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.
Kent County Council are issuing regular snow and road condition updates by area - this mornings update advises that Shepway has a "Snow Emergency in place". Update in full:
This Wednesday 1 December starting at 7pm at Quarterhouse, Tontine Street, celebrity guest auctioneer Michael Hogben will be hosting the Town Mayor of Folkestone's Christmas Charity Auction. With 32 lots of art donated from artists across the area, the auction is a great opportunity to pick up a work of art and support the Mayors Charities - B-4-8s and the Rainbow Centre.
Registration is now open for spring federal conference 2011 and members can enjoy a couple of great early bird offers.
Dog fouling on pavements and highways are often raised as an issue by Shepway residents. At a recent meeting of Shepway Council's Corporate Scrutiny Committee, questions were asked about the number of enforcement officers employed and penalty notices issued for Dog Fouling. There is one Dog Warden, and three fixed penalty notices have been issued in the last 12 months, with no prosecutions.
Kent County Council Cabinet member for Highways, Nick Chard, has announced the 3 companies to make the final shortlist for the Kent highway Services "Term Maintenance Contract". The final three are:
An update from Kent County Council: Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, has confirmed the government intends to clarify how the law on bias applies to local councillors in the forthcoming Localism Bill. Mr Pickles has indicated that the Bill will:
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 |
Tim works hard for our area all year around, not just at election time.
He also keeps in touch with what he is doing via:
