When there are difficult economic challenges, at home as well as across Europe we need to be working hard to make sure we are as competitive as possible. For MPs, the country council and the other local authorities, that means supporting our business community to try and bring external investment to our area, rather than […]
The House of Commons returned from the Christmas recess on Monday and the following day we were straight into one of the main topics of concern; the future of support for people to find work and also those living on benefits. In 2012 I had meetings with the team at the Folkestone Job Centre, Avanta, […]
Happy New Year! Now that the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over and we are back to work, we tend to look forward to the challenges in front of us, rather than back on the recent festivities. 2012 was a tough year for the economy, but also a year of national triumph and celebration […]
I hope you've had an excellent Christmas and the chance to enjoy one of the many local events on Boxing Day. From sporting occasions like the Hythe Town versus Folkestone Invicta football match, the Saltwood Boxing Day run and the East Kent hunt meeting in Elham; to events that raise money for good causes like […]
We are all aware that there are still issues to be resolved following the international banking crisis. Bank customers have approached me with problems they have had, both with business and personal accounts, and on a number of occasions we have been able to successfully resolve them. I have also met regularly with some of […]
I was in the House of Commons last Wednesday to cheer the news that the 3p increase in petrol duty proposed for January has been scrapped. Petrol is now 10p a litre cheaper than it would have been under the plans set out before the last general election; this is important for the many families […]
The nuclear decommissioning programme at Dungeness A station received a boost last week, in a move which will bring in millions of pounds of investment and create new jobs. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has granted over £12million to bring forward the clearance of the land to the south of the reactor buildings. This phase of […]
This week saw the official launch of the ‘Grow for it’ campaign to promote business investment across East Kent. The campaign will include events, bus tours and an advertising and marketing campaign all designed to boost awareness of the business investment opportunities in our area. The ‘Grow for it’ campaign features many local business people, […]
The meeting at The Grand on Monday night of town centre traders from Folkestone showed the strength of feeling and concern over the parking strategy. Shepway Council has recently taken steps to promote the town to shoppers and visitors by making parking free in the weekends leading up to Christmas. The price to park for […]
Strong concerns have been raised by businesses in the centre of Folkestone about declining sales in the two months since the new parking restrictions came into place. I share these concerns and any reports that suggest local businesses are struggling have to be treated as very serious. Some businesses in the Bouverie Place shopping centre […]