Tim Prater

10
Jul
2020
Sandgate High Street: Open for Business

Sandgate High Street: Open for Business

Sandgate Parish Council Chairman Tim Prater & Parish Clerk Gaye Thomas were delighted with the reception from businesses up and down Sandgate High Street on Friday 10th July. The message time and again was clear: Sandgate is Open for Business!

From hairdressers and barbers through cafes, antique, clothing dnd home decor shops, cafes and pubs, all are back up and trading, with all making adjustments to keep customers and staff safe and disatanced.

Sandgate Chairman Tim Prater commented:

“It’s great to see so many businesses with their doors now back open and trading, even where they’ve had to make real adjustments to do so at this time.

“A number of businesses have been trading throughout since March, others have reopened since. So many local people have relied on the service provided by businesses like The Village Store and The Dog House through the Covid closure period, and it has been hugely appreciated.

“Some businesses like Roka and Loaf are currently entirely take-away, and others, like our pubs The Providence and The Ship Inn, and restaurants like Ti Lucks, are offering eat and drink in, but with reduced hours, spacing and additional in premises precautions to keep all safe. What is clear is that everyone is doing their best to work within the new guidelines.

“It has only been a week since some businesses have been allowed to reopen at all, but they were all delighted to be back, and there is a real buzz in the High Street again, with almost all doors now open: great to see. “

Photography: Joe Hudson.

  • The Hungry Seagull, Sandgate
  • The Dog House, Sandgate
  • Portland Studios, Sandgate
  • Encore, Sandgate
  • The Village Store, Sandgate
  • Albane Pet Photography, Sandgate
  • Loaf, Sandgate
  • Sandgate Vaults
  • Chris Canning Barbers
  • The Little Fish Shop, Sandgate
  • Ti Lucks II Restaurant, Sandgate
  • The Providence, Sandgate
  • The Ship Inn, Sandgate
  • Roka Pizza and Gelato, Sandgate
  • Acula Creations, Sandgate
  • Paraglio and Ayres Antiques and Interiors
  • Comemos Deli Cafe
  • Ansham Architects
  • Fabulous Nellies, Sandgate
Posted by Tim Prater in News
10
Jul
2020
The Folkestone Haven

The Folkestone Haven

The Folkestone Haven offers safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for people who are struggling to cope with their mental health during the evening, weekends and bank holidays when other services may be closed.

The Folkestone Haven is for adult residents (18+) of the Folkestone and Hythe District who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and feel unable to cope. This includes people who may be anxious or worried about anything affecting their mental health but don’t have support networks available to them. It is for people who use or have used mental health services and those who have never used them before.

It is open access and no appointment is necessary, and the service is completely free.

The Folkestone Haven is based at the Rainbow Centre, 69 Sandgate Road, Folkestone CT20 2AF (Folkestone.Haven@hestia.org 07827 533871). They are open Monday-Friday from 18:00 to 23:00 and Weekends & Bank Holidays from 12:00 to 23:00.

The Folkestone Haven’s aim is to support people using the service to reduce their crisis and anxiety, and to safety plan, drawing on strengths, resilience and coping mechanisms to reduce the need to use crisis services in the future. We will also refer and signpost to other support services.

Folkestone-Haven-Poster-New-010720-2-1

Folkestone-Haven-Leaflet-1

You can learn more at https://www.hestia.org/folkestone-and-hythe-district

  • Folkestone Haven seating
  • Folkestone coffee bar
  • Folkestone Haven seating
Posted by Tim Prater in News
08
Jul
2020
Radnor Cliff and Radnor Cliff Crescent Parking Consultation Report Published

Radnor Cliff and Radnor Cliff Crescent Parking Consultation Report Published

Folkestone and Hythe District Council have published their report on the recent consultation of amending the conditions on summer parking restrictions and hours in Radnor Cliff and Radnor Cliff Crescent.

A majority of residents in the roads were against amending the current scheme. The recommendation of the report is therefore that the changes should not be made.

https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/moderngov/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IssueId=19242&OptionNum=0

Posted by Tim Prater in News
05
Jul
2020

Sandgate Community Garden: Update 5 July 2020

The Wednesday morning session was spent propping up leaning plants and cutting off wind burnt and shredded leaves, the condition of the garden was surprisingly better than was thought, although it seems we have more windy days to follow.  Saturday morning was a washout, rain is great and we really should not grumble but the timing was not good! 

This week we have weeded inside the cloches, planted beetroot, a random tomato plant, and the last few dwarf beans for this year.  The flowers got another cutting, and the wild flower area tidied; some of the potatoes got harvested, along with broad beans, spring onions, beetroot, salad, and courgettes.  The first salad sown in early March is nearly finished, and being overtaken by the second sowing of the year in early June; a third sowing will be made next week plus endives, both frizzy and escarole varieties.  This month there will be sowings of chard, kohlrabi, Florence fennel, more kale, and at the end of the month, some Chinese cabbage, lots to look forward to!

