News

11
Aug
2021
Opportunity to comment on the draft Folkestone Town Centre Place Plan

Opportunity to comment on the draft Folkestone Town Centre Place Plan

Final feedback on the actions and priorities included in Folkestone town centre’s draft Place Plan is being sought from residents and businesses.

The Place Plan sets the direction for a sustainable and vibrant future for Folkestone Town Centre. Folkestone & Hythe District Council commissioned this work to ensure we can create the best future for Folkestone town centre and for all those who live in, work in and visit it.

Urbanism consultants We Made That have led on the Place Plan project, supported by a wide range of experts from other organisations giving input on.

Work to develop the Place Plan has been ongoing since February and over this period multiple workshops, surveys and webinars have been held to encourage as much engagement as possible.

The Place Plan identifies six key missions to overcome “the grand challenge”. This challenge has been identified by We Made That as stemming decline within the town centre, attracting investment, bringing together community groups whilst addressing the climate emergency. The draft plan presents tangible and exciting proposals for possible future changes to the area such as improved access into and throughout the town centre, business and employment opportunities, potential for more homes, and more green spaces.

The actions – which have suggested prioritisations – are the ways in which the ambition set out in the plan will be achieved. The plan recognises that there is a role for the council, public sector partners, businesses, investors and the community to deliver these actions.

Leader of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Cllr David Monk, said: “This project has progressed well and we want to give people the chance to submit any final comments on the priorities and actions that have emerged

Cabinet Member for the District Economy, Cllr David Wimble said: “I’m grateful to all those who have engaged with us through this project. All feedback and insights have been considered and this has helped shape the creation of final draft of this Place Plan.”

This final draft of the document will be going to Cabinet on 22 September 2021.

Residents and businesses have a chance to comment on the actions and priorities in the final draft of the Place Plan document until 20 August 2021. 

To view the final draft of the Place Plan and find out how to comment please visit folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/folkestoneplaceplan 

Posted by Tim Prater in News
09
Aug
2021
Temporary Overnight Road Closures – A2034 Cherry Garden Avenue, Folkestone – from 31 August 2021

Temporary Overnight Road Closures – A2034 Cherry Garden Avenue, Folkestone – from 31 August 2021

Weekday overnight closures of part of A2034 Cherry Garden Avenue, Folkestone are planned from Tuesday 31 August 2021 to the night of Wednesday 8 September 2021 inclusive, between 8.00 pm and approximately 5.00 am each night. 

A2034 Cherry Garden Avenue will be closed between A259 Churchill Avenue Roundabout and the junction with Sutton Close, as indicated on site.

The alternative route for through traffic is via A259 Churchill Avenue Roundabout, Churchill Avenue, Canterbury Road, Black Bull Road, Radnor Park Road (Pavilion Road in opposite direction) and A2034 Cheriton Road, and vice versa.

Cherry Garden Lane and Linksway will be closed at their junctions with Cherry Garden Avenue, with local diversions in place.

Various side-roads will be closed at their junctions with Cherry Garden Avenue as the works progress.

Personnel will be on site to allow managed access for residents when it is safe to do so, but there are likely to be delays and certain times when this is not possible for safety reasons.

The closures are to enable Kent County Council to carry out essential carriageway resurfacing works.

The works have been timed to be carried out overnight during the school holidays, to reduce their impact

Some delays are likely, especially earlier in the evenings, so it is recommended that motorists allow extra time for their journeys or consider using alternative routes during these works.

The planned dates and duration may change for various reasons including the current coronavirus situation and adverse weather conditions, with any changes signposted on site and notified locally.

The most up to date information on these works, together with a map, can be found here: https://one.network/?tm=122326305

The Kent County Council Highway Helpline phone number is 03000 418181 – please ask for Road & Footway Asset Team

A copy of the Public Notice is below for reference. 

Public-Notice-A2034-Cherry-Garden-Avenue-FolkestoneDownload
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Posted by Tim Prater in News
29
Jul
2021

Having Fun with Art, For the Young at Heart…

Having Fun with Art is an 8 week programme of creative workshops delivered by Strange Cargo Arts Company.

Exclusively for young people aged 55 and over our sessions offer a great opportunity to meet new people or come together with friends in a COVID-19 safe environment.

HFWA-poster

Posted by Tim Prater in News
19
Jul
2021

Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Church, Sat 24 July at 3pm

St Paul’s Church would like to invite you to a special service on Saturday 24th July. Visitors will be asked to write down the names of those who are no longer with us including the many who have died during the pandemic, and to give thanks to all who have worked tirelessly to keep our community safe. (Paper ‘leaves’ will be provided at the church).  These will be read out during the service and after which they will be planted under the roots of a white cherry tree in the grounds of St Paul’s as an everlasting reminder.

All are most welcome.

If you cannot attend but would like those people remembered please email: administrator@trinitybenefice.com

Posted by Tim Prater in News
05
Jul
2021

Shorncliffe Trust 2021 Heritage Walking Tour programme

The Shorncliffe Trust are pleased to announce new dates in our 2021 Heritage Walking Tour programme. Find out more about history on your doorstep by joining us for a 90 minute guided tour of the former military training land and learn more about its hidden heritage assets. Shorncliffe; birthplace of the modern British Army under Sir John Moore.

