đ¸ Town centre venue seeks community backing after 'noise nuisance' complaints
Plus: Folkestone Sports Centre future secured after intervention by The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust to 'outbid housing developers' for the site
âWe are under real threat of having to close downâand we need the support of our communityâ
Owners of a town centre music venue have expressed their fears for the businessâs future after multiple complaints about noise were lodged with the council.
The Music Workshop opened in December 2023 and owners Daniel Clark and Josie Matcham have since established it as a key venue in the townâs live music scene, hosting regular sold-out gigs as well as jam nights, karaoke and practical workshops for all ages.
However, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has received five complaints about noise coming from the Cheriton Place venueâand council officers have identified a ânoise nuisanceâ after visiting nearby properties during live performances.
This has led to the council serving a noise abatement notice and recommending steps be taken to reduce the impact on neighbouring properties. But the council has stressed that at this stage the action it is taking is ânot about shutting down the businessâ.
In a statement shared on social media, the team behind The Music Workshop said: âWe are under real threat of having to close downâand we need the support of our community.
âWeâve been served a formal notice by the council, meaning we could face a ÂŁ20,000 fine, loss of our licence, or even have our equipment seized. It came without any prior official warning this year, and itâs already forced us to cut short live music, losing vital income.
âWeâre not a pub. Weâre not a restaurant. We are a grassroots music venueâbuilt with passion, love, and a belief that live music matters.
âEvery week we host gigs, baby and family sessions, a community choir, guitar workshops, inclusive jam nights, and a young artist programme that helps young people grow through music. All music ends by 10.30pm. Weâre in the town centre, surrounded by other venues and takeaways. We believe weâve struck a fair balance.â
Since revealing their fears for the venueâs future on social media, more than 2,200 people have signed an online petition seeking to demonstrate to the council that the business is âa vital part of Folkestoneâs cultural life supporting local musicians, families, and the communityâ.
Ms Matcham has told the Folkestone Dispatch that a meeting was held with ward councillors on Monday, May 19, to seek clarification of the situation, and she says the business is exploring potential soundproofing to reduce noise from the venue.
She said they have been âblown away with the support from our communityâ and the response to the petition has made them âeven more determined to come to a resolution that works for everyone involvedâ.
Many local musicians have also taken to social media to share the petition and call for the community to rally around the venue, which they say is an important part of the live music scene in the town.
Singer-songwriter Nick Lawrence told the Dispatch: âIn the short time The Music Workshop has existed it has quickly become a hub for the local music community. It offers a safe and welcoming environment for all musicians, experienced and new, to hone their skills and entertain.
âThe people that come along to the shows are avid music lovers and are there to hear original music from local musicians and from others further afield. Folkestone is supposed to be a music town, and it is disappointing that complaints have been made against a venue that not only promotes grassroots music but whose attendees are well behaved and respectful. If The Music Workshop is lost, it would be another nail in the coffin of grassroots music in the UK.â
A council spokesman said: âOur officers have been working with The Music Workshop for several months and it should be stressed that the noise abatement notice is not about shutting down the business.
âWe have been responding to complaints made about the level of sound coming from the premises, particularly when live acts are playing. This has also been witnessed by our emergency response officers who have sat inside nearby residentsâ homes whilst bands have been playing.
âA noise nuisance has been established which means that the council now has a statutory duty to serve a noise abatement notice. The councilâs environment protection team remains keen to continue to work with the owners of the venue. Advice has already been offered about different measures that could be taken to reduce the noise level.
âThe suggested measures include increased sound insulation and using a noise limiter that cuts off the power when the noise level gets too loud. This is used by several venues across the district when live acts are playing.â
You can find The Music Workshopâs petition here.
