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Planning and Licensing Committee
Tuesday, 11th August 2026 at 7:00pm

 

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  1. Cllr Jackie Meade
  2. Cllr Jackie Meade
  3. Cllr Jackie Meade
  4. Cllr Jackie Meade
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  1. Cllr Jackie Meade
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  1. Cllr Jackie Meade
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  1. Cllr Jackie Meade
  2. Cllr Jackie Meade
  3. Cllr Jackie Meade
  4. Cllr Jackie Meade
  5. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  6. Cllr Jackie Meade
  7. Cllr Jackie Meade
  8. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  9. Cllr Jackie Meade
  10. Cllr Clive Goddard
  11. Cllr Jackie Meade
  12. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  13. Llywelyn Lloyd
  14. Cllr Nicola Keen
  15. Cllr Paul Thomas
  16. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  17. Cllr Paul Thomas
  18. Cllr Nicola Keen
  19. Llywelyn Lloyd
  20. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  21. Llywelyn Lloyd
  22. Cllr Jackie Meade
  23. Cllr Polly Blakemore
  24. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  25. Llywelyn Lloyd
  26. Cllr Jackie Meade
  27. Cllr Mike Blakemore
  28. Cllr Jackie Meade
  29. Cllr Tony Cooper
  30. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  31. Cllr Jackie Meade
  32. Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
  33. Cllr Anita Jones
  34. Cllr Jackie Meade
  35. Cllr Adrian Lockwood
  36. Cllr Jackie Meade
  37. Cllr Jackie Meade
  38. Webcast Finished

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:00:00
Planning and Licencing Committee.
This meeting will be webcast live to the internet.
For those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed,
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:00:08
you will need to leave the chamber.
For members, officers, and others speaking at the meeting,
it is important that the microphones are used
so that viewers on the webcast
and others in the room may hear you.
Would anyone with a mobile phone
please switch it to silent mode,
as they can be distracting.
I would like to remind members
that although we all have strong opinions
on matters under consideration, it is important to treat members, officers and public speakers
with respect. So members, as chair of this committee, I would like to make a statement
for the benefit of all councillors present at this meeting and for members of the public.
The applications before you tonight, and indeed any applications you consider in the future,
must be considered on planning merits only. It is essential that members adhere to this
and ensure that their decisions tonight are based on papers before you
and any information provided during this meeting.
This is not the forum to discuss any ancillary issues

1 Apologies for Absence

relating to the planning applications before you.
And so with that, we will move on.
Are there any apologies for absence, please?
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:17
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:25
Apologies from Councillor Fuller, thank you.

2 Declarations of Interest

Councillors, do we have any declarations of interest on the application this evening?
I am not seeing any.

3 Minutes

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:38
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:44
Councillors, you have before you to consider and approve as a correct record the minutes
of the meetings held on the 14th of July and 21st of July 2026. May I sign these as a correct record please?

