"This report proposes changes to the Council's capital programme including the capital funding implications. The capital works are a request from the Trustees of the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity to provide capital funding of £500,000 to support the renovation of 16 of existing beach chalets, the demolition of the remaining 58 beach chalets and the installation of 120 new beach chalets at Marine Walk, Folkestone."
Since being contacted a few weeks ago by a Ross House resident concerned about security in the block, I've been actively pushing and working with Folkestone & Hythe District Council and East Kent Housing to see a wide range of issues in the block dealt with.
I'm pleased to say many of the issues are either being worked on, or there is a plan to do so. So far some internal repairs have been done, a new fire alarm system fitted, leaking roofs repaired, mould is now being removed from walls in communal areas and more is planned. I'm also pleased to say that a CCTV system is on the process of being installed.
It's good that the Council and East Kent Housing have taken the concerns of residents, myself and Gary Fuller seriously, and have acted - thank you to the Officers, Councillors and teams that have have done so.
There are more things left to fix, but they are being worked on. And there is much more to learn about how we got here, and how to ensure that we don't do so again. However, the priority HAD to be in sorting the problems to hand.
There is an update from Fokestone and Hythe Council, especially on the Fire Security of Ross House and the works being undertaken. at https://folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/rosshouse
The "Early Help" grants will support new and existing organisations and innovative projects which contribute to meeting the local need and priorities for the District's children and young people.
In Folkestone and Hythe, those priorities are:
Raising aspiration and educational attainment, and extending employment opportunities
At a recent Sandgate and West Folkestone Councillors Surgery, a resident had raised with me that the "Jacob's Ladder" footpath rising from Sandgate Hill to the Folkestone School for Girls / Coolinge Lane was fairly overgrown and increasingly slippy underfoot.
Despite attempts by myself and Folkestone and Hythe Council Officers to get it cleaned up we were caught between Kent Highways and Veolia both claiming it was someone else's responsibility. So, this morning, we sorted it ourselves.
