gypsy or Irish Traveller 9 0.1% 0.2% 0.3%

Other White 88 1.2% 3.0% 3.6%

White and Black Caribbean 17 0.2% 0.4% 0.4%

White and Black African 5 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%

White and Asian 17 0.2% 0.4% 0.5%

Other Mixed 15 0.2% 0.3% 0.4%

Indian 4 0.1% 0.4% 1.2%

Pakistani 1 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%

Bangladeshi 0 0.0% 0.2% 0.2%

Chinese 6 0.1% 0.3% 0.4%

Other Asian 20 0.3% 2.5% 1.2%

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African 2 0.0% 0.3% 0.8%

Caribbean 4 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%

Other Black 4 0.1% 0.0% 0.1%

Arab 0 0.0% 0.1% 0.1%

Any other ethnic group 6 0.1% 0.2% 0.4%

Length of residence in the UK

99.2% of the population of Romney Marsh has lived in the UK for more than 10 years. This is above average.

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent

Born in the UK 6,917 96.2% 90.8% 90.9%

Less than 2 years 14 0.2% 1.2% 1.2%

More than 2 years and 21 0.3% 1.6% 1.5% less than 5 years More than 5 years and 24 0.3% 1.6% 1.8% less than 10 years 10 years or more 213 3.0% 4.9% 4.6%

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Main Language (for residents aged 3 and over)

Nearly all (99%) of Romney Marsh residents regard English as their first language, which is above the county and district average.

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent

English 7,008 99.2% 95.1% 95.5%

Welsh/Cymraeg 3 -8 - -

French 7 0.1% 0.2% 0.2%

Spanish 2 - 0.1% 0.1%

Other European Language (EU) 21 0.3% 1.4% 1.8%

Other European Language (non EU) 1 - 0.1% 0.1%

Turkish 4 0.1% 0.1% 0.1%

South Asian Language 11 0.2% 2.3% 1.2%

East Asian Language 7 0.1% 0.3% 0.4%

African Language 1 - 0.1% 0.1%

Sign Language 1 - - -

-12- Romney Marsh The Local Economy

The “Romney Marsh” is taken as comprising the wards of , Romney Marsh, and Walland and Dengemarsh.

Previously this area was covered by the following wards:-

• Dymchurch and St Mary’s Bay • • New Romney Coast • New Romney Town • Romney Marsh

Much of the socio-economic data available for the Marsh is based on these former ward boundaries. Headline data includes:-

Ward No. of businesses Employees Average size 2014 2014 (employees) Dymchurch & St. Mary’s Bay 105 625 6

Lydd 134 2033 15

New Romney Coast 71 431 6

New Romney Town 144 1192 8

Romney Marsh 117 914 8

All Marsh Wards 571 5195 9

Shepway 3095 34807 11

Source: IDBR

Job Seeker Allowance - Claimants March 2015 Number % All Marsh Wards 229 1.7

Shepway 1,505 2.3

South East - 1.2 GB - 2.0

Source: Nomis

Economically Active 2011 Number % All Marsh Wards 9,539 74.0

Shepway - 76.2

England & Wales - 76.8

Source: Nomis

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This headline data shows:- District and Kent County Council produced a socio- economic action plan for Romney Marsh to ensure • Marsh businesses are on average slightly the area has a sustainable economic future and smaller by number of employees than remains a great place to live. across Shepway • The Marsh hosts approx. 18% of all The RMP was established in 2012 to lead the Shepway’s businesses and 15% of delivery of the Romney Marsh Socio-Economic employees Plan an economic strategy targeted at mitigating • The continuing significance of the power the negative consequences of decommissioning at stations as an employer with Lydd hosting Dungeness. The Partnership is set up to: 39% of all Marsh employment • The importance of New Romney as the • Tell people about the plan and lobby for area’s main service centre with 38% of the area’s prosperity all businesses • Bid for funds to deliver the plan being based there • Liaise with local businesses and • The Marsh has a slightly lower than communities to deliver the plan average JSA claimant rate • Develop the Marsh’s marketability and • Lower than average levels of economic liaise with potential inward investors activity (probably reflects the area’s attractiveness as a retirement destination) RMP membership currently comprises:

A big impact on the area’s economy will be the • Shepway District Council, Ashford decommissioning of the “B” nuclear power station at Borough Council, Rother District Council, Dungeness, now scheduled for 2028. Kent County Council and County Council There are a number of projects and groups working • Magnox Energy Solutions9 to address this, some of the key ones are: • EDF Energy • Dungeness Site Stakeholders Group Romney Marsh Partnership (RMP) • Rye Partnership • Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce The nuclear power stations at Dungeness have • The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority10 been central to the Romney Marsh’s economy for • Action with Communities in Rural Kent11 many years contributing some £50 million to the • Romney Resource Centre12 local economy annually, and directly and indirectly • The Marsh Academy13 employing some 1,500 people, many of whom live on the Marsh in Shepway, Ashford and Rother The RMP has successfully supported initiatives districts. including:-

However, significant changes will soon have a • Securing Dungeness as a priority area for big impact on the Romney Marsh economy with the Magnox Socio-Economic Scheme Dungeness “A” site being decommissioned and • Establishment of the Marsh Million fund EDF’s “B” station only operating until 2028. • Improved bus services between the Marsh and Ashford In response to this, and supported by Magnox and • Opening of New Romney Business the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Shepway Incubator Centre

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• Appointment of the RMP Coordinator LEADER funding for the Marsh through the Kent • Inclusion of New Romney and Dymchurch Downs & Marshes (KDM) scheme supported in the new Kent Downs & Marshes projects such as the highly successful extension of LEADER area the Royal Military Canal cycle way between West • Apprenticeships at the MACH Hythe Dam and Aldergate Bridge.

The Marsh Million KDM ceased at the end of 2013, but working with others we have now secured £1.9m LEADER The RMP created The Marsh Million14, available funding. This will be available from this summer to businesses and groups on Romney Marsh. It (2015)and will cover the Marsh in Shepway provides interest free loans of up to £50,000 for including New Romney and Dymchurch which were small businesses and grants up to £100,000 for previously excluded. projects of wider employment and skills benefit. Rural Tourism The £1 million fund is based on contributions from:- In addition to mainstream economic development • Magnox - £500,000 there are a number of rural tourism projects across • Kent County Council £400,000 the Marsh which are outlined below and which • Shepway and Ashford Councils include:- £50,000 each • Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership The scheme offers:- • Romney Marsh Visitor Centre and Romney Warren Local Nature Reserve • £700,000 of interest free loans • The Fifth Continent - Heritage Lottery Fund up to £50,000 Landscape Partnership Scheme. • £300,000 grants for economic projects • Dungeness/Rye Bay/Romney Marsh Sustainable Access Strategy Marsh Million is managed by KCC with a locally based approvals board. To date it has approved Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership approximately:- The Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership • £160,000 loans to local small businesses was established in 1996 to look after the wildlife to some 12 local businesses landscape of the Marsh and to encourage green • £270,000 grants tourism in the area.

