The Sandgate Business Forum keeps members and others up to date with events, news and information that affects Sandgate. From information about forthcoming events and how to get involved, to business scams to be aware of, significant road works and more - including news from our members.

Recent news updates are shown below. If you are a member or from a local organisation and would like to promote your latest deals, events or news, please let us know at info@sandgatebusiness.org.uk.

You can also follow the Sandgate Business Forum on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sandgatekent.

Changes to the way Kent County Council deal with A-boards

Kent County Council (KCC) is about to introduce a new scheme to standardise the siting of advertising boards (A-boards). This will involve businesses now applying for a licence to have an A-board on the public highway. This new licence will also cover tables and chairs and will involve an up front cost of £65 per year. If businesses do not comply with the new rules they are liable for a £47.50 fine. Each business will now only be allowed one A-board which must be sited along the business frontage and not remote from the property.

Further details on A-Board licening in Kent can be found online at the KCC website.

We would be interested in your views on this new move. The idea is to ensure a standardised approach to advertising so that smaller businesses are not "drowned" out by larger business, and of course to help ease any issues caused to shoppers, parents with prams, the elderly and those with visual impairments or mobility problems. Do you think this is the best way to go about this or are there other solutions you would like to see explored? Get in touch - details below.

Your County Councillor Tim Prater says:

"I'm concerned about the impact on local businesses, and would welcome feedback. I think it should also say the licences only cover A boards on the public highway / footpaths - boards on your own land, or indeed the non-Kent owned sea-front promenade, should not be affected in any way. If you hear of inspectors saying otherwise, I'd like to be told!"

An update from your PCSO

Our local PCSO has given an update on her work in Sandgate during September. She reminds us about Halloween and Bonfire night which are around the corner. Shop owners are being given leaflets about not selling eggs and flour to under 16s and fireworks to under 18s. She has also left leaflets in Sandgate library if you don't have a copy.

Debbie holds regular surgerys in the Library - her next one is on October 15th 10.30-11.30 am if you have any questions for her.

PC / PSCO Contact details:

PC 11662 ROLFE – gavin.rolfe@kent.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 07870 252527

PCSO 57925 BISHOP – deborah.bishop@kent.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 07972 004423

The next Sandgate Parish Council Meeting

The next full meeting of Sandgate Parish Council is on Tuesday 12th October from 7pm in the Library. All are welcome to attend. Agendas and previous minutes are available from the Sandgate Parish Council web site.

Other forthcoming events

If you have an event you want others in Sandgate to know about or come along to, please let us know and we'll happily advertise it for you.

**Real food. Real close. Sandgate Farmers Market**

16th October 10-am - noon, Sandgate Chichester Hall

Free entry. Stalls vary, but include fresh bread, local fruit and veg, free range meats, deli, indian treats, cakes and sweets, olives, fresh cut flowers and local crafts. Refreshments available.

**Folkestone Triennial 2011 - A MILLION MILES FROM HOME**

Wednesday 20 October 2010, 6 - 7.30pm, Quarterhouse, 45 Tontine Street, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1JT

Discover Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh, Folkestone Hythe & District Hotel & Catering Association and Folkestone Town Centre Management invite local businesses in the tourism sector (hoteliers, taxi drivers, retailers, restaurateurs etc.) from Folkestone and the surrounding area to join them to find out more about Folkestone Triennial 2011 and the opportunities it presents for local businesses to benefit from the visiting audiences.

Event is free, but advanced booking would be helpful for catering purposes. Please call 01303 858500 to book your space.

The Folkestone Triennial takes place 25 June - 25 September 2011 with more details at the Folkestone Triennial website.

**Murder Mystery at the Sandgate Hotel**

Wednesday 17th November 7.30pm for 8pm, The Sandgate Hotel, 8-9 Wellington Terrace, Sandgate

The Sandgate Hotel are hosting a pantomime themed Murder Mystery ‘It’s Behind You’. Be ready to boo and hiss! £19.95 including 2-course dinner. To book ring 01303 220444 or find more information at the Sandgate Hotel website.

