News

Residents are being encouraged to make a note of changes to household waste and recycling collections in Folkestone & Hythe over Christmas and the new year.

Waste crews will empty bins, generally, two days later than usual in the week commencing Monday 25 December 2023 and then one day later than usual during week of Monday 1 January 2024.

This is to give our hard-working teams the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break for Christmas. The revised timetable is as follows:

Original collection date	Revised collection date
Monday 25 December 2023	Wednesday 27 December 2023
Tuesday 26 December 2023	Thursday 28 December 2023
Wednesday 27 December 2023	Friday 29 December 2023
Thursday 28 December 2023	Saturday 30 December 2023
Friday 29 December 2023	Monday 1 January 2024
Monday 1 January 2024	Tuesday 2 January 2024
Tuesday 2 January 2024	Wednesday 3 January 2024
Wednesday 3 January 2024	Thursday 4 January 2024
Thursday 4 January 2024	Friday 5 January 2024
Friday 5 January 2024	Saturday 6 January 2024

Household waste and recycling collections will return to normal on Monday 8 January 2024.

Garden waste collections are taking their usual break for Christmas, meaning there will be no service between Friday 22 December 2023 and Monday 8 January 2024

All of the changed dates can be found in the latest edition of Your District Today – distributed to all households in the district – and also by visiting the council’s MyAccount service.

Cllr Jeremy Speakman, Cabinet Member for Assets and Operations, said: “According to research, we all produce around 30% more waste over the Christmas period – making it even more important we reduce, reuse and recycle.

“Remember items such as Christmas cards, crackers (without the snaps), paper hats, non-glittery wrapping paper that scrunches and chocolate boxes can all be recycled.”

A free real Christmas tree recycling service will be available once again. Garden waste subscribers can leave theirs next to their bins once the service resumes, while non-subscribers should visit folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/christmas on the first week in January to arrange a collection.

Kent Speedwatch is a volunteer scheme to monitor and display the speed of passing traffic on selected roads.

A group of 3 people use a roadside speed indicator device to monitor and display the speed of approaching traffic. They note the details of those significantly in excess of the speed limit and pass those to the Police.

It acts as a good reminder to motorists to keep to the limit, and forms a base of data that Kent Police can see to understand if there is a lot of speeding in a certain road, and to target their resources at monitoring them. The Police cannot issue penalties on the basis of Speedwatch data alone, but can issue warnings.

Sandgate Parish Council has a part share in a Speed Indication Device, but haven’t run sessions for some time. We have a new Sandgate Kent Speedwatch Co-ordinator willing to run sessions running again, but to do so we need a group of volunteers willing to join the team.

Training takes a couple of hours, and we’d be hoping to run 2 or 3 Speedwatch sessions a month to start with: if we had 9 volunteers, that’s commitment to one 60-90 minute session a month.

Sessions only happen during daylight hours, in Police approved locations, with trained volunteers. You’ll never be working alone.

Would you register to get involved in helping our area cut traffic speeds with Speedwatch?

If you are willing to become a Sandgate Speedwatch volunteer you can register online. Please go to:

https://www.communityspeedwatch.org/

..and select “register” on the top menu. On the next page, select “Join and Existing Group” on the left.

• On the next page, select “Kent” from the “Force” list, then “Continue”.

• Select “ZE Folkestone and Hythe” from the Police Area list, then “Continue”.

• Pick “Sandgate – Sandgate Speedwatch Group” from the Group list, then “Continue”.

• Finally, complete the form, make sure you tick the “term and conditions” box, then select “Register Me”.

You should get an email notification of some type, but then that’s done. When we have enough (5 or so) volunteers registered we’ll be in touch – we will get a Sandgate Kent Speedwatch training session organised and all volunteers invited.

Please – get involved: register today!

It’ll soon be looking a bit like Christmas…

On the afternoon and evening of Friday 1st December, please join us in Sandgate Valley and Village. Enjoy the Christmas lights, meet a special visitor, visit the craft market and hear a carol or two, and support local businesses many of who will be open until 7.30pm at least on Friday (and clearly our pubs, bars and restaurants rather later). We’re hoping for the right weather, but will go ahead regardless: wrap up!

Santa’s Grotto at the Golden Arrow – Enbrook Valley *

• Open 4.00pm- 4.45pm

Santa’s Grotto at Sandgate Library *

• Open 5.00pm – 6.00pm

* There will be a small gift for all children 0 – 9 years of age. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Christmas Craft Market at the Chichester Hall on Sandgate High Street

• Open 5.30pm – 7.30pm
• FSG A cappella Choir singing in the hall from 6.15pm – 6.30pm

Many businesses through Sandgate will be offering late night shopping that evening and would love to see you.