Kent Downs and Marshes LEADER The RMCP leads guided walks and cycle rides and provides promotional literature including the Lydd LEADER15 provides EU grants (expected to be up to and New Romney Town Trails, and the “Magic of £50,000) to rural businesses, farmers, foresters, the Marsh” and the “Marsh Meanders” walks and growers, landowners, environmental organisations, cycle packs. On the ground the RMPC works with cultural, heritage and community providers, as well volunteers to help manage key sites including:- as voluntary and charitable organisations to develop projects that develop the local economy and deliver • Dungeness National Nature Reserve jobs, growth and community benefits. • Romney Warren • Greatstone Dunes

-15- Romney Marsh

Romney Marsh Visitor Centre and Romney Warren Local Nature Reserve

Although the Visitor Centre is in the New Romney Ward, some of the Nature Reserve falls within Romney Marsh Ward. Opened in 2004 the Centre is now managed by Kent Wildlife Trust with annual funding from Shepway (£10K). The Centre promotes the Marsh as a visitor destination focusing on its wildlife, landscape and history, A community garden also operates from the site offering activities for local people including the retired, unemployed, students and people suffering from mental and physical ill health.

The Visitor Centre lies within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is designated a Local Nature Reserve. Site management is carried out in partnership with the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership and KWT.

The Fifth Continent - Heritage Lottery Fund Landscape Partnership Scheme

The Romney Marsh ‘Fifth Continent’ Landscape Partnership Scheme16 was a heritage lottery bid for funding for a series of projects to restore and enhance the Marsh’s built, natural and cultural heritage. Stage 1 was successful and £1.8 million has been earmarked for this scheme. Kent Wildlife Trust is developing the stage two bid over the next 18 months.

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Household income

The graph is from the Acorn customer profiling software and it shows how over, or under, represented the Romney Marsh ward is for each income band. Bars pointing left indicate the ward has a lower proportion that the UK average and a bar pointing right shows that it is above the UK average. The length of the bar indicates the size of the disparity: a score of 50, means the proportion within Romney Marsh is half the UK average, a score of 150 would make it 50% higher than the UK average. The data shows that a greater proportion of Romney Marsh households earn between £20,000 and £40,000 than the UK; and it is significantly underrepresented for households earning over £80,000.

Economic activity

Romney Marsh is above the Kent average for the proportion of working aged (16-64) people who are retired permanently sick/disabled. The ward has a lower proportion of people who are in employment or are students.

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Employment by sector

Romney Marsh ward has the majority of its working age population employed in health/ social work wholesale/retail/motor trade, and construction. The ward has a smaller proportion of people employed in education or scientific/technical industries than the Kent or Shepway figure.

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There are no specific employment centres but a more a widely dispersed network across the ward. The primary school employs approximately 40 people, Chapel Farm/ Romney Marsh Farms Ltd approximately 200 people (not necessarily all based in the ward). Care homes and tourism are also significant employers. New Beach Holiday Park18 employs approx 40 staff as does Haguelands19. A significant employer based outside the ward but contributing to the local economy is the Dungeness Power Station.

Other employment/industrial sites dotted about the rural landscape include Brooker Farm and Westgate (both in Newchurch), Grasslands Turf Farm. The EA employs approx 12 staff at Willop Depot, Tesco and MW’s Fun Fair in Dymchurch are some of the other employers in the ward, as is Youngs Builders Merchants on the Hythe Road.

-19- Romney Marsh Transport

The ward is served by the A259 coast road. The A259 is the main coastal route west from and goes all the way to Eastbourne.

The main bus routes (the 100/100/102) from towns on the Romney Marsh to Hythe and Folkestone provide a vital transport link. Bus route 11A links St Mary in the Marsh and Newchurch to New Romney Town and Ashford. Bus routes 101 and 102 pass through Dymchurch and St Mary’s Bay.

The timetable for these services can be found on the Stagecoach website at https://www.stagecoachbus.com

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway20 runs between Hythe and Dungerness with stops at: Hythe, St Mary’s Bay, New Romney and Romney Sands.

Dungeness/Rye Bay/Romney Marsh Sustainable Access Strategy

Due to increased recreational pressures a Sustainable Access Strategy is being developed for the Romney Marsh area. The first stage of The Dungeness/Rye Bay/Romney Marsh Sustainable Access Strategy has been completed which was a one year survey to research visitor patterns across the Rye Bay/ Dungeness area.

-20- Romney Marsh Education & Skills Primary Schools

There is one primary school in the ward: Dymchurch Primary School21 with 182 pupils. The school is active in the local community and holds a regular summer fete. The children participate in tag rugby, multi skills, cross country and football. They have a breakfast club/pre-school called Sunshine and Showers which operates during term time.

Secondary schools

There are no secondary schools in Romney Marsh ward. The nearest is The Marsh Academy in New Romney Ward.

Nurseries, toddler groups and crèches

The Dymchurch Children’s Centre22 at Country’s Field, offers a variety of play sessions and workshops and baby massage and antenatal clinic.

Dymchurch Village Hall also has a preschool operating every week day until 3pm for children from 2 years old.

St Mary’s Bay and Dymchurch Sunshine and Showers23 run two nurseries, one in St. Marys Bay (near the village hall) and the other in Dymchurch.

• St. Marys Bay nursery offers full day care, caring for children aged 6 months to 5 years term time and during school holidays. • Dymchurch nursery operates from a classroom within the local primary school. There is an outdoor space and is adjacent to the local Children’s Centre. This site operates term time only and provides care for children aged 2 years to 4 years 11mths.

Other youth services

There is a Scout group at Dymchurch that meets at the scout hut in Chapel Road, Dymchurch and one that meets at All Saints Church Hall in St Mary’s Bay on Thursday evenings24 .

Dymchurch Rainbow and Guides25 meet in Dymchurch Village Hall on Mondays from 4pm to 5pm.

The Romney Marsh Army Cadets are based at the Cadet Hut in Jefferstone Lane, St Mary’s Bay.

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Children and young people

There are 1,110 children and young people in Romney Marsh Ward. Generally there is a lower proportion of people under nineteen than the Kent average, and there is particular under representation for males under four years old.

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent

No Males Females Males Females

0-4 1.2% 1.9% 3.1% 3.0% 3.0%

5-9 1.5% 1.5% 3.1% 2.9% 2.9%

10-14 1.9% 2.1% 3.0% 2.9% 2.9%

15-19 2.6% 2.5% 3.3% 3.1% 3.1%

School performance and attainment

Data and statistics on school performance can be viewed at the Department for Educations statistics website . It is also possible to view Ofsted reports for schools and early years service providers.

