Go Folkestone Update 28 February 2023

Spring Magazine:

This is out forthwith on the internet and is being printed today. It should be posted to members only on Friday 3rd March. This makes it just in time to give an additional boost, particularly to the few members not on internet, to our 8th March talk by Guy Hollaway, the most influential modern architect in Folkestone and Hythe at Wards Hotel in Earls Avenue at 6.45pm. Members will be given priority for seats at that meeting, so do not worry about coming at short notice. However, if you are not a member there is a charge of £5. Wards Hotel has excellent bar facilities and limited but good food.

SEAFRONT: The consultation on the latest seafront blocks has been opened by the Folkestone Harbour Company. We want members’ input on this. Please use our Facebook and Website to tell us what you think, or write longhand to 4 Beachborough Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 4AB.

We have decided to have an informal Go Folkestone sub-group to keep a dialogue going on The Seafront, reflecting our members’ concerns raised at our monthly meetings in a way that can hopefully influence the Harbour Company’s policy.  We will include other groups such as NFS. Specialists such as Howard Holt are on the small group, but we will consider recruiting one or two Go Folkestone members who are outside the committee and the usual suspects. Please step forward to info@gofolkestone.org.uk.

Members please look at   https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/community-services-consultation.

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL: Since the magazine was put together we have noted that Kent County Council is reviewing its property and services, in practice because it is running a large deficit. We would like to put in a Go Folkestone response. If you put an individual response together which has some ideas on preserving services on less money then please copy in info@gofolkestone.org.uk. We will be discussing the GF response and posting it before the deadline for consultation of 26th March 2023. There is already an interesting old Go Folkestone response to a ‘Library Consultation 2019 ’ Purely on the basis of discussions on KCC services at various GF meetings I suggest the following points to start the discussion rolling:

  • Grace Hill Library is the matter of perhaps greatest local concern. The listed building was a purpose-built library and has extensive heritage services. Even though library requirements may have changed over the years members do feel It is a fine historic building and we feel it should be retained and used to the fullest extent for other office and outreach services, since there are several little used rooms. In the projected new layout of the town centre, it should also be less peripheral than it has slightly become.
  • We understand the Youth Hub in Grace Hill itself is under threat. This is a poor building and it may be that services can be subsumed into Grace Hill Library, or for Cheriton, Motis House. Youth services might have an outlet on the seafront when it is redeveloped.
  • The sub-libraries at Cheriton and Wood Avenue have little excess space, but as far as possible all libraries should be multi-functional. KCC may of course try and spin off the smaller libraries to volunteers, town council etc as happened with Sandgate, and indeed both sites are potential residential redevelopment locations that might conceivably include ground floor libraries.
  • Motis House in the quiet end of Cheriton High Street is a rented KCC location that is likely to be looked at with a view to minimizing KCC expense. That is understandable but our members seem to find the location convenient enough for bureaucratic services with easy parking and a bus service.
  • Surely there is potential for KCC services to fit into the Civic Centre at Castle Hill Avenue and to perhaps discuss more sharing and quid pro quos with District?
  • Bus services ………….
  • Schools …………
  • Street Trees ………We find the existing service is effective ………
  • Your ideas etc etc

https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/community-services-consultation

PLEASE JOIN US AND HELP OUR PROJECTS

Our committee accountant, Peter, kindly advises that we have up to £4500 max for projects, which would mean taking some reserves, but would probably be matched elsewhere. Our three main projects, which we will enlarge on briefly for 15 minutes before Guy’s talk, and perhaps have a drink over afterwards, are:

  • The Leas Balcony Viewpoint: We will hopefully have got some schools on board in an afternoon meeting on 8th But the project would benefit from additional artists and computer experts getting involved. Please email richard.wallace.ba.mrics@gmail.com
  • Tourist assistance for the local councils, initially in an update of the Folkestone Town Trail, in which GF was heavily involved, to include all the changes around the harbour since the original 2017 Trail. Tony Quarrington is much involved.
  • A sudden new opportunity involving the original foundation stone for the Victorian Folkestone Pier , which has been discovered. This is being driven by Tony Hill, who will talk on it for five minutes. Go Folkestone wishes to have it mounted near to the old pier location, next to the Coastal Park car park.

Closures of course now sadly include Mark Sargeant’s Brasserie MS in Trinity Crescent, in the famed former La Tavernetta. Members did do reviews, which will now not see the light of day, which weren’t impressed with the metropolitan prices, width of choice and physical layout/atmosphere, although the actual cooking was applauded. In truth La Tavernetta may not now be an appropriate restaurant location as off centre Mid-Victorian premises are more redolent of Sixties’ London.

Maybe we will see you at Wards Hotel next Wednesday for Guy Hollaway?

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