September 2009 Go Folkestone Action group

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www.gofolkestone.org.uk “Welcome to Wards”

Whether it’s “à la carte” or the Sunday Carvery in our restaurant; snacks and drinks in the bar; or a full-blown family event in our function suite; Wards Hotel offers the flexible venue that caters for all your needs. Our function suite is also ideal for corporate customers looking for a medium-sized venue for marketing exhibitions, conferences, training events or team-building events with accommodation on-site, if needed. Contact our reception team on 01303 245166 or [email protected] for further information or to discuss the hospitality package we can put together for you.

Wards Hotel, 39 Earls Avenue Folkestone, Kent CT20 2HB

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, FOLKESTONE 2009 Music Series

SEPTEMBER

2nd Organ Recital by Morley Whitehead Starting at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church Folkestone Admission charges Adults £7, for members £5, children £1

5th “The Red Herrings” Jazz band Starting at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church, Folkestone Admission charges Adults £7, FOR members £5, Children

9th Organ Recital by David Flood Starting at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church, Folkestone Admission charges Adults £7, FOR members £5, Children £1

Enquiries Tel: 01303 221130 Contents 2 The plane now leaving St Pancras 4 Update on the Oops!! future of the The last edition of the magazine museum concentrated on the effect that 5 How to keep up the recession was having on the with modern town as a whole and this was technology illustrated by the front cover which was a photo of a shopfront in Sandgate Road. 6 The fight of the century Unfortunately, it was just a little bit too effective and readers picking up copies either thought that 8 A curious Go Fokestone was shutting down or the outlet coincidence distributing the magazine was. So we thought 11 Drinking in that we would play it safe this time by just having Folkestone a plain cover!!! 13 Empty homes That said, this Magazine has become So popular scandal that we are now increasing the number of pages from 32 to 40 and the printed issues up 500. 14 A rather special lady - a look at our The Step-short project is moving apace. The war memorial awareness weekend is set for 3rd and 4th October. You will find more information Inside. 17 The future of the Leas Lift (1) Don’t miss Folkestone’s link to the siege of Sydney Street London. 18 The summer programme for the Also coming to your area soon, is Folkestone’s ampitheatre Own Radio Station, Academy FM. 20 Community radio We do invite our readers to write in with issues comes to town and articles, that they feel would contribute to the well being of the town of Folkestone. 22 The future of the Leas Lift (2) Also if you wish to respond to articles in the magazine, we are happy to consider those too. 26 The future of adult education We reserve the right to edit. 28 Step-short 32 Planning news Ann Berry.

Editorial Committee: Ann Berry, Chair Go Folkestone Lynne Smith, Richard Wallace, Terry Begent, Philip Carter Please send all comments/ contributions to Ann Berry, 35 Birkdale Drive, Folkestone, Advertising rates CT19 5LP Full page from £65, quarter page from £30 (colour + 50%) per edition

1 service will give other members of the public to buy tickets to try out the The plane service before it starts for real. As we pointed out in “The Javelins are now coming” in the March issue, the drivers cab looks more like an aircraft cockpit and the comparison with high-speed leaving St flight doesn’t end there. If you woke up in the loo, for example, you would have no idea you were Pancras? onboard an aircraft or a train - they are so much alike. All the airline jokes Ann Berry, Philip Carter and Terry being made by the Begent take the first public flight from the lucky “few” about new St. Pancras International station flight attendants were shocked into silence as Claire, We didn’t hear a whistle, not surprising one of the “cabin crew”, actually picked really considering the amount of up a microphone and started giving the double glazing around, but the inertia kind of flight (sorry) journey information that pressed us back into our seats left that you would expect when flying us in no doubt that the train was abroad. moving and the digital clocks in each carriage told us that it was on the dot of 1 o’clock, as promised. The pressure against our seats didn’t diminish – in fact it got stronger with each passing second – a sure sign that the acceleration was continuing, if not increasing. We knew we were going fast but there was no other sensation of speed as we pulled out of St Pancras station on the first of the new high-speed trains to carry members of the public. Go Folkestone has been working with Southeastern Trains over the past couple of years as a “stakeholder” having an interest in ensuring that the public views were included when planning the new high speed service being started in December. As a result Ann Berry, Philip Carter and I were asked if we would like seats on the trip, which was arranged to publicise the launch of the “preview service” at the end of June. This

2 As we waited with baited breath, and in same way that you have to when going vain, for her to point out where the up or coming down in a plane. (The emergency exits were and how to use train is travelling so fast that the air in a the oxygen masks in case of cabin tunnel doesn’t have time to move out decompression, she told us instead of the way and it results in a build up of when the train would leave (and it did atmospheric pressure inside the tunnel to the second), how fast we would be and also inside the cabin carriage) travelling (300km/H) and how long it would take to get to Ashford The only thing clearly missing from our comparison with an airline is what International. some unkindly call “Trolley Dollies”. When she neglected to mention, There is no buffet car on this train nor though, was the need to swallow to a trolley coming round with goodies. clear the pressure in your ears as you The logic of Southeast Trains is quite passed through a tunnel in exactly the simple in this respect, you just aren’t on the train long enough to make it worthwhile. Once you have made the trip this seems blindingly obvious, indeed there is hardly enough time to queue for the loos. If it isn’t vacant when you get the urge, don’t bother queueing! There’s little point in looking for the next one further down the train, by the time you get there you will be in Ashford. Southeast Trains is working on the principle that when we juggle the cost versus convenience options we’re going to come down in favour of the high speed train. Judging by our own experience on the preview trip, they may have got it about right!!!

3 Proposals for a new museum for the town’s history alive for the people of Folkestone and foster a sense of Folkestone are under discussion place and community, creating further within the town, following a opportunities for local people to study recent report. the history of the area”. For a town of its size, Folkestone has an unusually large number of organisations with a heritage interest Preserving plus a good source of volunteers to Folkestone’s history staff a museum. Local Historian Eamonn Rooney says, “There is tremendous support for a By Nick Spurrier museum in Folkestone, which has an astonishingly interesting history from the Roman Villa on East Cliff though The report, written by Sam Hunt, of the the Anglo-Saxon settlement and Kingsghurst Consulting Group, was medieval period to the development of commissioned by the Folkestone its fishing industry and its rise as Heritage Working Group* which has probably the most fashionable seaside been meeting regularly over many resort in the country. months to discuss the possibility of setting up a new museum. It has also played an important part in the defence of the country.” It is intended that it will complement the History Resource Centre proposed The Folkestone Heritage Working by Kent County Council to replace the group will now look in more detail at existing museum on Grace Hill. the sort of museum Folkestone could sustain, at how it should be In the recently completed report, Sam administered. Hunt explains that a Museum in Folkestone could be sustainable with Jan Druker said, “There is a lot of hard the present collections of Folkestone work to be done, but this is a strong Museum serving as a base, and diverse group with a long-term supplemented, when appropriate, by commitment to preserving the heritage material held by Kent County Council of Folkestone” and other bodies. *The Folkestone Heritage Working The collections are made up of art, Group comprises representatives from archaeology, geology, natural history, Folkestone Town Council, Shepway social history, coins and medals. The District Council, Kent County Council, archaeology collection could be the Folkestone People’s History enlarged by finds from the Channel Centre, Folkestone & District Local Tunnel rail development. History Society, Go Folkestone Action Group, Canterbury Christ Church Jan Druker, Senior Pro-Vice University, The Creative Foundation Chancellor at Canterbury Christ and Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Church University and chair of the working group said, For further Information please contact: “A new museum would further enhance Nick Spurrier on 01303-240236 or the regeneration of Folkestone and [email protected]. encourage tourism. It could also bring