-22- Romney Marsh Health & Wellbeing Sports clubs/societies/activities

Romney Marsh ward has a range of sport clubs, societies and special interest groups: which have a positive impact on residents health and wellbeing:

In Dymchurch, groups include:

Group/Club Location Dymchurch short mat bowls Dymchurch village Hall Slimming World Dymchurch Village Hall Dymchurch Active Retirement Association Dymchurch Village Hall Romney Marsh Blind Club Methodist Church Dymchurch Meeting Point Methodist Church Dymchurch Lunch Club Ocean Inn, Dymchurch Dymchurch Cricket Club Dymchurch Rec The Ocean Football Club Dymchurch Rec Dymchurch Sea Angling28 Own premises on Sea Wall Table Tennis Scout Hut The Grasshoppers football team Dymchurch Primary School

Outside Dymchurch there are other groups:

Group/Activity Location

Tai Chi for health St Marys Bay Village Hall

Keep Fit St Marys Bay Village Hall

Multiple Sclerosis Society Support Group St Marys Bay Village Hall

Complete Martial Arts St Marys Bay Village Hall

Street Dance St Marys Bay Village Hall

Marsh-ARA (Active Retirement Association) St Mary’s Bay

Romney Marsh Dog Training Club29 Newchurch Village Hall Romney Marsh Walking Club30 See website Thornton Road Club (cycling Club)31 based outside the See website ward but centred on Dymchurch and Romney Marsh

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Walking routes

• There are numerous footpaths and public rights of way across the ward and more information can be found on the Kent County Council website32. • The Royal Military Canal footpath33 forms the northern boundary of the ward. • Natural England are continuing to establish the coastal access path around the UK which includes the coastal stretch between the Redoubt (the boundary with Hythe Rural ward) and St Mary’s Bay (the boundary with New Romney ward).

Organisations delivering health services

GPs Children’s Centre

There are two GP surgeries in Dymchurch – The Dymchurch has a Children’s Centre that includes an Martello Health Centre at 20 Chapel Road, ante-natal clinic. Dymchurch and the Orgarswick Practice near the Village Hall on Orgarswick Avenue. Accident and Emergency Department

There is a Blind Club that meets at Romney House There is no accident and emergency department every 3 weeks. within the Romney Marsh ward. The closest accident and emergency department is located at Pharmacists the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

There is a chemist at Dymchurch, Ferris Chemists.

Walk-In-Centre

There are no walk-in-centres in the Romney Marsh ward. The closest walk-in-centre is located at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone.

Residents health

The graph is from the Acorn customer profiling software and it shows how far above the UK average the Romney Marsh population is (a score of 125, means the proportion within Romney Marsh is 25% higher than the UK average). Romney Marsh residents are more likely (than UK average) to have high blood pressure, diabetes, have a high Body Mass Index (BMI) and suffer a heart attack but are less likely to have asthma.

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General health The 2011 Census required people to give a self assessment on how they feel about their health. 9.4% of residents indicated they are in bad or very bad health, which is above the Shepway or Kent figure.

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent Very good health 32.7% 42.2% 46.7% Good health 37.8% 36.1% 34.9% Fair health 20.2% 15.2% 13.3% Bad health 7.1% 4.9% 4.0% Very bad health 2.3% 1.5% 1.1%

There are 1,088 unpaid carers in Romney Marsh Ward, which is 15% of the population which is higher than the Shepway or Kent figure.

No. Romney Marsh Shepway Kent People providing unpaid care 1,088 15.1% 11.4% 10.4% People providing no care 6,101 84.9% 88.6% 89.6%

Usage of health services

The following health indicators indicate the frequency with which people from Romney Marsh access health services for certain conditions or ailments. They have been selected because Shepway varies from the Kent average and they show that:

• Breastfeeding rates are among the lowest in Shepway. • Emergency hospital admissions for diabetes are higher than any other Shepway ward. • Mortality from respiratory and circulatory conditions is above average

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent Breastfeeding prevalence34 20.0% 36.4% 39.3% Emergency admissions for AMI35 137.47 142.09 128.46 (aka heart attack) Emergency admissions for COPD36 169.47 188.71 211.99 Emergency admissions for diabetes37 106.35 78.05 77.58 Emergency admissions for falls38 663.34 751.30 839.00 Emergency admissions for over 65s39 22,597.01 22,682.60 23,170.16 Under 75 cancer mortality40 135.84 140.22 131.09 Under 75 circulatory mortality41 94.44 77.42 70.31 Under 75 respiratory mortality42 53.08 35.77 16.78 Life expectancy at birth43 81.60 81.77 81.73

-25- Romney Marsh

Breastfeeding rates

Emergency admission for diabetes

-26- Romney Marsh

Under 75 circulatory mortality

Under 75 respiratory mortality

-27- Romney Marsh Housing

There are 125 council homes in Dymchurch which includes Romney Marsh House, a sheltered scheme of 33 units. There are 60 council homes in St Mary’s Bay.

In the rural villages in the ward there are 20 council homes in Burmarsh 7 in Newchurch and 9 in St Mary in the Marsh.

The Rectory in New Hall Close is a retirement home. There are a high number of smaller care homes and residential homes in the Romney Marsh Ward.

Dymchurch Seabourne House 4 female residents with learning difficulties Eden Cottage 3 adults learning difficulties younger adults The Foam 3 adults with learning difficulties Bethany House44 24 young adults with physical disability St Marys Bay The Bay 11 residents learning disability younger adults 20 Taylors Lane 6 residents learning/physical disability The Beaches 4 residents leaning disability

Empty properties

There currently are 35 vacant properties in Romney Marsh ward. This information is subject to constant change as properties are brought back into use, sold, renovated etc.

Property type

Romney Marsh has a greater proportion (that the Kent average) of semi detached and detached properties and lower levels of terrace houses or flats. Shepway Kent Detached houses/bungalows 27.0% 25.1% Semi-detached houses 24.1% 30.5% Terraced houses 22.1% 24.8% Flats or maisonettes 26.3% 18.7% Caravans/ temporary 0.6% 0.9%

Detached houses or bungalows 49% Flats maisonettes or apartments 5% Terraced houses or bungalows 7% Semi-detached houses or bungalows 39%

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Housing ownership/ tenure

There is a far greater proportion (compared to Shepway and Kent) of owner occupancy in Romney Marsh, and much higher level of people who own their property outright. The proportion of rented properties is much lower.

Romney Marsh Shepway Kent Owner occupied households 2,603 80.0% 64.8% 67.3% Owns outright 1,663 51.1% 35.3% 33.1% Owns with a mortgage or loan 940 28.9% 29.5% 34.2% Shared ownership 8 0.2% 0.5% 1.0% Rented households 592 18.2% 33.4% 30.4% Rented from a local authority 224 6.9% 6.9% 5.8% Rented from housing association 45 1.4% 4.3% 8.1% Privately rented 251 7.7% 20.2% 15.1% Other rented 72 2.2% 2.0% 1.5% Living Rent Free 49 1.5% 1.3% 1.3%

Property size Property prices

The majority of properties in Romney Marsh Romney Marsh has proportionally more properties are between two and five bedrooms in size. The valued £126,000 to £250,000 that than the UK proportions broadly reflect the national average. average. There is a smaller proportion of properties valued under £125,000 or between £500,000 and £1million.

