The Lower Leas Park is one of the gems of Folkestone - stretching from Radnor Cliff in Sandgate to the Leas Lift in Folkestone, the park is multi-award winning, well loved by locals and visitors alike and a great place to spend time.

However, like all great attractions, its important that the park lives in harmony with its neighbours, and some of the success of the park has had a negative impact of neighbours over recent years.

Folkestone and Hythe District Councillors have up to £3,000 per Councillor they can agree as ward grants during the course of a year.

The forms and guidance notes to make an application to a Councillor are at:

District Councillor Ward Grant Application Form and Guidance Notes 2019-20 [PDF]

District Councillor Ward Grant Application Form and Guidance Notes 2019-20 [Word]

Folkestone and Hythe District Council passed a motion declaring a Climate Emergency on Wednesday night. The motion was moved by the Green Party, with support from the Lib Dems and Labour. As ever. to win the debate, we'd need to persuade a member of the administration or two to back us, but we started full of hope...

I've seen, and had reported, a few examples recently of bin emptying where the bin bags are left by waste bins for subsequent collection, which are then attacked and ripped open (by seagulls, mainly). Thanks for the reports (you know who you are!).

I've chased this with the Contracts Manager at F&H Council, who has today said:

It takes a special kind of malicious idiot to vandalise a bench in a park. It stops other people using it, could see someone get hurt, and of course leads to a repair that will cost them, their neighbours, family and friends and everyone else tax money to repair it.

And, it seems, Sandgate Park has been visited by that idiot.