In
determining
member
opinion
about
the
Seafront
Development
the
association
sent out
survey
forms to
gain
responses
as to
how the
committee
should
represent
their
views.
The
responses
were
returned
by 46%
of
members
and thus
may be
taken as
a
representative
set of
views.
The
Remembrance
Line
Association
has
members
within
the town
of
Folkestone
(40%)
and
beyond
its
borders
(60%)
with
many of
the
latter
being
visitors
who have
joined
during
their
visit to
the
town.
This
allows
the
association
to
represents
the
opinions
of both
residents
and
visitors
and the
analysis
has
found
some
differences
between
the two
communities.
The
survey
itself
did not
ask for
names or
addresses
but a
number
were
returned
with
both.
An
interesting
feature
was that
although
some
respondents
classed
themselves
as not
living
in
Folkestone
some did
live in
nearby
towns
such as
Sandgate,
Hythe,
or in
Romney
Marsh
villages.
Some of
those
who
indicated
being a
Folkestone
resident
also
made a
point of
saying
that
they
were
born in
the town
or had
worked
at the
harbour.
14% of
members
have
family
memberships
and the
average
size
those
families
is 2.8
persons.
When
considering
Folkestone
members
the
level of
family
membership
is 19%
so
indicating
that
those
from
outside
of the
town
have a
higher
proportion
of
singular
membership.
We asked
if
members
not only
lived in
the town
but
whether
they
worked
in the
town or
had a
business.
5% of
local
members
who
responded
own
businesses
and a
further
9% were
employed
in the
town.
We asked
members
to place
themselves
in one
of four
age
groups
of “16
and
under”,
“17 –
34”, “35
– 54”
and “55
and
over” so
as to
compare
membership
with
national
demographics.
We found
that in
broad
terms
our
members
were
slightly
older
than the
English
population
demography
in which
the
highest
number
of
people
are
found in
the 30 –
59 years
age
groups.
When
compared
to
income
levels
then
membership
is more
in line
with
those
age
groups
whose
average
earnings
are
higher
than at
younger
ages.
These
proportions
were
about
the same
for both
Folkestone
residents
and
those
living
outside
of the
area.
Reasons
for
joining
the
Association
We asked
members
what
prompted
them to
join the
association.
36%
responded
that it
was
preservation
of the
railway,
35%
indicated
that it
was lead
by the
harbour,
ferries
and
potential
for
coastal
cruise
vessels
and 18%
purely
on the
protection
of
harbour
heritage.
The
remaining
11%
either
didn’t
give a
reason
or wrote
a
sentence
that
gave a
more
personal
reason.
When
looking
at
responses
in terms
of
Folkestone
residents
against
those
living
outside
of the
area the
emphasis
from
residents
was much
higher
toward
the
wider
harbour
and
ferries
and
those
living
outside
the town
being
more
concerned
about
the
railway.
This may
relate
to the
different
associations
by
virtue
of
residence.
The
choice
concerning
the
preservation
of
harbour
heritage
was
virtually
the same
for both
groups.
Connectivity
with
General
Statements
We
wanted
to gauge
opinion
with
regard
to broad
statements
about
their
feelings
associated
with the
seafront
development
as
previously
consulted.
In order
to
include
a degree
of their
feelings
respondents
were
asked to
give a
mark out
of 10
(for
strong
views)
at the
upper
end and
0 (for
few
views)
at the
lower
end.
The 13
statements
and
their
marks
are
shown in
order of
marks
against
a
maximum
mark of
10: -
8.11 “Use
railway
connections
between
the
harbour
and
other
stations”
8.06
“Revitalise
the
harbour
as a
working
harbour”
7.77
“Revitalise
the
harbour
for
shopping
and
other
attractions”
7.75
“Revitalise
the
harbour
as a
lively
and
vibrant
quayside”
6.06
“Create
a
varied
landscape
within
the
seafront/harbour
area”
5.64
“Develop
the
seafront
from
the
harbour
(first)
to
the
coastal
park
(last)”
4.83
“Provide
bus
connections
between
the
harbour
and
mainline
station”
4.76
“Create
a
pedestrian
and
cycle
environment
in
the
harbour
area”
4.12
“Use
a
variety
of
styles
along
the
seafront
and
harbour
areas”
3.30
“Restrict
access
to
the
harbour
area
to
householder’s
cars
only”
2.95
“Develop
the
seafront
from
the
coastal
park
(first)
to
the
harbour
(last)”
2.83
“Use
the
railway
land
as a
green
pedestrian
and
cycle
route”
1.34 “Remove all old buildings and replace with modern
designs”
Those living in Folkestone identified a preference for
development
of the
seafront
from
harbour
to
coastal
park
much
more
strongly
(6.73)
within
the
overall
marks,
those
living
outside
of the
area not
putting
either
option
very
strongly.