-29- Romney Marsh Neighbourhood/Community

Within the ward there are numerous grops operating • Church Group at All Saints Church, St to tackle issues. They include: Marys Bay • All Saints House Group bible study group Resident Associations and key groups at Holly Road, St Mary’s Bay • Middlemarsh women’s institute at St • Sands Estate Residents Association Mary’s Bay Village Hall • The Oval Neighbourhood Watch • Mens Club, Levin Club, Seaway Crescent, • Beach Estate Neighbourhood Watch St Mary’s Bay • Ship Field Residents Association • Newchurch WI • Kingsway Residents Association • Newchurch Social Club51 • Queensway Residents Association • Coffee Morning at St Peter & St Paul • The Bay Neighbourhood watch Church, Newchurch • Church group at All Saints Church, Other active community groups: Burmarsh • Coffee morning at the Methodist Church Methodist Church Community engagement • Knitters and stitchers at the Methodist Church There is a volunteer group called Local Eye based • Dymchurch Royal British Legion45 at the in Dymchurch. The small team represent a pilot of Memorial Hall on Sea Wall a scheme established by Shepway District Council. • RBL Dymchurch women’s section at the The Local Eyes monitor the area, reporting back on Memorial Hall on Sea Wall issues affecting the local area, especially the • Dymchurch and District Twinning coastal area. Association (Twinned with Salbris in the Loire Valley, France) Charities • Romney Marsh Masonic Lodge no 474346 • Caring All together in Romney Marsh- The Charity Commission provides a useful CARM (older persons support group)47 online directory that allows people to search for • Defend Our Coast48 charities that are either based in or operate in a • SOMBRE - Save our Marsh – Block Rural particular location. Their online tool allows people Exploitation49 to search for charities within a defined radius of a • Romney Marsh Foodbank Team particular postcode. • Meeting Point at the Dymchurch Methodist Church Local communications • Dymchurch Active Retirement Association (Synara) There are a number of local publications • Romney Marsh Active Retirement in the area. These include: Association (Marsh-ARA) • Dymchurch Lunch Club • The Looker53 a weekly magazine • Newchurch, Dymchurch and Burmarsh • The Shingle Issue, twice a year publication Heating Oil Club50 from the RMCP

-30- Romney Marsh

• theRomneyMarsh.net54 a website with a • The RomneyMarsh.net is also a wealth of local information comprehensive source of information • Marsh Matters is a monthly benefice about the Romney Marsh area. The website newsletter (previously the Romney Coast contains all kinds of community & visitor and Country News) information, details about the history of • The Looker99 is a free community the Marsh, its churches, buildings and newspaper group set up in 2010 by a monuments. It also includes an overview local resident as a 24-page fortnightly of the Marsh villages and is completely publication. The original circulation was independent and run voluntary on a non just 2000 copies distributed through 40 commercial not-for-profit basis55. drop off points across the Romney Marsh. • The Parish Magazine published by the By 2011 the publication had increased to Romney Benefice of Churches called Marsh 32 pages, readership had increased to over Matters. This is a monthly publication and 20,000 and it is now available from over 60 is full of information about church services, outlets across the Romney Marsh. is a free community activities/clubs and support community newspaper group set up in 2010 groups. It covers St Mary’s Bay & St Mary- contains a lot of information about all the in-the-Marsh, Burmarsh, Dymchurch, different kinds of activities that people can Newchurch and . access across Romney Marsh.

Town and Parish Councils

Romney Marsh Ward covers Dymchurch, St Mary in the Marsh, Burmarsh and Newchurch and can be contacted via the parish clerks:

Mr J Rich Mrs G Smith Burmarsh Parish Council Dymchurch Parish Council: 13 The Oval, Dymchurch 13 Orgarswick Avenue Romney Marsh, Kent Dymchurch, Romney Marsh TN29 0LR Kent 01303 870641 TN29 0NX [email protected] 01303 872708 http://www.burmarshpc.kentparishes.gov.uk [email protected] http://www.dymchurch.org/

Alison Prentice Mrs G Smith Newchurch Parish Council St Mary in the Marsh Parish Council Newchurch Village Hall Clerks Office-At rear of Village Hall Romney Marsh, Kent Jefferstone Lane, St Mary’s Bay TN29 0DP Romney Marsh 01303 873754 TN29 0SW [email protected] 01303874341 http://www.newchurchvillage.org [email protected] http://www.stmarysbay.net/index.htm

-31- Romney Marsh Planning & Development Major site redevelopment

The Rugby Portobello Trust55

This site was originally to provide holidays to deprived children from London. The camp closed in 2009. A planning application is for demolition of existing buildings and structures and construction of a sleeping accommodation block, entrance pavilion, swimming pool building, games hall and gallery and layout of sports pitches and car park with associated landscaping and boundary treatment. Planning approval was granted in September 2012 but development has not yet commenced. There is potential that the new facilities will be made available to the local residents.

St Mary in the Marsh is expected to see some significant increase in the electorate with the development of the Romney Marsh Potato Farm at Cockreed Lane (in the New Romney Ward).

St Mary in the Marsh and St Marys Bay are developing a neighbourhood plan which will help to define the type and scale of development in the Parish.

Planning applications

Visit the Shepway District Council planning portal56 for information on these and other planning applications in this area.

Broadband

Information on the provision of internet and broadband services in this ward is constantly changing as telecoms providers upgrade their networks. To get information about the quality of services in your area, you may wish to visit the websites for BT Openreach57, Broadband StreetStats58 or UK Exchange Mapping59.

-32- Romney Marsh Physical Assets

Designated spaces a De Haan Charitable Trust funded Multi Use Games (e.g. conservation areas) Area and several innovative forms of equipment.

There are two conservation areas in Dymchurch; There are open space areas at Sycamore Gardens around St Peter & St Pauls in Dymchurch, and as well as Country’s Field and Salbris Close (which on Dymchurch High Street and into Mill Road. both include play areas). The centre of Newchurch village is also a conservation area. The Parish Council are working on a project to develop a skate park at the top of the Martello The Camp on Burmarsh Road is designated as Car Park. a Village Green (VG237). A Village Green is designated for sports and recreation, as opposed to There is also the Dymchurch Fun Fair63 which the ‘right to roam’ for common or access land. operates at weekends and in holiday times.

