News

Further the recent Government updates / press conferences, the Parish Council continues to receive updated information on the response to the Coronavirus pandemic and the response from various organisations. We’ll aim to keep this page up to date with that information and links, both local and national, over the coming days.

If you are able, join the volunteer response team in Folkestone and Hythe: https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/coronavirus

Other updates:

• NHS updates https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
• Kent County Council updates at https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/coronavirus
• Folkestone and Hythe District Council updates https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/coronavirus
• National Association of Local Councils https://www.nalc.gov.uk/coronavirus

Sandgate Parish Council & Library

The library is now closed until further notice, and all activities and events have been cancelled with immediate effect. The Parish Clerk is working as usual and remains contactable at 01303 248563 or email clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk

All March Council meetings have been cancelled. Clearer advice is being sought on how meetings should continue in future / a potential move to online meetings.

At this time, Sandgate Park remains open, but please understand surfaces there are not regularly wiped and all users should be using appropriate social distancing. The Public Toilets on Granville Parade also remain open, but similarly, please exercise more than usual caution on hygiene including touching surfaces. And wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Community

There are numerous offers of help (and more are welcome from those who can), including to “shop, fetch and carry” for those who are not going out for a period of time, on some of the local forums online. Please note that you should of course keep safe and alert: if someone offers assistance, please take reasonable measures to ensure they are genuinely helping. There have been some sickening stories of people (NOT in Sandgate) knocking of doors and offering shopping assistance, only to then leave with the shopping money and not be seen again. there is no central verification of people offering to help (how could there be!) so act securely.

Those offers include:

• https://nextdoor.co.uk/ (requires registration and joining the Sandgate group – use the link https://nextdoor.co.uk/invite/kyksvraguxznqscdgsjr)
• On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SunnySandgateKent/ and https://bit.ly/3bEikv6 (Sunny Sandgate Residents and Business Group)

District Councillors Tim Prater and Gary Fuller have been advised to suspend their two surgeries each month (at the Sandgate Farmers Market and the Sandgate Library) for a period of time, but are happy to help people as ever by phone, email, face-to-face appointment. If you want to contact them, their details are at https://folkestone-hythelibdems.org.uk/en/contact

Chichester Hall

Sandgate Farmers Market has been cancelled for the next few weeks, and all events in the Chichester Hall have also been suspended for now. Refunds are being offered for any event provider who wishes to cancel bookings.

For more information about the Farmers Market or the current status of events, email David Cowell at david@chichesterhall.co.uk

Folkestone and Hythe District Council

All Council meetings in March have been cancelled. there are regular updates on the services they provide and assistance they can offer at https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/coronavirus

All events on F&HDC land through until 31st July have been cancelled, including performances at the Folkestone / Leas bandstand.

Businesses

All pubs and clubs, cafes and restaurants in the area will have closed further to the government announcement on the evening of 20th March, but some cafes are still offering takeaway, collection and delivery options, including The Dog House. The Village Shop on Sandgate High Street remains open.

Elsewhere….

Folkestone Town Council

FTC have closed the Town Hall with immediate effect and are moving staff to remote/flexible working wherever possible.

All Council meetings in March have been cancelled.

All events and activities are being cancelled until further notice.

The Town Hall phone line (01303 257946) will be answered and officers will be contactable via email (http://www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/meet-the-officer-team/)

Hythe Town Council

Are meeting various community groups this afternoon to help co-ordinate cross town support.

Other

The Leas Cliff Hall has cancelled all performances and closed their cafe and the Channel Suite until further notice.

All events at Folkestone Quarterhouse have been suspended until Tuesday 14 April. During that time they will review the situation and decide the next steps.

In these soggy times, the following resources might be helpful to residents:

https://www.floodguidance.co.uk/

…and…

https://www.abi.org.uk/globalassets/files/publications/public/flooding/abi-guide-to-responding-to-major-floods.pdf – from the Association of British Insurers

There has also been the launch of a new code of practice about property flood resilience.

Property flood resilience (PFR) is an important part of the response to flood risk. PFR includes measures that reduce the risks to people and property enabling households and businesses to reduce flood damage, speed up recovery and reoccupation. PFR measures should reduce the amount of water entering buildings (known as resistance measures), or limit the damage caused if water does enter a building (known as recoverability measures).

This code of practice (CoP) is concerned with PFR measures that can be introduced to buildings at risk from flooding. Often these measures can be installed as part of the repair of buildings after they have been flooded. However, some property owners may wish to be proactive and fit measures in anticipation of a flood.

The CoP includes six standards that specify what should be achieved. These standards will be supported by comprehensive guidance on how the standards should be met by the following stages within the PFR delivery process. The guidance is provided in the CIRIA C790B Code of practice and guidance for property flood resilience.

https://www.ciria.org/ItemDetail?iProductCode=C790F&Category=FREEPUBS&WebsiteKey=3f18c87a-d62b-4eca-8ef4-9b09309c1c91

Councillor Vannessa Reay

In these soggy times, the following resources might be helpful to residents:

Flood Guidance website

…and…

https://www.abi.org.uk/globalassets/files/publications/public/flooding/abi-guide-to-responding-to-major-floods.pdf – from the Association of British Insurers

There has also been the launch of a new code of practice about property flood resilience.

Property flood resilience (PFR) is an important part of the response to flood risk. PFR includes measures that reduce the risks to people and property enabling households and businesses to reduce flood damage, speed up recovery and reoccupation. PFR measures should reduce the amount of water entering buildings (known as resistance measures), or limit the damage caused if water does enter a building (known as recoverability measures).

This code of practice (CoP) is concerned with PFR measures that can be introduced to buildings at risk from flooding. Often these measures can be installed as part of the repair of buildings after they have been flooded. However, some property owners may wish to be proactive and fit measures in anticipation of a flood.

