Shepway District Council is starting its community consultation on the proposed development of the Otterpool Garden town, with public events in Sellindge and Hythe on Thursday this week. You can find the times and dates for the full series of events on the council’s website. Whatever you have heard about the proposals, I would urge […]
On Wednesday last week the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, presented the Autumn Statement to parliament, and with it his first detailed analysis, setting out his priorities for public spending and investment in the economy. It’s clear that spending on infrastructure and new homes will be his main focus. Locally and nationally, we need […]
On Monday this week I met with the Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP, and senior management from Network Rail and South Eastern trains, to discuss future investment for our region. The success of the High Speed rail link is clear for all to see, but one of the consequences of this is overcrowding. We need […]
The Government has announced its support for the expression of interest put forward by Shepway District Council, for the development of a garden town at Otterpool, the area to the south of junction 11 of the M20 motorway. This development could include up to 12,000 new homes, with starter homes, homes to rent and larger […]
Last week, along with a delegation of MPs from across Kent, I met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, at Number 11 Downing Street to discuss future investment in road infrastructure in Kent. In the government’s autumn statement last year, George Osborne awarded the £250million required to deliver the Operation Stack relief lorry […]
In two weeks time, on Thursday 10th November, I’ll be hosting my fourth annual jobs fair at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone. The event will start at 10am and run until 3pm. I am grateful as well for the support the jobs fair has received from Shepway District Council, and local employers including Border […]
The Calais Jungle camp has been constantly in our local and national news since it became established on its current site in the spring of 2015. However, there have been camps like it in the past, and whilst the Calais Jungle now faces imminent demolition, there will be concerns that the people living within it, […]
Housing is one of the biggest issues we face today. We need more affordable homes for people to buy and rent. There has been a failure in the housing market that means the lack of available properties has pushed up prices and rents. That means today, that many people on lower wages pay a greater […]
Last Friday I visited the Calais Jungle migrant camp, along with Jo Strickland, a Folkestone based businesswoman who has also, over the past year, worked there as a volunteer. The camp is currently home to around 10,000 migrants, although no-one knows the exact number for certain. They have journeyed from across the world, from Afghanistan, […]
The recent decision by the government to press ahead with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset is good news for the future of the whole of the industry in the UK. The construction is an £18billion investment in the Britain’s energy market, creating 25,000 jobs. The completed station […]