The whole of the ward is designated as RMAIDB In St Mary’s there is the Jefferstone Lane recreation (Romney Marsh ) - a not for ground, and play areas in Oak Drive and Meadsway. profit organisation concerned with matters of land There is greenspace off Taylors Lane (in Newlands). drainage and maintenance of watercourses. Newchurch has a playing field with a play area. The very north of the ward falls into the Kent Downs AONB60 (the area north of Lower Wall Road up to Attached to the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre64 the ward boundary at RMC (and beyond). (which is just over the boundary in New Romney Ward) is the Romney Warren Country Park on NCR2 follows the RMC path until Aldergate and then Dymchurch Road managed by the Romney Marsh joins Lower Wall Road, Chapel Lane, turns south Countryside Partnership (RMCP). The park is open before Newchurch and passes through St Mary all year and consists of boardwalks, nature trails, in the Marsh before leaving the ward just before ponds, a Looker Hut. Old Romney61. The Romney Marsh Countryside Project62 organise regular bike rides in the Romney Toilets Marsh area. There are three public toilets in Dymchurch and St Play areas and parks Mary’s Bay:

There are a number of facilities in the ward: • High Street Dymchurch • Sea Wall Dymchurch The Green in Burmarsh is designated as a green • High Knocke Car Park space. Burmarsh also has a Recreation Ground and Play Area. Allotments

Dymchurch recreation ground, St Marys Road, There are no allotment areas in Romney Dymchurch includes a play area. Groups based here Marsh Ward. are The Ocean Football Club, Grasshopers (a school football team), and Dymchurch Cricket Club. There is

-33- Romney Marsh

Walking routes/ bridle paths

The Marsh is criss-crossed by numerous footpaths There are 3 further listed properties on the sea wall, and Public Rights of Way, and more information can numbers 4, 5 and 6. be found on the Kent County Council website65. There is a cluster of buildings on Mill Road comprising Royal Military Canal66 footpath - The RMC path Dr Syn’s Restaurant, which has a late C18 facade to forms the northern boundary of the ward and runs a possibly earlier building, and Old Tree, Bridge and for 28 miles along the entire length of the Royal Middle Cottages. Also on Mill Road is Dunkirk End Military Canal from Seabrook to East Sussex. The which has a herring hang attached. The herring hang canal is a scheduled ancient monument and was or kipper house is attached to left gable end of the once the scene of intense military activity. There is a house. There are house and is identified by its smoke wide variety of wildlife to be found along the banks. blackened walls and brick ledges on the long walls to take the ends of rods or speets (now gone) placed There is an extensive PROW system with associated across the building and threaded with fish. guided walking and cycling routes provided by the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership The Moat and associated closes at Marshall’s Bridge68 is an abandoned medieval moated residence Published and marked walks are Royal Military Canal, and an area of associated small fields, or closes the Magic of the Marsh and Marsh Meanders. which is a scheduled ancient monument. The moat is medieval and is located near the junction of Pickney Buildings/ heritage assets Bush Road and St Mary’s Road. It survives mostly as buried remains. The moat was strategically placed Dymchurch to allow control of the drainage and water supply system of the area and lay on the intersection of three A significant group of listed buildings is in the former parishes. conservation are centred on St Peter and St Paul Church in Dymchurch. The cluster of listed buildings Other important community buildings includes the church itself, The Ship, New Hall, the in Dymchurch include: Rectory, The Old Manor House Dymchurch Village Hall, Orgarswick Avenue New Hall House is the Old Magistrates Court with Jail. It is now private office and a museum which is The village hall is a busy community centre with open by appointment67. There is a gaol next door a children centre, short mat bowls, Spanish and consisting of 2 rooms which was in use until 1866. French language classes and Art Classes, dancing and slimming world. There is a clairvoyant evening The Rectory is now a privately run care home. The once a month. The Dymchurch Active Retirement group also includes The Ship public house and The Association also meet here. Old Manor House. Next to the village hall is an old hand operated water There are other groups of listed buildings in pump. A plaque on the brick work reads; Dymchurch. One cluster is on the high street: from 21 to 27, the cottages date from the late C18 and further ‘This village pump was located in the catchment along, the Old Manor House at 100 High Street C17 board yard next to the new hall; water was carried by or earlier with a C19 facade. There is also 119-121 High yoke and bucket to cottages without wells, prior to Street which dates from the late C16 or C17. Littlestone Water Co mains being laid in 1927’.

-34- Romney Marsh

Plater Hall (formerly the Dymchurch Library) is on • The Levin Club in Seaway Gardens the sea wall next to the Memorial Hall and is owned • The Cadet Centre, Jefferson Lane by the Environment Agency. • The Post Office in Teelin Close

Memorial Hall, Sea Wall, Dymchurch – this is the St Mary in the Marsh home of the Royal British Legion The Star Inn69 The Methodist Church is the venue for the Dymchurch and District Heritage Group, Public House opposite the church is the Star Inn, Grade II listed. In front of the pub has a listed Other buildings in Dymchurch include: telephone kiosk in front. Noel Coward lived in a cottage next to the pub for several years and wrote • Dymchurch Parish Council Offices, his first successful play here. Orgarswick Avenue • Scout Hut Just down the road from the church is Haffenden • Cadet Hut Farmhouse, a grade II listed property dating from • Methodist Church 1600. • RHDR Station • Dymchurch Fire Station on Mill Road St Mary in the Marsh Village Hall – Proposed • Sports Pavilion on Dymchurch Recreation Ground St Mary in the Marsh are raising funds for a village • Dymchurch Post Office hall. The village hall committee have tried 3 times for Lottery funding, but have not been successful. The St Mary’s Bay Parish Council purchased the land by the pub for the site of the hall as its contribution towards the project. St Mary’s Bay Village Hall Newchurch The village hall in St Mary’s Bay is a very busy and successful venue. Activities at the hall include: There are a several listed buildings in Newchurch, • St Marys Bay Computer Club near to the church: the Old School House, now a • Tai Chi for health private house dates from mid C19, The Old Rectory • St Mary’s Bay Camera Club and Frostland Farmhouse. C18 or earlier with C20 • Multiple sclerosis society support group alterations both Grade II and the Old Rectory, also • Romney Marsh Flower Arrangers Grade II listed. The old pub, The Black Bull, is now a • Complete Martial Arts (CMA) private house and is Grade II listed. • Street Dance • Middlemarsh women’s institute Newchurch Village Hall

There is also the very popular and successful Bingo The Village Hall is very active in the community. Club held on Saturdays and Wednesdays. In 2014, Part of the building is used as a social club which the Parish Council installed a war memorial and is open every day except Tuesday. There is a flowerbeds outside the hall. regular programme of events including the Easter Fun Day. Short Mat Bowls and a baby and toddler Other buildings in St Mary’s Bay include: group operate from here. There is a dog training • All Saints Church Hall group, badminton, WI and an auction every second

