Folkestone’s Leas in Crisis: Locals Fight to Save Historic Promenade from Neglect and Landslides

This is a Guest Post

Big changes are coming to local government across Kent—and Folkestone & Hythe District Council will not be immune. By mid-2028, the current two-tier system of county and district councils is expected to be replaced by a single unitary authority responsible for all local services. This shift, part of a county-wide reorganisation, could see Folkestone & Hythe absorbed into a larger governing body.

The Council is, we understand, already working on a Corporate Plan to influence how this new unitary authority will take shape. Meanwhile, Kent County Council and Medway Council have expressed interest in becoming a priority area for devolution—further pushing along the merger process.

But what will this mean for us, the residents? Where will services be based? What happens to local jobs? One thing seems certain: fewer staff, more service cuts, and even less accountability. If you already find it hard to get a council response by phone or email, prepare for things to get worse.

Nowhere are the signs of decline more visible—or painful—than on the Leas.

The Leas: From Proud Promenade to Overgrown Woodland

For years, those of us who care deeply about the Leas have watched it slip further into neglect. Once a jewel of Folkestone, offering stunning sea views and elegant paths, parts of the Leas now feel more like a woodland trail than a seaside promenade.

I, along with Philip Carter and Simon Fance, have been in regular contact with council leaders Jim Martin and Jeremy Speakman (pictured) about the state of the Leas. Our chief concerns: overgrown hedges, towering trees, and crumbling heritage infrastructure—especially along the historic Zig Zag path.

Visitors don’t come to the Leas for patchy lawns or rusting lampposts; they come for the panoramic sea views. Yet those views are vanishing. Memorial benches—costing £2,091.98 each—are now often facing nothing more than a wall of hedge or tree. We believe over 20 benches that once enjoyed unobstructed sea views now look out at foliage.

Safety and Neglect on the Zig Zag Path

In December 2023, I emailed Councillor Speakman to raise concerns about six large trees growing along the Zig Zag path (pictured. These were not just aesthetic issues—these trees were dangerously tall, heavy, and perched atop a Grade II listed structure built in 1921 with brick, rubble, and cement render. The path was designed for small plants, not 60-foot, 20-ton trees.

A month later, landslides hit the Leas and the Road of Remembrance. Had these slides not occurred, those trees would likely still be there, one gust away from disaster. Since then, five of the six trees I flagged have been removed. The largest—still standing—is now the only one left, weighing over 20 tons and dangerously exposed on the cliff edge.

Councillor Martin told Kent Online that experts have “no concerns” about this final tree. Yet it’s hard to ignore that five of the six trees I warned about were removed—after it was nearly too late.

A Grade II Listed Path at Risk

The Zig Zag path is not just a footpath—it’s a listed piece of Folkestone’s history and a vital link between the Leas and the lower coastal path. It’s also the only route down that doesn’t involve stairs, making it essential for elderly and disabled residents.

Yet the council refuses to act decisively to protect it. None of the trees on the Leas—except those near Radnor Cliff—have Tree Preservation Orders. This means the council could have addressed the overgrowth before it became a safety issue.

Instead, they waited. The result? A Grade II listed path is at risk of collapse, views are lost, and visitors are turning away.

Road of Remembrance: A Symbol of Decay

When the council finally removed trees along the Road of Remembrance (pictured) after the landslide, many residents were relieved—not outraged. For the first time in decades, we had clear views across the sea and harbour along that stretch.

So why weren’t those trees dealt with earlier? Why did it take a landslide and the closure of a major road before action was taken?

Now, we’re told the road may not reopen until summer 2026—nearly three years since it was closed. Some speculate it may never fully reopen. KCC is reportedly spending £5 million to underpin the house above the landslide zone. All of this could have been avoided if the council had acted earlier to manage the trees properly.

Even the workers who removed the trees told us they had been trying for years to do so, but the council refused to close the road. Ironically, it’s now closed indefinitely.

Millions for the Coastal Park, But What About the Leas?

The council has earmarked nearly £1 million for upgrades to the play area in the Coastal Park and repairs to Madeira Walk, where two more landslides occurred. But that doesn’t address the larger issue: the steady degradation of the Leas itself.

As ShepwayVox put it, “In the town once nicknamed the ‘Brighton of the East,’ the cliffs are crumbling faster than the council’s reputation for timely public works.” Folkestone’s natural beauty is literally falling apart—and the only thing slipping faster than the cliffs is public confidence.

It’s Time to Take Ownership—Before It’s Too Late

It’s clear now that we can’t rely on Folkestone & Hythe District Council to safeguard the Leas. And in two years’ time, when the unitary authority arrives, we may have no local representatives left to contact at all.

That’s why we’ve set up the F.LEAS Promenade Preservation Group on Facebook. It’s time for us as residents to take ownership of the Leas—to lobby for proper maintenance, safety, and the restoration of views that bring tens of thousands of visitors here each year.

For decades, the Leas has lacked a formal group to fight for its future. Without collective action, we risk losing it forever. And we’re already paying the price—through our council tax, our lost access, and now millions in emergency works because of years of neglect.

We can’t wait for someone else to fix it. It’s our Leas. Let’s protect it—together.

We would be interested in hearing about your experiences of The Leas or Zig Zag path. Email: TheShepwayVoxTeam@proton.me in confidence.

The Shepway Vox Team

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