News

Sandgate beach has been named as one of country’s best beaches by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy – for the eighth year running!

In these uncertain times, it is good to have some certainty and anyone visiting Sandgate Beach this summer can be sure that they are visiting one of the country’s – and the world’s – best beaches.

With the current travel restrictions and the likelihood of foreign holidays being cancelled, a day trip to a beach is likely to be the highlight of most people’s summer.

Sandgate joins the country’s very best beaches, from popular holiday spots to quiet, more hidden-away spots. What unites them all is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Deputy Chief Executive Richard McIlwain said:

“The success of Sandgate in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.

“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.

“This year, with the pressure on local services created by COVID-19, we would urge anyone visiting this fantastic beach to help out by taking their rubbish home with them and leaving the beach as they found it.

Tim Prater, Chairman of Sandgate Parish Council, said:

‘The last few months have been a trial for everyone. However, our beach is a source of delight and place of respite for many, and its great to see it recognised not just locally as a great place to be, but by this national award too.

“It’s the eighth year running that Sandgate has won this award, and is the only beach in Folkestone and Hythe to have done so.”

“Sandgate have received this award for the last eight years not just due to the quality of our beach, but also due to the hard work of many people. they include Marie and the team that keep it clean, Councillors like Nabin Siwa and non-Councillors working as a team, and the Parish Council making sure the key facilities are in place: it just wouldn’t happen without all of them. It’s something our village can be rightly proud of.”

Sandgate Parish Council is inviting applications for the services of a caretaker at Sandgate Park (the recreation ground), to include the following:

• To check leaf fall and clear where necessary
• To litter pick and dispose of in litter bins
• To check notice board for out-of-date notices and post new notices as required
• To clean notice boards and all signage; to report any damages to the parish clerk
• To check litter bins are not overfilled and to report any damaged bins to the parish clerk
• To pick up dog waste and dispose of in litter bins
• Ensure the dog waste bag dispenser is kept stocked.
• Clear debris from the grounds and Ball courts as required
• To check drains after heavy rain and clear if necessary
• To carry out general checks of the facilities and equipment and report any defects and / or problems to the parish clerk
• To carry out minor works at the Sandgate High Street/Gough Road village green and Wilberforce Road green, as and when required
• To provide monthly reports to the parish clerk by the first week of each month
• To provide holiday cover as and when required and the interim caretaker to be covered by Public Liability Insurance
• To attend occasional meetings with the council, the clerk or representatives
• To undertake any other reasonable request by the Parish Council to ensure the safety and security of the park

The parish council’s budget for this position is £2,800 for 2020-2021 year, commencing June 2020. For the rest of the contract term, applicants are requested to submit expectations of increased rises for the years 2021 – 2024.

The council requests applicants to state the hours per week they would work within this budget, allowing for more hours in the summer and fewer during winter.

The contract period will be for four years, subject to the normal break clauses.

The successful applicant must:

• Possess £5 million Public Liability Insurance
• Possess gloves, litter pickers and other tools and equipment, as required

Payments would be made on submission of a monthly or quarterly invoice to the parish clerk.

Please apply to:

Simon Horton, Deputy Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer, Sandgate Parish Council (Sandgate Parish Council Library, James Morris Court, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Kent, CT20 3RR Tel: (01303) 248563) or email clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk

Deadline for submissions: 12 noon on 5th June 2020

Caretaker Sandgate Park 2020 - 2024-2

Sandgate Parish Council have followed the Government’s Coranavirus advice throughout, and kept Sandgate Park open to give people space to exercise.

When the rules changed a little last week, we quickly changed the rules around the Tennis courts and Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) from do not use to please only use in pairs, and maintain social distancing. They are free to use, but ONLY if those rules are followed. NO large groups.

Although the huge majority of users have been respectful of the rules and making use of Sandgate Park perfectly reasonably at this time, some people seem to feel the need to stretch the point.

The playground and adult exercise equipment remain closed currently and are taped off. That because the Government’s rules – which have NOT been altered on that – say they should be. “As with before, you cannot use an outdoor gym or playground” https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

However, the signs and tapes and tapes on this equipment are being removed regularly, and these areas used regularly. They are CLOSED for a reason – you have to touch them, there is no reasonable way we can clean them between uses, and its a vector for transmitting disease. Even if Coranavirus won’t kill you, it might kill the people in your family, friends and workplace that you could then transmit it to. It doesn’t matter if you are a key worker, child, or just bored: they are CLOSED to ALL for public safety.

Equally, the Tennis Courts and MUGA are ONLY to be used by two people per court at a time. They are not for gatherings, get togethers or big games. Again – we’re not making this stuff up – that’s the GOVERNMENT ruling.

It’s been particularly sad that some of the people breaking these rules have been rude and unpleasant to Council enforcement officers / the Clerks / the Park Caretaker in trying to remind people to obey those rules. That is not acceptable.