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Thursday of the month in the evening. The Post office Royal Military Canal (RMC) operates out of the village hall every Tuesday from 3pm to 4pm The northern boundary of the ward is the Royal Military Canal which is also a popular visitor Memorial to Arthur William Clarke70 attraction. The Royal Military Canal was constructed between 1804 and 1809 and runs from Seabrook, By the side of the road south of Newchurch is a near Folkestone, through the Romney Marsh and memorial to Pilot Officer Arthur William Clarke. on to . It was built as a line of defence against invasion, but ultimately was used to prevent Not far from Newchurch is Moated site and smuggling and improve transport links. This is a associated fields71, 460m north east of Pickney Scheduled Ancient Monument and its primary use Bush Farm. A Scheduled Ancient Monument, the today is to drain the Marsh. The canal is managed by monument includes an abandoned medieval moated the Environment Agency and is a popular site for bird residence and an area of associated small fields, or watching and other wildlife, some of its stretch is SSSI closes. It is situated towards the centre of Romney and the rest is designated as a local wildlife site73 74. Marsh on low-lying, artificially drained land around 2km south east of Newchurch. Martello Towers 23, 24 and 2575

Burmarsh These Grade II listed buildings were erected in 1806 as part of the coastal defence- against an The Shepherd and Crook pub in Burmarsh is Grade II invasion from Napoleonic France. Built of brick with listed and dates from the early C19. a coating of cement on the outside and the walls are 51/2 to 6 ft thick. It is built around a centre column 5 ft Rothschild Farmhouse is Grade II listed is on the thick and consists of two storeys with a flat roof as a south east outskirts of the village. C18 with early C19 gun platform. alterations and Haymakers, also Grade II listed, is to the west of the village. Martello 24 and 25 were placed to protect the marshland sluice. Martello 23 is privately owned. Between Burmarsh and Newchurch, south of Chapel Martello 25 (below) is situated in the car park next Lane, is a World War II underground operational to the A259 and is in poor condition. post72. A scheduled ancient monument, the hide survives well and is a good example of its type. It Tower 23 is a museum first opened to the public includes original fittings such as two double decker in 1969, and remains as a museum of Martello bunk beds, a wooden seat, shelves and a water tank. Towers, owned by English Heritage. It is currently The base is cleverly concealed and was intended to the only tower solely devoted to the history of the act as an operating position for British resistance in Martello Towers. the event of an invasion by enemy forces.

There are listed Red Telephone Kiosks at New Beach Holiday Centre, Burmarsh village centre, and outside the pub in St Mary in the Marsh.

Martello # 25

-36- Romney Marsh

Airfields outside St Marys, Newchurch and Car Parks St Mary in the Marsh There are two Shepway Pay & Display car parks in There are a four abandoned airfields in the Romney Dymchurch; one in Orgarswick Avenue and one Marsh ward - near St Mary’s Bay, St Mary in by the seawall which is the site of Martello Tower the Marsh, Littlestone and Newchurch76 77. The number 25. There is a further pay and display car Advanced Landing Ground just outside Newchurch park on Orgarswick Avenue, that serves the village was a major airfield in use between 1943 and 1944 hall. There is a car park at St Mary’s Bay (High and was one of the more successful and Knocke). This car park has a kiosk and public toilets. the busiest78. There is also a privately owned car park at St Mary’s Bay, on the seafront near the end of Jefferstone Lane. RAF New Romney was situated in the area behind where the St Marys Bay Village Hall is and was Full details of all council run car parks are available on operational between 2 July 1943 and 13 December the Shepway website79. There is also an interactive 1944. parking map where you can zoom into any area of the district and find information about all our car St Mary in the Marsh (aka Honeychild / RAF parks, their location, number of spaces and how long New Romney operated between 2 July 1943 - 19 you can park. December 1944 when it was derequisitioned. Places of worship Sea Wall, Beach and Promenade The churches of Romney Marsh are an important The sea wall is a significant feature of the ward. It feature of the area and attract visitors from far and was constructed by the Environment Agency at a wide. There is a great deal of information on the cost of £60m and opened in 2011. A time capsule website of the Romney Marsh Historic Churches80 was buried in one of the concrete pillars by the website who also produce a handy leaflet. Dymchurch and District Heritage Group. It contains messages and items and it is intended to be opened Romney Benefice of Churches and times of services in July 2111. for churches in Dymchurch, Newchurch, St Mary-in- the-Marsh and St Mary’s Bay.81 The promenade is a popular walking and cycling route between the Redoubt and St Mary’s Bay. The St Peter and St Pauls Church, Dymchurch EA are currently working to improve safety for users of the revetments. St Peter & St Paul Church in Dymchurch is Grade II*. The building dates from C12 and was restored in The beach is very popular with families and visitors 1821. There is a listed sundial in the churchyard in the summer months. Near the church at the junction of New Hall Close Looker Huts and the A259 there is a war memorial. Inside the church there is a memorial cross to TW Underhill. A remnant of the sheep farming history survives in the occasional looker hut. These huts evolved to provide storage and temporary accommodation to Lookers, (a type of shepherd). They are simple buildings and about 12 remain standing in the Dymchurch area.

-37- Romney Marsh

Other places of worship in Dymchurch are: built. It was then reinforced, before another level was added, resulting in the ‘bent’ shape. • St Monica’s Roman Catholic Church, Dymchurch All Saints Church, Burmarsh • Dymchurch Methodist Church • Kingdom Hall, Hythe Road, This church is listed Grade II*. Some parts of the Dymchurch, Jehovah Witness church date from C12. It was restored in 1878. Two of the original bells are still in use while the tenor All Saints Church, St Mary’s Bay bell stands on the floor in north-east corner of nave. It has an impressive Norman doorway topped by a grotesque man’s face.

Albert Butcher and Simeon Beale who lost their lives in the Great War are commemorated on the Rood Screen in the church. The church stands 4 m below sea level.

Ruined Churches

The remains of Eastbridge Church82 lie to the west There is a Sunday Club is for children of primary of the village of Burmarsh between Burmarsh and school age which meets every Sunday morning at Newchurch on Chapel Lane. 10.30am in the church hall, Jefferstone Lane. The ruins are Grade II listed and a scheduled ancient The church contains a war memorial. monument. The original church dated from about the 12th century. All that remains are 2 tall fragments of Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Mary in the Marsh

Church of St Mary and the Virgin is Grade I listed. The church dates from C12, and the grave of Edith Nesbit, the author of The Railway Children, is in the graveyard.

There is a memorial to the Great War inside the church.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul, Newchurch tower and west wall of nave. A ditch surrounds the This is a Grade I listed parish church dating from church, forming an island with an entrance, denoted C13, restored circa 1845. The church holds regular by a break in the ditch, on the south side onto Chapel coffee mornings every Saturday and there is a history Lane. The rest of the foundations were excavated exhibition. The church has a war memorial to in 1933. The chancel has an irregular plan and is A H Link. thought to be of the 14th century. It contains the remains of a brick altar. The church is known for its ‘bent’ tower which is due to subsidence occurring when the tower was first

-38- Romney Marsh

The Parish of Eastbridge was partitioned between Burmarsh and Newchurch parishes in 1934.

