We support Folkestone & Hythe as a Place of Sanctuary
The Issue
Folkestone & Hythe District Council has voted to work towards becoming a place of Sanctuary and we, the undersigned residents, support that decision & ask the council to stand by it.
It's come to our attention that Reform Councillor David Wimble is lobbying to halt this motion and reverse it. He is encouraging echo chamber theatrics, inciting public outrage through the spreading of misinformation.
As Mr wimble is keen for local residents to be heard, we ask you to sign & share the below petition.
Our voice is clear — we want Folkestone and Hythe to be a place of welcome. We support Sanctuary.
What the motion actually says:
The motion, proposed by Cllr Anita Jones, commits the council to:
- Defend free speech as a British value, while making clear that inciting hatred or violence is a crime.
- Seek recognition as a place of sanctuary.
- Sign up to the City of Sanctuary Charter and its principles and values.
Join the City of Sanctuary local authority network. - Work with partners, community groups and people who have escaped persecution on a timetable and action plan.
- Bring a report on that action plan to Cabinet and Full Council.
- Raise public awareness of the needs of people seeking sanctuary across the district.
You can read the motion and officers' report in full here:
What it doesn't do:
- This motion doesn't change housing rules, benefits or immigration law, and it doesn't move anyone up a waiting list.
- The City of Sanctuary Charter itself is clear that sanctuary status has no influence on who comes to the UK or where people are placed; those decisions are made by central government.
- Nor does the motion commit any spending: any future plan must go through Cabinet and the normal budget process, with proper scrutiny and community engagement.
This motion proposal also didn't come out of nowhere.
It was first raised at Full Council in April 2026, when the Leader said sanctuary principles (a welcoming environment, fair access to services, and working with local partners) closely match how the council already delivers its services — it just provides additional framework as to champion accessibility for all when engaging with council services.
Read the councillor questions and answers here:
Why it matters:
The Charter defines sanctuary as safety and protection, and its vision is a place of welcome for all. That includes women and girls who have fled, or are trying to flee violence and abuse.
According to the council's own 2025 – 2028 Community Safety Partnership Plan, 119 high-risk domestic abuse cases were discussed in Folkestone and Hythe alone, with many more low and medium risk cases on top of this figure. Anyone who genuinely wants to keep women safe should be helping implement Sanctuary, not creating additional blockers.
A council which works to make services welcoming for the most vulnerable members of our community, improves these services for everyone.
Read the City of Sanctuary Charter 2026 here:
In summary:
Our district has a long history of welcoming people in need, and many of us are proud of our community character. Supporting those fleeing persecution, or in need of a helping hand when navigating new and often inaccessible services, is supporting our community as a whole.
Struggling residents deserve real answers on housing and the cost of living, not fabricated blame directed at some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
We ask the council to keep the motion and move forwards with putting it into practice.
We stand with sanctuary.
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The Issue
Folkestone & Hythe District Council has voted to work towards becoming a place of Sanctuary and we, the undersigned residents, support that decision & ask the council to stand by it.
It's come to our attention that Reform Councillor David Wimble is lobbying to halt this motion and reverse it. He is encouraging echo chamber theatrics, inciting public outrage through the spreading of misinformation.
As Mr wimble is keen for local residents to be heard, we ask you to sign & share the below petition.
Our voice is clear — we want Folkestone and Hythe to be a place of welcome. We support Sanctuary.
What the motion actually says:
The motion, proposed by Cllr Anita Jones, commits the council to:
- Defend free speech as a British value, while making clear that inciting hatred or violence is a crime.
- Seek recognition as a place of sanctuary.
- Sign up to the City of Sanctuary Charter and its principles and values.
Join the City of Sanctuary local authority network. - Work with partners, community groups and people who have escaped persecution on a timetable and action plan.
- Bring a report on that action plan to Cabinet and Full Council.
- Raise public awareness of the needs of people seeking sanctuary across the district.
You can read the motion and officers' report in full here:
What it doesn't do:
- This motion doesn't change housing rules, benefits or immigration law, and it doesn't move anyone up a waiting list.
- The City of Sanctuary Charter itself is clear that sanctuary status has no influence on who comes to the UK or where people are placed; those decisions are made by central government.
- Nor does the motion commit any spending: any future plan must go through Cabinet and the normal budget process, with proper scrutiny and community engagement.
This motion proposal also didn't come out of nowhere.
It was first raised at Full Council in April 2026, when the Leader said sanctuary principles (a welcoming environment, fair access to services, and working with local partners) closely match how the council already delivers its services — it just provides additional framework as to champion accessibility for all when engaging with council services.
Read the councillor questions and answers here:
Why it matters:
The Charter defines sanctuary as safety and protection, and its vision is a place of welcome for all. That includes women and girls who have fled, or are trying to flee violence and abuse.
According to the council's own 2025 – 2028 Community Safety Partnership Plan, 119 high-risk domestic abuse cases were discussed in Folkestone and Hythe alone, with many more low and medium risk cases on top of this figure. Anyone who genuinely wants to keep women safe should be helping implement Sanctuary, not creating additional blockers.
A council which works to make services welcoming for the most vulnerable members of our community, improves these services for everyone.
Read the City of Sanctuary Charter 2026 here:
In summary:
Our district has a long history of welcoming people in need, and many of us are proud of our community character. Supporting those fleeing persecution, or in need of a helping hand when navigating new and often inaccessible services, is supporting our community as a whole.
Struggling residents deserve real answers on housing and the cost of living, not fabricated blame directed at some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
We ask the council to keep the motion and move forwards with putting it into practice.
We stand with sanctuary.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 12 October 2026