We are keeping a close eye on our hop plants, and have sent our photos of them to the Hythe Environmental group to deliver a verdict on how they are looking as first year plants.  It seems from their feedback that they are looking good and strong.  The next milestone is the appearance of the first ‘cones’ from the insignificant looking burrs or flowers…. Then we will be in business for picking the cones in September to be made into local beer.  Not long now.

The second incredible edible project was finished in Sandgate and planted up with runner beans, dwarf beans, chillies, strawberry plants, tomato plants, squashes and all manner of herbs.  The neighbours seemed pleased with the new look, and have volunteered to make some additions.  We are now turning our attention towards the possibility of yet another Edible space in Sandgate, more details to follow as and when there is progress.

What’s next?

  • Raise the cloches as the brassicas inside get taller.
  • Cut off the strawberry runners not required this year
  • Keep cutting and picking
  • Sowings of seeds as mentioned
  • Cut back lower third of hop side shoots
  • Hop plants, showing side shoots
  • Hop plant close up
  • Globe courgette serving suggestion – yum
  • Incredible Edible space: before
  • Incredible Edible space: after
Posted by Tim Prater in Sandgate Community Garden
03
Jul
2020

Sandgate Park and Enbrook Valley Playgrounds Reopen

In line with the Government rules, the children’s playgrounds at Sandgate Park and Enbrook Valley (Fremantle Road) will be reopened for use from Saturday 4th July.

Please: Be Sensible says Sandgate Parish Council Chairman Tim Prater

However, we ask all park users to be careful in the use of the playgrounds and adult exercise equipment. Both parks will have signs in place reminding users how to stay safe.

It is not possible to clean the equipment between use, so any surface is only as clean as the hands of the people who’ve touched it before.

  • Clean your hands before and after using the equipment.
  • Don’t touch your face and ensure you cover your mouth if coughing
  • If you can’t maintain social distancing, wait your turn
  • At busy times, use the equipment for a reasonable time only
  • One family member should accompany a child in the playground
Posted by Tim Prater in News
02
Jul
2020

Sandgate Walking Tours to Launch in July

On Saturday 18th July Tony Quarrington will be bringing his award winning walking tours to Sandgate for the first time.

Tony developed the Sandgate Walking tour programme after discussions with Sandgate Parish Council earlier this year. The Parish Council are supporting the programme with promotion and a small grant.

Tony will be delivering a minimum of ten tours between mid July and late October. All tours will start at the Chichester Memorial Hall at 11am on a Saturday and last approximately two hours. 

It had been hoped that the majority of the tours would coincide with the fortnightly Farmer’s Market, but that might have to wait a little while longer.

Enbrook Park, the Castle, High Street, seafront, Old Fire Station, library, parish church and former primary school are just some of the attractions that Tony will focus on along the walk.

In addition to the history, culture and architecture of the village, he will also explain the role of many of the prominent personalities, such as H.G. Wells, Sir John Moore, William Wilberforce and Hattie Jacques, that have shaped and illuminated Sandgate over the centuries. 

Tony, who lives in Folkestone, has been conducting walking tours in the town for the past three years, focusing on The Leas, harbour and seafront, Creative Quarter and the East Cliff. He is excited to be venturing further afield and sharing his passion for the village with his guests.

Sandgate Parish Council Chairman Tim Prater welcomed the launch of the programme. Tim said:

“When I started the conversation with Tony about bringing his walking tours to Sandgate we hoped we would offer something new and different for the village and our visitors.

“We hope that this summer as many people as possible enjoy an outdoor, socially distanced tour with Tony and learn more about our village, its history and the people that lived (and live!) here.

“It would be great to see this become a regular feature in Sandgate for years to come, and we look forward to working, and walking, with Tony!”

2020 Sandgate Walking Tour Dates:

  • Saturday 18th July
  • Saturday 1st August
  • Saturday 15th August
  • Saturday 29th August
  • Saturday 5th September
  • Saturday 12th September
  • Saturday 19th September
  • Saturday 3rd October
  • Saturday 17th October
  • Saturday 24th October
Sandgate-tour-flyer-18-July-alt-pdf

Posted by Tim Prater in News
30
Jun
2020

Tidying Up Enbrook Valley Park

Since Sandgate Parish Council took on the maintenance and running of Enbrook Valley Park in Fremantle Road a couple of weeks ago, we’ve already started improving the area and getting the playground ready for the post-Covid reopening that we really hope is not far away.

The playground equipment has been checked, swing seats replaced where needed and frames repainted to make sure its safe and tidy. The bench in the playground has been refurbished as well. The weeds that were growing through the matting have been sorted, and signage updated.

We’ve had the 5-a-side goals painted, and we’ve got some more works planned. we will be cutting back the overgrown area of weeds near the footpath entrance from Enbrook Valley and also doing the same down the one side of the football pitch to make it a bit squarer: that last one will need to wait until the Autumn though!

There will soon be a leaflet through local doors asking for people to get involved in taking care of the park: from keeping an eye on it and reporting problems to litter picking as required and even getting involved with new planters and beds: watch this space!

  • Bench
  • Slide / play equipment
  • Swings / play equipment
  • Goal Post
  • Slide / play equipment
Posted by Tim Prater in News