The reopening of the Leas Lift has been delayed until spring of 2027...

🚧 Leas Lift reopening pushed back by a year

Plus: Pub set to close next month, and families flock to reopened play area

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This week we go inside the town's former Debenhams to hear from the developers seeking to bring it back to life...

🚧 No ‘quick buck’ for Folca developers

Plus: Tontine Street closed for sewer repairs, and popular play area set to reopen after refurbishment

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Folkestone is to be merged into a new Mid Kent unitary council as part of the biggest shake-up of local government in Kent for more than half a century. Fair to say not everyone is impressed...

🗳️ Folkestone to be merged into ‘insane’ new Mid Kent council

Plus: Parks awarded Green Flag status, and ‘Cold War bunker’ up for sale

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Asked a cllr where they think the HQ of the amazing new Mid Kent Unitary Authority should be located. Ashford, maybe? Sittingbourne, perhaps? "It really should have good transport links from all parts of the authority, and on that basis, I guess we have to look at St Pancras."

In this week's Dispatch we speak to local author Jo Bavington-Jones about her Folkestone-set crime series and realising her dream of becoming a writer...

🖊 ‘Unless you’re a celebrity or have the right contacts it’s almost impossible’

Plus: District's most popular baby names revealed, and plans for World Cup final screening at Harbour Arm announced

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This evening we launched our new weekly what's on email: On The Town. This week, news of the line-up for this year's Folkestone Book Festival and plenty more...

📚 Book festival programme revealed

Your weekly guide to what's on in Folkestone

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🎉 Very happy to tell you the Dispatch was highly commended in the Kent Voices Award category at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards, which were presented at a ceremony in Canterbury last Friday. Thanks to @maximpr.bsky.social, the judges and sponsors for making the event possible! #kpba

Finds from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery are to go on show at Folkestone Museum this week. We visited the top-secret dig site to find out more about the remarkable artefacts uncovered by archaeologists...

🗡️ Anglo-Saxon artefacts of ‘international importance’ on show in Folkestone

Plus: Plans for homeless charity’s new home withdrawn, and inspectors say care home must improve

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❤️ A lovely message received today from our newest paid subscriber. It is always wonderful to hear from our readers, and know that they value the work we do. Join them? folkestonedispatch.substack.com/subscribe

Next week Folkestone will pay moving tribute to fallen Canadian soldiers in a tradition that goes back more than a century. Ahead of Canada Day, in this week's Dispatch we explain the enduring bond between the North American nation and our town...

🇨🇦 Honouring the enduring bond between Folkestone and Canada

Plus: Arrest after scores of cars damaged across town, and lottery funding secured for reopening of sports centre

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Great to be part of this event for @publicinterestnews.org.uk Indie News Week, speaking about @folkestonedispatch.substack.com and how we're all trying to make new models of local journalism work

Local Authority@localauthority.news · last mo.

We held a panel discussion on local journalism with Christine Rayner, former editor of the East Kent Gazette, and @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social of @folkestonedispatch.substack.com. The clearest themes were that we need real relationships with our communities and enough reader support to sustain us.

We held a panel discussion on local journalism with Christine Rayner, former editor of the East Kent Gazette, and @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social of @folkestonedispatch.substack.com. The clearest themes were that we need real relationships with our communities and enough reader support to sustain us.

To mark Refugee Week, in this week’s Dispatch we look at the work of local charity Kent Refugee Action Network and hear from their media ambassador, who herself came to the UK from Eritrea...

🌍 ‘I would like people to have the courage to understand our story’

Plus: Fly-tippers hauled before the courts, and confirmation special summer bus service will not return this year

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Concerns have been raised about birds dying after getting trapped in netting at this town centre supermarket. But the response from the company has been branded 'half-hearted'...

🐦 Birds dying in supermarket netting

Plus: Joint operation targets illegal tobacco and vape sales, and tribute to legendary guitar heroes unveiled

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

In today's Dispatch we report on the council's escalating bill for temporary accommodation for those facing homelessness in the district. The costs have more than doubled in a year, rising to almost £2 million in the last financial year...

