News

Sandgate Beach Sea Water Bathing Quality Testing Report 2024

Sandgate Beach Sea Water Bathing Quality Testing Report 2024

Because of concerns about the accuracy (and therefore reliability) of the data published by the EA and Southern Water on water quality for Sandgate beach at Granville Parade, the Parish Council decided in September 2023 to use an established independent testing laboratory to provide sea water testing kits to test the water at Granville Parade. Sea water testing was undertaken on twelve occasions between October 2023 and January 2024.

From the results of these tests and data from Surfers Against Sewage, the Parish Council concludes that generally the quality of the sea water under normal weather conditions is good and, sometimes, excellent. However, the testing did show high levels of contaminates on one occasion after heavy rain.

Based on this information, the Parish Council took the view that it would be inappropriate for us to apply for the Seaside Award 2024.

We also felt that it was important to publish our report, with the water testing results, in full as soon as possible. The report is available here.

SPC-Water-Testing-Report-March-2024

This report was considered and agreed by the Environment Committee on 11th March. It will will go to Full Council on 25th March to agree the wording on an open letter to Keep Britain Tidy (who organise the Seaside Award), Environment Agency, Southern Water, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and neighbouring coastal Town and Parish Councils.

Posted by Tim Prater in Environment, News

Invitation to Tender: Ground Maintenance Services 2024-2028

Sandgate Parish Council wishes to select and appoint a suitable supplier for Sandgate Parish Grounds Maintenance Services and invites prospective suppliers to submit a Tender to meet the Council’s requirements.

The Contract is expected to start June 2024 and will continue for 4 years.

A copy of the specification can be found on the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk) and search current opportunities for DN715008.

Quotations and queries should be sent to clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk by noon, 26 April 2024.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Invitation to Tender: Caretaker Services 2024-2028

Sandgate Parish Council is inviting applications for the services of a caretaker at Sandgate Park and Fremantle Park. The specific requirements for the above are detailed in the specification attached.

The Contract is expected to start June 2024 and will continue for 4 years.

A full contract specification and more details are available here.

Quotations and queries should be sent to clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk by noon, 26 April 2024.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Invitation to Tender: Handyperson Contract 2024-2028

Sandgate Parish Council wishes to select and appoint a suitable supplier for Sandgate Parish Handyperson Services and invites prospective suppliers to submit a Tender to meet the Council’s requirements.

The Contract is expected to start June 2024 and will continue for 4 years.

A copy of the specification can be found on the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk) and search current opportunities for DN714994.

Quotations and queries should be sent to clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk by noon, 26 April 2024.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
Kent Winter Energy Support Scheme – Household Support Fund

Kent Winter Energy Support Scheme – Household Support Fund

Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government, the Household Support Fund scheme supports vulnerable Kent households in need of help with significantly rising living costs.

Kent’s Winter Energy Support Scheme has been extended until midday 21st March 24, or until funds have been spent.

You can either refer yourself to the scheme or refer someone as a professional.

If your application is successful, you will receive one £100 prepaid card per eligible household to be used towards energy costs.

You will be eligible for assistance if you:

  • are aged 16 or over
  • are a Kent resident, permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley, or Bromley)
  • have a household income of less than £40,000 per annum before tax, including all benefits and employment income
  • do not have more than £1000 in savings, not including funds you have identified for the payment of regular bills
  • do not receive free school meals voucher support from your child’s school over the school holidays, for any child within your household
    are responsible for your household energy costs.

If you are referring yourself, you will need to provide proof of residence at a Kent address as part of your application. We expect professionals who are completing the application on behalf of someone else to check that recipients of support meet all the eligibility criteria.

If your family is eligible for benefits-related free school meals, you should already have received support, with schools already providing a £100 energy voucher per eligible child at the end of November 2023. If you receive benefits-related free school meals and have not received this support, contact kentfsmenquiries@kent.gov.uk for guidance.

Learn more and apply.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

Notice of Vacancy

Notice-of-Vacancy-Sandgate-Village-Ward-of-Sandgate-PC

Notice is hereby given that a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council following the resignation of a Sandgate Village ward Councillor on health grounds.

If by 11 March 2024 a request for an election to fill the vacancy is made in writing to:

The Returning Officer
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Civic Centre
Castle Hill Avenue
Folkestone
Kent CT20 2QY

by TEN electors for the Electoral Area, an election will be held to fill the vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

Posted by Tim Prater in News

The Sandgate Sea and Food Festival 2024

We are excited to confirm that The Sandgate Sea and Food Festival will return on August bank holiday weekend (Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th).

The 2024 event is still in its infancy. Exact details to be confirmed however the basic programme will be:

Saturday 24th August

  • Live music from 8-10pm
  • Free fireworks exhibition 9pm
  • Market stalls/food vendors from 7pm

Sunday 25th August

  • Live music from 10am-4pm
  • Market stalls from 10am-4pm

Stalls:

Any local business or organisation that wants to be part of the Granville Parade Seafront Market is welcome to apply! You can find the stall booking form and FAQs below.  Commercial stalls are £75.

Barrow of Booze:

A key part of the Sandgate Sea and Food Festival each year is the draw to win a “barrow of booze”. That’s an eclectic collection of bottles, cans and more donated from across the village and conveniently served in a wheelbarrow to one lucky ticket buyer! All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the RNLI.

