The large number of local events and festivals over the summer months provide entertaining things to do, and are often a welcome distraction during the long school holidays. These events, like the Sandgate Sea Festival, the Hythe festival and the harbour festivals in Folkestone, and the Dymchurch Day of Syn, are also though a reminder […]
For many students and their families, as well as teachers, August can be the most nerve-racking of months as they await the news of exam results. Last week we had the results for A levels, AS’s and B-TEC’s and this week students will receive their GCSE results. I know how much hard work goes into […]
I am organising my second Folkestone Jobs Fair at The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone on Thursday 6th November to put people looking for work, in touch with the local firms who have vacancies to fill. New jobs and apprenticeships are being created, both locally and across the region every week. Shepway has many growing businesses, […]
A serious report has been published this week by the Care Quality Commission which is highly critical of the hospitals in East Kent; including the Kent and Canterbury and William Harvey Hospitals. It is essential that we have a rigorous system of hospital inspections so that problems can be identified and addressed. Patients and their families […]
On 4th August Folkestone showed just how much the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War means. Thousands of people turned out for the visit of Prince Harry to dedicate the Step Short memorial arch during the day, and at night thousands more were on The Leas for the torchlight procession and two […]
The life of our coastal communities comes from the sea. People have been fishing for food off the Kent coast for thousands of years and will still be doing so long after we have all gone. Our fishing businesses are not just part of our local economy, but are at its heart. Last Saturday I was delighted […]
The Minister for the Armed Forces, Mark Francois MP, visited Folkestone last Friday to see the progress being made on the Step Short, First World War Centenary memorial arch on The Leas. The project manager, Oly Barratt from Lend Lease, and the team from Folkestone based Walker’s Construction, have been working hard to put the […]
Our local NHS is changing, and thanks to additional funding for GPs in Folkestone from the Prime Minister’s challenge fund, that will mean an extended out of hours services. Last week I discussed these changes with Dr Darren Cocker, who is the clinical chair of the South Kent Coast commissioning group. GPs in Folkestone and […]
Having a long term plan for our economy, does not just mean getting the decisions right today on investment and cutting taxes, but also thinking ahead about the infrastructure we will need in the future. We are seeing a real benefit today from the High Speed Rail service from Kent to London, and the Folkestone […]
The memorial arch to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War was put in place on Thursday last week, and it makes a striking addition to the Folkestone skyline. The location of the arch is very fitting, standing overlooking the harbour where the ships waited to take millions of soldiers to […]