4 26/1191/FH/CON - Bus Station, Bouverie Square, Folkestone, CT20 1BA

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:00
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:02
Thank you very much. So we will move on to our one and only application this evening and
there are no speakers on this. So it is 26 -1191 -FH -CON, which is the bus station
at Bewvery Square in Folkestone.
Are there any updates, please?
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:23
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:28
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:30
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:31
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:02:41
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:42
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:47
Thank you, Chair.
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:02:49
So, Councillors, over to you.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:52
Any clarifications needed?
Councillor Goddard.
Thank you, Chairman.
In principle, I think it's good.
Cllr Clive Goddard - 0:03:01
Just one small concern, the height.
It's quite a tall structure, obviously.
Eight metres, 200.
But in principle, I think it goes in there nicely.
It's nice equipment.
and you know it slips in there well. It's just a wee small with the height and kids
jumping about as they do or as we do and you know so it's just a small concern just a small
concern with the height but apart from that happy to move the recommendation.
Thank you and do you have a seconder?
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:03:40
Councillor King. Sorry would you like to come back Officer Stavic?
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:03:45
Thank you. Just in terms of the height, just to be clear that the design is supposed to
be a piece of public art as well, but it has been designed by a bespoke piece of equipment
by a specific play equipment company who have carried out a site -specific risk assessment
for this particular piece of equipment.
Llywelyn Lloyd - 0:04:07
Can I just add, I believe that the height is also for the external extremities of the
I don't think there's any ability for children to climb to the full eight point, whatever it is.
It's all internal, so I think they can access a slide from within the structure.
Thank you.
Councillor Thomas.
Yes, thank you, Chair.
Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:04:24
Well, just one point first of all.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:04:26
Councillor Goddard is afraid of heights, so I'll come down the slide with you at some time in the future, if that's okay.
On a more serious point, there has been some discussion
and some comments about safety and how we're assuring
the residents that the area will be adequately lit, etc.
So I just wonder if the officer could just comment
on that, please.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:04:57
So I think this is an application for approval
of details reserved by condition
for the play equipment only.
So I think it's important to note
that we're not considering the principle of a park here
or a play park in this particular location.
These issues were previously considered
with the original planning application
and community safety considerations
have formed part of the design process.
In terms of the park itself and the wider park,
the layout incorporates CCTV lighting,
passive surveillance, multiple access points,
and clear sight lines.
And this is consistent with the public realm concept
to create a safe and overlooked environment
and it's intended to minimise antisocial behaviour.
It's also, I think worth noting that Kent police
were originally consulted on the original application
and raised no objections.
They did make some recommendations
in terms of designing out crime,
and they have been part of the ongoing discussions
with the design team for this design discussions and they are supportive of this scheme.
Thank you very much for the comprehensive answer that's excellent, thank you.
Councillor King.
Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:06:13
Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:06:21
The thing that worries me is the fact that you're saying that a child won't climb that
A child will climb that height.
Boys will climb that height.
I can verify that.
We need to have something on that
that will deter children from climbing.
Their risk assessment is a piece of paper
with what they're seeing.
But as a parent, I'm seeing that
and I'm thinking I know lots of boys
that would see that as a challenge.
So I think we need to have some kind of cage around that
to stop children climbing,
something that could stop them climbing on that because that is a long way to fall.
Thank you councillors. I think the point of safety is well noted. I think first of all,
Llywelyn Lloyd - 0:07:03
the schemas understand it has been thoroughly assessed by the Ross for the Royal Society
of Protection and of Accidents. It is also the same height as the existing play facility that's
just been erected and successfully operated down in the coastal park in terms of its overall height.
Obviously there is risk in all things,
but this one has gone through the appropriate cheques
to make sure that it is appropriate designed
to minimise the risk to people in it and using it.
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:07:34
I think also just to say that the larger structure
has this continuous play route as set out in 3 .5
of the report where it's got enclosed areas
with enclosed climbing areas, enclosed tube slides.
So, you know, it's not intended that people are climbing on this externally and they should not be able to do that.
Llywelyn Lloyd - 0:07:58
It's also worth noting that the floor mix and the made, the sort of the rubberised matting has taken into account falling from the structure to make sure it appropriately works.
So that whole aspect of climbing and falling has been considered within the design of the facility.
Thank you.
Councillor Conlon.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:08:18
Thank you, Mr Chair.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:08:22
