New chairman for Folkestone Town Centre Management

Peter Fawcett, a retired chartered builder, has been elected chairman of Folkestone Town Centre Management (FTCM). Previously chairman of the Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime (FAPAC), an operational arm of FTCM, he succeeds commercial estate agent Andrew Beggs, who stood down after a completing a three-year term in the office but remains a director of the not-for-profit organisation which includes retailers and other businesses.

After retiring from a career in the construction industry, Mr Fawcett has been engaged in further and higher education initiatives at colleges in London and Canterbury. He said that he looked forward to building on the many achievements of FTCM and its two operational arms, FAPAC and the Discover Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh tourism partnership (DFH&RM).

"FTCM plays an important role in promoting the well-being of people who live, work and run enterprises in Shepway as well as providing services to attract and inform holiday and leisure visitors. Among my early aims is to increase awareness of the purposes and activities of FTCM and its operational arms.

"The better our work on behalf of the Shepway community is known and understood, the easier it will be to fund and expand our activities. Our management team is small but highly professional and is working wonders on very tight budgets".

In his final report to the board, Mr Beggs said that FTCM could claim many successes, including its campaign to improve standards of street cleanliness and the physical appearance of Folkestone, but the problems caused by graffiti, chewing gum, rubbish and seagulls needed ongoing attention. He urged more businesses to support the 'valuable work of FTCM, FAPAC and DFH&RM in their varied activities on behalf of residents, visitors, commercial enterprises and voluntary organisations'.

Folkestone Town Centre Management Ltd. is a not-for-profit company mainly funded by voluntary contributions from local businesses and by grants from Folkestone Town Council. Its board of directors includes representatives of retailers and other businesses and interests.

Its mission is to support the retail trade through traditional town centre activities, including the organisation of events, Christmas and seasonal activities, and to manage projects and provide services which benefit the economy. The company operates services directly and through two dedicated organisations which have specific tasks:

• Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime, which deals with safety and security issues in Folkestone, Hythe and outlying areas through the use of radios in a shopwatch scheme;
• Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, which is the official provider of tourism promotion, marketing and visitor information services and is part-funded by Folkestone Town Council, Shepway District Council, Kent County Council and businesses which derive benefits from the visitor economy.