The broad results were that of the 305 responses, 291 were in favour of the creation of the 20mph zone as proposed (95.4%) and 14 opposed.
Of the 288 that supported, a large number (108) stated their support for a zone covering a larger area. A number of those consultation responses were from 2 people. The responses were from a total of 330 people, with 315 in favour (95.4%) and 15 against, pretty much exactly the same split.
In response KCC have considered those responses and today have confirmed they will publish a TRO for the scheme, which will include a formal consultation.
I’m delighted to say that in reaction to the comments have slightly extended the scheme to cover from the traffic island in from of the library, to the junction with Wilberforce Road nearest Coastguard Cottages, and starting on Military Road a little above the junction with Gough Road which overall decreases the number of signs required to enter / exit the zone and makes the whole more coherent, and includes a length of Sandgate High Street from Homevale House to Wilberforce Road.
We will hear more on the publication of the TRO with the revised extents plan soon, but there is good, solid progress here, and thanks the huge number of respondents, of which the huger majority were positive, on the scheme.
The Forestry Commission are working on the eradication response to the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, which is an invasive and regulated pest in England.
Ips typographus targets weakened or damaged spruce trees, and storm events like we’re experiencing this winter can create ideal habitat. It is being blown over from outbreaks in Europe and, if left unchecked, it could potentially build in numbers and would be devastating to the country’s timber industry. We therefore advise proactive management of spruce to remove potential habitat and risk of infestation.
Everyone in the Proactive Spruce Removal Area is encouraged to be vigilant for windblown, snapped, damaged and stressed spruce trees, and to submit a TreeAlert report for anything of concern or email ips.t@forestrycommission.gov.uk. This could be landowners, those directly involved with managing spruce (e.g. foresters, tree surgeons, Christmas tree growers), or members of the public who use spruce woodlands recreationally (e.g. dog walkers, ramblers).
As a key part of our maintenance and improvement of Sandgate Park and Freemantle Park and the areas under our control, we commission an annual tree report on all trees in that land to make sure they are healthy, safe, and need any works.
The tree reports are both an important of making sure we are looking after the area well. It is also an insurance requirement, to ensure we have done our best to protect park users.
The most recent tree reports were undertaken in September 2024:
As you’ll see, both reports identified a number of works, from pollarding (cutting trees back) to remedial works to, in a few cases, removing / felling dead trees entirely.
We have commissioned a local company – Spearpoint Tree Services – to do the works (after an open tendering process) and they will be undertaken in February and March as below. Please be reassured that we have taken the best possible advice on the works needed, and works are being undertaken now to reduce the chances of disturbing nesting birds etc, but all trees will be checked for signs of nests etc prior to works on any tree.
Works will be completed between 9am-5pm, and we apologise for any noise caused, but ask people stay back a safe distance.
Fremantle Park
21st February
Spearpoint Tree Service will be undertaking works at Fremantle Park to safely remove any dead trees. Additionally, they will address the surrounding weed growth around the Lombardy Poplar and continue to provide support by securing the tree with supporting stakes. These measures are aimed at enhancing the overall health and appearance of the park.
Sandgate Park
6th & 7th March
The tree work for the removal and re-pollarding of crack willow/common alder, as well as the reduction of Monterey Cypress, has been scheduled for Thursday, 6th and Friday, 7th March. The work will involve reducing the height of the Monterey Cypress by a maximum of four metres, and the east-facing lateral branch will be reduced by a maximum of three metres.
Additionally, six crack willow/common alder trees showing extensive decay will be felled to ground level. All remaining trees within the group will be re-pollarded.
17th March – 21st March
The remaining tree works tree work has been scheduled to take place during the week commencing 17th March 2025, with an anticipated completion by Friday, 21st March 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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 date
New collection date
Monday 23 December
No change
Tuesday 24 December
No change
Wednesday 25 December
Friday 27 December
Thursday 26 December
Saturday 28 December
Friday 27 December
Monday 30 December
Monday 30 December
Tuesday 31 December
Tuesday 31 December
Wednesday 1 January
Wednesday 1 January
Thursday 2 January
Thursday 2 January
Friday 3 January
Friday 3 January
Saturday 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.
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.
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!
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.
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