🏠 Bill for temporary housing for those facing homelessness continues to soar

Plus: Former library building in Grace Hill snapped up for £1, and work starts on long-awaited Road of Remembrance repairs

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We are delighted that the Dispatch has been shortlisted for the Kent Voices Award at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards. This award recognises those 'going the extra mile to serve their local community' and we are proud to be among the four finalists www.kpbawards.co.uk/finalists #kpba

We were out with the wonderful Folkestone Fellas for their monthly 'walk and talk' this morning. Always a great get-together and a chance to meet some new faces! Find out more about the Fellas here: folkestonedispatch.substack.com/p/folkestone...

Folkestone's new library in Sandgate Road opened to the public yesterday. We were among the first through the doors to take a look...

📚 Library opening marks start of a new chapter

Plus: Dispatch shortlisted for prize at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards

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We are delighted that the Dispatch has been shortlisted for the Kent Voices Award at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards. This award recognises those 'going the extra mile to serve their local community' and we are proud to be among the four finalists www.kpbawards.co.uk/finalists #kpba

In this week's newsletter we hear from the developers behind plans for flats in the town's former Debenhams department store...

🚧 Developers ‘incredibly encouraged’ after Folca flats proposal approved

Plus: Homes could be built on site of Saga headquarters, and swimmers protest over continued dumping of sewage at sea

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

This couple loved the Harbour Arm when they first visited Folkestone. Now their story has come full circle as they open a business in the Goods Yard. We went to meet them...

🐔 ‘We came for one more visit and then moved our life to Folkestone’

Plus: Machete-wielding burglars jailed after ‘brutal’ break-in, and museum wins funding for Harvey anniversary exhibition

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So proud of @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social and what he's achieved in the first year of @folkestonedispatch.substack.com. Kent needs more hyperlocal journalism like it.

Folkestone Dispatch@folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 3mo ago

A major milestone for the Dispatch! Thanks to everyone who has joined us on this journey...

A major milestone for the Dispatch! Thanks to everyone who has joined us on this journey...

🎂 Celebrating one year of the Dispatch

Plus: Deal struck for purchase of former library building, and sex offender jailed after police raid at his home

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His plans for a new war memorial were thrown out and branded 'insulting', but this local history enthusiast tells the Dispatch he has 'no animosity' towards the councillors who thwarted his scheme...

❌ History buff has ‘no animosity’ over rejection of ‘insulting’ war memorial plans

Plus: Opening date for new town centre library confirmed, and work on coastal park play area refurbishment begins

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In this week's newsletter we go inside the Folkestone Sports Centre to hear about progress towards reopening this summer - and see the recent shocking damage done by trespassers...

🏊 Inside the Sports Centre

Plus: Work to reopen Road of Remembrance could start next month, and England World Cup matches will not be shown at the Harbour Arm

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🏆 In this week's newsletter @fifc.bsky.social chairman Josh Healey tells us 'nothing will beat this feeling' after the team's title win...

🏆 Invicta are champions

Plus: Three-day dance music festival to return to The Leas despite noise concerns, and report reveals positive impact of 2025 Triennial

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In this week's newsletter we look at the action being taken to try to turn around our under-performing NHS trust...

🚑 Under-performing hospital trust to enter ‘intensive recovery’ programme

Plus: Book swap world record broken on Sunny Sands, and table-topping Folkestone Invicta close in on league title

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

In this week's newsletter we hear more about a project aiming to make the town's imposing viaduct a home for graffiti and street art...

🧱 Historic viaduct could become home for graffiti and street art

Plus: Memorial bench from Sandgate washes up on Lincolnshire beach, and convenience store retains alcohol licence despite police concerns

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But another wonderful reader took up our offer on annual subs (below) this morning, so I am already up on the deal for the day. And I've had a lovely walk by the sea. So all good... folkestonedispatch.substack.com/onethousand

Logging on for my traditional Monday procrastination session before I write the entirety of the @folkestonedispatch.substack.com tomorrow in a blind panic. A very comfortable routine...