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).

For many years, Sandgate Parish Councillors and others have been pushing to install a ramp access from Sandgate's Castle Road Car Park to the seafront. Despite disabled bays in the car park, there is currently "step only" access, making it really hard for wheelchairs, buggies and cycles to get from car park to seafront.

Wednesday afternoon I was at the Folkestone & Hythe District Council Cabinet meeting, with a varied agenda: https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=4949

Really pleased to get a couple of amendments accepted.

Firstly, an addition to the Capital budget for next year to aim to start the roll-out of accepting of contactless payments in car parks in the district (on top of cash and Ringo). I proposed, seconded by Cabinet Member for Parking, accepted unanimously: result!

Keeping in touch and working for local residents ALL YEAR ROUND.

No - there is no election on (that we know about!) but the latest edition March 2022 of Sandgate and West Folkestone Focus is through people's letterboxes now.

Topics covered in this edition included Green Waste collection refunds Princes Parade, the Leas Lift, Winter Warmth payments and a Census 2021 update!

Training and information events that are featured on the Folkestone Works website, many of which can be enrolled on totally free of charge….

Virtual Business Networking (9^th November 10:30am - 12:00) FREE online networking event

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce have partnered with Furley Page Solicitors to bring you virtual business networking. Each event will be an eclectic mix of conversation topics. Click here for further details

Article on the front page of today's Folkestone and Hythe Express on bin collections being discussed at last week's Folkestone & Hythe District Full Council Meeting. It quotes Cabinet Member for Waste Stuart Peall responding to a question from Councillor Jackie Meade on bin collection problems saying:

At the Folkestone and Hythe District Council meeting last night, a vote to delay the removal of vegetation from the Princes Parade site until the current Public Inquiry into moving the road has given its verdict was lost by 12 votes to 14.

The motion, moved by Green Group Leader Lesley Whybrow and seconded by Lib Dem Group Leader Tim Prater said:

Keeping in touch and working for local residents ALL YEAR ROUND.

No - there is no election on (that we know about!) but the latest edition July 2021 of Sandgate and West Folkestone Focus is going through people's letterboxes now.

Covering a Thank You for the huge support in the ward at the recent County Council elections, the rubbish bin collections (sic), graffiti removal, cycle ramps and more.

The first proposed draft boundaries for Folkestone and Hythe constituency are the current Folkestone and Hythe District Council boundary minus Elham Valley (North Downs East and North Downs West wards).

Folkestone and Hythe constituency is currently the full district plus Saxon Shore ward from Ashford BC, but population growth on the electoral roll was always likely to see the constituency at least revert to the District boundary. That there are now too many people in the district to fit in one constituency (on the Government's rules) so a part of the district needs to go to a neighbouring seat.

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.