Breaches of Coranavirus measures – such as using equipment closed under the government’s rules – can be reported at https://www.kent.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/tell-us-about-possible-breach-coronavirus-measures/

At Sandgate Parish Council’s Online Annual Council Meeting last night, Tim Prater was elected as Chairman and Robert Bliss was elected as Deputy Chairman for 2020/21.

Tim said:

“I’m hugely honoured to have been elected as Chairman of Sandgate Parish Council. I can only promise to do my best.

“Clearly we are living in the oddest of times. Our challenge over the coming months is to look after local residents, and to help the village reopen and come back out of the Covid lockdown.

“This Council is going to work to bring our village back together. We’ll work to get back welcoming visitors and supporting our businesses, and soon – but not yet – encouraging people to the Library, and our beach, and village, parks and more.”

Tim has lived and worked in Sandgate since 2004. He is a Sandgate Parish Councillor, District Councillor for Sandgate and Folkestone West, a Folkestone Town Councillor and Hythe Town Councillor. During the day he runs website developer’s Prater Raines from his office on Sandgate High Street.

From Kent County Council: Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will open from Friday 15 May for essential use. This includes Folkestone’s Ross Way Waste Recycling Centre.

It’s important for you to limit use of these restricted slots, as they should be used for emergency waste disposal.

Journeys to HWRCs must only be undertaken if your waste or recycling cannot be stored at home safely or disposed of safely by other means. This means waste that cannot be stored without causing risk of injury, health or harm. No other reason for the journey would be considered a legitimate purpose.

To be able to visit a HWRC you must book a slot in advance. Please note that booking slots are very limited to maintain social distancing for staff and visitors.

Booking will be available from 11am, Wednesday 13 May 2020.

Who can visit

You will only be able to book one trip in any 4 week period per household to ensure everyone can use the site safely.

Anyone who visits must adhere to the coronavirus safety rules on site.

For more information about the restrictions in place read our frequently asked questions (PDF, 240.9 KB).

Book your slot

You won’t be able to book a slot until 11am, Wednesday 13 May 2020.

From Friday 15 May all HWRCs will be open from 9am to 3pm, and you will be able to book the following time slots:

• 9am to 10:30am
• 10:45am to 12pm
• 12:15pm to 1pm
• 1:45pm to 3pm.

Once booked, your reference number will be sent to you via email or provided to you over the phone.

Please note that the booking form has been developed in partnership with Medway Council, you will be directed to their site for your booking.

If you are unable to access the internet or know someone who cannot book online, call 03000 41 73 73 (Text Relay 18001 03000 41 73 73). You must take note of your reference number to present when arriving on site.

Visiting the HWRC

Before visiting you must have:

• your booking reference number – this needs to be printed, available on a phone display or written down
• a pair of gloves (garden, latex, rubber etc) and a mask (if available) to limit the risk of infection, these must be taken home with you and disposed of.

Customers must only attend the site within their booking slot, if you miss your slot, you may not be permitted to use the site.

All materials usually accepted at your local HWRC will be accepted.

If you are disposing of waste contaminated with COVID-19 we ask that you double bag the material and store this securely for 72 hours before bringing to the site or putting out for your regular waste collection at kerbside.

For more information about the restrictions in place read our frequently asked questions (PDF, 240.9 KB).

Terms and conditions on site

When visiting, residents must note that:

• abusive behaviour towards staff or other customers will not be tolerated and you could be banned from site
• rules must be adhered to at all times
• customers who do not comply may be asked to leave the HWRC
• the HWRC may have to close temporarily with no warning if required
• security will be in place at the sites and body worn cameras will be used, if required.

Social distancing rules

The following social distancing rules will be applied across all sites:

• staff cannot assist you with unloading any household item
• traffic management will be in place, with some sites closing off every other parking bay
• one customer at a time on the compactor platform, only when a member of staff is not operating the machines.

Any flytipped items left outside the HWRCs entrance or access road is a crime. If you wish to report any flytipping, please report this online.

For more information about what to do with your waste during this time, please check our service updates page. Alternatively, find out how you can recycle some of your household waste recycling products.

Sandgate Library is currently closed due to COVID, in common with every other Library on Kent.

Although it was suggested libraries may start to reopen this week, there is no current guidance that they should do so in England,.

We aim to reopen as soon as we are advised it is safe to do so, in line with other Kent Libraries. All current borrowings have been extended to the end of June, and will be further extended if libraries remain closed.

Even on re-opening, it is expected there will be restrictions in place to ensure user and staff safety, and in particular group meetings / sessions will not restart for the foreseeable future.

In the meantime library users can access online books and resources at  https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/libraries

We will never forget those that have died to protect this country, at home or overseas, in the past or recent weeks. You are all heroes.

On the 75th anniversary of VE Day, for those from Sandgate that gave their lives in the Second World War that we may live free, we give special thanks.

George Allcock
Hubert Huckstep
Tom Brayam-Bone
Stanley Lister
Raymond Brown
Robert Lynch
Richard Channer
Albert Moore
Charles Clifton
Henry Richardson
Reginald Easton
William Sampson
Thomas Facey
John Sender
Herbert Holley
George Woods

Never forgotten.