Tim has lived and worked in Sandgate (on Sandgate High Street) since 2004.
A trustee of the Sandgate Heritage Trust, Secretary of the Sandgate Members Club, Treasurer and Trustee of the Chichester Memorial Hall, former Trustee of the Gurkha Memorial Fund and former Governor of St Martin's School, and current Sandgate Speedwatch volunteer, Tim knows and works for the area!
Tim is honoured and delighted to have been elected as:
In May 2025 Tim won the Kent County Council seat from the Conservatives. He was the only non-Reform Councillor elected that day anywhere in Folkestone & Hythe, Dover & Deal, Ashford or Thanet.
In May 2023 Tim was re-elected to all the above town and district seats for four more years. At the District Council AGM on 24th May 2023, he became Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance.
Previously, Tim has served on Folkestone Town Councillor for Cheriton from 2006-2011, and Shepway District Councillor for Cheriton from 2007-2011, Kent County Councillor for Folkestone West from 2009-2013. He has sat on Sandgate Parish Council for Sandgate Village since 2011, was the Vice Chair of Sandgate Parish Council from 2018-2020 and Chair from 2020 to date.
Contact Tim by email to tim@prater.uk, call 07956 276118 or write to 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY. As a District Councillor he runs monthly surgeries at the 1st Sandgate Farmers and Makers Market of every month at the Chichester Hall, 70 Sandgate High Street from 11am-12.30pm (and has each month since election in 2019). No appointment needed: just turn up.
Tests on bathing water quality at the end of June 2011 by the Environment Agency on all Kent beaches have shown Sandgate beach has amongst the best bathing water quality in the county. Other beaches in Shepway also scored well.
Eight consecutive weekly water quality tests on Sandgate beach, Kent, carried out by the Environment Agency to check compliance with standards set in the Bathing Water Directive since 4th May have shown that the water had 'Two thumbs up'. The water quality in the sample met the Directive's most stringent Guideline standards.
Following the creation of a successful community fuel-buying consortium by the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, Action with Communities in Rural Kent are looking to see if there would be interest in setting up something similar in parts of rural Kent not already served by local fuel-buying consortia.
Kent County Council is to close a section of Sandgate Road, Folkestone, from Monday while it investigates why the road has collapsed twice in recent days.
The Folkestone Sports Centre Trust is delighted that Folkestone Sports Centre finally has a new look and a great future ahead. They would like to share their increased footfall with you, by giving you the opportunity to promote your business within the Centre.
Kent Forum are asking Kent residents, groups and agencies to help shape public services in the county by giving your opinions on the priorities for Kent, as set out in the new Vision for Kent 2011-2021.
Sign up to receive regular Councillor Updates from Tim Prater and the Lib Dem Councillor team in Folkestone & Hythe. It's fast and free! This will sign you up only to local news from the area, NOT campaigns and campaigning events. To receive everything, including local news AND campaigning updates from the Lib Dems (still free!) sign up at https://www.fhld.uk/sign-up-for-updates
Tim's Council Record of Service
| Council | Seat | Dates | Years |
| Kent County Council | Folkestone West | 2009-2013 | 4 |
| Kent County Council | Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East | 2025- | |
| Shepway District Council | Cheriton | 2007-2011 | 4 |
| Folkestone and Hythe District Council | Sandgate & West Folkestone | 2019- | 6 |
| Sandgate Parish Council | Sandgate Village | 2011- | 14 |
| Folkestone Town Council | Cheriton | 2006-2011 | 5 |
| Folkestone Town Council | Folkestone Harvey West | 2019- | 6 |
| Hythe Town Council | Hythe East | 2019- | 6 |
| 45 |