4 The Channel Chamber of Initial levels of interest have been most encouraging and we are asking Commerce is launching a new, would be mentors to sign up. We will innovative Digital mentoring be in touch with details of training scheme in Folkestone. sessions and when we can start. If you are a potential mentoree or run a voluntary or third sector group in Folkestone that could benefit from support from a mentor to help access these technologies, please get in touch. How else can you help? Thanks to a generous donation of time by Chamber members Link Engineers we are refurbishing old laptops to By Caroline Chamber lend to those being mentored to get them up and running. If you have a It will bring together business people still functioning but old laptop who are willing to share their knocking around that you don’t need knowledge and experience of the any more let us know. All donations Internet with other people in the will be acknowledged on the “Link Up community who are interested in Shepway” networking site. getting to grips with new technology. Recently the Chamber set up a These volunteer Business Mentors Facebook group to garner support for will work alongside a range of local keeping the Leas Cliff Lift Open. voluntary and community groups and Within 2 weeks the group had grown their clients to achieve their digital to over 2,800 members – from goals. Shepway and nationwide – sharing This mentoring scheme will help drive their views, opinions and offering significant cultural and social change support for the campaign. within Folkestone by enabling Our Social Networking Explained participants of all ages to make full Course has enabled members of the use of the Internet, using email, business community to us e these podcasts, on line publishing tools and tools to help grow and expand their Social Networking sites. business. Everyone will be encouraged to make Social Networking and Web 2.0 open full use of the range of support up all sorts of opportunities for groups and facilities that already exist individuals but many parts of our within the local community. community here in Folkestone are They will also be encouraged to simply not able to access these tools, access the Internet and to take and our new Digital Mentors project advantage of the expanding ‘social aims to connect those that can with networking’ opportunities in an effort those that need. to improve access to the public Contact: 01303 270022 or services available to them and the caroline.chambers@channelchamber wider benefits the digital age has to .co.uk offer.

5 David vs Goliath

6 The fight of the century! In the Blue corner, a human embryo. Acting as seconds and supporting him in his fight for a future are those that say that the expansion of Lydd airport is essential to the survival and regeneration of the area. They come armed with plans for the future development of an existing facility. No doubt the Benefits agency will also offer its support sometime in the future as he looks for a job in an industrial landscape left to rot on the vine. In the Red corner, a fungal growth, a maritime lichen. In his corner he has the support of a range of environmental groups, fighting to preserve his peaceful isoation and his right to a life without disturbance by commercial flight. They come armed with the European directive that says his rights to a secure future are more important than those of his human opponent. Refereeing the match; a planning committee so brow-beaten by the advice of their own council officers that they will do everything in their power

to avoid making a decision either way.

e g a p e h t f o p o t e h t t a e n o e h t s i o y r b m e n a m u h e h T

7 A curious coincidence

On 16 December We uncover a link between the 1910, a gang of infamous Siege of Sidney Street in Latvian 1911 and Sidney Street in Folkestone. revolutionaries attempted to break into the rear of a The Siege of Sidney Street in jeweller’s shop at 119 Houndsditch, Houndsditch, London is best working from 9, 10 and 11 Exchange remembered by the photograph of Buildings in the cul-de-sac behind. An adjacent shopkeeper heard their the then Home Secretary, Winston hammering and called the police who Churchill (circled above) peeking sent nine unarmed officers to out from the assembled ranks of investigate. police and soldiers at the height of What they didn’t know was that the battle against what some might another officer (Police Constable consider to be the first terrorist Piper) had already knocked on the attack in the country. door and, having had his suspicions aroused withdrew to get help. The The Siege of Sidney Street, popularly second group arrived to face an armed known as the “Battle of Stepney”, was group who had, effectively, been a notorious gunfight in London’s East forewarned by the earlier visit. End in 1911. It ended with the deaths of two members of a Sergeants Bentley and Bryant knocked politically-motivated gang of burglars at No. 11 Exchange Buildings and supposedly led by Peter Piaktow, found themselves facing the gang’s a.k.a. “Peter the Painter”, and sparked actual leader, George Gardstein, when a major political row over his the door was opened. They took his involvement. failure to answer their questions to mean that he didn’t speak English What isn’t so well known are the (Houndsditch was at the time home to events that led up to the siege, events a large number of Jewish immigrants) which the press dubbed “The and sent for an interpreter. Houndsditch murders”. However, they grew impatient and entered the house to find the room

8 apparently empty, before they became Leeson needed immediate hospital aware of a man standing in the treatment, and since the only way to darkness at the top of the stairs. After carry him there out of the line of fire a short conversation, another man was to take him on the roof, Wensley, entered through the yard door, rapidly unarmed, supervised his removal. firing a pistol, while the man on the stairs also started shooting. Worried that the suspects were about to flee, and expecting heavy resistance Both officers were hit, with Bentley to any attempt at capture, on 3 collapsing across the doorstep, while January, two hundred officers Bryant managed to stagger outside. In cordoned off the area and the Siege of the street, constable Woodhams ran to Sidney began. At dawn the battle help Bentley, but was himself wounded commenced. by one of the gang firing from the cover The defenders, though heavily of the house, as was Sergeant Tucker, outnumbered, possessed superior who died almost instantly. weaponry and a ready supply of Sergeant Bentley also died as a result ammunition. The police, on the other of his injuries hand were hastily equipped with Webly The gang then attempted to break out Bulldog pistols, .22 target rifles and of the cul-de-sac, Gardstein being shotguns so they called upon the grabbed by Constable Choate almost Scots Guards at the Tower of London for support and this was authorised by at the entrance. Winston Churchill. In the struggle Choate was wounded They also called for a part y of Royal several times by Gardstein, before being shot five more times by other Engineers to tunnel into the house but they only arrived after the siege had members of the gang, who also finished. managed to hit their compatriot in the back. They then dragged Gardstein The Home Secretary also authorised three-quarters of a mile to 59 Grove the use on a field artillery piece and Street, where he died the next day. just as this arrived, before it had a Constable Choate and Sergeant chance to swing the battle, a fire Bentley died in separate hospitals the began to consume the building. same day. An intense search followed, The Fire Brigade rushed to the scene, and a number of the gang or their desperate to prevent it spreading in a associates were soon arrested. densely packed area but were refused On 2 January 1911, an informant told access by Winston Churchill. police that two or three of the gang, Everyone assumed that the gang possibly including Peter the Painter would be forced to flee the building as himself, were hiding at 100 Sidney the fire took hold but they decided to Street, Stepney . die inside and the charred remains of Inspector F. P. Wensley, commanding two of them were discovered inside the following day, but no sign of Peter the the H Division (Whitechapel) police, Painter was ever found. went with several officers to knock on the door. Receiving no answer he Eight policemen and two bystanders threw pebbles at the window, from were injured and a sheepdog and a cat which there immediately came a volley also fell victims to the anarchists’ of pistol shots, one of which hit revolvers. One of the injured, Sergeant Detective Sergeant Ben Leeson.

