Sandgate Business Forum Update: Edition 2 (June 2016)
Welcome to the second issue of the “Sandgate Business Forum”
Since I wrote to you in May, I have received some great feedback regarding what is important to businesses such as yourself and how we, as a Parish Council, may be able to help and I thank you sincerely for your feedback – please keep it coming! I am happy to hear of any initiatives that you may have, concerns over legislation, issues with parking initiatives or anything where you feel we may be able to help. You can either email me at kurt@acula.co.uk, telephone me on 07896 106137 or write to me at the address shown at the bottom of this email.
Sandgate News
Parking Restrictions Throughout Sandgate
In my last update, I advised of the proposed parking restrictions throughout Sandgate Village and as I write, unfortunately the news is… there is no news.
The proposals for a Sandgate Granville Parade / Castle Road CPZ (controlled parking zone) with 2 hour parking restriction for those without a permit (8am-8pm every day of the year) was opposed by a huge number of local residents, Sandgate Parish Council and also a huge number of businesses.
The formal consultation held by Shepway District Council on the scheme, received hundreds of objections of which many of them came from you and I thank you for the fantastic work in gaining so many objection signatures – apparently there were very few comments in support. Since the closure of that consultation, we have heard no more: no publication of the outcome of the consultation, no attempt to progress the scheme, no formal cancellation of the scheme: nothing!
The scheme was originally proposed to be enacted in mid-June: as soon as we hear more, we'll let you know.
Military Road Resurfacing Works
Kent Highways, are intending to resurface Military Road from its junction with Sandgate High Street to the junction with North Road. Whilst I appreciate there are no businesses based on this road the will be an impact on both vehicle movements around the Village, Valley and those businesses based near North Road. The micro resurfacing works are programmed for 8th August 2016, and there should be local signage to advise on any closures, diversions or parking suspensions, and other restrictions during the works.
This morning, I have spoken to the Contract Officer from KCC Highways who has confirmed to me the following;
- The planned date of 8th August is subject to certain conditions such as weather
- The entire length of the road is likely to be closed for 2 days although there WILL be access for residents
- Work is planned to be carried out between the hours of 7am to 7pm although this may change
- Residents will be given notice in writing between 2 and 4 weeks prior to any work being undertaken
According to their website Kent County Council say micro resurfacing "is generally used on urban roads and lasts up to 10 years. We fix faults and potholes, but we then place a pre-mixed tarmac dressing which is then pressed down." You can learn more about micro resurfacing from a Kent County Council video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9AlGN4fo_U
Development at Shorncliffe – Horn Street Update
Despite residents, campaigners and councillors from Folkestone and Sandgate insisting that for the new Shorncliffe development to go ahead required a widened road bridge at Horn Street, Shepway Development Control decided… against making that a condition on the developer.
Instead of widening the bridge to allow east two-way running, there will be traffic lights put on the bridge to enforce one-way running, and associated works to the approaches and creation of a junction to the new St Martins Plain and Stadium developments.
On Horn Street and Church Rd, the works widening of Horn Street and formation of new entrance to the St Martin's Plain development, change of priority at the junction of Horn Street and Church Road, installation of signals to Horn Street Bridge and signalised crossing to Church Road have just started (28 June) and signs are warning works may take up to 22 weeks.
General Business News
Free Business Seminars / Training
Recently, I was invited to attend a free seminar on cash flow for business. I’ll be honest with you I was a little wary as I was expecting this to be ran by an organisation trying to sell me something but I was presently surprised. The seminar was ran by a company called Pro-Actions in conjunction with Shepway District Council and was actually both very informative and enjoyable – it was also a fantastic opportunity to meet other business owners / managers in the area including a lot of new start-ups.
The next Folkestone based event, is entitled “Business Planning – your road map to success” and is due to run on Tuesday 12th July at the Folkestone Enterprise Centre at Basepoint. If you would be interested in attending you will need to register with them and book your place via their website http://pro-actions.com/events/ This website also details their other seminars throughout Kent.
New Sandgate Businesses Update
Sandgate Trading – 74 Sandgate High Street
Due to open later in the summer, Sandgate Trading are currently shop fitting their “gift and home” store. Unfortunately I have little other information such as a confirmed opening date and trading hours but I will advise on this as soon as I have the information – in the meantime, welcome to Sandgate High Street, it’s fantastic that new stores are deciding that Sandgate is the place to be.
Sandgate Events
Sandgate Sea & Food Festival
To confirm my communication recently, as I’m sure you are aware, the Annual Sea and Food Festival will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The Sea & Food Festival attracts thousands of people to the village each year and is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Sandgate and all that it has to offer.
On the evening of Saturday 27th August (weather permitting) there will be a spectacular beach fireworks display, with a likely start time of around 9pm.
On Sunday 28th August will be the main Sea & Food Festival, with food, craft and other business stalls in the Granville Parade market, and Arts and Crafts Fair in the Chichester Hall, bands, entertainment, beach games and more.
Whilst the market and much of the entertainment is on the sea wall, we want to see the Sea & Food Festival spread throughout Sandgate to draw new visitors and customers to the High Street, promote our businesses and broaden the Festival.
There are a number of ways you can get involved:
1. Each year, a free programme of events is handed out to the 1000’s of visitors who attend the Sea Festival. It includes such information as "What's on", times and venues. Any business doing something special for the Festival, from special opening hours on those days, to a "Festival Food special", entertainment, or any other offer you can come up with for those days can have a FREE listing in the programme
Be inventive, and if it would help contact me and I'll happily discuss what might work for your business. Let me know what you are doing and when and we will happily advertise this in the programme FOR FREE. We don’t need masses of information: just who you are, where you are, what you’ll be doing and contact details such as a telephone number or email. Due to space availability in the programme, you need to contact me as soon as possible with details or to discuss your entry.
2. If you want to promote your business from the Granville Parade "market" itself you can book a stall to showcase your business from £60. If you would be interested in a stall at the Sea Festival, also contact me as soon as possible (and no later than 1 July) and I'll put you in touch with the Festival Organiser.
3. Would you be prepared to help us to advertise the festival by placing a poster in the window or on your website / Facebook page? If so then please contact me for details.
oOo
In closing, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this update and I hope that you have found it useful. This email / blog is intended to provide information, advice and general communication so if you have anything that you would like information on or even if you just wish to let other businesses know what’s happening with your business then please contact me. My email address is kurt@acula.co.uk and my telephone number is 07896 106137.
All the very best and I hope to hear from you soon.
Councillor Kurt Stephens
Sandgate Parish Council