News

The Gazette has been sent a 'Notice of Intent' for planning permission to turn a store in Bouverie Place, Folkestone into the latest branch of an expanding chain of adult stores.

It says, following the success recent of pilot trials of adult goods in selected stores in the UK we have decided to submit for permission to open an over 18 store in this successful Folkestone shopping destination.'

However it soon became apparent all was not as it seemed when the following response signed by Mrs Barbara No arrived: 'Just got this flyer am disgusted about this we intend to fight against this sort of thing happening in Folkestone. No one should have fun in Folkestone and that's final.'

Glamourwear shop owner Sue Shepherd then came forward and admitted it was just an April Fools joke but one where a serious point is being made.

Sue said: "The joke was made to satirize what's going on in the town.

"As an independent shopkeeper watching that grey ugly fortress rise up from the concrete we knew a carbuncle had arrived.

"This centre could be anywhere from small town America to Bolton with dull boring multinational chain stores to match. And when the Folkestone Herald ran a story about a pensioner complaining about adult products being sold in a store in the centre, we could only laugh about a once proud town being led by the prudish old people but populated by young single parent families.

"It's about time we celebrated quality independent stores like Lacies Glamourwear shop in the Dover Road and many others thriving amidst the carnage that are our town centres. Carving a niche of great British hand made products such as Brighton made Corsetry from traditional Axfords designers.

"That's what we should be promoting no, no, no nimbyism and decline there are independent shops in this town and they should be promoted over tacky discount stores."