If you have a bottle or two you could donate to fill our barrow this year (unopened bottles only please!) then please drop them to Sandgate Library during opening hours or contact clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk to arrange delivery. Thank you!

Fringe events:

We want to work alongside Sandgate businesses to host fringe events over the weekend. If you are a local business and want to discuss a fringe event (which we will promote as part of the overall programme), please contact clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk or call 01303 248563 to discuss.

Sponsorship/support:

We have two key sponsorship packages, which we are happy to discuss with anyone who would like to offer sponsorship.

The ‘Community Hero’ package is for those who wish to sponsor the event in excess of £1,000. In return, the ‘Community Hero’ would be featured, in a key position, on all advertising including posters, leaflets, Sandgate Parish Council website, event social media, and all materials on the day of the event.  The ‘Community Hero’ would also feature in the ‘thank yous’ given during the event by the event host and dedicated posts of appreciation on the event social media. Please note that the number of sponsors via the ‘Community Hero’ package is limited.

The ‘Helping Hand’ package is for those who wish to sponsor the event in excess of £250. In return, the ‘Helping Hand’ would be featured on all advertising including posters, leaflets, Sandgate Parish Council website, social media, and all materials on the day of the event. 

We will update this page regularly so please check in for updates.

If you would like to discuss any of the above, please contact Chani on clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk or 01303 248563.

Posted by Tim Prater in News, Sea Festival
Petition to Kent County Council: 20mph for Sandgate

Petition to Kent County Council: 20mph for Sandgate

A petition to Kent County Council has been launched to support Sandgate Parish Council’s long standing campaign for a 20mph zone through Sandgate. That includes the A259 Sandgate Hill, Sandgate High Street and Sandgate Esplanade and better enforcement of the speed limit.

Sign the 20mph for Sandgate petition.

The petition has been set up using the Kent Petition scheme. It is designed to force Kent County Council to finally listen to our long standing campaign for Sandgate and implement a 20 mph scheme. The Kent Petition scheme says:

(a) Where the petition relates to a County Council matter that relates to a specific District Council area and contains at least 1,000 signatures it will be debated at the most appropriate local meeting (e.g. Joint Transportation Board).
(b) Between 2500 and 9999 signatures, the petition will be debated at the appropriate Cabinet Committee.
(c) 10,000 signatures or more, the petition will be debated at County Council.

We want as many signatures as we can to get this debated at the highest levels of Kent County Council.

How You Can Help the 20mph for Sandgate Campaign

Sign Our Petition online. We know the Kent Petition system currently has error messages on it, and it is not an easy one to use. But we have tested, many local residents have signed successfully. Please persevere!

Put up a poster encouraging others to sign online. You can download a copy of our poster below.

Poster-20mph-for-Sandgate

Print out a paper petition form for people to sign. You can download our paper petition form below (its designed to be printed double sided).

Please drop completed forms to Sandgate Parish Council & Library, James Morris Court, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Folkestone CT20 3RR. They will be collated and sent in to be added to the online signatories.

KCC-Petition-20mph-for-Sandgate

Please only sign the petition once online or on paper. Kent will remove duplicates so there is no advantage in doing so.

Find other ways to help our campaign at 20splentyforsandgate.org.uk.

Like and follow our 20’s Plenty for Sandgate Campaign Facebook Page.

Posted by Tim Prater in News
Folkestone & Hythe Christmas Waste Collections 2023

Folkestone & Hythe Christmas Waste Collections 2023

Residents are being encouraged to make a note of changes to household waste and recycling collections in Folkestone & Hythe over Christmas and the new year.

Waste crews will empty bins, generally, two days later than usual in the week commencing Monday 25 December 2023 and then one day later than usual during week of Monday 1 January 2024.

This is to give our hard-working teams the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break for Christmas. The revised timetable is as follows:

Original collection dateRevised collection date
Monday 25 December 2023Wednesday 27 December 2023
Tuesday 26 December 2023Thursday 28 December 2023
Wednesday 27 December 2023Friday 29 December 2023
Thursday 28 December 2023Saturday 30 December 2023
Friday 29 December 2023Monday 1 January 2024
Monday 1 January 2024Tuesday 2 January 2024
Tuesday 2 January 2024Wednesday 3 January 2024
Wednesday 3 January 2024Thursday 4 January 2024
Thursday 4 January 2024Friday 5 January 2024
Friday 5 January 2024Saturday 6 January 2024

Household waste and recycling collections will return to normal on Monday 8 January 2024.

Garden waste collections are taking their usual break for Christmas, meaning there will be no service between Friday 22 December 2023 and Monday 8 January 2024

All of the changed dates can be found in the latest edition of Your District Today – distributed to all households in the district – and also by visiting the council’s MyAccount service.

Cllr Jeremy Speakman, Cabinet Member for Assets and Operations, said: “According to research, we all produce around 30% more waste over the Christmas period – making it even more important we reduce, reuse and recycle.

“Remember items such as Christmas cards, crackers (without the snaps), paper hats, non-glittery wrapping paper that scrunches and chocolate boxes can all be recycled.”

A free real Christmas tree recycling service will be available once again. Garden waste subscribers can leave theirs next to their bins once the service resumes, while non-subscribers should visit folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/christmas on the first week in January to arrange a collection.

Posted by Tim Prater in News