News

Sandgate High Street 20mph Zone Consultation

After many years campaigning by local residents, Kent County Council have accepted proposals for a limited size Sandgate High Street 20mph zone through the centre of Sandgate. This is subject to a positive public consultation and Sandgate Parish Council finding the funding to implement the scheme.

The Sandgate High Street 20mph zone is in response to many concerns about safety in the centre of the village. Many people have made the case that the zone could be longer, or supported by more measures, than is proposed. However this scheme is the very maximum Kent County Council will allow to be installed, now.

The maps below show the extent of the 20mph limit in the area. Essentially the restriction will run along the A259 Sandgate High Street from the junction with Saga / Enbrook Park along to the junction with Wilberforce Road nearest to Homevale House. Roads off the High Street will also be included as marked – Castle Road, Lachlan Way, Gough Road, Granville Road East, Granville Parade, The Parade, Granville Road West, The Undercliff, The Crescent, Wilberforce Road & Hillside.

We need you to express your view on the scheme to give Kent County Council confidence to proceed. The more positive responses they receive, the more likely they will accept implementation of the scheme.

Sandgate High Street 20mph zone: Good Questions

Will the 20mph zone be legally enforceable?

Yes, but as with 30mph zones, the Police time to do so is limited.

The Sandgate Speedwatch team will be able to do their volunteer sessions in the zone reminding people of their speed. With that, and the huge majority of people hopefully understanding the clear signage and need for it, will slow down traffic in itself.

How will the new limit be promoted?

There will be new and clear 20mph signs on each approach to the zone, and the current “30” roundels will be repainted to “20”. It is not proposed to add any speed bumps or width restrictions to the road (it’s loud and tight enough already).

Is a 20mph zone actually safer?

Clearly, the slower you are travelling, the more opportunity drivers have to see and react to “events” happening in front of them, and the data shows there are less accidents.

That’s not to say accidents won’t still happen. However the key point is a crash at 30mph involves twice as much energy and destructive potential as a crash at 20mph.

www.brake.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/mybrake/knowledge-centre/speed/speed-and-injury

Do 20mph zones cause more pollution?

20mph zones do not appear to worsen air quality. They also support a shift to walking and cycling, generate less traffic noise and reduce the division of communities. In 20mph zones vehicles move more smoothly with fewer accelerations and decelerations. 

www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/20mph-speed-limit-and-air-pollution

When will it come into force?

That’s rather in the hands of Kent County Council, but we hope in the spring of this year if the consultation response is favourable. It will only become enforceable when the clear signage, and associated road traffic orders, are in place.

What impact will it have on parking?

No parking spaces are being lost as part of this proposal.

With luck, lower speeds may result in less wing mirrors being lost from cars at the Hythe end of Sandgate High Street, but that’s only a hope.

I support this scheme. How do I say so?

Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with your name and address and state you SUPPORT the 20mph scheme for Sandgate. You can give any other comments if you wish.

Alternatively you can use the form below and return to Sandgate Library. Please respond (by email or returning the form) by Noon on 31st January 2025 at the latest.

I support this scheme but wish the zone was bigger / longer / covered other areas. How do I say so?

Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with your name and address and state you SUPPORT the 20mph scheme for Sandgate. Make sure you add comments as to what else you would like to see. You can give any other comments if you wish.

Alternatively you can use the form below and return to Sandgate Library. Please respond (by email or returning the form) by Noon on 31st January 2025 at the latest.

I oppose this scheme. How do I say so?

Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with your name and address and state you OPPOSE the 20mph scheme for Sandgate. You can give any other comments if you wish.

Alternatively you can use the form below and return to Sandgate Library. Please respond (by email or returning the form) by Noon on 31st January 2025 at the latest.

I have some questions: who can I ask?

Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with any questions.

The Sandgate High Street 20mph zone scheme we are consulting on is that which Kent Highways would accept being put in place: Sandgate Parish Council have no ability to change it. The scheme is either supported, and implemented as is, and then evaluated, or not. We’ve not been offered “options”.

