Whitstable Labour Councillors

15/01/2025

12/01/2025

It’s been beautiful but icy the last few days - do take care. Here’s your top ten:
1. Kent County Council have been out gritting the roads you can find local grit bins if you feel you need to help grit pathways near you. An interactive map of bins is online at https://tinyurl.com/ydv6asef
2. As part of a newWhitstable Umbrella Community Centre Community Centre is looking for donated musical instruments it will then make available to local kids using its new recording studio.
3. The new pharmacist in Seasalter has now started opening Saturday mornings 9-12
4. Stagecoach have announced new timetables which substantially cut back the number 5 service after 6.30
5. If you are clearing out your wardrobe why not support the Community Clothes Bank and get a ticket for the Family Clothes Swap. You can swap clothes on the 18th at Horsebridge Arts Centre
6. Registration is now open for the Whitstable 10k on May 5. https://tinyurl.com/7s5c2t8w
7. Kent Police are lookingGatefieldSoundsjoin the district Information and Advisory Group. https://tinyurl.com/yar3825j
8. St Alphege Church are running their annual fundraising Thrift Ball on the 7th Feb at the Umbrella. Tickets for this Shakespearean themed event are on sale at GatefieldSounds
9. The council will be picking up Christmas trees for residents with their next green waste collection on either the 20th or 27th. If you can cut them up please put them in your bin- otherwise leave them clearly on your curtillage
10. Kent County Council have formally asked the government to have elections for a Kent Mayor in May 2026. It is expected KCC elections this May will be cancelled.
As always I’m available on the email at [email protected] hibernating and enjoying the FA Cup 3rd round.

09/01/2025

Our first Councillors Surgery of 2025 tomorrow 10th January at Seasalter Christian Centre. Naomi and Charlotte will be there from 9am.

08/01/2025

It may be cold outside but our fantastic members have been out these last couple of weeks delivering almost 12,000 leaflets telling you what your Labour led council has been up to. Have you had yours yet?

07/01/2025

Get down the Harbour with those trees this weekend 🌲🌲🌲

Garden waste subscribers can put their tree out to be picked up on their next green bin collection in either week commencing 20 January or 27 January, depending on which week you are on.

Get your tree chipped and support the RNLI

A final reminder that this Sunday (12 January) between 9am and 1pm, you can take your real tree to Whitstable Lifeboat Station at Whitstable Harbour.

In return for a £3 donation to Whitstable RNLI, your tree will be chipped and out of your life forever.

We are no longer providing a Christmas tree kerbside collection for people who do not subscribe to the garden waste service.

Sending our trucks and crews out to drive round looking for trees that may or may not be there is not environmentally friendly and is not an efficient use of our resources.

Instead, they can be taken to KCC's household waste centres. You will need to book a slot on KCC's website.

Garden waste subscribers can put their tree out to be picked up on their next green bin collection in either week commencing 20 January or 27 January, depending on which week you are on.

Ideally the tree would be chopped up and placed in the bin, but if this is not possible, please leave it out next to the garden bin in the usual place for waste collections so it is visible for our crews.

05/01/2025

Happy New Year. Here's you first top ten before the new year kicks off for many of us tomorrow with the first day of school.
1. If Santa brought you a new bike this year, Kent Police are running a free bike marking event at the South Quay Shed next Saturday 11-3pm
2. If you new years resolution is to increase your fitness Whitstable Parkrun started a Park Bench to parkrun course yesterday. You can join them completely free every Saturday morning, 9am to work up to the 5k.
3. Whitstable Carnival 2024 has its AGM next Sunday, 2.30 at the Labour Club if you want to volunteer to help run this fantastic community event again this year
4. Watch out as Whitstable Castle has changed its parking conditions and now requires you to validate your parking in its car park inside the cafe
5. The Museum is running a new exhibition of photographs from Whitstable Harbour this February. It's asking for donations of photos of the Harbour from the 50's onwards if you have any
6. Canterbury City Council bin collections are still a day late this week. The RNLI Whitstable Lifeboat Station will be chipping Christmas trees on Sunday 12th from 9am to 1pm. The council aren't collecting them this year unless you have a green waste collection.
7. Our local scout groups are organising a fundraiser at the Rugby Club on Saturday 18th to help send a group of kids to the Artic Circle next year. There's a quiz starting at 6pm with each table of 8 priced at £5 a person.
8. Age UK Herne Bay & Whitstable have launched a new programme of training designed to support unpaid carers dealing with dementia or alzheimers in a loved on. The first session on diagnosis is on Saturay 18th, 9.45. If you are interested call Audra on 01227 749 570
9. The traffic lights at Tankerton Circus will return this week. There are also up to 14 weeks of closure to Millstrood Road by the gas board. You won't be able to access The Whitstable School from the Tesco's roundabout
10. As of new years Stagecoach has changed the bus fares. The cap on single fares has risen from £2 to £3 but return tickets are no longer available - you now need to buy two single ones. the Family DayRider has been replaced with a Group Day Rider for up to 5 people of whatever age
The out of office disappears tomorrow and I'll be picking up emails at [email protected]. Our first surgery of the new year is Friday at Seasalter Christian Centre, 9-10.

