24
Mar
2017
Notice of Election for the forthcoming Kent County Council election on Thursday 4th May 2017
[gview file=”/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/Notice-of-Election-KCC17-Shepway.pdf”]
News
18
Mar
2017
Naming the Rec – What’s In A Name? Your Vote – You Decide
Thank you for all the suggestions which have come from many people drawing upon diverse inspirations including famous ex-residents, location, history and even a previous park keeper. The list has been moderated to produce a manageable list (including the current name Military Road Recreation Ground) for a vote as follows:-
| Hilly Fields | hillyfields@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Jacques Park | jacques@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Martello Recreation Ground | martello@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Military Road Recreation Ground | militaryroad@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Miss Ames Recreation Ground | missames@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Park on the Hill | parkonthehill@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Sandgate Community Park | sandgatecommunity@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Sandgate Fields | sandgatefields@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Sandgate Park | sandgatepark@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Sandgate Recreation Ground | sandgaterec@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Sandgate Village Park | sandgatevillage@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Sir John Moore Recreation Ground | johnmoore@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Spring Ground | spring@votebyemail.co.uk |
| The Peoples Park | peoples@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Turnill Park | turnill@votebyemail.co.uk |
| Wilberforce’s Ground | wilberforce@votebyemail.co.uk |
To vote please click against the email address for the name you prefer (or copy and paste the email address into your own email) and give your name and postal address in the email. Only one vote per person or business in Sandgate parish will be accepted.
Closing date for voting Friday 31st March 5pm.
You may also vote in person at Sandgate Library – ask for the parish clerk.
Any queries please email the parish clerk clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk
16
Mar
2017
Calling Sandgate’s Budding Authors
The Sandgate Creative Writers Group (which meets in the Library on the second Thursday of the month), would like all creative authors and poets to enter the Creative Writer’s Competition.
If you would like a chance to be included in the club’s booklet in August this year and have your work displayed on Writer’s Page in the library, please submit poetry or prose, no more than 450 words in total. Your entry can either be left in the library or emailed to joe.tom277864@tiscali.co.uk.
Your work will be read and judged by members of Sandgate Creative Writers. The top three will be included in the club’s booklet in August this year.
If you have anything over that amount but no more than two thousand words and would like it evaluated please bring it to one of the meetings where members will be pleased to read and discuss it with you.
25
Feb
2017
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
MILITARY ROAD RECREATION GROUND
Sandgate Parish Council is considering renaming Military Road Recreation Ground to better reflect the improvements which have been, and are to be, carried out to the park and to highlight its value as a community asset to the whole village.
The park has previously been named Chichester Park, and other suggestions from a previous exercise to rename included Golden Park and Field of Dreams. Councillors also suggested Sandgate Park: but perhaps you have a much better name!
We are now asking for any other nominations for a new name to be put to a community vote in late March / early April.
To suggest a new name please email clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk or visit Sandgate library and speak to the parish clerk.
All suggestions will be considered by Sandgate Council and a shortlist, which will include as an option the current ‘Military Road Recreation Ground’, will then be put forward to the community vote.
Suggestions that are obviously offensive or unacceptable (Shepway District Council have to accept the final name) won’t make it to the shortlist. For the avoidance of doubt that includes Parky McParkface – sorry!
Closing date 10th March 2016.
10
Feb
2017
Report to Basecamp
Are you a serving soldier, reservist, veteran, or cadet?
Would you like to know more about issues like housing, health, employment and volunteering?
Members of Shepway’s Armed Forces Community and their families are being invited report to Basecamp KENT at Folkestone Sports Centre on Friday 17 February.
The event, which runs from 10.30am to 3pm aims to show what help is available on issues like housing, health and employment, and to promote volunteering and other activities. Organisers also hope that it will give former and serving serviceman the chance to meet old friends and make new ones. Activities, entertainment and refreshments will also be provided.
The event is being run in partnership between Shepway District Council and Royal British Legion Industries and is part of the council’s commitment to its Armed Forces Covenant – a promise that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives.
No appointment is needed and all members of the armed forces community are welcome to attend at Folkestone Sports Centre, Radnor Park Avenue, Folkestone CT19 5HX
10
Feb
2017
Forthcoming Events at Sandgate Library
Thursday, 16th February, 10.00 – 12.00: Arts and Crafts Session in Sandgate Library. Children of all ages welcome and must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday afternoons – a reminder that the Library is now open until 4.30 on Thursdays. On Thursday 2.00-3.00 pm, we have a TalkTime group: this coming week the group will be reminiscing about life in Britain during WW11. Everyone is welcome.
03
Feb
2017
Afternoon Opening for Sandgate Library
When Sandgate Parish Council took over the running of Sandgate Library last year, one key reason for doing so is that we wanted to extend the opening hours of the library from the existing “morning only” opening.
We’re delighted to say that as of Thursday 9th February, Sandgate Library will be open in the afternoon as well through to 4.30. All are more than welcome – we hope it makes it easier for many to access the library!
Our full new opening hours are therefore:
- Monday 9.30 – 1pm
- Tuesday 9.30 – 1pm
- Thursday 9.30 – 4.30pm
- Friday 9.30 – 1pm
- Saturday 9.30 – 1pm
We are also launching a new activity; ‘Talk time’ which will run every Thursday from 2.00pm until 3.00pm. This is an opportunity for anyone to come along, have a chat and make friends. So if you have time on your hands and would like to meet new people, please join us. Each session will be run by volunteer Liz Smith,
20
Jan
2017
Sandgate Business Forum Update Edition 6 (January 2017)
Welcome to the latest Sandgate Business Forum update.
