FOLKESTONE LIBRARY PETITION

Subject: 

The future of the Grade II listed Grace Hill Library building in Folkestone town centre and Kent County Council's decision to dispose of the property.​ 

Petition Statement: 

Grace Hill Library has served Folkestone for over 135 years and was closed in December 2022 on health and safety grounds. Kent County Council has decided to dispose of the building. However, Creative Folkestone and community partners submitted a proposal in November 2025 to restore Grace Hill as a multi-use community hub combining library services with space for education, creative industries, and community events, funded through external grants rather than KCC capital budgets.​ 

This community-led proposal offers a genuine alternative to auction and would preserve a cherished Grade II listed building, restore library services to the town centre, reduce KCC's financial burden through external funding, and support Folkestone's cultural and economic regeneration. However, KCC plan to auction off Grace Hill and have not adequately examined the viability of a collaboration agreement with Creative Folkestone. 

Action Requested: 

We call on Kent County Council to: 

1. Halt the auction of the Grace Hill building pending full consideration of the community-led proposal.

2. Commit to working as a partner with Creative Folkestone and allied community organisations to secure external grant funding (such as Heritage Lottery Fund or DCMS grants) for the building's restoration and as a mixed-use community space. 

3. Engage constructively with Creative Folkestone and community partners to develop and support their grant-funded restoration proposal. 

4. Report back to County Council within six months on progress towards securing funding and the status of negotiations with Creative Folkestone​.