News in brief
đđťââď¸ Folkestone Sports Centreâwhich closed suddenly last summerâhas been acquired by The Sports Trust, which operates Three Hills and the F51 skatepark. The site has been secured thanks to funding from The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, which made it possible to outbid housing developers who were interested in the site in Radnor Park Avenue. Dan Hulme, chief executive of The Sports Trust, said: âWe are excited to be acquiring Folkestone Sports Centre. It was much loved and had been immensely important to our community. We are now able to look forward to bringing it back to life and re-establishing it as an excellent facility.â
The sudden closure of the centre in July 2024 was a major blow to sports and recreation in the town, leaving many sports clubs homeless and the town without a public swimming pool. More than 9,000 people backed a petition calling for the facility to be saved. Commenting on the purchase, Sir Roger said: âIn November last year we were able to outbid a number of housing developers to ensure that the Folkestone Sports Centre could be saved. The Sports Centre has been extraordinarily important to Folkestone. Its swimming pool has, over the years, been enjoyed by a vast number of people and it is where many of our local children have learnt to swim. The Sports Trust will be the perfect guardian for the Sports Centre.â
đ A consultation has been launched by Folkestone & Hythe District Council over expanded dog control measures. An update to the councilâs Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order is proposed in response to concerns about dog fouling and owners failing to control their pets near childrenâs play areas. Cllr Polly Blakemore, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: âThe amendments to the current dog control PSPO are being proposed in response to complaints we have received from residents. It is the few, who do not pick up after their dog has fouled or let their dog run around out of control, who make such measures necessary.â You can find full details of the proposed changes here.
đ The planned refurbishment of the Lower Leas Coastal Park play area is set to cost ÂŁ750,000. A report to go before the district council cabinet this evening, May 21, calls for the approval of a further ÂŁ191,000 of funding for the project. The revamp of the popular play park will see the existing timber structure replaced by âan improved structure, designed with consideration for improved accessibility for users with a range of disabilitiesâ.
đ A 10-day programme of art, culture, food and community events to mark 10 years since the reopening of Folkestone Harbour kicks off on Friday, May 23. The celebrations will climax with a firework display on Sunday, June 1. Paulo Kingston-Correia, general manager of the Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Company, said: âItâs been an incredible journey, beginning more than 20 years ago when Sir Roger De Haan bought the harbour when it was derelict and at risk of being lost to the elements without a new economic purpose.â
đž East Cliff Sportsâwhich is home to eight lawn tennis courts, an 18-hole pitch and putt course, an 18-hole putting green and a six-lane bowling greenâhas now reopened for the summer season. The facility will be open every day from 9.30am to 7pm until September 30. More information can be found here.
Whatâs on this week
đŽ Fans of true crime can spend an evening in the company of former murder detective Colin Sutton when he appears at the Leas Cliff Hall on Sunday, May 25. Sutton will be appearing in The Makings of a Murderer 2 and will talk about his career and the high-profile cases he helped run. The show starts at 7.30pm and you can find tickets here.
đď¸ Cult songsmith Richard Dawson is bringing his latest album, End of the Middle, to the Quarterhouse on Saturday, May 24. Highlights of the evening include single Polytunnel, which Dawson describes as âa song about an allotmentâor perhaps something much deeperâ. The gig starts at 8pm and you can get your tickets here.
đş The bank holiday weekend will have a Iberian flavour at the Beer Shop, with a range of Spanish craft beers on offer as well as pintxos by chef Gianni Modena. DJ Steve Woodward will be spinning records on Sunday night, May 25, from 7-10pm.
đď¸ Folkestone Wombles will be running a midweek litter-pick in the town centre this evening, May 21, from 5pm to 6.30pm. Anyone wanting to lend a hand should meet at the Civic Centre in Castle Hill Avenue by 5pm, where equipment will be provided. You can find out more about the groupâs efforts to keep the town tidy by reading our piece from April 30.
đď¸ Sing-along favourite Mamma Mia will be showing at the Harbour Arm on Friday, May 23, as part of this yearâs free summer cinema programme. The 7pm screening is completely free to attend, you donât need a ticket, and spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. You can find out more about this and other upcoming events at the Harbour Arm here.
đď¸ Singer Roxanne Hicks will be performing some of her favourite songs alongside a range of guest musicians and singersâincluding members of Pretty Crap, HotRox and Grooveshackâat The Music Workshop tomorrow evening from 7pm. You can find out about the weekâs other forthcoming events at the venue here.
đś The Folkestone Music Town Music in May festival continues with performances and workshops taking place at venues across the town. Check out the gig guide here to make sure you donât miss a thing.
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Thatâs all from me this week. One thing before I go, though. It is a constant battle with social media algorithms to ensure that the Dispatch is seen by as many people as possible. So if you are active online, on Facebook in particular, please do consider sharing this newsletter with your contacts and on local residentsâ groups. The more visibility, the more readersâand the more sustainable the Dispatch will be in the future. Every little helps, so thanks so much if you can help spread the word for me.
Next weekâs newsletter will be in your inboxes at the same time next Wednesday.
All the best, Rhys
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