News

We’re delighted to be able to say that after some years of closure, Saga have reopened the West entrance to Enbrook Park, off Military Road, Sandgate.

The entrance was closed due to concerns about the stability of a dead tree, and also vandalism and anti-social behaviour by the entrance. Although the Parish Council have raised the closure with them regularly, those issues clearly needed addressing before the entrance could reopen.

Over the summer Saga (OK – mainly Paul, their Site Manager) have removed the dead tree, made the vandalised bridge safe and installed CCTV to monitor the area.

Parish Council Chair Tim Prater has passed on our thanks to Saga. The newly reopened entrance looks much better than the temporary barriers, and the residents that raised it with us over recent years will be delighted to have their walking route back!

Join us at Sandgate Library on Friday 25th September, from 10am–12pm for a Macmillan Coffee Morning.

Come along for a cuppa, a chat and a little something sweet, while helping to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Whether you pop in for five minutes or stay for the morning, we’d love to see you there!

Sandgate Library (CT20 3RR)

Friday 25th September

10am–12pm

Do your bit for better cancer care.

We’d also like to create something a little more lasting.

Over the coming weeks, we invite you to bring us a photograph and, if you’d like, the story of someone you love who has faced cancer. Together, we’ll create our Wall of Honour, a space to remember, celebrate and share the lives of those who have touched ours.

Because stories matter. Stories keep people alive. They carry memories, give meaning to our experiences and, when shared, help to feed and strengthen our communities.

And what better place to tell those stories than a library? Libraries are the heart of stories, places where people come together, where voices are heard and where memories can be shared.

Cancer is a loathsome beast, and alongside Macmillan, we want to help fight the stigma, shame and loneliness that can so often surround it.

So please, bring us your photographs and your stories, and help us fill our Wall of Honour with the people who matter.

Then join us on 25 September for coffee, cake, conversation and community as we honour the cancer warriors in our lives.

Everyone is welcome.

Local Plan Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20)

Folkestone & Hythe District Council is preparing a new Local Plan, which will help shape how the district develops in the years ahead. As part of the early stages of this process, we are inviting local people, organisations and stakeholders to take part in the scoping consultation.

The scoping consultation is an opportunity to tell us what you think the key issues are for the district, what the Local Plan should cover, and how we should engage with communities as the plan is prepared.

Your comments will help inform the next stages of the Local Plan process, including the development of the plan’s vision, objectives, evidence base and future policy content.  They will also help develop the council’s Communications and Engagement Strategy for future consultations.  

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Report

The council is also inviting comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report, which has been published alongside the Local Plan scoping consultation.   SEA assesses the significant sustainability issues and likely effects of emerging plans and policies, including reasonable alternatives.

This first stage of the SEA process sets the context and objectives, establishes the baseline, and defines the proposed scope and framework for later assessment. Consulting on the SEA Scoping Report allows stakeholders to comment early, helping identify issues of concern and improve the assessment as the Local Plan develops.

Consultation

The Scoping Consultation document and the SEA Scoping Report will be available to view on a new dedicated webpage which has been created for the local plan.  Paper copies will also be made available to view at the Civic Centre and at all libraries during normal office hours.

The consultation will start on the 7th September and close on the 16th October 2026 (5pm). Please submit your comments using the consultation portal or the dedicated form, which can be posted to the Civic Centre. If you need the consultation material in another format, language, or accessible version, or if you need support to take part, please contact us using the details provided on the council’s website.

We would welcome your views and encourage you to share this invitation with anyone who may have an interest in the future planning of the district.

The fireworks display planned for Saturday 29th has been postponed. It will now NOT be taking place this weekend.

However, the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival itself remains on for the evening of Saturday 29th August and all day Sunday 30th August.

Due to the high winds forecast for Saturday 29th, we have had to postpone the fireworks display. The first consideration has to be safety. The predicted wind speeds for tomorrow evening have now risen above that at which the Fireworks Team is confident we could go ahead.

On Saturday 29th there will still be stalls on the seafront and in Castle Road car park and live music from the Castle Road stage and Roger De Haan Charitable Trust Granville Parade stage from 6pm-10pm.

Sunday 30th August from 10am onwards we have a fun day for all the family with live music, stalls and entertainment along Granville Parade & throughout Sandgate.

FREE parking in the Enbrook Park main car park courtesy of Saga from 5pm-11pm Saturday and 10am-6pm Sunday. Please respect the park, ONLY park in marked bays in the main car park, and do not leave litter.

There are loads of events in venues throughout Sandgate. Even if the weather isn’t “all that” all weekend, with music in venues including The Royal Norfolk Hotel, The Providence, Mimosa (both in house and seafront!), The Famous Ship Inn, Bar 96 & Sandgate Members Club in addition to the Castle Road and Granville Parade stages on both Saturday and Sunday) there’s loads to sing along too, and much more besides!

We think there are in excess of 25 DJ’s, singers and acts across nine venues in the village – let us know if you find them all! Eat, eat, drink, be merry and sign along!

Road and Car Park Closures

Granville Parade and the roads leading to it will be CLOSED to through traffic and parking from noon on Saturday 29th August until 6pm on Sunday 30th August. Castle Road Car Park is also closed from noon on Saturday 29th August until 6pm on Sunday 30th. Cars left parked in those areas after noon on Saturday may be booked.

There is FREE PARKING in the Saga main car park in Enbrook Park over the weekend. You can park there all weekend but access will be CLOSED from 11pm Saturday until 8am Sunday. You can leave your car there if you don’t want to get it out in those hours!

Since announcing its vision for Enbrook Park in May, Saga has begun shaping its proposals while listening to feedback from local councillors, community leaders and residents, with comments also welcomed from the public via the Enbrook Park website.

The next step in that ongoing engagement is a public consultation event, which will be held on Monday 13th July, from 4.00pm to 7.00pm, in the Main Reception of the Saga Building at Enbrook Park. The event will provide an opportunity for people to view the proposals, ask questions and share their feedback.

Central to the vision is the restoration of The Pavilion, a former dining and childcare facility, into a flexible space for colleagues, local organisations and community events. To help fund the significant investment required and support the long-term maintenance of the site, Saga is considering some limited residential development on under-utilised parts of the estate to the east. The proposed area for development represents a small proportion of the overall site and would be designed to preserve Enbrook Park’s character while helping to secure a sustainable long-term future for Saga and its colleagues.

Saga’s ambition is for Enbrook Park to remain a vibrant part of Sandgate, supporting sustainable investment, employment and community benefit. The company is committed to developing a proposal that respects the character of the area and delivers lasting benefits for the wider community and local economy.

Further information about the proposals is available at www.saga.co.uk/enbrook-park.

Public consultation event

Members of the community are invited to attend a public consultation event to find out more about the proposals and help shape the plans.

• Date: Monday 13 July
• Time: 4.00pm – 7.00pm
• Venue: Main Reception, Saga Building, Enbrook Park

We are delighted that our beach at Granville Parade has been designated as a bathing water by DEFRA.

Please come along to celebrate this and join our community swim / dip / paddle, or even just gather on the beach if you don’t want to get wet!

It would be really wonderful to get a good crowd photo!

10am on Saturday 23 May at Granville Parade Beach.

Please spread the word!