Late Night Opening:

The Dog House will be open from 5pm until mid-evening on the 1st for coffee, teas, bacon and sausage sandwiches (that’s “Kent’s BEST Bacon sandwiches“) and maybe a chilli!

The Sandgate Pop-Up Shop at 53 Sandgate High Street will be open until 7.30pm with a huge range of locally sourced Christmas gifts and treats.

Workshop 29 at 99 Sandgate High Street will be open into the evening. They will have a workshop table in the shop and are welcoming families to come and pot up a Christmas Bulb free of charge.

Orchard Lane Coffee House (80 Sandgate High Street) will be staying open late with great coffee and festive specials.

Rachel and Elle will be opening their brand new (opening day is Thursday 30th!) Sandgate Deli at 88a Sandgate High Street into the evening – please do pop in and say hello and welcome!

Mr Whippet’s Cafe is open late. Offering: sourdough toasties, artisan handmade sausage rolls. Free cake tasters with our delicious coffee and all other hot drinks.

The Wallpaper Emporium (117E Sandgate High Street), a new showroom for Lammas Master Decorators, will be holding their grand opening on Friday 1st December. They will be open through the evening offering mince pies, festive treats and some beautiful wallpaper! All welcome!

The Royal Norfolk / Gees Bar, The Providence, the newly refurbished and reopened The Ship Inn, Docker Bar, John Dory, Sandgate Members Club (members only), Folkestone Rowing Club (members only), The Fat Raj and Green Spice will also all be open naturally!

If you are a local business and can be open too / offer a special / entertainment / extended opening / anything else that night, please tell us know by email to tim@prater.uk and we’ll add your details here.

Need help with your digital skills?

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Come and have a chat about how Porchlight can support you.

• Date: Thursday 21st December 2023

• Time: 1230pm – 230pm

• Location: Porchlight – St John’s Church, St John’s Road, Folkestone, CT19 5BQ

Porchlight-Folkestone-21st-DEC

Beach management work that helps protect more than 3,000 homes and businesses along the coast from flooding is to start next week.

The latest round of biannual recycling and regrading of shingle between Fisherman’s Beach in Hythe through Sandgate to Folkestone Harbour begins on Monday (30 October) and will take up to eight weeks to complete.

Cllr Stephen Scoffham – Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Bio Diversity – said:

“This work helps shield the sea wall, further reducing the possibility of flooding and coastal erosion over the five-mile stretch.

“Approximately 120,000 tonnes of shingle will be moved from east to west over the next two months. The longshore drift will then naturally spread it to aid the prevention of overtopping and flooding during storm events.”

“Effects of the changing climate are bringing more severe and unpredictable storms to our area, so it is important we are as prepared as possible.”

Efforts will be made to keep any disruption to a minimum.

Safety advice for Halloween and Bonfire night taking place in the next few weeks.

Halloween – Trick or Treating

We want you to enjoy Halloween, but remember, not everyone wants to take part!

Here’s a few things to remember when you are celebrating Halloween.

10 top tips for staying safe this Halloween

1. Some masks can obstruct vision, a potential danger, when crossing roads. Consider using face paints instead.

2. If your children are trick or treating outside, make sure they are wearing visible clothing – consider using reflective tape and always ensure any costumes and masks are labelled as flame resistant.

3. When trick or treating, Children should go out in groups, younger children should be accompanied by an adult.

4. Older children should agree with parents or guardians in advance exactly where they are going and when they will be back.

5. Make sure children know not to enter anyone’s house and not to accept lifts in people’s cars.

6. Talk through the idea of trick or treat, and make sure your children don’t do anything to upset or annoy the people they visit.

7. Keep to pavements and trick or treat on one side of the street before crossing safely to the other side – don’t criss-cross.

8. Stay in well-lit areas where there are plenty of houses.

9. Carefully check all the things children have been given. Sweets and food that are still in their original wrappers are safest.

10. Remember – have fun but be safe!

There are two posters below, If you have an elderly or vulnerable friend, relative or neighbour who does not enjoy callers at their door, help them display the ‘no’ poster clearly in the window. If you do receive an unexpected caller at the door, don’t feel pressured to answer if you don’t want to. If you are taking your children out trick or treating, please be considerate and avoid houses who are displaying the ‘no’ poster.

You are also welcome to display the ‘yes’ poster if you would like to make it clear to trick or treaters that you are taking part this Halloween.