02/01/2025

⚠️ SWEP activated ⚠️

With temperatures set to drop, our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated today (Thursday 2 January 2025) and is likely to remain in place for a number of days.

SWEP is a humanitarian response to periods of severe weather conditions.

There is no single definition of severe weather and as such we take a flexible approach when considering its implementation.

Anyone who is identified as sleeping rough within the Canterbury district, and who agrees to receiving our help, is eligible to access our SWEP provision when it is activated.

We will, of course, be taking a proactive approach by speaking to any clients who may require support under SWEP.

However, if you are aware of anyone who may need to access SWEP, please ask them to contact us on 0808 196 8140 during working hours or our out of hours number 01227 781879 between 5pm and 8am.

If you have concerns about anyone you see sleeping rough, please let us know using Streetlink.

The quickest and easiest way is via the Streetlink app, or report online: thestreetlink.org.uk.

We have a regular outreach service across the district and will aim to respond to any alerts in a timely manner.

Please provide as much information as possible about the location of the individual you are calling about.

It is important to note that even when SWEP is in place, we cannot forcefully intervene to provide an individual with support.

Many people refuse help and this is their right.

Therefore, should you contact us about a rough sleeper, you should not necessarily expect to see that individual removed and placed into accommodation.

This is not because the authorities have failed to react to your report, but because the individual has declined our support.

01/01/2025

Wishing everyone in Whitstable a Happy New Year. Here’s to a fantastic 2025.

23/12/2024

Remember, the council aren’t collecting real trees this year unless you have a green/garden collection subscription.

Disposing of your real Christmas tree

You have the following options to dispose of your real Christmas tree:

Pilgrims Hospice collection scheme - https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/get-involved/events-and-challenges/festive-fundraising/christmas-tree-recycling/

Whitstable RNLI chipping service - take your tree to Whitstable Lifeboat Station at Whitstable Harbour on Sunday 12 January 2025 between 9am and 1pm

Household waste recycling centres - book your slot on KCC's website: https://www.kent.gov.uk/environment-waste-and-planning/rubbish-and-recycling/household-waste-recycling-centres/visiting-a-hwrc

Garden waste subscribers - information at https://news.canterbury.gov.uk/news/real-christmas-tree-collections/

Please remember we are no longer providing a kerbside collection for people who do not subscribe to the garden waste service.

Sending our trucks and crews out to drive round looking for trees that may or may not be there is not environmentally friendly and is not an efficient use of our resources.

21/12/2024

We’ve had a flurry of emails requesting a final top ten before Christmas. So here it is by popular demand.
1. The government has announced its plans for devolution this week which will likely see the functions of Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council merged. We don’t know how or when but a good explainer has been written by the Alliance of Canterbury Residents Associations of you want to read up. https://tinyurl.com/ykbz2hpj
2. If you are on your own at Christmas, Revival Food & Mood is opening 10-1 to share a bit of Christmas joy. Mayas in Herne Bay and Canterbury Umbrella have Christmas dinners for people who need them.
3. Food Bank Canterbury is running a service over the festive period and has been particularly busy this week. If you need help you can ring 01227936450 every day apart from Christmas Day.
4. Pharmacies in town will be closed during the festive season. Our nearest open on Christmas, Boxing Day and News Years is at on the Broomfield Road, Herne Bay
5. Whitstable Medical Practice has sent out a patient survey this week - please fill it out. The Patient Participation Group has also joined Facebook so seek them out at https://www.facebook.com/wmpppg
6. The Tankerton Roundabout has temporarily reopened over Christmas. The traffic lights are back on the 6th January
7. The Whitstable's Marine Environment Group is running its annual New Year Beach clean at 10am on New Years Day. Meet at the West Beach Tennis Courts for their 100th session keeping our beach s clean:
8. Whitstable Town Football ClubThe Canterbury Bike Projectund of the FA Vase and chattering a coach to the next round fixture at Bury St Edmunds on the 11th January
9. If you get a new bike this year The Canterbury Bike ProjectClearaGem Clearancesone and donate it to local groups
10. Remember the cPilgrims Hospicesing up real Christmas trees this year unless you have a green waste collection. ClearaGem Clearances will be picking them up on the 6th and donating to Pilgrims Hospices for every one picked up. Bin collections scheduled for the 30th will be made on the 31st.
My out of office is on for the holiday but you can message us through this page if you need to get in touch with us urgently. Casework sent to [email protected] will be picked up in the new year

