News

With the sad news on the passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Sandgate Parish Council lowered the Union Flag on Sandgate Village Green to half mast at midday today.

Reverend Bob Weldon has announced that St Paul’s Church will be open for between 10 and 12 noon on Saturday for Private Prayer, and the Church of England have opened an online Book of Remembrance.

A national book of condolence is available on the website of The Royal Household. The Royal Household has requested that members of the public do not leave floral tributes or gather in public places to offer their respects. The Palace has suggested that people could donate to charity instead, if they wish to do so.

Chairman of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Cllr Ann Berry said:

“On behalf of the councillors and staff of Folkestone & Hythe District Council I would like to express our great sadness on hearing of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

“Prince Philip influenced the lives of so many through his Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme. We extend our deepest sympathies to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family at this time.

“According to protocol all flags on our civic buildings will fly at half-mast. The flags will only be returned to the mast head after the funeral has taken place. We urge other institutions and individuals to also fly their flags at half-mast.”

“From today, a period of national mourning began and will continue for eight days until the morning of the funeral. Staff and councillors will be asked to observe all official periods of silence so they can reflect on the great service HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh has offered this country and the Commonwealth nations over many decades.”

The closure notices for these works come in TWO Parts.

Part 1

Temporary Overnight Road Closures – B2064 Cheriton High Street, Cheriton, Folkestone – 23 & 26-28 April 2021

Overnight closures of B2064 Cheriton High Street, Cheriton, Folkestone are planned from Friday 23 April 2021 for up to 4 weekday nights, from 8.00 pm through to approximately 5.00 am each night. 

B2064 Cheriton High Street will be closed in phases between the junctions with B2064 Cheriton Approach (new traffic lights) and B2063 Risborough Lane, to the actual extent shown at any time.

The overall alternative route for all through traffic is via Cheriton Road (B2064 / A2034 / A259), A259 Castle Hill Avenue, Shorncliffe Road, Earls Avenue, Sandgate Road, Sandgate Hill, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate Esplanade, Seabrook Road, East Street, Prospect Road, Rampart Road, Red Lion Square, Dymchurch Road, Scanlons Bridge (Military Road in opposite direction), A261 London Road, Hythe Road, Ashford Road, Stanford Intersection, A20 Sandling Road, Ashford Road, Cheriton Interchange and B2064 Cheriton Approach.

Various side roads may need to be closed at their junctions with Cheriton High Street at certain times as the works progress, as and when indicated on site.

Personnel will be on site to allow managed access for residents and businesses 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 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=121686091

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

Part 2

Temporary Overnight Road Closures – B2064 Cheriton Road & Cheriton High Street, Folkestone – from 29 April 2021

Overnight closures of sections of B2064 Cheriton Road and Cheriton High Street, Folkestone are planned from Thursday 29 April 2021, with estimated completion by the night of 17 May 2021, 

Closures are from 8.00 pm through to approximately 5.00 am each night.

B2064 Cheriton Road and Cheriton High Street will be closed in phases between the junctions with A2034 Cherry Garden Avenue and B2063 Risborough Lane, to the actual extent shown at any time.

~ There will be no direct access between Folkestone and Cheriton during these closures ~

The signposted alternative route for through traffic is via Cheriton Road (B2064 / A2034 / A259), A259 Castle Hill Avenue, Shorncliffe Road, Earls Avenue, Sandgate Road, Sandgate Hill, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate Esplanade, Seabrook Road, East Street, Prospect Road, Rampart Road, Red Lion Square, Dymchurch Road, Scanlons Bridge (Military Road in opposite direction), A261 London Road, Hythe Road, Ashford Road, Stanford Intersection, A20 Sandling Road, Ashford Road, Cheriton Interchange and B2064 Cheriton Approach.

It may be necessary to close various side roads at their junctions with Cheriton Road and Cheriton High Street at certain times as the works progress, as and when indicated on site.

The following roads will become two-way during these works, as and when the relevant one-way signs are obscured:

Park Road, St Winifred’s Road, Grange Road, Coombe Road & Trimworth Road

Personnel will be on site to allow managed access for residents and businesses 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, 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=121689980

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

From Kent Highways: It will be necessary to close Coolinge Lane, Folkestone from 6th April 2021 for up to 2 days.

The road will be closed between the junctions of Sandgate Hill and Bathurst Road.

The alternative route is via Sandgate Hill, Grimston Avenue, Shorncliffe Road and Coolinge Lane.

It is planned that the road will be closed between 09:00 and 16:00 hrs each day.

This is to enable carriageway patching to be carried out by Kent County Council.

It will be necessary to close Seabrook Road, Hythe from 1st April 2021 for up to 1 night.

The road will be closed outside 11 Seabrook Road (near The Bell Inn).

The alternative routes are via:

Mill Road and Station Road.

B2063 Hospital Hill, B2063 West Road, B2063 North Road, B2063 Military Road, B2063 Risborough Lane, B2064 Cheriton High Street, M20, A20 Ashford Road, A261 Hythe Road, A261 London Road, A259 Military Road, A259 Rampart Road and A259 Prospect Road.

A259 Sandgate Esplanade, A259 Sandgate Hill, A259 Sandgate Road, A259 Earls Avenue, B2064 Shorncliffe Road, B2064 Beachborough Road, B2064 Cheriton High Street, M20, A20 Ashford Road, A261 Hythe Road, A261 London Road, A259 Military Road, A259 Rampart Road and A259 Prospect Road.

It is planned that the road will be closed between 19:00 and 23:00 hrs.

This is to enable manhole cover repairs to be carried out by Southern Water.

Do you have some special memories of Folkestone you’d like to share for a new community project?

Perhaps you used to visit the Rotunda regularly and met your partner there. Did you gaze in wonder at the rock being made in the Old High Street? Maybe you used to have a secret den in the Warren?

Or maybe you know someone in your family, or a friend who likes to wax lyrical about their memories or has some funny anecdotes?

Hand of Doom Productions, a Folkestone-based community interest company, would love to hear your memories and share them as part of a project called Folkestone StoryMap: Your Stories.

You can record your stories using a smartphone, or via a Zoom call, and then send them in. They’ll then be added to Folkestone StoryMap audio trail in the Lower Leas Coastal Park which launched at the end of last year. The trail uses QR codes fixed to a site specific location and are accessed via smart phones to listen to the stories.

Michele Sheldon, of Hand of Doom Productions, said:

“Everyone is aware that Folkestone has changed greatly over the last few years, with the loss of much-loved landmark attractions like the Rotunda, and there’s almost a sense of loss from people who remember the town as another place. We’d love to record memories of the town for posterity.”

Michele, along with fellow directors Ribs Norman and Jude Sach, is looking for stories of up to two minutes. Stories can be recorded stories either over the phone or via Zoom with help and advice available at folkestonestorymap.co.uk, or if you’d like more help to record your story, you can use the contact form on the website to get in touch.

Your Stories is being funded by the National Lottery Community Fund through the Local Connections Fund.

Please visit folkestonestorymap.co.uk for full details.