News

With Black Friday approaching and with the run up to Christmas many of you may be tempted to buy online in the next few days. Please see below for advice on how to shop on line safely:

How to shop online safely…

Software updates

Make sure you’ve installed the latest software & app updates. Criminals use weaknesses in software to attack your devices and steal information, such as your payment details.

Email accounts

Use a strong, separate password for your email account. Criminals can use your email to access other online accounts, such as those you use for online shopping.

Phishing

Don’t click on a link in an unexpected email or text. The volume of online shopping related phishing emails increases significantly during the holiday period. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Payment methods

Don’t pay for goods or services by bank transfer unless you know and trust the person. Payments via bank transfer offer you no protection if you become a victim of fraud.

For more information on how to stay secure online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk.

Changes to recycling and waste collections

Please note: if your collection is normally on Tuesday or Wednesday, this will change. Please see below:

Collections return to normal from Monday 31 December.

Bad weather may change or delay collections, please check folkestone-hythe.gov.uk for updates.

You can get automatic reminders for your recycling and waste collection dates over Christmas and throughout the year by signing up to email alerts.

Garden Waste

Garden Waste collections take their usual two week break at Christmas – the last collection is on Friday 21 December and collections start again on Monday 7 January.

If you want to sign up for fortnightly garden waste collections go to folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/garden-waste

To recycle your real Christmas tree for free go to folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/christmas trees

Opening hours

Civic Centre Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone:

The Wednesday morning drop-in service at New Romney Town Council, High Street, New Romney will be closed on Wednesday 26 December and it will re-open on Wednesday 2 January (9am to 12pm).

Hythe Swimming Pool

For opening hours at Hythe Swimming Pool, please visit https://folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/hythe-pool

In an emergency

If you need to contact Folkestone and Hythe District Council in an emergency while our offices are closed please call 01303 221888

Free Christmas Parking

We want to encourage shoppers into our great town centres and support our local traders. That’s why we waive charges in council car parks and on-street parking bays on the three Saturdays before Christmas.

You can park for free in council ‘Pay and Display’ car parks and on street parking bays on:

• Saturday 8 December
• Saturday 15 December
• Saturday 22 December

If you live in the district, you can apply for a permit to park in all our car parks at any time of the year for just £60. Go to: folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/parking/permits

The Parish Council would like to thank the sponsors of the planters throughout the village this summer.

The following organisations assisted with the cost of these planters – Harmer and Sons (2), the Folkestone Rowing Club, the Sandgate Society (3), LH Property and Prater Raines Ltd.

The Parish Council hopes you all enjoyed the display which will return in the spring, although the rowing boat display and the circular tub in the middle of the village will remain planted for the winter.

Kent Police are promoting an anti-terrorism scheme for businesses. Over 1500 companies across the UK have signed up to an innovative 45-minute training scheme that could help prevent terror attacks.

In just six months since the product was first made available, organisations as varied as John Lewis & Partners, the English National Opera and Manchester Cathedral have enrolled their staff.

Called ACT Awareness e-Learning, the training was developed in a ground-breaking partnership between Counter Terrorism Policing and retail giant Marks & Spencer. It covers how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour and what to do if an attack should take place.

Free to use, the package can be divided into short sections to suit business needs. However it takes just three quarters of an hour to complete – 45 vital minutes that could save lives.

John Frost, Head of Business Continuity from Marks and Spencer, helped lead the project. He says:

“The feedback from colleagues at M&S and the other organisations taking part has been extremely positive. They found the content informative and engaging and a second version of the product is now being planned to keep the training up to date with any emerging threats.”

The digital format is proving popular with shopping, entertainment and sports venues with more companies applying to take part every day.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, national police lead for Protective Security, says:

“All staff working in crowded places – not just those who have a security role – can follow the course and be in a stronger position to help protect themselves, colleagues and the public.

“We are grateful to Marks and Spencer who entered into this collaboration with us. This is the type of joint working we want to see more of in the future across all sectors.

“Our officers will still be available to deal with companies on a one-to-one level but this will lead to many more ‘eyes and ears’ available to help us that could potentially save lives.”

Organisations wanting more information, or to apply for registration, should visit the National Counter Terrorism Security Office website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/act-awareness-elearning