Tours Commence at 10.30 and 1pm and the starting point is at the gates of Shorncliffe Military Cemetery. Dates are as follows:

SUNDAYS:

  • 4th & 18th July
  • 1st & 15th August
  • 26th September

SATURDAY: 28th August

PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL – BOOK VIA THE LINK BELOW

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-shorncliffe-trust-7188589333#

Select your preferred date and time and book via Eventbrite (Adults £5 – Children Free)

Funds raised contribute to the aspirations of the Trust to create a Heritage and Education Centre at Shorncliffe. Please download and share details with friends and family.

Meet at the Gates of Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, West Road, Folkestone CT20 3HL. IMPORTANT: The ground is uneven and can be steep in some places. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothes for the weather conditions required, children under 14 must be accompanied. Please note, there are no welfare facilities on the site, nearest WC’s are at Tesco, Cheriton

Can you help to support the work of the Shorncliffe Trust to Make History, Save History?

The Trust are looking to strengthen their expertise at a vital time as we look to secure a building in which to create a Heritage and Education Centre from which to tell the significant story of Shorncliffe Garrison. The Trust seeks experienced people in the field of fundraising and bid writing; marketing and PR. The position of Treasurer is also available and tour Stewards are also sought.

If you are able to offer your time and expertise to our Heritage and Education Charity then please email our Secretary, Sue Law outlining your interest. Email: secretary@shorncliffe-trust.org.uk

The Shorncliffe Trust ‘”Make History – Save History”

Registered Charity Number 1152185

Posted by Tim Prater in News
22
Jun
2021

Folkestone graffiti tagger jailed for one year

A Folkestone graffiti tagger who cost his victims a total of £51,000 in damages has been jailed for a year.

On Wednesday 3 June 2020 at around 7.30am, Jordan Piper sprayed graffiti on two fence panels belonging to a guest house in Cheriton Road. CCTV captured the incident and it was shared on social media. A member of the public said he had seen the same style of graffiti in other areas of Folkestone and the matter was reported to Kent Police to investigate.

At around 12pm the same day Piper was also caught on camera spraying graffiti on the wall of a residential property in The Parade, whilst it was later identified that two vans parked in Brockman Road on 3 and 4 June had also suffered similar damage.

On Friday 12 June, outside Sainsbury’s on the Park Farm Industrial Estate, Piper was caught on camera spray-painting the same symbol on a brick wall around the back of the store. He was seen walking away before getting into a vehicle and leaving the area. The tag left on the wall was identical to the damage caused at the guest house.

It transpired that the same spray-painted design had been left in various other places across the Folkestone area, however not everyone had reported the damage to the police. As enquiries continued, other local homeowners and businesses did come forward including a number situated in Castle Hill Avenue, Middleburg Square and Sandgate Road.

Piper, 31, was identified and arrested at his home in Clifton Road, Folkestone, on Wednesday 24 June 2020. Subsequent searches of his property resulted in the discovery and seizure of a spray can along with clothing, sketch books, paint pens and artwork.

Following his guilty plea to twenty counts of criminal damage, he was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 18 June 2021.

Kent Police’s investigating officer, PC Chloe West, said: ‘Piper deliberately went out to deface property for his own enjoyment with no concept of the time it would take to remove it and the costs involved. Kent Police works closely with the local authority to deal with graffiti, which is classed as criminal damage and is therefore a crime. It can cause misery to people living and working in our communities and I hope Piper’s prison sentence acts as a warning to anyone who thinks this is acceptable.

‘I would encourage members of the public to report graffiti to us and to the local council so we can continue to take action against offenders.’

https://www.kent.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

https://folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/report-a-problem/graffiti

Posted by Tim Prater in News
19
Jun
2021

Sandgate Parish Council Annual Return 2020-21

Sandgate Parish Council is defined as a “smaller authority” for the purposes of publication of its annual accounts and statements.

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require that:

1. The accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested, during a period of 30 working days set by the smaller authority and including the first 10 working days of July.

2. The period referred to in paragraph (1) starts with the day on which the period for the exercise of public rights is treated as having been commenced i.e. the day following the day on which all of the obligations in paragraph (3) below have been fulfilled.

3. The responsible financial officer for a relevant authority must, on behalf of that authority, publish (which must include publication on the authority’s website):

(a) the Accounting Statements (i.e. Section 2 of the Annual Return), accompanied by:

(i) a declaration, signed by that officer to the effect that the status of the Accounting Statements are unaudited and that the Accounting Statements as published may be subject to change;

(ii) the Annual Governance Statement (i.e. Section 1 of the Annual Return); and

(b) a statement that sets out—

(i) the period for the exercise of public rights;

(ii) details of the manner in which notice should be given of an intention to inspect the accounting records and other documents;

(iii) the name and address of the local auditor;

(iv) the provisions contained in section 26 (inspection of documents etc.) and section 27 (right to make objections at audit) of the Act, as they have effect in relation to the authority in question.

All the required accounting statements, declarations, annual governance statement and additional statements are available in this 2021 Full Annual Return of Sandgate Parish Council. The declared period for the exercise of Public Rights is 21 June – 6 August 2021, but in practice it was published on the Sandgate Parish Council website on 19 June 2021.

Sandgate-PC-Notice-of-Public-Rights-Publication-of-Unaudited-Annual-Governance-Accountability-Return-YE-31-March-2021

Scanned pdf documents do not comply with the Accessibility Regulations but the above documents can be provided in an alternative format or on alternative media, on request.

There is a National Audit Office guide Local Authority Accounts: A guide to your rights.

Posted by Tim Prater in Council, News, Resources