Maps

24-FH-PAR-1543-Drawing-design-Page-1-of-2-V4

24-FH-PAR-1543-Drawing-design-Page-2-of-2-V4

Printable Consultation Document

2025-sandgate-high-street-20-mhp

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Pensioner Just Missing Out Scheme – £200 food/energy vouchers

The Pensioner Just Missing Out scheme supports Kent pensioners in need of help with significantly rising living costs. The scheme is available for pension-aged residents on lower incomes who are not eligible for Pension Credit or the government’s Winter Fuel Payment.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government.

Please note – you will need to provide an email address and have online access for energy support activation. Food vouchers will not require online activation and can be issued by email or post.

This scheme provides eligible residents with £200 towards energy, food, or both. The scheme will close on 28 February 2025, or when all funds are spent.

Pensioner-Just-Missing-Out-Scheme_A4-Poster__191224-2

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Christmas and New Year 2024 Sandgate Library and Parish Council Office Closure

Christmas Sandgate Library Closure:

  • Tuesday 24th December
  • Wednesday 25th December
  • Thursday 26th December
  • Wednesday 1st January

The parish office will be closed from 24th December until 2nd January.

Very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from all at Sandgate Parish Council and Library.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
2024 Christmas Household Waste and Recycling Collections in Folkestone & Hythe

2024 Christmas Household Waste and Recycling Collections in Folkestone & Hythe

Residents in Folkestone & Hythe are encouraged to make a note of changes to the household waste and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

Some collections will be made later than usual to allow hard-working crews to enjoy some time off over the festive season.

Original collection dateNew collection date
Monday 23 DecemberNo change
Tuesday 24 DecemberNo change
Wednesday 25 DecemberFriday 27 December
Thursday 26 DecemberSaturday 28 December
Friday 27 DecemberMonday 30 December
Monday 30 DecemberTuesday 31 December
Tuesday 31 DecemberWednesday 1 January
Wednesday 1 JanuaryThursday 2 January
Thursday 2 JanuaryFriday 3 January
Friday 3 JanuarySaturday 4 January


The household waste and recycling collections will return to normal on Monday 6 January. The revised schedule for specific properties can be found on the council’s website.

Cllr Jeremy Speakman, Cabinet Member for Assets and Operations, said:

“I would kindly ask residents who may have relatives, friends or neighbours without internet access to check this information for them so they don’t miss out on any collections.

“Christmas is a particularly busy time for crews – I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their efforts over the season and throughout the whole year.”

Meanwhile, garden waste collections are taking their usual winter break. The last collection will be on Friday 20 December before the service resumes on Monday 6 January.

A free real Christmas tree recycling service will be available again in the new year. Garden waste customers can simply leave them out on their usual collection day, while non-subscribers will need to arrange a collection in January.

There are various ways to reduce waste over Christmas – top tips will be shared on Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s social media channels in the coming weeks.

Veolia crews empty household waste bins with a fully-closed lid every fortnight – they are not able to take extra rubbish. Please recycle as much as you can; additional paper and cardboard can be put in another box for collection.

Residents are reminded to ensure their waste bin/box is out by 7am on collection day.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Consultation on Preventative Services

Kent County Council are consulting on changes to the preventative Services that it funds. It proposes to cut the Community Navigation service and significantly reduce wellbeing services for older people and adults with complex needs.

How to take part?

You can fill out the consultation online at www.kent.gov.uk/wellbeingconsultation

You can call Kent County Council on 03000 415846

You can send an email to innovationandpartnerships@kent.gov.uk

You can pick up a paper copy at:

  • Age UK Hythe, Sanford House, Stade Street, Hythe, CT21 6BD
  • The Marigold Centre, 65 Shaftesbury Avenue, Folkestone CT19 4NS
  • Romney Marsh Community Hub, Rolfe Lane, New Romney, TN28 8JR
Posted by Tim Prater in News

Santa and Sandgate Late Night Christmas Shopping 2024

So, this Friday 6th December is late night shopping night on Sandgate High Street and you are ALL invited!