20/12/2024

Wonderful to be able to join Westmeads Community Infant School last week for their Christmas Lunch. On this, the last day for many of our schools, we wish everyone a fantastic Christmas and happy New Year.

18/12/2024

🚨Further to the house fire this morning on the Sherwood Drive Estate, we want to reassure everyone.
The brilliant Kent Fire and Rescue service successfully put out the fire. They made sure everyone is safe.
No one has been injured. The resident is being comforted by family nearby. There is extensive damage to the property. The insurers have already been notified.

17/12/2024

16/12/2024

As usual over Christmas and into the new year, there will be changes to the bin collection service.

This handy table sets out all the dates you need to know.

And click on the link in the comments to find out much more information about the waste service over Christmas, including recycling tips, what to do with your real tree and garden waste dates.

15/12/2024

This is our last top ten before Christmas, we’ll be powering down to enjoy time with loved ones but wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Here’s this week:
1. Tickets are almost sold out for the Whitstable Playhouse pantomime. Cinderella is running 23rd January to 2nd February and always a riot.
2. Carols on the Green by the Catholic Church in Chestfield are on the 18th 7-8pm
3. The annual Boxing Day Dip is at the RNLI Whitstable Lifeboat Station at 10. You can book a ticket to get access to the sauna and a slice of pizza to help warm you up afterward. https://tinyurl.com/79wyvrny
4. The last Santa of the season is at the Heart of Whitstable night market on the evening on the 22nd, 5-9 at Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre
5. The The Horsebridge Arts Centre is running a Jazz for Juniors programme this season. If you book for the session at 2pm on the 22nd, kids go free
6. To entice you into the High Street for those final bargains the 2nd Whitstable Sea Scout Band will be out in the Harbour and High Streey from 10-12 on Christmas Eve
7. The Whitstable Library will be closed 24-26th and 31st-1st. Bin collections in town will run normally until Christmas and then be a day later on the week beginning the 29th and 6th.
8. Canterbury City Council won’t be picking up Christmas trees unless you have a green waste collection this year. The RNLI Whitstable Lifeboat Station will be chipping them on the 12th January 9-1 in the Harbour for a donation of £3
9. Canterbury Family Hubs are running youth work sessions across the festive period. In Whitstable there is a Family Board Game event on the afternoon of the 3rd January 12.30-4.30 and families on free school meals can attend a free Grafitti workshop 1-3pm on the same day. Book into the session by emailing [email protected]
10. Finally Chestfield Parish Council are running an information session on the 4th January 10-12 at the WI Hall to see if local residents want to develop a Neighbourhood Plan. The plan, if adopted by referendum, would help shape the type of housing in the area.
I’ll be on the email this week at [email protected]

13/12/2024

🚨 There have been a spate of drain cover thefts in the Whitstable area this week (mostly evening of 10th December), including on Shamrock Road, Lucerne Drive, Florence Avenue, Macdonalds Parade and Ashley Drive. The drains missing their ironwork covers have been given temporary replacements to make them safe.

If you have any camera footage of the thefts from doorbell cameras or security cameras, please alert Kent Police. Please keep an eye out to help prevent future theft of the valuable wrought iron drain covers in our area 🚨

Thanks, Charlotte, Naomi and Chris

12/12/2024

Over the last two days we’ve welcomed over 20 volunteers to help reply to over 200 children’s letters to Santa in the local community. It’s always a fantastic way to start the season - a huge thank you to everyone who helped again this year.