On the outskirts of New Romney, just inside the ward boundary on the Ashford Road, lie the ruins of a medieval parish church (C12-C13), Hope All Saints83. The Parish of Hope All Saints was incorporated in the parish of St Mary in the Marsh in 1934. The church had fallen into decay by 1573 and into ruins by mid C17. The church is Grade II listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The Orgarswick Church memorial on the Eastbridge Road, is Grade II listed.

Religious beliefs Romney Marsh Shepway Kent Christian 5,049 70.2% 62.3% 62.5% Buddhist 17 0.2% 0.9% 0.5% Hindu 13 0.2% 1.4% 0.7% Jewish 6 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Muslim 18 0.3% 0.7% 1.0% Sikh 1 0.0% - 0.7% Other religion 20 0.3% 0.5% 0.4% No religion 1,563 21.7% 26.5% 26.8% Religion not stated 502 7.0% 7.6% 7.3%

-39- Romney Marsh Arts and culture

Romney Marsh Ward has a wide variety of groups interested in arts and culture. These include:

Groups Club Meeting location St Mary’s Bay Camera Club St Mary’s Bay Village Hall Dymchurch Players84 Dymchurch Village Hall French and Spanish groups Dymchurch Village Hall The Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust Ballroom/Sequence/Line Dancing St Marys Bay Village Hall Dymchurch Art Society Dymchurch Village Hall St Marys Bay Computer Club and genealogy St Marys Bay Village Hall Haywardians choir St Mary in the Marsh Dymchurch and District Heritage Group85 Methodist Church Romney Marsh Historical Churches Trust Romney Marsh Creative IMOS Foundation hART (artists of Hythe and Romney marsh) www.hARTists.co.uk Ace Music Club Memorial Hall on Sea Wall Romney Marsh Flower Arrangers St Marys Bay Village Hall Newchurch Village Productions Newchurch Village Hall The Dymchurch and District Heritage Group are establishing a heritage trail around Dymchurch86.

Events and venues

Various popular events are held in the ward every year. These include:

South East Open Studios (June) Romney Marsh area Remembrance Day Parade (Nov) Dymchurch Day of Syn (August every 2nd year) Dymchurch Art in Romney Marsh Cycle Ride (Sept/Oct) Romney Marsh JAM on the Marsh (July) Romney Marsh

Art in Romney Marsh88 is an annual visual arts festival. The exhibitions and performances take place in the medieval churches Of Romney Marsh.

JAM89 is a creative organisation, formed in 2000, to nurture, commission, perform and promote music in the UK. JAM on the Marsh is a multi-art festival built around Kent’s Romney Marsh and its medieval churches. The festival crosses the Romney Marsh from Dungeness to Hythe and to New Romney. There are 19 events programmed over 10 days in July each year.

-40- Romney Marsh

Tourist attractions

Dymchurch is a popular seaside resort, complete with holiday camp, caravan parks, light railway station and amusement park.

Dymchurch is well known for its glorious beach which attracts many thousands of visitors every year. The sandy beach is quite flat and stretches from north to south for over three miles.

Dymchurch Parish Council is keen to support the local economy by promoting the village as a family holiday destination.

Listed buildings are not classified as tourist attractions but they do contribute to the distinctive character and appearance of the area.

Attractions for visitors include:

• Lathe Barn Tea Rooms and Restaurant87, Donkey Street, Tearooms restaurant, children’s farm and play area, gift and craft shops and animals • Haguelands Farm88, includes Maize Maze • The beaches at Dymchurch and St Mary’s Bay including donkey rides, sea wall promenade and other beach activities. • MW’s Fun Fair, Dymchurch • Martello Towers89 • The Churches of Romney Marsh (see Places of Worship) • Cycling on Romney Marsh

Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (RHDR)90

A tourist attraction within the ward is the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch steam railway which runs through the entire length of the ward. There are stops at Dymchurch, St Mary’s Bay and Romney Warren. It was opened in 1927 and is the smallest public railway in the world.

The trains are third-scale steam and diesel locomotives. The track runs parallel to coast from Hythe to Dungeness. The trains run on a gauge of 15 inches (380 mm) in width, and the track is nearly 14 miles (23 km) long.

The RHDR employs approx 40 full time staff and approx an additional 20 during the peak season (across its operations). There is a very active volunteer team of approximately 60 volunteers.

The RHDR Association is a registered charity and has approx 2,500 members. Members are entitled to generous discounts on the ticket prices. They attend community events to give presentation on their history and operation.

The RHDR hold regular events every year including a Steam and Diesel Gala, Santa Express, Hythe Festival Safari Train and a Children’s Charity Day. They have been awarded a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence (2014) and Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction.

-41- Romney Marsh

Accommodation

Romney Marsh is home to several caravan parks. Many of them also have permanent vans on site. Caravan Park Approx number of sites Daleacres New Beach Holiday Village, 133 Hythe Road, Dymchurch, Romney Marsh 619 01303 872233 Beach Bank Caravan Park, Dymchurch Road, Hythe. 22 01303 269484 Eastfleet Caravan Site, Hythe Road, Dymchurch 136 Marlie Farm Holiday Village, Dymchurch Road, New Romney, TN28 8UE. 617 01797 363060 Jesson Court Caravan Site, Jefferstone Lane, St Marys Bay, Romney Marsh 47 01797 363060 Orchard Caravan Park, Burmarsh Road, Dymchurch, TN29 OJR 76 E & J Piper Caravan Park, St Marys Road, Dymchurch. 270 01303 872103 Dymchurch Caravan Park, St Mary's Road, Dymchuch 250 Selby Field Caravan Park, Lower Wall Road, Burmarsh, CT21 4NW. 75 Ardingley, Norwood Farm, Newchurch 20

Other accommodation options for There are a number of pubs in the ward, half of tourists are several B&Bs. them are located in Dymchurch: • Waterside Guesthouse91 • City of London • Sycamore House • Neptune (now part of • Dr Synn’s Guest House New Beach Holiday Park) • Honeychild Manor Farm92 • Ship Inn • Wenvoe House • Ocean Inn • Street Farm B&B, Newchurch • Stable Cottage and Eaton Barn (nr Lathe St Mary’s Bay has a pub, The Bailiff Sargeant Barn, Burmarsh) (a Shepherd Neame pub).98 The rest are rural village pubs: There are a number of self catering • The Star Inn, St Mary in the Marsh cottages including: • The Shepherd and Crook, Burmarsh • Amberley Cottage93 • The Botolphs Bridge pub, just inside • Dormers Cottages94 the ward boundary at and • Seabreeze Holiday Apartments95 is a popular base for exploring the • Seaspray96 Romney Marsh. • Sunnycroft97 The Newchurch House Restaurant in Newchurch is the only restaurant in this part of Romney Marsh.

-42- Romney Marsh Crime

There is no police station in Romney Marsh Ward. The nearest Police Station is at 109-113 Station Road, Lydd, Romney Marsh, TN29 9LL. It is not a fully functioning police station and is mainly used as an office for the Police Community Safety Officers (PCSO) that work across the Marsh and the Kent County Council (KCC)

Community Warden100 is also based here. The PCSO that covers Dymchurch and St Mary’s is PCSO Zsinko. The KCC Community Warden is John Lodge.