9 Chick, had the honour of being taken to hospital in Mr Churchill’s motorcar. The role Churchill played in the Sidney Street Siege was highly controversial at the time, and many, including , the former prime minister, accused him of having acted improperly. Balfour asked, “He [Churchill] and a photographer were both risking valuable lives. I understand what the photographer was doing but what was the Right Honourable gentleman doing?” The gang’s superior firepower led the police to drop the Webly revolver in favour of the Webly semi-automatic in London. One of the police officers that died in the “Houndsditch Murders” a fortnight earlier was Sergeant Bentley, who was killed on his wedding anniversary and a week before the birth of his son, Robert Eric Alfred Bentley. Sergeant Bentley Sergeant Bentley was at one time in the 1st Dragoons, being with that after a service held at St Paul’s regiment when it was stationed at Cathedral. Shorncliffe and he formed one of the escort that attended the German This was the first time in history that Emperor (Hon. Colonel of the 1st the cathedral had been used for a Royals) on the occasion of His public service of mourning for the loss Majesty’s visit of inspection at of police officers. A representative of Shorncliffe in 1902. He also served in the King and many dignitaries were the Boer War. present. The Sergeant had married Miss Louisa The link to Folkestone’s Sidney Street? Goddard, the second daughter of Mrs Whenever he was granted a few days Charlotte Goddard, of Foord Road, at leave the late sergeant would run St John’s Church, on 16th December down to visit his wife’s relatives in their 1901 before moving to Aylesbury little cottage at Foord, and he was very Road, Villa Street, Walworth when he well known in that area. joined the City of London Police. Tragedy continued to stalk the family Mrs Goddard rushed to her when, some three years later, little grief-stricken daughter’s side in Bobby Bentley died from diphtheria in London on hearing the news. Stockwell hospital. A large crowd Sergeant Bentley with Sergeant Tucker made up of a contingent of city police and Constable Choate was buried with and members of the public attended highest honours at Ilford Cemetery his funeral.

10 Welcome to Folkestone? Alcohol Control Zones were introduced in 2001 as a way of controlling anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol consumption in public places. But a recent BBC investigation has raised concerns that the powers introduced by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 were being used against a much wider range of targets than was originally intended. In 2001, the Home Office announced the coming into force of sections 12-16 of the Act, which provided local authorities with an adoptive power to restrict anti-social public drinking in designated public places and the Control Zone as the next section of the police with the power to enforce this original announcement points out: restriction without having to go to the bother of passing a bylaw. “The police will have the power to require a person, in such a place, not The original intention was to stop to drink alcohol in that place where the groups of drinkers gathering in parks officer reasonably believes that the etc. and causing a nuisance to other person is, has or intends to do so, and users. It would also allow the police to surrender any alcohol or alcohol instant powers to deal with underage containers (other than sealed drinkers. containers) in the person’s possession. To quote from that original press It will not be an offence to drink release: “From 1 September, local alcohol in a designated public authorities who wish to place a place, but failure to comply with an restriction on public drinking within officer’s requirements in respect of their area, where this is associated public drinking or surrender of alcohol, with nuisance or annoyance to without reasonable excuse, will be an members of the public, or disorder, arrestable offence. should consider whether to make an order under section 13 of the Act rather There is no intention that the than proceeding with a bylaw.” provisions of the 2001 Act should lead to a comprehensive ban on drinking in The key phrase in there is “where this the open air …. the local authority will is associated with nuisance or want to satisfy itself that these new annoyance ….. or disorder” because it powers are not being used is not illegal to drink in an Alcohol disproportionately….”

11 In July 20007, the Home Office issued it is a licenced premises but the market another announcement that said: square isn’t. “Since the introduction of these Too incredible to be true? powers, the Home Secretary has received representations from the However incredulous you might be, police and others to the effect that the that was the very point made in that provisions in the Act in fact limit the BBC show, which reported the case of ability of the police to deal effectively a man having a family picnic on the with under-age and anti-social drinking. beach in Brighton when he was told pour away two unopened cans of Particularly when individuals go on to lager. drink from sealed containers after the police have seized opened containers Locally, there was the case of a young of alcohol. man making a phone call from a booth when a policeman opened the door, The clause will extend the police reached in and removed unopened powers to confiscate alcohol in sealed cans from him without uttering a word containers from adults in designated or giving any explanation. areas and young people in public places, where the police reasonably Yet another example of the freedoms believe that they intend to consume the of the law-abiding majority being alcohol.” restricted because of the anti-social behaviour of a criminal minority. The upshot of all this is that you and There is no doubt that there is a your teenage kids could be on your difficult balance to be struck but too way home from the off-licence in the Old High Street, you with a bottle of heavy a hand could deter the visitors that are essential to the recovery of our vodka and them with a bottle of Coke, tourist industry, when you are challenged by the local plod, who explain that they suspect For a number of years, before the town that you are intending to give the council put up its new “Folkestone alcohol to them as a mixer to the coke. Town Council welcomes you to Folkestone This would then allow them to demand ” signs this year, the District Council and County Councils had that you pour the vodka down the already marked the town’s boundaries nearest drain. If you protest your innocence and/or are reluctant to do by the signs like the one on the so, you could be arrested. That arrest previous page. will automatically mean that your The welcome that we gave our visitors fingerprints and DNA will taken and as they entered the town was a kept even if you are not charged later warning that they were liable to be on. arrested for drinking in designated Another example: You could be areas that were, in fact, miles away. The only saving grace being that supping a pint in the garden of the visitors would have hardly noticed Royal George, in Beach Street, when you are overwhelmed by a desire for a these small signs as they drove by at winkle (the shellfish kind!) and carry high speed after leaving the motorway. your pint across the market square to How fortunate, then, that the enormous the tables in front of the seafood stall new welcome signs have been next to the harbour. Here you could conveniently positioned to obscure the similarly find yourself being told to old signs now hiding behind them. dump it. You’re ok in the pub because

12 Further to our last magazine, 1 Manor Road still is a cause for concern however it is now covered in A scaffolding and we understand that refurbishment is imminent. The facade of 37 The Old High Street house was covered with an attractive mosaic for a number of years which obscured its derelict state. After an enforced sale is not a work is now underway to create a shop with living accommodation above. 1 London Street has now been bought home… by London based developers for conversion into five self contained by Liz Brown units. Number 8 in the same street had It is estimated that there are 1 been in quite a state of disrepair and infested with pigeons but has now million empty properties in the UK been refurbished by the owner, in at a time when many are struggling partnership with SDC, to provide three to find decent and affordable homes. housing. 108 Guildhall Street, a prominent but “No Use Empty” , initially a shabby corner property, has been collaboration between Kent County bought by a developer and modernised Council and four local authority to create new homes for let. partners, including Shepway, was 98 Dover Road, which has been empty launched in November 2005 with the for a number of years following its aim of helping to bring empty homes in owner’s disappearance has been East Kent back into use. Iain Cobby entered in an auction taking place at has been the Empty Homes Officer for the end of July. Shepway District Council (“SDC”) since 2004. The owner of a portfolio of long term empty properties in Folkestone, In the past, however, local empty including 22 The Bayle and 30 homes have gone unnoticed until years Wearbay Crescent, died last year and of neglect have resulted in infestation it is understood that his executors and dereliction. propose to sell them once probate is SDC has statutory powers to contain granted. Let us hope that it does not the nuisance caused to neighbours take too long. and the community at large and these Iain belives that early contact with include boarding up, removal of property owners is important to identify rubbish and pest control. how best to tackle the problem before Go Folkestone has campaigned for neglect sets in. If you are aware of an further action including enforced sale empty building in Folkestone please and compulsory purchase. contact Iain Cobby, Empty Homes Officer, Shepway District Council on SDC has enforced sales of 2 01303 852 349 or email properties in the last 5 years. [email protected].

13 A We walk past it every day but how many of us have rather ever actually taken the time to look at the figure on top of special the War Memorial? She has stood there in glorious isolation since lady the 2nd of December 1922, when she was unveiled by Lord Radnor, who took over at the last minute when Vice - Admiral Sir Roger Keyes was detained at a conference abroad. What makes her unique is not that she is one of only three statues on war memorials in the country that was sculptured by the famous artist F V Blundstone. Rather it is that she is the only one that does not represent a winged figure supporting a wounded/dying soldier. Instead, she represents Motherhood and Reverence and faces toward the battlefields of France. She holds in her hand the cross, the symbol of sacrifice whilst drooping at half-mast from the Cross hangs the Union Jack. She is the typical Blundstone girl, an art nouveau creature, full-figured yet slender of shoulder and a touch gaunt of face, to emphasise the bony forms underneath.

14 The war memorial in the Prudential Building, Holborn, London

It is important to note, though, that whilst she might face the continent, her gaze is cast downwards in sorrow. The war memorial at Stalybridge, The cynics might also comment on the Manchester fact that she is the only one of the three that has been allowed to great man who died in Folkestone in deteriorate the way she has. Notice 1898. how the other two (above and right) are still bright and shiny because they Our own memorial was erected by receive the regular maintenance that public donations of £3,300 that our memorial clearly lacks. resulted from an appeal by a local committee set up in 1919. The artist, Ferdinand Victor Blundstone was born in Switzerland, of English Mr Blundstone sculpted the memorial and French descent. He studied art in at his studio at 15a Douro Place, the north of England before coming to Victoria Road, Kensington and E. J. London to study at the South London Parlant made the work at his foundry Technical Art School, and then at the at W. Kensington. Academy. The Cornish marble pedestal, two He won a travelling scholarship which wings and the two steps below were allowed him to visit the lands of built by the Manchester firm of W. classical antiquity before returning to Kirkpatrick, Ltd, work for Gilbert Bayes at the John As mentioned in previous issues of this Cass school of art. magazine, the names of those to be His work is most familiar through the included were also collated by the Plimsoll Monument on the Victoria same committee. Embankment, a memorial to another

15 The Memorial stands at the top of what or gifted it to Folkestone Borough is now called the Road of Council. Remembrance, in the middle of a roundabout. In 1922, this would have Either way, we are no further forward since both are long since gone, been a quiet country road and not the although if it were the latter, the busy intersection that it is today. monument should be listed on the Moving it to a new site in the same deed of transfer to the new district area is one of the aims of the council back in the seventies. “Step-short” project working towards The researchers working on the the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War in 2014. The move will also Step-short project obviously have a lot enable the monument to be of work in front of them before they can refurbished and repaired as necessary. get to grips with the real work on the monument and they are currently But moving a monument is not as ploughing their way through straightforward as it might appear. It is, bureaucracy and ancient documents to after all, one of the things that we tend get at the truth. to take for granted as I mentioned at Just to complicate matters, when they the beginning of this article. approached the War Memorials Trust The committee that put it up in the first (yes they really do exist) to get advice place was disbanded long ago so we and/or funding they found that the can’t them to agree and it is Trust knew little about the monument. surprisingly difficult to find out who owns it now. When it was provided for them, together with an outline of our plans for Whilst we might naturally assume that its future, the Trust called back to say it is the district council, it doesn’t that the monument, or more appear on the list of land that they particularly the statue on top, was so own. The roundabout is probably special that they were going to get the owned by Kent County Council whole monument listed. highways but that, too, doesn’t mean Now that’s a classic case of good that they would necessarily own the news and bad news: monument that stands upon it. “Working in partnership” is a modern The good news: The monument will idiom but, no doubt, that committee of be protected from developers in the local worthies would have held some future and it will make it easier to kind of discussion with the council and attract funding to maintain it. would have probably offered to pay for The bad news:It will be more difficult the monument if the council would give for the Step-short project to get the them somewhere to put it. planning consent it needs to carry out The position was obvious and it is any work to restore it and/or move it. rumoured that the Weston Memorial They have also indicated that the Fountain that currently stands in the direction that the figure is looking in will garden in East Cliff was moved from also be included in that listing the site so the memorial could be although, as was pointed out earlier, erected. she is looking at the ground - not After the unveiling, the committee towards France or Belgium as the would have either retained ownership Trust suggest.

16 Now they have closed it, and taken the quaint satchels and posters away and dumped the furniture . They are still legally liable for repairs and the Estate has the Lift , seriously, up To The Let .Eamonn Rooney is checking the requirements for a licence under the Light Railway Act 1967. Whatever dire straits it is in, it cannot avoid its legal Leas obligations or popular views. It is amazing to see a totally different administration on the edge of making the same mistakes that the Liberal Democrat Administration did in Lift shutting the public toilets in 2003-4. Richard Wallace gives his view We should probably press for on the way forward a new HLF application, and as it is a Cross Whilst drafting captions for Folkestone Channel tourist Town Council’s new pictorial map two attraction we need to investigate things became apparent to me. BOSCO and other European possibilities. Firstly the town has no major attraction like Canterbury Cathedral or Dover The Leas Lift does lose money. It is Castle, but certainly has a body of interesting however to note that Jimmy pleasant attractions that together with Godden, no mug, was prepared to buy its convenience for London, the leasehold interest, albeit when the Canterbury and France make for a Rotunda Market was going, in the great holiday centre. 1980s. Secondly the most distinctive and fun Some voluntary labour as with the NT day out is to walk The Leas to the Leas and heritage railways would save Lift and go down this amazing money. Loading less than the contraption to the delights of supposed £30,000 admin costs ( ?No Shepway’s Lower Leas Coastal Park, Repair. No Publicity ?) on the Lift adventure playground and Mermaid would be more believable. Beach for the day. Cafes or ice cream concessions at the Go Folkestone and others must push top, certainly, and perhaps bottom the position that Shepway will be would pay. Yoking it to the car park at obliged by its landlord, the Folkestone the bottom may work in the summer, Estate and/or English Heritage to and better notices at the top of the repair the listed Lift, even at the undoubted attractions below would rumoured cost of £150k and should do encourage custom. so sooner rather than later for its own good, to prevent the cost of repair going to a new and higher plain Continued on page 36 through disuse.

17 What’s on in the ampitheatre this summer...

To let

Our arts correspondent, Lynne Smith, investigates why the ampitheatre is lying fallow this year The fact that Shepway District Council is in financial dire straits is indisputable, so when the programme for the Amphitheatre was drastically cut it seemed obvious that the arts, always an easy target, would be an early victim of the cutbacks.

18 When the Tourism and Leisure played against the dramatic Department had been sacrificed backdrop of the sky and sea? 4 years ago, once again as a With Georges Gallery and the result of lack of funds, Amanda burgeoning Creative Quarter, Oates stepped into unknown art in its many forms was alive territory as Arts Development , and flourishing in Folkestone. she quickly made the role her own by using the provided Whether the impetus remains limited budget to promote and enthusiastic is debatable and foster a cultural scene in the the subject matter of another area based on the talent and article but the “Amphi” imagination of the existing arts remained a community scene. rendezvous for the whole of Shepway to enjoy. The Amphitheatre became the venue for an eclectic showcase With this in mind and a need for of visual creativity both local fair reportage I contacted and from further afield. Who Amanda whose tireless work can forget the “Drama Queens” and vision had orchestrated the productions of “Midsummer “Amphi’s success. Night’s Dream" and “Twelfth I met with her and the Night”, Sound waves I, II &III or newly-appointed Cultural and the extensive roll-call of musicians of every genre who Continued overleaf ...not a lot!

19 Leisure Service Manager, Andrea Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, the Bennett, the author of “Going Out” the event would not have taken place. Arts Development Strategy 2009-2012 recently printed after public With this in mind, I discussed the situation with Liz Timmins the Town consultation. Council’s Community Services Officer. The success of the Amphitheatres She in turn spoke with Councillor, Sue programme consumed two-thirds of Wallace, Chair of Community Services the entire annual budget for a two who now intends to raise the issue with month stint site-specific in Folkestone the committee with the hope of tabling and criticism had been directed by a proposal which will facilitate the those further afield at the community’s access to funding and disproportionate allocation of funds. assistance in staging such events. The new strategy allows for £25,000 to The cost of insurance will be an the Creative, £9000 to Strange Cargo important factor to consider. Each and £5000 to East Kent Local performer or band must be insured to Authorities Arts Partnership. The the sum of £8,000,000 with the remaining money is available for those organiser having a blanket cover of the with all forms of art projects to apply same amount and even with the for. sympathetic assistance of local agent, Whilst one cannot argue with the logic Independent Insurance, this accounted for over half of Sound Waves cost behind this move and its applaudable outlay. ethos which should allow for the whole of Shepway’s creativity to participate in This factor must be addressed asap as the “regeneration through the arts” the any event for summer 2010 requires 3 fact that the “jewel in the crown” as the months notice and with the criteria Amphitheatre is often referred to will lie involved early planning is essential. fallow is of great concern. Perhaps, a body could be formed to It is also essential to remember that consider such stumbling blocks and to Folkestone is home to nearly half of ease any adventurous entrepreneur’s Shepway’s populace and within reach path to fruition. of those seeking such entertainment. The community is to be encouraged to Meanwhile with only three events planned, the Amphi’s well-trod and stage events and assistance will be danced upon surface will be rested. A offered to manoeuvre through the rules and regulations which govern such further cause for concern is lack of happenings. money to repair or replenish the turf. As one who has braved the intricacies In this bleak time of recession it is of Health and Safety, insurance etc. obvious that the arts play a key role in banishing the blues, helping us forget albeit with invaluable assistance from the worries of everyday life. The Amphi the Shepway officers involved, I sincerely hope that the system will be brings people together to laugh, chat, simplified and made more accessible sing and dance. to all. Soundwaves IV cost close to It’s importance is integral to the morale £1500 to stage with the unpaid of our town and the surrounding area - musicians performing just for the joy of an accessible method must be found taking part. to allow those willing to stage such Without funding from Go Folkestone, events with ease. Folkestone Town Council and the

20 ACADEMY

Fresh airwaves for Folkestone FM A right to listen and be heard

Folkestone will soon have its own 24 hour radio station. Academy FM has been awarded a five year Community Radio Licence by Ofcom, the Government body that regulates independent commercial radio in the UK, to run a service to people living in Folkestone, which is to be base at The Folkestone Academy. The service is expected to start broadcasting mid 2010. The new radio station will focus primarily on events, issues and news that affect people in Folkestone. young people from across Folkestone To do this Academy FM will develop can acquire and develop skills in public strong partnerships with organisations speaking, presentation, marketing, across the community, building on the promotion, design, public relations and strong support received during the IT. application process itself from a wide Academy FM will have a very small cross-section of the community, budget, since OFCOM regulations including Go Folkestone. prevent us from broadcasting on-air Apart from a full-time Station Manager paid for commercials or sponsorship. and Broadcast Assistant, staff and So we shall be looking for volunteers students to work on the station; this will create at The Folkestone Academy and opportunities for anyone with an community members will have a vital interest in working in radio to gain role to play in establishing and first-hand experience. operating the station. Modern studios are being Students from other schools in the commissioned and full training will be area will be actively encouraged to make their own contributions, thereby Continued on page 33 providing a new medium through which

21 Trust in the future

The lift may be closed but that doesn’t mean that people have stopped trying to find ways to secure its future...

