Sunny Sands beach overlooked by the Martello Tower situated on the East Cliff
The previous Tory administration’s plan to revamp the East Cliff area in Folkestone has been dropped after a public consultation revealed strong opposition.
The council had proposed to add a play area, a visitor centre and parking to the scenic spot, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The idea was to generate income for the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charity, which runs the existing sports facilities there.
However, the consultation, which received 1200 responses online and in print, showed that most people wanted to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the clifftop area. Some also expressed interest in having a café or a mobile kiosk. Cllr Jeremy Speakman, a trustee of the charity and a member of F&HDC’s Cabinet, said that the council was listening to the public and would explore those options instead.
The council will also look for other funding sources to improve the play area and maintain the sports facilities. Any future changes will be subject to further consultation.
Meanwhile, Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) will start some digging near the Roman Villa at East Cliff in August. The public is invited to join the two-month community excavation project and learn more about the ancient site.