The Parish Council would like to congratulate you all on some fantastic and very creative window displays over the festive period. As we know, pulling in customers comes in many forms and a creative window display not only helps attract customers but also makes Sandgate a much nicer place to visit. Let’s see what we can create in our windows for Spring or Valentine’s Day and build a reputation that shopping in Sandgate is the place to be! If you have any pictures of your displays we would love to see them.
Please Ensure You’re Legal
On the last business forum update (you can find a copy here), we made mention of Shepway District Council’s rules on “A” Boards and Business Waste. Since that update we have had at least one business approached by SDC regarding Business Waste; a different business approached regarding an “A” Board on the pavement; and a third business has had action taken against it as they were playing music whilst not holding a PPL & PRS licence. The action consisted of a rather large fine which worked out much more expensive than a licence would have been. Details of PPL / PRS licences can be found here on the Government’s website.
We would also like to reiterate that it is your responsibility to ensure that you are operating legally as a business and should you fail to do so it is very difficult to plead that you were unaware of your responsibilities. Should you need guidance then pretty much everything you need to know is available here on the Government’s website.
Sandgate Businesses In The Press
Just lately, Sandgate has been featured in the Folkestone Herald and a number of on-line news websites. This is so encouraging for the area and we need to make the most of the free advertising. An example can be found here and we would like to congratulate every business mentioned – you’re REALLY making a difference, well done!
New Businesses Opening
53 Sandgate High Street – Former Harrison’s Hairdressers -‘The Hoard Gallery’ will be opening later this year at 53 Sandgate High Street. Nick and Tracy are keen to join us and we wish them every success.
Sandgate East Parking Restrictions
Following the implementation of the CPZ in Sandgate, Shepway District Council will be consulting with residents and businesses in a number of other roads including the High Street which has been identified as a priority. The Parish Council were due to carry out its own survey but SDC are keen to do this themselves. They will carry out an informal consultation with you in April and this will be followed by a formal consultation in May. After this there will be inevitable changes to parking in the High Street.
We suggest that you register your concerns and preferences to frederick.miller@shepway.gov.uk prior to this process so that the transport team is fully aware of your needs and preferences. As some of you are also residents of the High Street might we suggest that you give your views for both groups. You will all appreciate that High Streets have a business priority and that creating churn during the working day will enable you all to flourish.
And Finally…
As we move in to the new year it’s time to think about how we can advertise our businesses to attract more customers. Advertising doesn’t always have to cost a lot of money and there are always ways to advertise for free if you’re creative. Think about getting a “shout out” on a local radio station to your staff at “such and such” business who are all working hard and valued – one such “shout out” this week on KMFM was for a business on Sandgate High Street. Twitter, Facebook, Streetlife, NextDoor, and OLIO are all social networking sites that can get your name out there for free. You could carry out a stunt for charity which will get media coverage if promoted accordingly and of course there are always lots of events happening in Sandgate that you can get involved in. The Music festival and Sea festival are two examples. Contact the Parish Council on 01303 248563 or e-mail clerk@sandgatepc.org for details of these events.
In closing, remember that these updates are for you and if there is anything that you would like to let us know then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Very best regards,
Councillor Kurt Stephens
For/on behalf of Sandgate Parish Council
16
Dec
2016
Keeping Safe This Christmas
Official crime figures show that Sandgate is one of the safest places to live in Shepway, but Kent Police have asked us to share this message with some tips to keep it that way!
Finishing your Christmas shopping?
Most people take steps to keep valuables safely out of view when at home, but what about when you’re out and about? If you’re shopping in busy areas it’s easier to get distracted, so make sure you keep your wallet and phone close by but tucked away, for example in an inside jacket pocket or zipped bag.
Where possible, avoid leaving any personal belongings, gifts or loose change in your car when you lock it and never leave bags or belongings unattended.
Going away over the holidays?
Most people take steps to make their house look occupied if they are going out or going away. Do you? As well as checking your home and garden are locked up before you leave, do you also put timer switches on lights or radios to make it look as though someone is home? How about asking a trusted friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your property, park on your driveway or remove papers, milk and post from your front door while you’re gone? Your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme can give you more tips on home security.
Worried about bogus callers?
While incidents don’t happen often, if your doorbell rings and you’re not expecting anyone, never feel obliged to answer. If you do, make sure the rear of your home is secured first, use a door chain if you have one and always check they are who they say they are by contacting their company yourself (not on a number they provide). If in doubt, keep them out and ask them to come back at a later date (when you can have someone with you).
If you have older relatives or neighbours then please share our advice with them, too. You can print out our top tips from https://www.kent.police.uk/advice/bogus-callers-and-rogue-traders/
13
Dec
2016
New Year, New Parish Clerks
From the beginning of January 2017, the Sandgate Parish Council Clerk/Librarian will be Gaye Thomas and the Deputy Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer will be Peter Savage.
Our current parish clerk, Amanda Oates, is retiring at the end of this year and all at Sandgate Parish Council wish her very well for the future.