It is now three years since Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC) became the first in Kent to be led by the Green Party. Our councillors, working constructively with other parties, have achieved real results for residents and long-term improvements to our district.

Over the last year:

Building new homes

Council tenants moved into the first of 44 new affordable rent homes at Risborough Barracks, Folkestone, while construction began on 20 new affordable, energy-efficient houses and six flats in Hythe and a further six new council homes were secured in Lyminge. Having made a promise three years ago to deliver 80 new council owned properties by the end of our term we are on course to deliver three times as many. In addition, £5 million was allocated to acquiring temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, minimising the financial impact on the council.

Whilst there has been no visible sign of progress on the long-planned Otterpool Park development,  lots of work has continued in the background. FHDC signed a new collaboration agreement with the government development agency Homes England, focused on obtaining outline planning permission. Recently, Homes England bought a piece of land where some infrastructure and homes can be built ahead of the rest of the development.

Transforming Folkestone town centre

Work has continued apace on the largely government-funded Folkestone a Brighter Future project to revitalise the town centre. Work on improved road layouts, adding new bus shelters with living roofs and creating a green square to replace the old bus station is progressing well and should be completed by the autumn.  A new ‘town centre operating model’ has been developed to help new and existing businesses to flourish, with a town centre manager to be based at 19 Guildhall Street, which will  become a new food and community hub.

Folca 1, the Edwardian part of the former Debenhams store, attracted lots of interest when it was put up for sale. The sale is being concluded, and the purchaser intends to restore this part of the building to its former glory, providing apartments and some commercial space (subject to planning approval). Money from the sale will go towards development of Folca 2, the Art Deco section of the building, which will have a mixed use. NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) – the body responsible for planning and funding local NHS services – confirmed its support for a medical centre in Folca 2, and staff from the council and the ICB are working together on an NHS business case.

Improving sport and leisure facilities

A £2.4m grant was awarded to The Sports Trust so it can reopen the swimming pool at Folkestone Sports Centre. Then, FHDC will spend up to £6 million refurbishing Hythe Pool. The council also allocated £75,000 to developing new sport and physical activity opportunities across the district to improve health and wellbeing, with £50,000 earmarked for Romney Marsh.

Work began replacing the adventure playground in the Lower Leas Coastal Park, once cliff stabilisation works were completed.

Romney Marsh Visitor Centre reopened after a new operator was appointed by FHDC. Rebranded as The Nest, the building offers a sustainable, locally sourced café and retail space within the 11-hectare nature reserve designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Work was also completed on the  Changing Tides Coastal Centre at Greatstone, which will offer water sports facilities, 93 beach huts, a café and toilets.

Supporting those needing a helping hand 

An improved council tax reduction scheme for working age, low-income households came into effect. Nearly 6,000 such households in the district will benefit, with the new scheme offering up to 100% support.

FHDC agreed to replace £71,500 of funding previously provided by the government to support community hubs and warm spaces, the district-wide mobile food service, food vouchers and Citizens Advice.

Tackling the climate emergency and protecting our local environment

Nearly £200,000 was allocated to local community groups and organisations through the council’s new Green Grant scheme. Projects ranged from school garden projects to solar panels and EV charging points at the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway’s Dungeness and New Romney stations. The scheme is being repeated this year.

Our Green councillors worked with local MP, Sojan Joseph, to lobby Network Rail to secure a new  road-rail hub which will allow freight to move seamlessly between the UK and mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel, potentially removing 140,000 lorries per year from the M20.

Ceaseless lobbying of Southern Water finally paid off when the company announced it would increase investment in this area from £11 million to £42 million between 2025 and 2030 to prevent sewage entering our rivers and the sea. It’s still not enough, but a big step forward.

Says Leader of the Council, Jim Martin: “We’re benefiting residents, making our district more attractive to visitors and doing all we can as a Green council to boost nature and protect the local environment. We’ve balanced our budget for three years running and agreed a new corporate plan with sustainability at its heart. All of this shows what a Green council can deliver and I’m really proud of our record. Of course, the work doesn’t stop here and we will continue working just as hard in the coming year.”