News

St Paul’s Church would like to invite you to a special service on Saturday 24th July. Visitors will be asked to write down the names of those who are no longer with us including the many who have died during the pandemic, and to give thanks to all who have worked tirelessly to keep our community safe. (Paper ‘leaves’ will be provided at the church).  These will be read out during the service and after which they will be planted under the roots of a white cherry tree in the grounds of St Paul’s as an everlasting reminder.

All are most welcome.

If you cannot attend but would like those people remembered please email: administrator@trinitybenefice.com

The Kent community is uniting to give children and young people a summer of fun and opportunities.

From free bus travel and discounted 6-week leisure centre passes through to summer learning and a guide to what’s on, Reconnect has something for children and young people of all ages.

The Shorncliffe Trust are pleased to announce new dates in our 2021 Heritage Walking Tour programme. Find out more about history on your doorstep by joining us for a 90 minute guided tour of the former military training land and learn more about its hidden heritage assets. Shorncliffe; birthplace of the modern British Army under Sir John Moore.

Tours Commence at 10.30 and 1pm and the starting point is at the gates of Shorncliffe Military Cemetery. Dates are as follows:

SUNDAYS:

• 4th & 18th July

• 1st & 15th August

• 26th September

SATURDAY: 28th August

PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL – BOOK VIA THE LINK BELOW

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-shorncliffe-trust-7188589333#

Select your preferred date and time and book via Eventbrite (Adults £5 – Children Free)

Funds raised contribute to the aspirations of the Trust to create a Heritage and Education Centre at Shorncliffe. Please download and share details with friends and family.

Meet at the Gates of Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, West Road, Folkestone CT20 3HL. IMPORTANT: The ground is uneven and can be steep in some places. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothes for the weather conditions required, children under 14 must be accompanied. Please note, there are no welfare facilities on the site, nearest WC’s are at Tesco, Cheriton

Can you help to support the work of the Shorncliffe Trust to Make History, Save History?

The Trust are looking to strengthen their expertise at a vital time as we look to secure a building in which to create a Heritage and Education Centre from which to tell the significant story of Shorncliffe Garrison. The Trust seeks experienced people in the field of fundraising and bid writing; marketing and PR. The position of Treasurer is also available and tour Stewards are also sought.

If you are able to offer your time and expertise to our Heritage and Education Charity then please email our Secretary, Sue Law outlining your interest. Email: secretary@shorncliffe-trust.org.uk

The Shorncliffe Trust ‘”Make History – Save History”

Registered Charity Number 1152185

A Folkestone graffiti tagger who cost his victims a total of £51,000 in damages has been jailed for a year.

On Wednesday 3 June 2020 at around 7.30am, Jordan Piper sprayed graffiti on two fence panels belonging to a guest house in Cheriton Road. CCTV captured the incident and it was shared on social media. A member of the public said he had seen the same style of graffiti in other areas of Folkestone and the matter was reported to Kent Police to investigate.

At around 12pm the same day Piper was also caught on camera spraying graffiti on the wall of a residential property in The Parade, whilst it was later identified that two vans parked in Brockman Road on 3 and 4 June had also suffered similar damage.

On Friday 12 June, outside Sainsbury’s on the Park Farm Industrial Estate, Piper was caught on camera spray-painting the same symbol on a brick wall around the back of the store. He was seen walking away before getting into a vehicle and leaving the area. The tag left on the wall was identical to the damage caused at the guest house.

It transpired that the same spray-painted design had been left in various other places across the Folkestone area, however not everyone had reported the damage to the police. As enquiries continued, other local homeowners and businesses did come forward including a number situated in Castle Hill Avenue, Middleburg Square and Sandgate Road.

Piper, 31, was identified and arrested at his home in Clifton Road, Folkestone, on Wednesday 24 June 2020. Subsequent searches of his property resulted in the discovery and seizure of a spray can along with clothing, sketch books, paint pens and artwork.

Following his guilty plea to twenty counts of criminal damage, he was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 18 June 2021.

Kent Police’s investigating officer, PC Chloe West, said: ‘Piper deliberately went out to deface property for his own enjoyment with no concept of the time it would take to remove it and the costs involved. Kent Police works closely with the local authority to deal with graffiti, which is classed as criminal damage and is therefore a crime. It can cause misery to people living and working in our communities and I hope Piper’s prison sentence acts as a warning to anyone who thinks this is acceptable.

‘I would encourage members of the public to report graffiti to us and to the local council so we can continue to take action against offenders.’

https://www.kent.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

https://folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/report-a-problem/graffiti

Another virtual community engagement meeting is being held to answer residents’ questions regarding the Home Office’s use of Napier Barracks to house temporarily those seeking asylum in the UK.

The Home Office continues to use Napier Barracks as an asylum centre despite opposition from Folkestone & Hythe District Council, local residents and asylum support groups.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) is organising the online event, which will be streamed live on YouTube on Thursday 27 May at 3.30pm.

The meeting will be chaired by F&HDC Leader, Cllr David Monk. Folkestone & Hythe MP Damian Collins will be on the panel for the meeting and the leader of Kent County Council, Cllr Roger Gough. Representatives from the Home Office, Kent Police, Migrant Help and KCC Public Health have also been invited to attend.

Questions are requested ahead of the meeting and should be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 20 May via the council website folkestonehythe.gov.uk/napierbarracks/home-office or can be sent in writing to Committee Services, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY.

A council spokesperson said:

“We understand that our residents may still have questions about the continued use of the barracks in Folkestone and we want to bring together the Home Office and those involved in providing support services to provide the answers to those questions.

“It may not be possible to answer every question individually so our intention is that themes raised by residents will be discussed by the panel.

“We hope that the event will reassure our residents that despite not being involved in the decision to use Napier Barracks we are prepared to organise and lead this virtual meeting to ensure that our communities are provided with the answers they are seeking.”

Enquiries may be rejected – as is standard council practice – if they are considered to be defamatory, frivolous or offensive.

Members of the public will be able to watch the meeting by visiting bit.ly/YouTubeMeetings