Photo: Ray Duff
FOLKESTONE – A storm of public fury is erupting over the fate of Kent’s oldest surviving purpose-built library, as Kent County Council (KCC) moves to reject a community-led rescue deal in favour of a controversial sell-off.
The New Folkestone Society has slammed the council’s recommendation to decline a “Community Right to Bid” offer for the Grace Hill Library, calling the decision a “disgrace” and a calculated move to abandon a building that has served the town for over 130 years.
Opened in 1888 and funded largely by the public subscriptions of Folkestone residents, the library was the crown jewel of the town’s Victorian architecture. However, since a “temporary” closure due to water ingress in 2022, the doors have remained bolted.
While the community waited for repairs, KCC Officers have reportedly been working behind the scenes to move the library service to a rented unit in the pedestrian precinct—a move locals claim is unnecessary, expensive, and a direct insult to the building’s history.
“Folkestone did not ask for a new library in a new location,” a spokesperson for the New Folkestone Society stated. “We simply asked for our old library to be reopened.”
The ‘Community Offer’ Rejected
The battle line is drawn over a proposal from Creative Folkestone. Their “Community Offer” promised a total revitalization of the site, including:
- Modern Library Services: Keeping the books where they belong.
- Creative Arts Hub: New event spaces on the top floor.
- Community Network: An extension of the Sunflower House network in the basement.
Despite this, KCC Officers are accused of being “evasive” and spending “huge amounts of money” on consultations designed to justify the building’s abandonment rather than its restoration.
Questionable Costs and Wasted Cash
The Society has raised serious questions regarding the council’s financial transparency. While KCC claims the repair costs remain prohibitive, the Society argues that much of the remedial work has already been completed. Furthermore, they highlight a glaring fiscal irony: as a charity, Creative Folkestone could access grant funding and pricing that KCC cannot. Instead of embracing this lifeline, the council appears intent on “frustrating” the offer and pursuing a costly rental agreement elsewhere.
The Stakes for Folkestone
If the council proceeds with the sale, the future of Grace Hill—a building “broken” only by neglect—is unknown. It could be auctioned off to the highest bidder, leaving a gaping hole in the town’s cultural heart.
The New Folkestone Society is now calling on all Councillors—across the political spectrum—to intervene:
- Halt the move to a rented pedestrian precinct location.
- Instruct KCC Officers to engage in “full and meaningful” discussions with Creative Folkestone.
- Respect the history of a building paid for by the people, for the people.
As the deadline looms, the question remains: will Kent County Council listen to the community, or will they allow the sun to set on 137 years of history at Grace Hill?