Just seeking a bit of clarity around the relationship between the play area and the
surrounding highway.
I couldn't quite see on the images where I think there are some plans to have some shrubbery
or hedging around the edge, but I wasn't quite sure if that would be in place at the start
or just how we're making sure that kids don't end up
running out into the highway, really.
Thank you.
So the applicant has submitted with this
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:08:51
a containment strategy for the play area.
And that does include planting bollards.
It's got some areas with posts and chain fencing
to separate the play area from the surrounding highways.
So, that has also been considered with a risk assessment as well.
And I think in terms of the landscaping, it should be in the now, won't they?
Llywelyn Lloyd - 0:09:26
I wonder if Alex can just bring up her presentation and stop it at the site plan for me.
This might just help clarify things.
That was, could you zoom in please Alex?
If we look at the blue area in this image Councillors,
that is the area for the play equipment,
which you've already approved.
You've already stated that's where
the play equipment will go.
You then have an area of landscape grass and trees
to the north west of the play area.
And there is an area of land to sort of the south of it.
And then obviously to the east,
that barrier is obviously facing into Subway, so there's no running there.
As Alex has pointed out, the containment strategy has looked at how do we ensure that there's
appropriate levels of separation. There are lots of play parks in this town, including Radner Park,
where there is the ability to move between structures without barriers. We have to think
about how it operates in totality, but it has been considered as part of the ongoing
safety strategies, I understand it from the applicants.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:10:38
Councillor Mike Blanton.
Thank you, Chair. Yeah, I'm very impressed by this.
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:10:44
I think it's clearly been well thought through.
The plans are great and it's good to hear the reassurance about safety.
I was also thinking it must be about the same height as the one at the coastal part,
which is very striking, but has been fantastically successful in the short time it's been open.
I also really like the bringing together of a work of art and play in this way.
But I think it's fantastic with support and play,
and play away from screens and in the real world.
I think that's exactly what we should be doing.
And it's marvellous we can do it to such a high quality, I think.
So I'm minded to give this my support. Thank you.
Thank you. Councillor Cooper.
Thank you, Chair.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:11:19
Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:11:21
Can I ask, if you look at page 17 of the report, paragraph 3 .5,
it says obviously, in addition to the main structure,
Additional playing equipment is proposed, comprising a wheelchair accessible roundabout with a seat and an in -ground jumper.
A lower level left swing, a tonne with a ramp -bound.
If I read that correctly, what you're saying in paragraph 3 .6 is that is what's going to be going in there.
Are not going to be accessible for children who can't, for whatever reason, do things where the children are different.
Or would it just be, for example, the roundabout?
So the additional player equipment has been designed
to provide for a range of different abilities.
The roundabout is wheelchair accessible,
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:12:13
but then the low level swings and the tunnels
and the mounds and the stairs and the other elements
are to provide for all different types of abilities,
basically, including people in wheelchairs.
Thank you.
Councillor Laysby.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:12:34
Yes, thank you, Chair.
Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 0:12:39
I think everything really has been said,
and I was a little bit concerned about the height
and also the accessibility, or the,
well, I say the accessibility in terms of it being open,
But I think I've heard enough explanations to make me satisfied about the situation.
So I'm very much in favour of it.
I think it's a good piece of equipment and it looks attractive.
I'm sure once it's up and running, it will be enjoyed by many, many a child of all ages.
So I'm very, very happy to support.
Thank you, Councillor Jones.
Cllr Anita Jones - 0:13:21
Absolutely want to support this. I think it's really exciting. It will look amazing as people come into Folkestone and be a real centrepiece and hopefully give lots of people an amazing time. So, great.
Thank you. Councillor Lockwood.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:13:35
Cllr Adrian Lockwood - 0:13:40
Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to reiterate the point Llewellyn made about it being an artwork.
Apart from hopefully hundreds of thousands of children playing on this and people having a wonderful time,
there may be some Monster Chekwin fans that travel from wherever to come and see his artwork.
It's a shame it missed its slot in the 2025 Triennial.
That's the nature of public groundworks and roadworks and things.
They often take longer than people planned, but good that we'll have it anyway.
And it may well feature in obviously the next Triennial as a sort of retrospective piece.
Let's hope so. But yeah, I guess my support.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:14:32
Thank you. For myself, I'd just like to add that I'm very happy that we have less abled
children's equipment. It's very, very important that children of all ages and all abilities
have the places to play in, and I think it's very, very good that this has been designed
to bring that forward. I'm not seeing any other Councillor wishing to speak, so we have
one proposal which has been seconded, which is to agree the Officer's proposal. All those
in favour, please raise your hand.
Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:15:12
Thank you and I can see that is unanimous. Thank you very much Councillors. Very short
meeting today but thank you for...