The Queen used her message this Christmas to ask us to draw on the inspiration of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes as we face the challenges of the year ahead. She also highlighted the importance of the ‘small acts of goodness’ we can commit to everyday, and cited the word of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, saying: ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’ These are powerful and important messages to remember as this year of great political change and upheaval draws to a close. We may not hold the power to direct all of the affairs of the world as we would wish to, but in what we do everyday, we can be the change we want to see.
Whilst the political year of 2016 will be remembered for the EU referendum, the change of government in Britain, and the election of Donald Trump to the America Presidency, it has also been a year when we have lost many much loved artists and performers; from David Bowie in January, to George Michael on Christmas Day. George Michael’s life has now fallen into a new perspective, as many of his great acts of private philanthropy can now be disclosed. His personal financial support for many good causes was given on the strict condition of confidentiality. Another example of how personal acts of goodness can change lives. Throughout 2016, I have seen so much of this work in our area, often being carried out by volunteers. At this time of year, we think particularly of the work of the Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter, the hundreds of parents and coaches who brave cold and muddy pitches to run sporting events for children, and the important work of our local charities, like the Shepway Volunteer Centre.
In 2016 we have also seen welcome progress in important large projects that will benefit our district. There has been the successful completion of the £40million investment to re-open the Dover to Folkestone railway line, including a new viaduct and sea defences to protect the track. The Environment Agency completed this year its £30million project to build new coastal flood defences at Broomhill Sands and Jury’s Gap, that will held to defend the Romney Marsh area. In February, Eurotunnel completed a major investment in its freight handling terminal near to Folkestone, and the progress made by Highways England with the design of the Operation Stack relief lorry park, will help to deliver the robust infrastructure we need to deal with the growing numbers of lorries on our roads. The support from the government too, for the proposal from Shepway District Council to create a new garden town at Otterpool, to the south of junction 11 of the M20, has the potential to bring in major investment into our district over the next 30 years.
Finally, looking back at 2016 we should remember celebrating the success of our local Olympians and Paralympians at the games in Rio, and raising a cheer to Folkestone Invicata for winning the Ryman League South championship.