The updated framework masterplan for the Otterpool Park garden town development was published before Easter and can be viewed on the website www.otterpoolpark.org. This scheme is an opportunity to provide needed new housing to our area, and in particular to create more affordable homes for people to rent and buy. The development will bring investment […]
Last Tuesday the Department for Health and Social Care, and Health Education England announced that it had approved the joint bid by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University to create Kent’s first ever medical school. This new facility will bring together the existing centres at the two universities with our local healthcare […]
On Tuesday this week the Chancellor, Philip Hammond delivered his spring statement. Now that the government's annual Budget has been moved to the autumn, this statement is not looking to raise or cuts taxes, rather to give an overview on the strength of the economy, and plans for future government spending. At the time of […]
The severe winter weather of last week put a great strain on the public infrastructure that we rely on every day. This kind of weather is an exception in Kent, but causes considerable disruption when it comes. I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to try and support people through the snow and […]
There has been increased focus on the Brexit negotiations this week, and whether or not Britain should remain a member of either the European Single Market or the Customs Union, after we leave the European Union in March 2019. These discussions are of particular importance to everyone who lives and works in Kent, because we […]
For the last twelve years I have been pleased to serve as a trustee of the Folkestone Youth Project and to support the work delivered by its committed team of youth workers, led by Ruth Tyler. The Youth Project developed a strong following particularly among young people living in the eastern part of Folkestone and […]
For residents who live in and around Lydd, shingle extraction by the large aggregates companies has been a fact of life for many years. The process creates and sustains jobs, and provides necessary materials for flood defence work all along the Romney Marsh coast. It is also vital to supporting the building industry, and therefore […]
The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, suggested last week at the summit meeting between the Governments of the United Kingdom and France, that consideration should be given to the construction of a new channel crossing. As at Dartford, he has suggested that we should have a Channel Bridge, as well as a Channel Tunnel, although bridging […]
Last Friday I met with Edna Delaney and members of the team at the Romney Resource Centre, in Mountfield Road, New Romney. The Centre provides training opportunities for people from across Romney Marsh, and further afield. There is a growing recognition of the quality of the work they do, and it is excellent that we […]
We’ve had a full blast of winter weather since the start of the year, with Storm Eleanor in particular, causing damage across Kent, and leaving many homes in New Romney without electricity. I would like to thank all those who worked so hard to deal with the disruption caused by the storm. The winter also […]