Since the beginning of October residents in Folkestone have been able to access new out of hours NHS services through the Royal Victoria Hospital. These new services include a minor injuries unit, focusing on treatments for suspected fractures of arms or lower legs, cuts, minor burns, and bites and stings, for everyone aged 12 months […]
The local economy is much stronger now than four years ago, and unemployment is 40 per cent below the rate in 2010. I want to see this progress continue by making sure that we are doing all we can to support the growth of local businesses, and by helping people who are looking for work […]
Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport joined me in Folkestone last week for a guided tour of the Triennial Arts exhibition, with Roger De Haan and the Creative Foundation’s chief executive, Alastair Upton. We visited a number of the most popular works including the new Payers Park by the London […]
My motivation for getting involved in politics was to use the position of being Member of Parliament to work to help everyone have the chance to achieve what they want to in life. At the last general election four years ago, the greatest threat to the opportunities people wanted to pursue was the weak state of the […]
On Wednesday morning this week I met with Greg Dyke the Chairman of the Football Association, to discuss his new report on investment in grassroots sport in England. In particular he is calling for more investment in all weather artificial pitches and for councils who no longer wish to maintain local sporting facilities to transfer them […]
When the internationally renowned artist Banksy recently placed one of his works (worth an estimated £400,000) on a wall at Clacton on Sea it was scrubbed off by the council. Yet the appearance of one of his distinctive paintings in Folkestone produced an entirely different response. Banksy's painting near Payers Park, was instantly protected by the council. People […]
I was shocked to be told last week that 130 people currently being held in the asylum system were being placed in the Grand Burstin hotel in Folkestone. Like Shepway Council I had not been given any notice of this decision until after it had been made and the people concerned were already on their way […]
Like most residents I was extremely concerned to be told on Tuesday afternoon that 130 people currently being held in the asylum system were on their way to Folkestone and would be staying at the Grand Burstin hotel. Along with the chief executive of Shepway District Council I have sought information from the Home Office […]
Prince Harry’s visit to Folkestone to open the Step Short, First World War centenary memorial arch, was a day that the whole town and district could be proud of. It was highly appropriate as well that the parade of soldiers on that day from our local infantry regiment, the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, was […]
The Folkestone Triennial is here again and at the launch last week it was confirmed that Yoko Ono, one of the exhibiting artists, will be visiting the town in a few weeks’ time, and that she is particularly keen to see the Step Short memorial arch on The Leas, which was opened by Prince Harry […]