News

The Sandgate Sea and Food Festival 2023

On the evening of Saturday 26th August 2023, we’ll be welcoming back the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival FREE fireworks display, sponsored by the Roger de Haan Charitable Trust, from Granville Parade.

On Sunday 27th August there will be the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival, featuring live music, entertainment, stalls and great food on Sandgate’s Granville Parade, Castle Road Car Park and at businesses along Sandgate High Street.

Sea and Food Festival Stalls

Any local business or organisation that wants to be part of the Granville Parade Seafront market on Sunday 27th is more than welcome to do so: we’d love to see you!

Local businesses with your own premises we would love to signpost you as a venue for FREE. Host some entertainment, run a food special, be open during Festival hours: whatever your thing, talk to us and we can help tell people about your business! Email clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk with details or to discuss.

If you would like a seafront stall, please don’t hesitate but contact Julie Webb at clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk to discuss options. Stalls cost £70 for the day on Sunday for businesses, or are FREE for Charities and non-commercial organisations. All stall holders require Public Liability Insurance and depending on stall type may need other certification: Julie will confirm.

Please note that seafront market spaces are limited, and subject to restrictions. Granville Parade is really space limited, and we will give priority there to food and drink vans, which will be parked on road and NOT on the seawall.

Can You Help Fill Our Barrow of Booze?

A key part of the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival each year is the draw to win a “barrow of booze”. That’s an eclectic collection of bottles, cans and more donated from across the village and conveniently served in a wheelbarrow to one lucky ticket buyer! All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the RNLI.

If you have a bottle or two you could donate to fill our barrow this year (unopened bottles only please!) then please drop them to Sandgate Library during opening hours or contact clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk to arrange delivery. Thank you! 

Parking Suspension Advance Notice

Parking on Granville Parade, Granville Road East & West and The Parade will be suspended from Noon on Saturday 26th until 7pm on Sunday 27th to allow for the Sea Festival and stalls including drop off, set up and break down.

There is also a parking suspension in Castle Road Car Park from noon on Saturday 26th and all day until 7pm on Sunday 27th August, to allow for deliveries and set-up on the Saturday and the market and break-down on the Sunday.

Please do NOT park in those areas during suspended hours. There are a lot of deliveries, stalls setting up and people visiting: leaving your car there while that is going on makes it much harder to do (and you may get a ticket!).

Posted by Tim Prater in News
Help keep Sandgate beautiful: Sandgate Litter Picking kits

Help keep Sandgate beautiful: Sandgate Litter Picking kits

Sandgate Litter Picking Kits now available from outside the Library.

Fancy some exercise or an activity with your children or grandchildren that will also help your village? Then why not do some litter picking to help keep our village, sea and beaches litter free.

Sandgate Parish Council have provided Sandgate litter picking kits, which are now available to borrow from outside of the library. Inside the chest are litter pickers, hoops, bags and gloves. There are 20 pickers in total so it is perfect for a group activity.

All you need is the code to unlock the storage box which you can get from emailing sandgateenvironmentalaction@gmail.com or from the library staff during library open hours. Then sign it out in the notebook provided and off you go. When you’ve finished, just return the equipment to the box and sign it back in.

What to do with the full litter bags?

  • Leave by a council public bin and they will be collected by the council;
  • If you could separate the recycling and take it home in a separate bag that would be brilliant;
  • If you are really keen 😊 Surfers Against Sewage are running a campaign where they are asking volunteers to sort and enter data about what they collect. For more details got to Surfers Against Sewage Million Mile Clean

A couple of unfun litter facts…

  • A crisp packet can take up to 80 to 100 years to decompose
  •  ‘Only Rain Down the Drain’ Litter or other pollutants that wash down drains in the streets go straight into a local watercourse or directly out the overflow pipes onto the beach or into the sea. That’s one of the many reasons it’s so important to keep Sandgate litter free.

We’d love to know how you got on with your Sandgate litter picking kit so take a photo of your activity or filled bags and email it to sandgateenvironmentalaction@gmail.com or to the Sandgate Parish Clerk.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Civility & Respect Pledge

This is to certify that Sandgate Parish Council has signed up to the Civility & Respect Pledge. The Council agreed to sign the pledge at the Full Council meeting of 21st March 2023.

Civility and Respect image

Sandgate Parish Council believes now is the time to put Civility and Respect at the Top of the Agenda and start a culture change for the local council sector.

Certificate Number 1224

Sandgate Parish Council will:

● Treat all councillors, clerk and all employees, members of the public, representatives of partner organisations and volunteers with civility and respect in their role.

● Put in place a training programme for councillors and staff.

● Sign up to Code of Conduct for councillors.

● Have in place good governance arrangements in place including, staff contracts, and Dignity at Work Policy.

● Commit to seek professional help at early stages should civility and respect issues arise.

● Commit to calling out bullying and harassment when if and when it happens.

● Continue to learn from best practice in the sector and aspire to being a role model / champion council e.g., via Local Council Award Scheme.

● Support the continued lobbying for the change in legislation to support the Civility and Respect Pledge including sanctions for elected members where appropriate.

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Civility and respect should be at the heart of public life. Good governance is fundamental to ensuring an effective and well-functioning democracy.

