News

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.

We know that some groups are more likely to experience barriers in preparing for this change and may need support to access photo ID. Anyone who does not have an existing form of accepted photo ID will be able to apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

This guide is for staff and volunteers working at local authorities and charities in England who want to support those they work with to understand the change. It includes information on:

• Registering to vote
• Which forms of photo ID will be accepted
• Applying for a Voter Authority Certificate
• What voters can expect at the polling station
• Other ways to vote

Visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call 0800 328 0280 for more information.

Folkestone and Hythe residents worried about meeting the rising costs of living may be able to get support to help with everyday costs.

Depending on their circumstances residents could be eligible for schemes from Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Kent County Council or central government. There is also support available from local and national organisations and charities.

Details of the various options – including local support – have been collated at folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support and leaflets with this information have been distributed to community spaces.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee said:

“We’re lucky to have some wonderful local organisations in our district. I would urge residents who would benefit from additional help to visit our website and find out what support is available.”

To find out more about the support available please visit folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support and update the booklet online here.

Sandgate Library will close for carpet fitting on Monday 5^th and Tuesday 6^th December. We will re-open to the public on Thursday 8^th December.

Alternative libraries include Hythe, Cheriton and Folkestone.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is redrawing constituency boundaries in order to rebalance the number of electors represented by each MP, and a final consultation on proposed new constituencies is now open.

A new revised map of constituency proposals, which takes into account feedback sent in by the public on the initial proposals, has been published on the consultation website bcereviews.org.uk.

The proposed revisions to Folkestone and Hythe constituency leave the seat broadly as it is, but as it now contains too many electors removes the wards of Saxon Shore, North Downs West and North Downs East which are added to a new Ashford seat. These proposals have no impact on which Council a ward relates to, just which MP they vote for / are represented by in Parliament.

Saturday 26^th November between 10am – 12 noon in St Paul’s Church Sandgate John Hurd will be playing some of his own compositions accompanied by the soprano Tammy File. As usual refreshments will be provided.

Entrance and refreshments: Free.

A Flood Warden is a volunteer trained to help and prepare people in local communities that are at risk of flooding. They play an important role in the preparing a community flood plan and putting it in to practice. In Sandgate we would also ask you to meet the Parish Council annually to update us on the flood plan.

The training consists of five key modules.

• Role of a flood warden
• Types of flooding
• Catchment overview
• Flood and weather warnings
• Flood safety awareness

We have one trained flood warden locally already, but we’d really like more so we have a small team.

The commitment

• Training takes just 2 hours to complete (training is currently online, with the next FREE course on 14th December and 17th January from 7-9pm).
• Flood Wardens meet a few times a year to test their flood plan.

The Role

• Help local people prepare for flooding.
• Provide a vital link between your community and the emergency responders.

What you’ll get

• Comprehensive handbook.
• Access to a whole host of resources.
• Support from fellow Flood Wardens.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a substantial flood in Sandgate, but that’s no reason not to be prepared.

You would be making a real difference to your community, helping to ensure the safety of neighbours, for a few hours a year. From https://www.kentprepared.org.uk/flood-wardens the responsibilities of being a Flood Warden include:

Helping the community before, during and after a flood

…before

• Identify problem areas within your community;
• Identify vulnerable people and properties;
• Write a community flood plan;
• Monitor watercourses within the community;
• Encourage sign up to free Flood Warnings.

…during

• Communicate the risk of flooding within the community;
• Help co-ordinate the community flood plan;
• Heed emergency services advice at all times;
• Share information from the Environment Agency and emergency services with residents;
• Encourage residents to take action;
• Collect flood event information.

…after

• Assist in the post-flood clear up if required;
• Continue to act as a communication channel;
• Collect post-flood data and photos;
• Assist in the review of the community flood plan.

If you are interested in becoming a Flood Warden, please contact the Kent Resilience Team to organise a training session at krf@kent.fire-uk.org  or call 01622 212409.

To register for this training visit www.trybooking.com, click buy tickets and search for ‘Kent Flood Warden Training’.

If you can book for and complete the training, please let us know you are now a volunteer warden – and thank you!

Some months ago, local resident Andrew Bragg raised with Parish Chairman Tim Prater that one defibrillator in Sandgate was… Not enough.

A heart attack victim needs support as soon as possible, within a very few minutes. The longer the delay, the lower the chance of success.

The council took it on board, and talked to a number of people and found some funding sources and locations able to host. And now the new machines are starting to be fitted.

So to add to the defib on The Boat House on Granville Parade, we’ve now got a new machine Sandgate Parish Council and Library – Kent on the High Street, and new ones will be installed at the Golden Arrow in Golden Valley and another behind the counter at the The Sandgate Hotel on the Esplanade.

We’ll back these all up when all are in place with signage across the village – no use if you can’t find them. They cost a bit, but nothing to the chance that they might save a life, or reduce the damage caused. Great investment: thanks Andrew for pushing us!