Details of all Police Contact Points across Shepway can be found on the following web page http://www.kent.police.uk/contact_us/pages/Shepway_meetings.html.

Detailed crimes statistics for each local area are available from: www.police.uk. Shepway District Council officers and councillors can access mapped crime data from the Atlas GIS under the ‘Statistical Information’ layer. More detailed statistics on crime rates in the wards will emerge as the reporting systems and data capture processes are updated by the relevant authorities to reflect the new ward boundaries.

-43- Romney Marsh Endnotes/websites

1. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/population-estimates-for-uk--england-and-wales--scotland-and-northern-ireland/2013/stb---mid- 2013-uk-population-estimates.html 2. http://acorn.caci.co.uk/ 3. http://www.kmpho.nhs.uk/ 4. http://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/information-and-data/Facts-and-figures-about-Kent/area-profiles 5. Shepway Green Infrastructure Report July 2011 6. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-161 7. www.rmaidb.co.uk 8. The figure too small to be displayed as a percentage 9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnox_Ltd 10. http://www.nda.gov.uk/ 11. http://www.ruralkent.org.uk/ourwork/grants-funding.htm 12. http://www.romney-resource.co.uk/ 13. http://www.marshacademy.org.uk/ 14. www.marshmillion.co.uk 15. https://www.gov.uk/rural-development-programme-for-england-leader-funding 16. http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/fifth_continent_lp_programme_summary.pdf 17. http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/ 18. http://www.newbeachholidaypark.co.uk/ 19. http://www.haguelandsvillage.co.uk/ 20. http://www.rhdr.org.uk/fares.html 21. http://www.dymchurch.kent.sch.uk/ 22. http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/childcare-and-pre-school/childrens-centres/shepway-childrens-centre/dymchurch-childrens-centre 23. http://www.sunshineandshowersnursery.co.uk/ 24. [email protected] 25. http://www.girlguidingkenteast.org.uk/Content/RomneyMarsh.aspx 26. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/index.html 27. http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/ 28. http://www.dymchurch-angling.co.uk/ 29. http://www.romneymarshdogtraining.co.uk/ 30. http://www.romneymarshwalkingsociety.org.uk/ 31. http://www.thorntonrc.co.uk/ 32. http://www.kent.gov.uk/waste-planning-and-land/public-rights-of-way/rights-of-way-map 33. http://www.royalmilitarycanal.com/pages/walks_1.asp 34. Percentage of mothers either exclusively breastfeeding or partially breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks, 2012/13 35. Emergency admissions for Acute Myocardial Infarction, age standardised rate per 100,000 population, FCE=1, 2011/12 to 2013/14 36. Emergency admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, age standardised rate per 100,000 population, FCE=1, 2011/12 to 2013/14 37. Emergency admissions for diabetes, age standardised rate per 100,000 population, FCE=1, 2011/12 to 2013/14 38. Emergency admissions for falls, age standardised rate per 100,000 population, FCE=1, 2011/12 to 2013/14 39. Emergency admissions for people aged 65+, age standardised rate per 100,000 population, FCE=1, 2011/12 to 2013/14 40. Mortality from cancer, persons aged under 75, 2010 to 2014, age standardised rate per 100,000 population 41. Mortality from circulatory disease, persons aged under 75, 2010 to 2014, age standardised rate per 100,000 population 42. Mortality from respiratory disease, persons aged under 75, 2010 to 2014, age standardised rate per 100,000 population 43. Based on 2010-2014 deaths, population (2010 to 2013, 2013 used twice as an estimate for 2014) 44. http://www.bethanylodge.co.uk/ 45. http://www.dymchurchlegion.co.uk/ 46. http://members.eastkentfreemasons.org/our-province/lodges/69-dymchurch.html 47. http://www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk/ 48. D aefend Our Coast 49. http://www.sombre.org/ 50. http://www.oil-club.co.uk/ 51. http://www.newchurchsocialclub.co.uk/ 52. http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/ShowCharity/registerofcharities/mapping/Search.aspx 53. http://www.thelooker.co.uk 54. http://www.theromneymarsh.net/index.htm 55. The Romney Marsh.net http://www.theromneymarsh.net/about_us.htm#acknowledgements http://searchplanapps.shepway.gov.uk/online- applications/ 56. http://www.superfast-openreach.co.uk/where-and-when 57. http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/speedtest/streetstats/ 58. http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_mapping 59. http://www.kentdowns.org.uk/ 60. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map?lat=56.54737192673878&lng=-3.142090281250036&zoom=5&route-type=all-routes&filters= 61. www.rmcp.co.uk 62. http://www.dymchurch-amusements.co.uk/ 63. http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/romney-marsh-visitor-centre 64. http://www.kent.gov.uk/waste-planning-and-land/public-rights-of-way/rights-of-way-map 65. http://www.royalmilitarycanal.com/pages/walks_1.asp

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66. New Hall House 01303 872314 67. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1005132 68. http://www.thestarinn-themarsh.co.uk/ 69. http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk/Information/Jottings/People/Arthur%20Clarke.htm 70. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1016682 71. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1003781 72. www.royalmilitarycanal.com 73. http://kentpoi.co.uk/wh/pdf/Royal-Military-Canal.pdf 74. http://www.kentpoi.co.uk/historic/martello/index.html 75. http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?board=70.0 76. http://www.abct.org.uk/ 77. http://newchurchvillage.org/history/newchurch-ww2/advanced-landing-ground/ 78. www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/201641/4434 79. http://rmhct.org.uk 80. http://www.dymchurchchurch.org.uk/ 81. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1231104 82. http://list.historicengland.org.uk/printreport.aspx?img=1&ld=1 83. www.dymchurchplayers.co.uk 84. http://www.dymchurchheritagegroup.co.uk 85. www.dymchurchheritagegroup.co.uk/#/the-heritage-trail/4578358853 86. www.lathebarn.co.uk 87. http://www.artinromneymarsh.org.uk/ 88. www.jamconcert.org 89. www.rhdr.org.uk 90. www.watersideguesthouse.co.uk 91. http://www.honeychild-farm-bnb.co.uk/ 92. http://www.seabreezeholidayapartments.co.uk/index%20amberley.htm 93. http://www.dormerscottages.co.uk/ 94. http://www.seabreezeholidayapartments.co.uk/ 95. http://www.kentholidayhomes.org/index.php?op=mi&id=23&pl=Dymchurch 96. http://www.kentholidayhomes.org/index.php?op=mi&id=37&pl=Dymchurch 97. http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/pubs/st-marys-bay/bailiffs-sergeant 98. The Looker http://www.thelooker.co.uk 99. Kent County Council Community Wardens http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/community-safety/community-wardens

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