News

From: East Kent Public Rights Of Way & Access Service

You will be aware that we run large scale surface vegetation clearance contracts through the spring and summer months, to keep the network of paths open and available. This year we were due to procure new contracts and this has been taking place over the winter, with new five year contracts awarded in April.

Unfortunately we have been experiencing some problems within the Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe, Dover and Sevenoaks Districts. Many of the paths have still not been cut or those that have, may not be up to the standard we expect. We would usually be expecting the first cut to be nearing completion by now.

I just wanted to let you know that we are working hard with the appointed contractor to overcome these issues and concurrently are working up a backup arrangement with other personnel available to step in at short notice. Either way I expect to be back up to speed within two weeks, but it could still be another month before the first cut is completed to our satisfaction.

I can only apologise for this and reassure you that we are doing all we can to get back on track and ask for your patience whilst this problem is resolved.

Last night the Parish Council considered the report of the Deputy Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer and passed the following resolution:

• to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to apply for a fixed rate PWLB loan of £500,000 up to 50 years for the land purchase on which stand the Martello Towers. The annual loan repayments will come to around £18,500. It is intended to increase the precept from 2019-20 by £9.75 (band D) a year for the purpose of the loan repayments;
• that the contract documents be drawn up in as tight a way as legally possible to prevent future development of the site;
• that the budget of £500,000 be used in the following priority order: acquisition of the site; safety access improvements to the woodlands; signage and interpretation; essential repair works to the Martello Towers; and a “sinking fund” for urgent repairs within the first three years;
• that the likely balance of these allocations being £355,000 for the purchase, £25,000 for safety access improvements and signage, £95,000 for essential repair works to the Martello Towers and £25,000 for the “sinking fund”;
• to authorise the Deputy Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer to enter into further negotiations with the vendor in order to see best value which could include a contribution towards the Parish Council’s legal fees.

Those negotiations were concluded this morning and a further £10,000 reduction in price was agreed. The Parish Council will therefore be implementing the above decision to purchase the site at a price of £345,000 subject to contract.

Notice is hereby given that KENT COUNTY COUNCIL intend to make the above Order under sections 1(1), 2(1) to (3), 3(2), 4(1) and (2), 32(1), 35(1), 45, 46, 49 and 53 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with the chief officer of police in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9 to the Act:

The Order proposes to convert the shared use (permit holders & limited waiting) parking spaces between 88 and 102 Sandgate High Street into Limited Waiting only. The following will be included:

Limited Waiting- 2 hours [between 08:00 – 18:00 hours on all days)
Parking places with a time limit of 2 hours, no return within 2 hours

Sandgate High Street (North Side) between Nos. 88 and 102

Full details are contained in the draft Order, which together with the relevant drawings, a copy of any orders which will be amended by the proposed Order, and a statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined at The Council Offices, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone.

If you have any questions concerning the Order or require further information please contact Folkestone & Hythe District Council (Parking Services) Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY.

If you wish to make an objection or comment about the proposed Order, you must write to Folkestone & Hythe District Council (Traffic Orders), Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY or email traffic.orders@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. For your objection or comments to be considered they must reach us by 5pm on Monday 18 June 2018. For legal reasons we cannot accept any objection or comment over the phone or in person.

This Notice is published by Folkestone & Hythe District Council on behalf of Kent County Council Highways and Transportation, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 (part of Kent County Council).

Keep Britain Tidy has today revealed the country’s best beaches with announcement of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2018 – and Sandgate is on the list!

This year environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 190 awards to England’s very best beaches, including 65 international Blue Flags and 125 Seaside Awards (eight more than last year), with 42 beaches achieving both awards. This includes the awards to Sandgate beach, near Folkestone in Kent.

Sandgate beach has won the Seaside Award for 2018 – for the sixth year running. It 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 Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said:

“The success of the 148 beaches 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.”

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity that cares for the environment on your doorstep. We work to eliminate littering, reduce waste and improve public space. We run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, launched the Blue Flag programme in 1987. Keep Britain Tidy administers the scheme in England. To be awarded a Blue Flag, beaches must comply with a number of criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, safety and services.

The Seaside Award is run by Keep Britain Tidy and recognises and rewards beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, meet the required standards for water quality.

There will of course be many questions raised over the coming weeks and during the consultation with local residents on the potential purchase of Martello Towers 6 and 7 and Surrounding Woodland (the Sandgate Escarpment). Below we try to answer some of them, but if there are other questions please send them to Deputy Parish Clerk Peter Savage at clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk

How much will the land cost? We can’t answer that question at this stage as we’re still in discussion with the vendor.

How will you finance the purchase and conservation? We will apply for a long term low interest loan from the Public Works Loans Board.

How much is it likely to cost Sandgate residents? Repaying the loan will cost an average of £9 per annum per household (ie 17p per week)

How will you finance conservation and renovation works? The initial loan will cover some immediate works to the woodland to improve paths and access throughout the area and views of the towers. The Parish Council will then seek grant aid support from appropriate sources.

What will you do with the Martello Towers? It will take some time but we would intend over the next five years to be able to open them to public and community uses. We would welcome suggestions from Sandgate residents as to what future uses they might be.

What will you do with the woodland? We very much want to preserve and improve the woodland to encourage a diverse range of wildlife. We will listen to stakeholders as to their views.

What if the residents don’t support the application? We will respect the response and not proceed. We very much hope the residents will agree this is an exciting opportunity to preserve an important part of our local heritage and environment.

Where exactly are the towers and woodland? The towers and woodland sit above Sandgate village, with the land essentially stretching just below the Army Camp from Military Road in the East to Brewers Hill in the West, with the two towers within the land. The below PDF shows the site and location of the two towers.

Sandgate Parish Council has decided to consult residents on an exciting opportunity to purchase woodland on the escarpment, including two Martello Towers, to protect it from planned development.

Martello Towers 6 and 7 sit in woodland above Sandgate Village and are subject to planning consent to develop part of that woodland for housing and to convert the two Martello Towers into a dwelling house and a holiday home. The Parish Council objected to that application and has now agreed terms with the owner with a view to conserving the towers for community use. The Council would also not implement the permission to build five homes as it wishes to protect this important site for its heritage and environmental benefits.

Residents of Sandgate will be consulted over the next few weeks as to whether they support the proposal. If the residents do support the proposal the Parish Council will proceed with the purchase.

As a part of the public consultation process, there will be two public meetings on:

• Thursday 26th April at 7 pm in the Chichester Hall;
• Wednesday 2nd May at 3pm in the Sandgate Library.

The Parish Council has published a series of FAQs on the proposal, but any other questions should be directed to Deputy Parish Clerk Peter Savage at clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk