Gary Fuller | Councillor for Sandgate & West Folkestone

Fears Kent is applying Wrong Rules to Buying Services

Article: Jul 17, 2020

Kent Liberal Democrat councillor Antony Hook has asked Conservative-run Kent County Council to urgently clarify its approach to awarding big contracts.

At a meeting this morning of the county's Environment & Transport Committee, Mr Hook challenged Conservative Cabinet Member for the Environment Susan Carey to include green requirements when contracts are awarded to supply services to the county.

Antony Hook in Kent County Councl Chamber

Shock as Kent Conservatives gut Anti-Racism Vote

Article: Jul 16, 2020

Liberal Democrats, the largest opposition party on Kent County Council, today put forward a motion against racism.

The Liberal Democrat motion said:

"This Council:

a) is mindful of the recent death of George Floyd in the United States and of the demonstrations that followed;
b) is aware of the depth of public concern expressed during recent weeks in Britain about ingrained institutional racism directed against non-white persons; and
c) is conscious of the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on black and minority ethnic residents.

Something is Wrong on the Internet cartoon (From xkcd: https://xkcd.com/386/)

Fixing The Internet: Lower Leas Coastal Park {Updated 24/7/2020]

Article: Jul 16, 2020

In early June, after massive issues at the Lower Leas Coastal Park coming back out of lockdown (as in previous summers) and after ongoing and lobbying from me and others, a number of changes were made to the Lower Leas Coastal Park terms of use, including the Banning of BBQs, new bins, diversionary signage and overnight closure of one of the car parks to reduce the impact on local residents.

Kent Downs fields / flowers (Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent. / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/))

Kent Downs AONB Draft Management Plan Consultation

Article: Jul 16, 2020

The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a nationally protected landscape and home to some of the most enchanting countryside in Britain. The Kent Downs covers about a quarter of the County of Kent focusing on the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge, stretching from the White Cliffs of Dover to the Surrey and London borders. Within Folkestone and Hythe District the AONB is predominantly found to the north of the district.

The Folkestone Haven

Article: Jul 10, 2020

The Folkestone Haven offers safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for people who are struggling to cope with their mental health during the evening, weekends and bank holidays when other services may be closed.

The Folkestone Haven is for adult residents (18+) of the Folkestone and Hythe District who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and feel unable to cope. This includes people who may be anxious or worried about anything affecting their mental health but don't have support networks available to them. It is for people who use or have used mental health services and those who have never used them before.

It is open access and no appointment is necessary, and the service is completely free.

The Folkestone Haven is based at the Rainbow Centre, 69 Sandgate Road, Folkestone CT20 2AF (Folkestone.Haven@hestia.org 07827 533871). They are open Monday-Friday from 18:00 to 23:00 and Weekends & Bank Holidays from 12:00 to 23:00.

The Folkestone Haven's aim is to support people using the service to reduce their crisis and anxiety, and to safety plan, drawing on strengths, resilience and coping mechanisms to reduce the need to use crisis services in the future. We will also refer and signpost to other support services.

You can learn more at https://www.hestia.org/folkestone-and-hythe-district

Tim says:

"When I first heard of the haven I thought it was a really important scheme and wanted to help. I was really pleased I was able to support the Haven with a small grant from my ward grant budget in January this year.

"Although the Haven is in central Folkestone, it's there to support anyone, from across the district, who need their help. We don't talk about mental health issues enough, and those with issues often don't get the support they deserve. I'm delighted that in Folkestone and Hythe, the Folkestone Haven can offer people that place to start to talk."

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