This Wednesday in parliament we debated some of the issues around
traveller sites and temporary camps established without permission.
This is an issue which can arrouse strong feelings and has been a
particular recent concern to residents and businesses near to Park
Farm and Shearway Business Park in Folkestone. I believe that we have
to consider reviewing the law in this matter, as their would seem to
be large loopholes which are being exploited. For example, even when a
traveller site has been created, without any permission having been
granted, it can take months to establish whether or not the people on
the site are allowed to be there or not. Often sites will have been
carefully selected by travellers, like on roadsites or laybys, where
there may be some uncertainty as to who the landowner is, and it make
take sometime to establish this.
I think we should consider turning this around. Rather than the
authorities having to prove that a traveller camp doesn’t have
permission to be established where it has been, the travellers should
have to prove that they do have the right to be there, or otherwise be
moved on straight away.
Last Friday I joined Captain Matt Clifton at the Salvation Army in
Folkestone for the breakfast club they run every morning. As well as
meeting some of the helpers and guests, I was able to hear more about
their work in the community. Matt and his family will shortly be
moving to a new posting in Maidstone and I know they will be greatly
missed by all their friends here.
Later that day I held the first of my new monthly business surgeries
at the Channel Chamber of Commerce’s offices on the Shearway Business
Park in Folkestone. The idea of the surgeries is to discuss specific
issues being faced by the local business community. These can include
measures that the Government is taking to support business, like for
example cutting the rate for small and larger businesses, as well as
local issues like parking or training for young people. We had a full
surgery and I’m looking forward to the next one on 1st October.
Following that I met with Catch 22 at South Kent College in
Folkestone. This organisation works with young people in Kent, and
across the country, between the ages of 16 and 24, many of whom will
have had a difficult childhood and may have been in care. Their work
helps them to start to fulfill their potential in education or
training for work. It also helps vulnerable young people to find
accomodation and apply for a home of their own. There is often help
and new opportunity available to people but the process of accessing
it can sometimes be complex and somewhat baffling. There is a real
need for organisations that can help people through this, as they get
back on their feet. If you would like to find out more about Catch 22
and the services they provide, you can visit their website on
www.catch-22.org.uk.