There will be an extra special VIP in Sandgate Library who would be delighted to see the under 10s from 5.15pm – 6pm : free entry!

Up and down the High Street there will be plenty of places to go with friends and family.

Noyce will be open and happy to see you on the evening, as well as many other places that will be open including Workshopnumber29 with loads of perfect gifts for the perfect Christmas.

Friday is also the official reopening night for The Providence Inne Sandgate who we are delighted to welcome back with new owners Chris and Claire Louise! They have live music from The Swing Rats on Friday evening, and would love to see you, as would Docker Brewery (96 Sandgate High Street), The Ship Inn – Sandgate, Gee’s Bar – The Royal Norfolk Hotel and more!

ROKA Pizza are offering 15% off all orders for collection on their app on Friday 6th: their wood fired pizzas are ace, and if you haven’t tried a Roka dessert, try a Roka dessert.

And The Dog House will be open until 7.30 with hot drinks, cake and hosting a range of local artisans including Ann Blunt Glass, Carol Needham gifts, Sandgate ceramic and It’s A Florrie Thing Jewellery – another great source of Christmas gifts!

And why not join John Dory at 102 Sandgate High Street who will be serving mince pies and port by the glass from 7.30pm. A great way to round off your evening!

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Folkestone Rowing Club: The Day we Went Green

By Councillor Peter Hickman

The project to install solar panels onto the flat roof of Folkestone Rowing Club on Granville Parade got the green light to proceed by the in house committee back in the late spring of 2023. There were some challenges to overcome! These included funding, planning permission and getting the right design for the sometimes harsh environmental conditions that the panels would have to endure.

A small solar installation committee was formed consisting of Murray Fairclough (Oversight and finance), Peter Godden (FRC Building Surveyor and Planning), Karen Callander (Green grants and finance) and Peter Hickman (Project oversight, quotes and installation co-ordination).

A number of quotes were obtained and initially the committee decided on a ballast solution for the installation as this saved panel fixings being directly drilled into the waterproof roof membrane. However, when the final weight calculations were submitted to the FRC structural engineer he was unwilling to sign the project off as it effectively put eight tons of additional weight onto the100 plus year old roof.

It was time for a rethink. Peter Hickman approached Kevin Blackman from Emerald Electrical in Hythe to take a look at the issue of how to secure the panels without compromising the the waterproof membrane on the roof. The innovative solution is described more fully below.

The installation of 16 solar panels onto the flat roof of the FRC marks a significant achievement in innovative design. Emerald Electrical opted for a bespoke uni strut frame rather than a conventional ballast solution and this approach really showcases the innovation and how it is tailored to a specific architectural need. Unlike the ballast fix that relied on heavy weights to secure the panels, the uni strut frame used for our installation ensures a lighter, more secure, and aesthetically pleasing setup, minimising structural load on the flat roof while providing stable anchorage on the side walls for the panels.

The bespoke framing system was designed to accommodate the unique characteristics of the club’s roof. Given the challenges posed by potential wind uplift on flat surfaces, precise engineering was critical in optimising the frame’s positioning and alignment, ensuring that each panel will perform efficiently without being adversely affected by wind or adverse weather conditions. The structural adaptation included careful adjustments that protected the existing roof membrane, therefore avoiding potential water leaks and ensuring the long-term integrity of the installation.

The committee believes that this successful installation not only advances the club’s sustainability goals by reducing reliance on traditional energy sources but also demonstrates a commitment to innovative engineering solutions. The solar panels are expected to significantly cut electricity costs by harnessing the available sunlight, thereby reducing the club’s carbon footprint while providing a reliable, renewable energy source.

This project sets a precedent for similar installations within the community, illustrating how customised engineering solutions can effectively address site-specific challenges.

This was an ambitious project that at times proved challenging and I would personally like to thank my fellow committee members for all their hard work in getting this over the line. A special thank you goes to Karen Callender for pushing through the mountain of paperwork! Thank you Karen!