22 The water-powered lift is a tribute to Victorian engineering that has served the town faithfully since 1885. It originally connected the world charitable trust to take control of the famous Leas to the newly built proposed developments. pleasure pier, and was so well They hope that the trust would be patronised that in 1890 a second responsible for financing its operations ‘step-car’ lift was built alongside. and that any surplus arising after paying day to day outgoings would be In 1893 a third cliff lift was constructed used: from the west end of The Leas to Sandgate, and in 1904 a fourth, the • To pay any management fees Metropole lift, opened opposite The involved Grand. To pay for the maintenance and The Sandgate Lift was a victim of • buses and the First World War, the improvement of the lift Metropole Lift succumbed to the To improve The Leas and its Second World War and the step-car lift • ceased operation in 1966. surroundings The surviving lift, the finest of its type in • Enhance the town’s environment existence, had become an unacceptable drain on the local • For educational purposes. authority’s finances since the demise They have yet to decide who the of the seafront amusement arcades Trustees might be, and the manner of and Sunday market, and ceased their appointment but they would need operations in June 2009. to be people in a position to move the The Leas lifts were extraordinarily well project forward. patronised in the past, having carried They would also need to be people perhaps 50,000,000 passengers over who would be able to help secure the the last 125 years; the remaining voluntary support that would man the original cars have probably carried facility. more passengers than any other railway carriages in the world. The commercial failure of the lift must be due, in part, to a failure to consider It may be gone but it is not forgotten it as part of an integrated scheme like and a number of people in the town the one proposed for the would be sorry to see this lift remain redevelopment of the rest of the sea disused so they have established a front. committee to consider ways of bringing it back into service and regenerating The proposals for the new trust the area. include: One of the options they are • Integrating the lift into a Coastal considering is the establishment of a Park & Ride scheme where the lift would be the link between the

23 costal car parks and the town • An ambitious scheme would be centre to bury The Leas road • Turning the lift into a connecting with the Road of properly-maintained tourist Remembrance thus enabling this area, West Terrace and the amenity with good access, especially for the disabled, eastern end of Sandgate Road to between two important tourist be pedestrianised. destinations. • Re-establishingThe Grand’s • Improving the use of lower car ‘Rolls-Royce bus’ to provide a parks by eliminating parking on service between The Grand, the upper lift station and the town the east end of The Leas, around the war memorial, in West centre; possibly add Folkestone Terrace and the eastern end of West station Sandgate Road, thus enhancing • Re-establishing the Lower Leas the attractiveness and amenity of steam hauled narrow gauge those areas railway to provide a service between the lower lift station and • Enlarging the lower station to provide retail area, refreshment the foot of the Old High Street facilities, toilets and residential and harbour accommodation for a site • Increasing the lift capacity by supervisor. creating an additional deck and • Constructing additional luxurious making the cars independent of each other by utilising the spare beach chalets between the existing ones and the lift. tracks for balance weights, thus enabling automatic electric • Rebuilding the subterranean controls to be installed to space to the west of the upper minimising staffing requirements station (used as model railway and maximising the number of club premises in the 60s and as possible journeys. a deckchair store, but now derelict) as catering premises • Rebuilding the derelict lift and with toilets and, perhaps, create possibly add an adjacent escalator connection. similar space to the east Extending the bottom station to • Working in conjunction with the • ‘Step-Short’ proposals to mark the water’s edge, possibly with a the centenary of the First World modern pier to incorporate perhaps an aquarium, swimming War, develop a plan for enhancing the war memorial pool, creche, catering and other area such facilities. • Extending The Leas eastwards to overlook the Old Town.

24 The cost of the project to restore the poor condition and would lift will depend on the current benefit from a complete rebuild condition of the facility and this will need a full technical assessment and in due course. a detailed survey. The lift and surrounding areas are No detailed examination has been owned by a variety of landlords carried out, and this is not intended to including the District Council, the be a substitute for a full technical Radnor Estate and Roger De Haan. assessment; however, as an Any development would obviously overview it appears that: require detailed negotiations will each of them and these talks are already • The car frames and taking place. undercarriages are in good The Folkestone Estate, which owns order, and appear to be largely the unencumbered freehold of the lift original. structure, wishes to reach a measure of agreement on its dilapidation claim • The car cabins are structually against the Council before allowing a sound, but in need of new operator to take over the lift. repainting; they appear to be When the Council and the Estate relatively modern have agreed a basis of settlement for replacements. the liabilities arising at the termination of the lift lease on 30th June 2009, it • The mechanical equipment is in should be possible to further consider reasonable serviceable the implementation of the ‘Park & condition. Ride’ scheme, subject to any other offers for the lift that the Estate may • The trackbed appears sound, receive in the meantime. but the sleepers are in poor If and when the new operator gets a condition, and as a minimum a long lease, it will make it possible to rolling programme of utilise traditional mortgage sources to replacement is required. fund some of the work. • The bottom station is useable, Information will be available via a link from the Grand’s web site and people but would benefit from a major will be able to sign up to receive overhaul. regular electronic updates via email. • The top station, though Alternatively, copies of the brochure serviceable, is in poor condition for the project or further information and would benefit from a major will be available from Michael Stainer at the Grand Hotel overhaul. • The areas beneath The Leas, presently containing water storage tanks in part, but otherwise disused, are in very

25 Answer the call!

Lynne Smith, Vice-President of the The third age has a lot to offer in Workers Educational Association,tells us terms of of the threat to Lifelong Learning knowledge and experience, which So what exactly is Lifelong many of them Learning? make available to the voluntary sector – to the obvious benefit of the In the past you went to school, grew community at large. up, went to work and had a job for life so your learning finished when the They, too, therefore need to be able to school gates closed behind you. learn the same new skills that younger people do the enable them to engage People used to think that only time you in their new “career” albeit an unpaid went back to “school” after that was one. when you joined a ballroom dancing or basket-weaving evening class in later Even the so called “hobby” courses life. have a measurable effect on the health and well being of the older Modern, rapidly changing technology generations. means that people will either change jobs every few years or, if they stay in Where does the Workers the same job for a long time, you will Educational Association fit in? have to retrain to keep up with new The WEA was started by Albert methods. Mansbridge in 1903 and has since Simply put, lifelong learning is all about become the largest voluntary provider ensuring that learning opportunties are of adult education. available for life - before, during and Circumstances and society may have after your working career changed over the years but the basic Why would you want to carry on principle remains the same - learning if you have finished education equals empowerment working? There are three streams to our work: It’s wrong to think that retired people only sign up for “hobby” courses like • workplace learning, which flower arranging or cake making. includes inside prisons

