Tim Prater | Councillor for Sandgate & West Folkestone, Sandgate Village, Harvey West & Hythe East

Article: Jul 10, 2020

The Folkestone Haven offers safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for people who are struggling to cope with their mental health during the evening, weekends and bank holidays when other services may be closed.

The Folkestone Haven is for adult residents (18+) of the Folkestone and Hythe District who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and feel unable to cope. This includes people who may be anxious or worried about anything affecting their mental health but don't have support networks available to them. It is for people who use or have used mental health services and those who have never used them before.

It is open access and no appointment is necessary, and the service is completely free.

The Folkestone Haven is based at the Rainbow Centre, 69 Sandgate Road, Folkestone CT20 2AF (Folkestone.Haven@hestia.org 07827 533871). They are open Monday-Friday from 18:00 to 23:00 and Weekends & Bank Holidays from 12:00 to 23:00.

The Folkestone Haven's aim is to support people using the service to reduce their crisis and anxiety, and to safety plan, drawing on strengths, resilience and coping mechanisms to reduce the need to use crisis services in the future. We will also refer and signpost to other support services.

You can learn more at https://www.hestia.org/folkestone-and-hythe-district

Tim says:

"When I first heard of the haven I thought it was a really important scheme and wanted to help. I was really pleased I was able to support the Haven with a small grant from my ward grant budget in January this year.

"Although the Haven is in central Folkestone, it's there to support anyone, from across the district, who need their help. We don't talk about mental health issues enough, and those with issues often don't get the support they deserve. I'm delighted that in Folkestone and Hythe, the Folkestone Haven can offer people that place to start to talk."

New Shorncliffe Road Zebra Crossing Confirmed

Article: Jul 1, 2020

It has been confirmed that a proposed new crossing of Shorncliffe Road to make access from Sandgate and West Folkestone to Folkestone West Railway Station has got the go-ahead and will be built this summer. The plan went to consulation with residents earlier this year.

Following consultation, the detailed plans have been slightly amended, moving the new crossing from one side of the Shorncliffe Road junction with Audley Road to the other, so that the crossing now is opposite St George's Church.

Form for Confirmation of State aid received under small business or retail, leisure and hospitality grant scheme, and undertaking in difficulty status

Folkestone and Hythe: Company Declaration of State Aid Form

Article: Jun 23, 2020

All businesses that have had grant aid support via Folkestone and Hythe District Council in the form of the Small Business Grant (£10,000) or Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant (£10,000 - £25,000) have now received a form to complete to confirm they were eligible for the grant and that they can keepi it.

Recycling and Residual / General Waste Wheely bins

Bin a Long Time Coming...

Article: Jun 22, 2020

Never give up.

A local resident was in touch with me in March after trying, and failing, to get a replacement "residual waste" (non-recycling) bin from Folkestone & Hythe District Council after it was broken in the course of its regular collection.

That seemed wrong to me, so I took it up with the Council too. I asked, begged, argued... and lost.

I was pointed to the policy and told it didn't cover residual waste bins. I asked for them to change the policy, and that it was unfair, but was told that although they may look at in future, I essentially couldn't get a new bin for the resident now.

Some you lose.

Then last week, during a "Leaders Q&A" session on Zoom, Council Leader David Monk said the policy had changed. First I'd heard if it. And although I kept listening to other questions, even while he was still talking, I was sending an email to an officer...

And I've now had it confirmed that in the next few days, the resident who contacted me in March will get a replacement residual waste Wheely bin to replace the one broken in collection. He's quite chuffed. And so am I: the policy now makes sense.

Some you win.

So, please don't hurt your wheely bins. Look after them, and they'll look after you (well, they'll hold your rubbish, which is very close to the same thing). But from now, if your Folkestone & Hythe District Council bin - recycling or general waste - is damaged in the course of its regular collection and emptying, please do take some photos, note when it happened, and how it got broken. And then when you report it, it should be replaced. Free of charge. As it should be. Small wins. But important.

The relevent clause in the new policy Is point 7, which now says:

"Containers of the size 240 litre, 180 litre, 55 litre or 23 litre, which were supplied by the Council and are designed to be placed at the kerbside, as part of the recycling and waste collection service and which can be shown to be either damaged or lost as a result of collection operations will be replaced by the Council at no charge to the occupier."

Well done to FHDC for listening, and changing the policy for the better. It's not an earthshaking change. But it's a just one.

Radnor Cliff and Radnor Cliff Crescent CPZ Alteration Consultation: The Questions

Article: Jun 15, 2020

Why is there a consultation on changing the current CPZ restrictions in Radnor Cliff and Radnor Cliff Crescent now?

There were a number of fully justified complaints and reports from Radnor Cliff residents about the increasing congestion in Radnor Cliff. This was leading at weekends, and often during summer holidays too, to the road jamming, as with the road fully parked there is insufficient space for cars to get in and out and pass each other. This has led to jams, residents unable to access their homes, emergency vehicles being blocked, and even arguments in the street.