Following on from our news about the Canadian First World War Archive Box donated to the Trust by Mr. Richard Steacie, we are pleased to invite you to view an exhibition of some of the artefacts and the medal collection of Colonel Charles A Smart, commanding officer at Shorncliffe Garrison from April 1917 to December 1918.

The Government has launched a planning consultation for the extension of the use of Napier Barracks to house asylum seekers until 2026 (!)

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/napier-barracks-planning-application

The consultation closes on 30th January 2022.

The decision to use the site for up to a further 5 years was made by the Home Office in August last year without carrying out a consultation.

Residents facing financial hardship this winter can now get support from Folkestone & Hythe District Council, if they qualify.

The council has been awarded funding from Kent County Council for the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is provided by the government and runs until 31 March 2022 (subject to fund availability).

As a part of a piece of casework for a local resident, I've been on the trail of a missing hedge...

When 7 years ago, Folkestone West Train Station got its shiny new car park by Shorncliffe Road, one of the planning conditions was planting along the new fence by Shorncliffe Road. This would over time soften the border, reduce light spill from the car park, create a habitat, provide more oxygenators, food for animals: all the good things.

There is a virtual event to launch the White Cliffs Community Rail Partnership next Thursday, 20th May, at 2pm. The partnership covers the nine stations between Westenhanger and Sandwich (including Folkestone West and Folkestone Central), and you can hear their exciting future plans and ideas.

The event is open to all with an interest in trains, railways, tourism, sustainable travel or has ideas how stations can play a bigger role in our community.

The results are in. By 21 votes out of almost 5,200 cast, I missed taking the "Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East" Kent County Council division from the Conservatives.

Election of councillors to Kent County Council for the Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East division on Thursday 6 May 2021

I'm honoured to have been selected to stand for my home divison of Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East in the Kent County Council elections in May this year for the Liberal Democrats.

In 2017 I came second in the same area, a clear second behind the Conservatives. In the 2019 District Elections, I then took the formerly safe Conservative seat of Sandgate & West Folkestone (which is a large part of the Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East county division) with 55% of the vote.

The following elections are taking place on Thursday 6 May 2021:

• Police and Crime Commissioner election
• Kent County Council elections
• Folkestone Council ward of Folkestone Town Council by election
• Sandgate Village ward of S andgate Parish Council by election
• New Romney Town ward of New Romney Town council by election

In the 2017 County Council elections in this area, Lib Dem Tim Prater came a clear second to the Conservatives.

In the 2019 District Elections, Tim took the formerly safe Conservative seat of Sandgate & West Folkestone with 55% of the vote. He's a proven winner.

As in 2019, the local Lib Dem and Green Party branches have agreed not to stand against each other to try to maximise our chances of bringing positive change, this time at Kent County Council. Shepway Green Party is backing Tim Prater to beat the Conservatives in Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East in the County Council elections this year.