26 • community programme starve the liberal arts to death you will not get the well-rounded workforce that • the liberal arts or general will be needed to face the challenges programme ahead. In the workplace, for example, the Similarly, if you condemn the third age refuse collectors at the Rochester used to sitting in front of a television to put their dustcarts away after their because you have removed their rounds and then take part in a course intellectual challenge and the social in IT skills so that they could keep up interaction that goes with it, the money with their kids. that you think you have saved in the education budget would only reappear In the community, the WEA put as a greater demand from the heath together a course called “Women on budget. Health”, accessed via doctors surguries to enable them to avoid or So what is the CALL? recover from domestic abuse. The Campaing Alliance for Lifelong So what is the threat to lifelong Learning is all about a calling together learning? of all the groups involved or interested in adult education so that they can Not surprisingly it’s all about money! present a common message to the Adult education is funded by the current and future governments. governement through the Learning and The aim is not to wait until the new Skills Council (LSC), which turns government is in place before trying to government policy into action by influence them but to put our concerns directing funds into a variety of and worries to prospective MPs to see different programmes. exactly what their take on it is. There are two problems. Firstly, the If the town’s regeneration is being LSC itself will be replaced by another based on the arts, cuts in this area organisation that will evolve from it. could have a greater impact that on This change in structure will, no doubt, education alone. be accompanied by a change in What does that mean in practice? funding criteria at a time when training providers need stability. We will be holding a local forum towards the end of November so that Secondly, the government has directed we can have debate on what we want that available funds will be to achieve locally. concentrated on vocational training and taken away from the liberal arts. All the local partnerships, colleges and the university are already on board but Itmight seem to be an obvious move in we are hoping to extend the range of the middle of a recession, with the people at the forum to include anyone inherent large numbers of unemployed who has something to say on the people, to use the opportunity to retrain subject. them so that we have a newly skilled workforce available for when the We are urgently looking for a suitable recession ends and they go back to venue for the forum in Folkestone and work. once we have one full details will be published so keep your eyes open for The trouble is that, if you concentrate the notices if you want to come along just on the vocational subjects and

27 Step short

As outlined earlier in this issue, they Terry Begent gives an update have been involved on the project’s progress with the War Memorials Trust to see if they could The project is currently made up from a help with advice number of different working groups, and funding. This contact has resulted each tackling a different aspect of the in an application to have the memorial overall scheme. These are: listed because of its importance. Environment and planning – mostly The other big project that they are concerned with progressing all the undertaking is the conversion of the building works and hard landscaping bunker on the Road of Remembrance in a museum dedicated to the first world Funding – finding the money to make it war. As with the war memorial, the all happen biggest problem is just finding out who Historical Research – Ploughing their owns it. way through ancient records to Initial research with the land registry discover what really happened has shown that the building itself is Schools and Community – Increasing covered by at least seven title deeds – awareness and involving other local five freehold and two leasehold and groups we would have to pay fees on all of Events – planning the programme for them to get a map covering the the centenary whole site. Each of these groups is always looking The problem here is that the entrance for new people who want to help out. (the bit that you can see from the Road of Remembrance) is probably on one or There may be some years to go before both of the leasehold titles (possibly the actual centenary but that doesn’t Shepway District Council) but the mean that there is nothing do right now underground chambers extend under and that is particularly true of the Environment and planning groups.

28 some of the houses on top of the cliff the time, with letters and poetry from above. the front. There may or may not be legal issues There will also be a couple of over just how deep those land titles presentations explaining what the go!!! If any of our readers has any Step-short project is all about. expertise in this area that they are willing to share, please get in touch. The Day after, on Sunday morning, we will be holding a “Memorial March” The other major activity taking place at which will allow people to follow the the moment is the “Awareness Day” route that the troops took as they left being planned by the Events for France in 1914-18. committee. It will form up outside the Grand Hotel The Awareness day is intended to give on the Leas (the site of the local politicians, businesses, rest-camp/assembly area at the time) community groups and the public at and will march down to the Harbour large the chance to see just what will before dispersing from the seafront. happening for the centenary. The march will be open to everyone The whole project relies on all these and everyone that takes part will groups getting involved in their own receive a commemorative certificate. way and we need to get them on board Details on page 34. now so that they can do their own planning as necessary. The photograph shown above was The awareness day itself will consist of taken by a local photography company, Hawkesworth Wheeler, and a number of different events, starting on Saturday 3rd October with a range it first appeared in the book “Folkestone During The War 1914 - of exhibits films and talks at the 1919 - A record of the town’s life and University Centre. work”. It has now come to epitomise On Saturday evening, the project will the work of the project and has take over the Quarterhouse for a musical event featuring the music of Continued overleaf

29 become an iconic image that will the database so that relatives can feature in most of its publications. track their forebears. We have also approached the Royal The county archives seem to be Mail with a view to having the image following the example of a spare part included on postage stamps in 2014. storeman I came across when I was an The Step-short project is turning out to apprentice in the GPO: “I’m a storeman, if they wanted me to actually be a real can of worms in one sense let you have it, they would call me an i.e. every time the team answers one question it uncovers several others and Issueman!!” even those committees not directly The county archives, similarly, are involved in research activities are doing a wonderful job of protecting our finding that they are delving deeper historic records for so that the and deeper into the history of the town. historians of tomorrow can use them As its tentacles spread, the project is for research. The trouble is, as we all uncovering and/or establishing some know, that tomorrow never comes and peculiar relationships between various today’s historians will just have to wait. local bodies both statutory and Back to the books. They were given to voluntary. Folkestone, are legally owned by The Awareness weekend, for example, Shepway and are stored in Whitfield. has had to tie together: The Town Council doesn’t even know they exist. • Academics from the university The County won’t let us in and the • veterans groups district won’t allow them to come back to Folkestone Library so that they can • re-enactment groups be accessed there. • the district council The County is willing to digitise them • the Creative Foundation for us if we cough up £1,000 in • amateur dramatic groups advance to pay for them to do it - even and dozens of local community grous. though the National Archive is quite happy for researchers to take in their Another little project that is pulling own cameras. together strands from all over the county and running into brick walls put As the work of the project increases, up by all of them is the one create a there is an increasing need for extra database of all the names in the volunteers to help. In particular we visitors books that were signed by need people with speciallist knowledge troops in the Harbour Canteen as they of finance and fund-raising; waited to board ships to France. interpreters to help as we tried to link up with partners across the channel; The books were gifted to Folkestone and people experienced in staging Borough Council, passed through the events. hands of the new district council when it was introduced and somehow ended If you can spare some time, either up in the County Archive in Whitfield. come along on the awareness weekend or drop a line to: Local historian Charles Fair has been struggling for nealy two years to get [email protected] them digitised so that he can produce