**Sandgate Christmas Lights Switch-on**

The date will be confirmed asap, but Sandgate Parish Council hopes to make the event even bigger this year. It is an event which draws in quite a number of people but there are plans for more! Hopefully there will be a band on the Village Green, along with the ususal Santa Claus, presents for children and mulled wine and mince pies. We will let you know the date as soon as it has been confirmed - it'd be great if local shops and businesses could stay open and put their decorations / lights up the same day.

If you want to get in touch with the Sandgate Business group, please email Season@prater.org.uk or call 07956 135845 www.SandgateBusiness.org.uk

Many local businesses have said that parking problems in Sandgate cause real problems for their business. The Sandgate Business Forum are collating the views of local businesses so that they can be presented with suggestions on how to improve the situation to both Shepway District Council and Sandgate Parish Council.

If you run or work for a business in Sandgate and have not yet completed our survey, you can now do so at http://tinyurl.com/37ppxm8

I have been made aware of a potential business scam and wanted to make sure you were aware of it.

A man claiming to represent "Neighbourhood Watch Support" has telephoned people in South London to say that a Neighbourhood Watch brochure was going out to all the local residents. The caller was encouraging local businesses to advertise in this brochure.

A business person agreed to place an advertisement and later received a further phone call from a company calling itself "Business Community Support Multimedia". The caller took some details over the phone.

At a later date the business received a letter with a "proof" for the advertisement. Apart from the name of the business and the contact phone number, every detail was incorrect. The accompanying letter said that unless any amendments were received within five days (by phone, email or fax) they would assume that the details were correct and place the advert.

The business tried several times to contact the company by email and phone but to no avail, finding his emails unanswered and his phone calls cut off. Luckily he had not yet paid any money for the advertisement.

Kent Police would like to make it clear that there is no such organisation as "Neighbourhood Watch Support" and the Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network does not produce any such local brochures nor contract Business Community Support Multimedia to do so.

If you have any concerns, questions or issues you would like to raise relating to this, please contact enquiries@nationalnhw.org or 0116 229 3118 and do not agree to anything over the telephone or on your doorstep.

Season Prater, Sandgate Business Group

P.S This Saturday we have our monthly Arts and Craft Fair in Sandgate's Chichester Memorial hall from 10am - 4pm. Hopefully there will be a few people out and about in Sandgate for it. If you are interested in getting involved with the Fair please contact mirandabest@talktalk.net

Paul Sargeant of Kent Highways Services and Adrian Hart of Southern Gas Networks (SGN) gave a briefing last week to discuss their plans for these works and answer any questions.

The works are part of a 30 year programme across their network to replace all the metallic pipes with new polyethylene (PE) pipes. These PE pipes are more flexible and robust and if left undisturbed will last for decades. Some areas of the older metallic pipes are beginning to corrode and if left could cause leaks and potentially worse situations.

Modern methods of pipe laying means they can insert the new pipes inside the old ones which in some areas means they do not need to dig up entire stretches of the road. However, where sections are dug up they will be made good as they leave.

The planned works will commence in early September (likely 1st September) and will begin on Military Road at the 90 degree bend by the recreation ground. They will work in 50m sections and use 2-way traffic light systems where necessary to ensure as little disruption to traffic as possible. The completion of this phase will be when they reach Sandgate High Street and is likely to take around 16 weeks.

Once the first phase is complete the second phase will start on Sandgate High Street close to St Pauls Church and will follow the same procedure until completion at the end of the Coastguards Cottages. This phase may take slightly longer than 16 weeks due to the high number of individual flats and business premises which need to be connected to the new pipework.

SGN have contracted the work to Morrisons. The teams will be contacting individual householders and businesses when supplies need to be disconnected which should only be for a period of up to one day as the new connections are made.

A plan of the proposed works is available to view in Sandgate Library. Both Kent Highways and SGN want to keep the disruption to a minimum and purposely chose to start the works after the summer. However, if you do experience any problems with the works please contact info@sandgatebusiness.org.uk or drop into the Library.