Bonfire / Firework Safety

Officers will be carrying out extra patrols in your area to keep you safe, however there are number of steps you can take to ensure a great Bonfire Night. Remember:

• An organised display is the safest way to enjoy fireworks.
• Fireworks are noisy (which can upset very young or elderly people as well as pets). They can cause damage and they can cause serious injuries if not used properly.
• Only buy fireworks from a legitimate retailer.
• It is an offence to buy fireworks by anyone under the age of 18. You can be fined or imprisoned for buying or using fireworks illegally.
• Shops are not allowed to sell fireworks louder than 120 decibels.
• It is an offence to let fireworks off between 11pm and 7am except on 5th November when the cut off is midnight and on Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year when the cut off is 1am. It is also an offence to set off fireworks in the street, onto a road or in a public place.
• Anyone caught causing a nuisance with fireworks will receive an instant fine of £80 and any fireworks found on a person under 18 will be confiscated.
• Always inform your neighbours if you are using fireworks and be considerate.
• Keep bonfires small and manageable and build them away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees, bushes and vehicles.
• Never use flammable liquids – paraffin or petrol – to light the fire.
• Avoid drinking alcohol whilst in charge of a bonfire or fireworks and particularly when supervising children.
• In case of an emergency, keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready.
• Make sure your fireworks conform to British Standards BS 7114, EN 14035 or EN 15947.
• Keep fireworks in a closed box and use/light them one at a time.
• Light the firework at arm’s length using a taper or fuse wick and stand well back – never return to a firework once it has been lit.
• Only children over the age of five are allowed to use sparklers and should be supervised by an adult at all times.
• Remember, if you break the law on fireworks you could be sent to prison for up to six months or a child’s parents or carers could receive a fine.

The use of fireworks can cause distress to residents, especially the elderly, those with conditions such as autism and PTSD, as well as to pets. It’s not the flash that often causes distress, it’s the bang.

Fireworks Code – Before they explode read the code!

1	Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
2	Never give sparklers to a child under 5
3	Buy fireworks marked BS 7114
4	Keep fireworks in a closed box
5	Follow the instructions on each firework
6	Light them at arm’s length using a taper
7	Stand well back
8	Never go back to a lit firework
9	Never put fireworks in your pocket
10	Never throw fireworks
11	Keep pets indoors

Safety Advice

Take Care With Sparklers

Sparklers can reach a temperature of up to 2,000°C, I’m sure you’ll agree that’s quite hot!

So when handling them, always wear gloves. And when you’ve finished, have a bucket of water which people can plunge them in. If you’re giving them to children, then make sure they’re observed at all times.

Children under five should never hold a sparkler. Instead, you can give them a glow stick so they don’t feel left out, and it will last a lot longer than a sparkler.

Have Someone In Charge

You need to delegate one person to be in charge of the display. Give them a hi-vis vest so everyone can easily identify and find them. They should abstain from drinking, at least until after the display.

Doing otherwise increases the risk of injury, and means they’re less able to supervise properly. Equip them with a torch to see what they’re doing and a hat, gloves and goggles to keep them protected.

Buying Your Fireworks

Always buy fireworks from a reputable shop. Don’t cut corners trying to save a few quid and don’t buy from places you’re unsure about. All fireworks that conform to British Standards should have BS 7114 written on the packaging.

Also, make sure you buy fireworks which are appropriate. Most fireworks in Categories 1 to 3 will be okay for a garden display. All Category 4 fireworks are only for professional displays.

Setting Off The Fireworks

Long before you set them off, you should have read the instructions and prepared in the daylight. Let your neighbours know and remember it’s better to be over cautious. Make sure the area is clear of animals and people, and that all your guests are stood well back. Only light one firework at a time and never return to a firework after you’ve lighted it.

Once lit, run to safety and watch the beautiful fireworks light up the sky.

And Just In Case

Unfortunately, things can go wrong from time to time. If someone does get burnt, then remain calm. Cool the burn with cold water, then cover and go to a hospital if it’s serious. Maybe have a small first aid kit to hand for such accidents.

Should someone’s clothes catch alight, then get them to perform the stop, drop and roll. Have a fire blanket which you can also wrap around someone will put out the flames. And having a 2kg powder fire extinguisher means you can act quickly and prevent a small fire escalating.

Who to contact to report suspicious activity or a crime?

• If there is a threat to life or public safety, or you suspect a crime is in progress, call 999
• To report a crime other than a crime in progress call 101 or visit the Kent Police website to access the ‘Live Chat’ facility.