30 FunKeys

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31 probably some preserved buildings e.g. some of the barracks, which News historians are already investigating. The buildings look plain to me, but what do people want preserved, and from the on the basis of what historical documentation and significance? planning The Army are telling the planners that this will keep the military in the area, which is quite compelling, but they front don’t need 900. Again infrastructure Richard Wallace tells us what’s is a problem. We do not want in the planning pipline seaward traffic increased through the narrow, semi-rural road and The main news this season is a new village of Horn Street at all, and 15yr Development Plan, which is Hospital Hill could be the main STILL up for consultation, though the southern way out. main period for individuals was July. Lots of the residents will drive north to Best view it on line or ask at Shepway Tesco and the M20 possibly through DC and talk to your councillor. Two big Pond Hill, Church Road and Horn housing sites are earmarked for Street North, but ONLY with a Folkestone. roundabout at Tescos, long promised, One is the Harbour scheme. The and a widening of the hopeless railway bugbear here is always access which bridge there! Is anybody listening? will probably have to involve clearing On the plus side Earlscliffe, the old the railway and expanding access via Adult educationcentre in Shorncliffe Southern Way/Tram Road. Road is to be converted into 12 good GF members have already told me flats without ruining the lovely building. they want a surgery down there, and at Five detached houses, unfortunately least a smattering of popular ordinary not bay-fronted, are to be fitted neatly shops such as chemists and into the former car park and mobile newsagents in Tontine Street or the area. new Harbour. Houses not tiny flats, and not a flat roof The other scheme is 900 units on in sight. military land at Napier and Risborough Barracks, covering both sides of North Finally they listen ! Road in the Risborough Lines and Tower Theatre area, backing partly onto the Royal Military Avenue houses. 900 is not a lot for the acreage so clearly there will be green spaces e.g. the current football pitches and

32 Academy Fm - From page 23 just some indications of the local content that will distinguish Academy arranged for students and other FM’s output from that of other radio community members who participate in stations. the operation and management of Academy FM will bring major Academy FM and help influence its opportunities for local businesses, development. politicians, community groups and As for content, we plan a style of music organisations to get their messages and speech programming that suits all across. sections of the community. We hope that it will be accessible in a There will be plenty of music output (in way that only truly local broadcasting a 24 hour radio station this is can achieve, and that this will help it to inevitable) but Academy FM will build a solid and broad listener base. establish a distinctive musical style, Academy FM will be a radio station to cater for a wide range of tastes with that we can all share in, a voice from around 8,000 tracks to select from (a Folkestone for Folkestone, which will typical music station chooses from be our community on the radio - at about 400). times funny, at others informative, We will have live music - local bands stimulating and committed - but always will be invited to the studio to talk about entertaining. their music, play ‘live’ and promote Our intention with your assistance is to forthcoming local appearances. deliver the new community radio There will also be plenty of speech station Folkestone deserves and will content, all tailored to inform and be proud of. entertain on a local level, with items Watch this space……. like: • local travel news; weather and tide reports Contacts: • a community notice board; David Atkey: 07711 179423, recruitment and job opportunities [email protected] • entertainment news, reviews and Peter Bettley: 01303 245838, listings [email protected] • interviews with local personalities, visiting celebrities Address: Academy FM • consumer and legal experts Strand House • advice on health and leisure, 125 Sandgate High Street education, holidays and crime prevention Sandgate, CT20 3BZ • features about local heritage • school holiday activity ideas

33 Step-short weekend Awareness day 10.00 am - 4.00 pm, Sat 3rd Oct 2009 Exhibition, films and talks on the Great War at the University Centre. Grace Hill. Admission Free

Memorial march 11.00 am Sunday 4th October 2009 Echoes! Follow in the footsteps of the millions of men who marched 7.00 pm, Sat 3rd Oct 2009 down the Road of Remembrance A musical introduction to the work on their way to the trenches in of the project and the music of the France. time in the Quarterhouse, Tontine Registration from 10.00 am outside Street.. the Grand Hotel. A pace to suit all Tickets, priced £7 from the editor or ages and abilities. A the Ticket Office commemorative certificate for all those that take part. Proceeds to the Step-short project

34 35 Go Folkestone In 2001, Folkestone faced a bleak future. A once proud and thriving seaside resort faced a slow decline as a minor part of the “Shepway” local authority – even its name seemed to have disappeared! However, the feelings of the Leas lift townspeople would not be ignored Continued from page 17 and over 800 of them turned up to a meeting arranged by the Folkestone Planning conditions and Lions Club at the Leas Cliff Hall to understandings for many of the new discuss the town’s future. seafront developments do require The silent majority spoke from the improvements in pedestrian lift heart and gave voice to a civic pride provision to Sandgate Road. Some of long-since thought to be extinct and this is the modern, expensive sounding that pride led to the creation of “Go new vertical lift mooted for the drop Folkestone” - a non-profit making, from the War Memorial area. politically-independent, community But helping with the Leas Lift, action group. imagined with a busier service, must Since its inception, the group has be a cheaper alternative. One such been at the forefront of the proposed block of flats is that on the regeneration of the town and led the Coach Park behind Marine Parade. campaign for the return of the town This is, interestingly, owned by The council. Its role was redefined earlier Folkestone Estate! this year and its mission statement The even closer Rotunda development now is: area is now with Roger De Haan. ”To provide a voice to the These two developers therefore will community and a structure to enable have a limited but genuine interest in its citizens to more fully participate keeping the Lift open. in the regeneration of our town” Roger has done a lot of good to the New members are always welcome, town and cannot keep putting his hand whatever the level of commitment in his pocket, but the fact is that they want to make, whether they helping in a small way will keep one want to be an active committee route from his land to the town centre worker or just to be kept up to date open; likewise the Folkestone Estate. with what is going on in our town. Closing The Leas Lift will do their developments harm and keeping it Membership form inside back cover. open will reinforce accessibility and charm.

36 membership form Type of membership you want: (please tick as appropriate) o Single membership £10.00 o Couple at the same address £15.00 o In receipt of benefits £5.00 o Junior membership (under 18) £5.00

First person

Your preferred title: Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss/Other :-

First name:

Surname:

Email address:

Mobile:

Second person (for joint membership)

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Please post your form with a cheque made out to “Go Folkestone action group” to: Membership Secretary, 24 Harbour Way, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1NF (01303 250906)

37