The installation commenced on Monday 18th November and was completed on Friday 22nd November. Our first green electricity was generated at 3pm on that day.

The cost of our system from the excellent Emerald Electrical Services was £8,100 (no VAT to pay) for a 16 panel 7.38kw system, with savings estimated to be up to £2,053 per year based on a unit rate of electricity being 33p. 40% of the capital cost was met by a grant from the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Green Business Grant scheme, offering grants of up to £10,000 to cover up to 40% of a total project cost.

Photos below courtesy of Issy Oakes Photography.

Posted by Tim Prater in Environment, News
Sandgate Beach Sea Bathing

Sandgate Beach Sea Bathing

Sandgate Parish Council has put up signs along the beach front informing residents and visitors that the quality of the water at our beach is normally excellent or good, but that after heavy rainfall or stormy conditions, the quality of the water may be adversely affected for up to 48 hours. The signs include websites and QR codes where further information on water quality may be found.

This follows work done by the Parish Council a year ago to test the water at Granville Parade, because of concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the data published by the Environment Agency and Southern Water. We decided that we should issue advice to sea users on best practice so that they may enjoy the sea in a safe manner – the signs that have now gone up.

Based on the sea water testing, Sandgate Parish Council reluctantly decided last year not to apply for the Seaside Award, Keep Britain Tidy’s nationwide standard for the best beaches across the UK.  Sandgate had been proud to receive the Seaside Award for the last ten years and the Parish Council wrote an open letter in April 2024 to various organisations to explain this decision (https://sandgatepc.org.uk/2024/04/04/sandgate-parish-council-and-the-seaside-award-2024/).

The Parish Council has again reluctantly decided not to apply for the Seaside Award this year, as conditions have not changed.

Our open letter contained specific recommendations for Southern Water and the Environment Agency and we can now provide an update on these as follows.

We recommended that Southern Water should update their wastewater handling so it no longer requires discharge of sewage to sea at Granville Parade (and elsewhere). We also recommended that, in the interim, the sewage outfall pipe at Granville Parade should be extended further out to sea by Southern Water to help keep sewage spillage away from the bathing area and beach.

Southern Water responded that they “do not have any plans to extend the sewage outfall pipe at Granville Parade as the Sandgate area is already achieving the Government’s target.”

We also recommended that the Environment Agency’s sampling point for Sandgate should be at Granville Parade as this is where most people swim. Currently, the sampling point for Sandgate is at Seabrook Point: a mile west from Granville Parade and to the west of a sewage outfall pipe. The prevailing current in this area runs west to east and testing therefore fails to pick up pollutants which are dissipated in an easterly direction towards Sandgate and Folkestone. The Environment Agency’s response explained that designations for bathing waters are decided by DEFRA. The Bathing Water Regulations and application guidance are currently being revised and during this time, DEFRA is not accepting applications for bathing water designation.

DEFRA expects to begin accepting applications again in Spring 2025 and the Parish Council, working with the District Council, will be applying to DEFRA for the beach at Granville Parade to be designated as bathing water, with water quality testing being undertaken at that location.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
Beach management work Winter 2024

Beach management work Winter 2024

The latest chapter of bi-annual beach management work helping to protect more than 3,000 homes and businesses from flooding starts next week.

Contractors will begin recycling and regrading shingle along the five-mile stretch of coast between Fisherman’s Beach in Hythe through Sandgate to Folkestone Harbour on Monday 4 November – a process that takes up to eight weeks to complete.

This approach is currently the most cost-effective way of protecting the district and offers far superior protection than the old timber groynes.

This important task, which will see 142,000 tonnes of shingle moved on this occasion, is carried out twice a year and helps shield the sea wall.

It’s all about further reducing the possibility of flooding and coastal erosion and, ultimately, protecting our residents.

Shingle is moved from east to west to allow the longshore drift to naturally spread it to aid the prevention of overtopping during storm events.

Any disruption will be kept to a minimum, and no work will be carried out between Christmas and the new year. 

Posted by Tim Prater in News