Harbour
Area
Facilities
and Use
We asked each member to choose 5 out of a list of 14 options
of
facility
provision.
The
proportion
of
responses
identifying
choice
of a
specific
item is
shown: -
19%
Railway
16%
Cross
Channel
Ferries
15%
Heritage
11%
Coastal
Cruise
Ships
8%
Viewing/Sitting
6%
Eating/Drinking
and
Fishing
(equal)
5%
Shops/Market
4%
Marina
and
Sailing
own
boats
(equal)
2%
Amusements/Fun
and
Arts
–
related
(equal)
0% Jetskis and Windsurfing/Kite-surfing (equal)
The proportion of responses between Folkestone and non-Folkestone
responses
were
generally
in line
with
each
other
with the
exception
of those
living
within
the town
identifying
“Amusement/Fun”
and
“Viewing/Sitting”
slightly
higher
than for
those
living
outside
of the
area who
weighted
their
responses
more
heavily
in the
most
supported
facilities.
Importance
of
Heritage
We asked members what structures were important in terms of
preservation.
To more
accurately
gauge
opinion
we asked
whether
each was
“Essential”,
“Nice to
have”,
“Not
important”.
To bring
this to
a single
statement
“Essential”
was
given a
3 mark,
“Nice to
have” 2
and “Not
Important”
1. If
no
choice
was
shown
then a 0
was
awarded.
Support
for the
structures
is
listed
from
those
considered
as most
important
to least
important
with a
maximum
score
being 3:
-
2.72
The
Viaduct
and
Harbour
Signal
Box
(equal)
2.59
North
End
(1904
era)
station
platforms
and
canopies
2.50
South
End
(1938
–
east
side)
station
platforms
and
canopy
2.46
Harbour
Master’s
House
2.30
Swing
Bridge
2.20
Outer
Pier
Platforms
and
Canopy
2.18
West
Quay
Harbour
Walls
2.17
South
End
(1960
–
west
side)
station
platforms
and
canopy
2.14
WWI
Café
1.98
South
Quay
Harbour
Walls
and
Wooden
Supports
1.76
Tram
Track
in
The
Stade
road
surface
1.74 Bullion Room
The ratings by Folkestone residents and those from outside
of the
town
closely
followed
the same
order
and
would
not
significantly
change
groupings
of
structures.
Potential
Movement
of
Smaller
Structures
In order to produce relevant groupings of heritage the
seafront
may
benefit
from the
movement
of some
smaller
items,
in order
to
assist
in the
preservation
of major
structures
chosen
by
members
as most
important.
We
therefore
asked
members
whether
these
should
remain
in “The
Harbour
Area”
(given a
mark of
3) “Near
the
Harbour”
(given a
mark of
2) or
“Not in
Folkestone”
(given a
mark of
1). If
no
choice
was made
then a
mark of
0 was
given)
Responses to the five items are listed in descending order
with a
maximum
score of
3: -
2.61
Harbour
Signal
Box
2.43
Harbour
Station
(1904
era
Canopies
at
the
north
end
of
the
platforms)
2.31
WWI
Café
1.95
Bullion
Room
1.86 Tram Track in The Stade Road Surface
The first two listed were by far the most important items in
the
minds of
members.
Whether
this is
because
the WWI
Café is
presently
out of
reach,
and thus
out of
mind,
isn’t
certain
and the
Remembrance
Line
Committee
understand
its
importance
to other
heritage
groups
and
wider
local
history.
What
does
seem to
emerge
is the
implied
general
importance
given to
the
various
structures
associated
with the
evolution
of the
world’s
first
international
rail-sea
passenger
service
and,
because
that
happened,
their
later
importance
with
supporting
military
events
in the
early
part of
the 20th
century.