The CoP includes six standards that specify what should be achieved. These standards will be supported by comprehensive guidance on how the standards should be met by the following stages within the PFR delivery process. The guidance is provided in the CIRIA C790B Code of practice and guidance for property flood resilience.

https://www.ciria.org/ItemDetail?iProductCode=C790F&Category=FREEPUBS&WebsiteKey=3f18c87a-d62b-4eca-8ef4-9b09309c1c91

Councillor Vannessa Reay

Seagulls and bin bags don’t mix. Well, perhaps they do. Too well. For the seagull.

Following an approach by Sandgate Parish Council, Folkestone and Hythe District Council have agreed to make available ‘seagull proof’ bags for residents in Sandgate that have a purple sack rubbish collection (ie no wheely bin). This will help prevent your rubbish being attacked by seagulls on collection day (which should make Sandgate High Street on a Wednesday a slightly less rubbish-strewn area – we hope!).

Any household that normally has their waste collected in bin bags can collect a FREE seagull proof bag from:

• Sandgate Library (James Morris Court, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Folkestone CT20 3RR) Friday 3rd April – 10am-12.30pm
• Sandgate Farmers Market (Chichester Hall, 70 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Folkestone CT20 3RR) Saturday 18th April – 10am-12.30pm

Sacks will also be available for collection from the Library from 3rd April. One per household – you will be asked to provide your residential address to collect a bag.

Please note that bags DO NOT replace purple sacks – you place your purple sacks IN the seagull proof bag.

How to use your seagull proof bag:

• Please secure your sack outside your property before 7am on collection day;
• Please place your purple bags inside your gull proof sack and make sure that the sack is securely closed to avoid the gulls attacking your waste;
• Our waste crews will remove the purple bags from your gull proof sack on collection day;
• Please take your bag in as soon as possible after collection, any gull proof sacks left out permanently will be removed and not replaced;
• You may wish to number your sack so that it can be recognised as yours.

Despite just 39 reported cases of Coronavirus in the UK to date (10am, 3/3/2020), Kent County Council and other agencies are asking us to publish details on where to find more information on Coronavirus (COVID-19).

• The most authoritative source nationally is the NHS website.
• If you think you, or a friend or relative, might have symptoms, there is the NHS 111 on line questionnaire page
• For updates on the position in Kent, you can read more on the Kent County Council website

Seagulls and bin bags don’t mix. Well, perhaps they do. Too well. For the seagull.

Following an approach by Sandgate Parish Council, Folkestone and Hythe District Council have agreed to make available ‘seagull proof’ bags for residents in Sandgate that have a purple sack rubbish collection (ie no wheely bin). This will help prevent your rubbish being attacked by seagulls on collection day (which should make Sandgate High Street on a Wednesday a slightly less rubbish-strewn area – we hope!).

Any household that normally has their waste collected in bin bags can collect a FREE seagull proof bag from:

• Sandgate Library (James Morris Court, Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Folkestone CT20 3RR) Friday 3rd April – 10am-12.30pm
• Sandgate Farmers Market (Chichester Hall, 70 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Folkestone CT20 3RR) Saturday 18th April – 10am-12.30pm

Sacks will also be available for collection from the Library from 3rd April. One per household – you will be asked to provide your residential address to collect a bag.

Please note that bags DO NOT replace purple sacks – you place your purple sacks IN the seagull proof bag.

How to use your seagull proof bag:

• Please secure your sack outside your property before 7am on collection day;
• Please place your purple bags inside your gull proof sack and make sure that the sack is securely closed to avoid the gulls attacking your waste;
• Our waste crews will remove the purple bags from your gull proof sack on collection day;
• Please take your bag in as soon as possible after collection, any gull proof sacks left out permanently will be removed and not replaced;
• You may wish to number your sack so that it can be recognised as yours.

Despite just 39 reported cases of Coronavirus in the UK to date (10am, 3/3/2020), Kent County Council and other agencies are asking us to publish details on where to find more information on Coronavirus (COVID-19).

• The most authoritative source nationally is the NHS website.
• If you think you, or a friend or relative, might have symptoms, there is the NHS 111 on line questionnaire page
• For updates on the position in Kent, you can read more on the Kent County Council website

FOLKESTONE & HYTHE DISTRICT COUNCIL

THE DISTRICT OF FOLKESTONE & HYTHE

(OFF‑STREET PARKING PLACES) CONSOLIDATION ORDER 2019

(Amendment 1) ORDER 2020

NOTICE OF PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given that FOLKESTONE & HYTHE DISTRICT COUNCIL proposes the above Order under sections 32, 35 and 35c of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Act”), having obtained the consent of Kent County Council in accordance with Section 39(3) of the Act, and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with the chief officer of police in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9 of the Act.

The Order proposes the following changes from the 1^st April 2020:

Lower Sandgate Road West Car Park, Sandgate

• Increase operational hours from 8am-6pm to 8am-8pm, all days during the period 1^st April-30^th September

Mount Street Car Park, Hythe

• Increase maximum stay period from 2 hours to 3 hours

• Increase minimum stay period from 30 minutes to 1 hour

Full details are contained in the draft Order, which together with the relevant drawings, a copy of any orders which will be amended by the proposed Order, and a statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Order may be examined at The Council Offices, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone.

If you have any questions concerning the Order or require further information, please contact Folkestone & Hythe District Council (Parking Services) Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY.

If you wish to make an objection or comment about the proposed Order, you must write to Folkestone & Hythe District Council (Traffic Orders), Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY or email traffic.orders@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. Your objection must specify the grounds on which it is made. For your objection or comments to be considered, they must reach us by 5pm on Friday 14 February 2020. For legal reasons, we cannot accept any objection or comment over the phone or in person.