There are growing concerns about the impact bullying, harassment, and intimidation are having on Parish and Town councils, councillors, clerks and council staff and the resulting effectiveness of local councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC), One Voice Wales, the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and county associations have responded to this by setting up a Civility and Respect Working Group to oversee the Civility and Respect Project.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
Seaside Award 2023: It’s a Perfect 10 for Sandgate!

Seaside Award 2023: It’s a Perfect 10 for Sandgate!

Sandgate beach has been named as one of country’s best beaches by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, winning the Seaside Award – for the TENTH years running!

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

Tim Prater, Chairman of Sandgate Parish Council, said:

“Just 128 beaches in England have won the Seaside Award this year There were just 24 in the South East region. We have so many reasons to be proud that Sandgate Beach has won the Seaside Award for the TENTH year running.

“It’s totally a team effort. Residents and businesses play their part in keeping the beach tidy. Facilities are provided by and signposted by the Parish Council and others. Councillors and non-Councillors work as a team to apply year after year. The District Council and Veolia collect waste and empty the seafront bins. it just wouldn’t happen without all of them, and it is something we should celebrate together.

“Special thanks also goes to former Councillor Nabin Siwa who has led our bid for the last few years.”

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy announced the winners of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2023. 128 beaches in England have received a Seaside Award, and 77 have achieved Blue Flag status.

The international Blue Flag and UK Seaside Awards are quality marks for our beaches. Visitors can be sure that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, and bathing water quality standards.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Declaration of Results May 2023: Sandgate Village ward of Sandgate Parish Council

Election of 8 councillors to Sandgate Parish Council for the Sandgate Village Ward on Thursday 4th May 2023 [Elected without contest – 8 candidates for 8 vacancies].

  • BARRETT Hazel-
  • CLARIS Susan
  • FITCH Michael
  • FULLER Gary
  • HORTON Simon
  • MORRIS Rosalie
  • PRATER Tim
  • STEPHENS Tracy
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Posted by Tim Prater in News

Declaration of Results May 2023: Sandgate Valley ward of Sandgate Parish Council

Election of 3 councillors to Sandgate Parish Council for the Sandgate Valley Ward on Thursday 4th May 2023.

CandidateDescription (if provided)Number of votes cast
Peter Hickman 288
Stephen JamesFolkestone and Sandgate Working Together66
Kieran LeighFolkestone and Sandgate Working Together49
Nicola South 254
Guy Valentine-Neale 214

Turnout: 35.19%

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Posted by Tim Prater in News

Declaration of Results May 2023: Sandgate & West Folkestone ward of Folkestone and Hythe District Council

Election of 2 councillors to Folkestone & Hythe District Council for the Sandgate and West Folkestone Ward on Thursday 4th May 2023.

CandidateDescription (if provided)Number of votes cast
Sarah DanbyLabour Party316
Gary FullerLiberal Democrats1190
Paul JonesConservative Party Candidate314
Dylan MoodyConservative Party Candidate261
Tim PraterLiberal Democrats1408

Turnout: 42.56%.

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Posted by Tim Prater in News

Notice of Poll & Situation of Polling Stations: Election of District Councillors for Sandgate and West Folkestone Ward May 2023

A poll for the election of District Councillors for Sandgate and West Folkestone Ward will be held on
Thursday, 4 May 2023 between the hours of 7am and 10pm.

The number of District Councillors to be elected is 2.

The situation of Polling Stations and the description of persons entitled to vote thereat are as follows:

  • Wards Hotel – (Grimston Gardens Entrance), 39 Earls Avenue, Folkestone. Poll numbers: SWF1 1.000 to 742.000
  • St Georges Church Hall, Audley Road, Folkestone. Poll numbers: SWF2 1.000 to 1048.000
  • Sandgate Library, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate. Poll numbers: SWF3 1.000 to 2660.501
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Posted by Tim Prater in News

Notice of Poll & Situation of Polling Stations: Sandgate Valley Ward May 2023

A poll for the election of Parish Councillors for Sandgate Valley Ward of Sandgate Parish Council will be held on Thursday, 4 May 2023 between the hours of 7am and 10pm.

The number of Parish Councillors to be elected is 3.

The situation of Polling Stations and the description of persons entitled to vote thereat are as follows:

St Georges Church Hall, Audley Road, Folkestone. Poll numbers SWF2 1.000 to 1048.000

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Posted by Tim Prater in News
Tree Inspection Reports 2023 – Fremantle Park and Sandgate Park

Tree Inspection Reports 2023 – Fremantle Park and Sandgate Park

Both as good practice and to ensure we meet the terms of our public liability insurance, Sandgate Parish Council have an annual Tree Inspection Report undertaken in the areas we manage with trees (Sandgate Park and Fremantle Park).

The 2023 Inspection of both areas is now complete, and the reports are below.

As you’ll see, there are works recommended to a number of trees, some as “Priority 2” (do them within the next couple of months) and some “Priority 3” (do them in about the next 6 months).

The Parish Council clearly need to make sure the Priority 2 works are done soon. They have been commissioned from qualified contractors. Those contractors will, of course, pay due regard to checking for and avoiding and nesting birds. The Priority 3 works we’ve asked them to schedule outside the nesting season, despite there being a little extra cost in doing so.

So if you see works to trees in those areas over the next couple of months, that’s the reason – they are required for safety. Removed trees (and there are a few) will be replaced in due course where possible.

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Posted by Tim Prater in News