Improving the number and quality of new houses is one of the most important challenges we face. If we are going to meet the government’s target of building 200,000 new properties a year, radical new ways of designing and delivering new homes will be required. Great progress has been made since the recession to increase […]
On Monday this week I spoke in the debate in the House of Commons on the Housing and Planning Bill, which has been introduced by the government to improve the supply of affordable homes to rent and buy, as well as giving councils new powers to tackle rogue landlords. You can read my full speech […]
Last week the state visit of President Xi Jinping of China heralded a series of announcements of investments from that country into Britain, totalling over £30billion. One of the most significant of these agreements was the decision of the China General Nuclear Power Corporation to invest in the building of the new nuclear power station […]
The large numbers of migrants in the Calais ‘jungle’ camp have been causing major disturbances to services through the Channel Tunnel in recent days. This has involved hundreds of migrants charging the perimeter fencing and gaining access to the tracks; actions that not only endanger their lives, but those of other people as well. This […]
Last week Folkestone was hailed by the government as one of the ‘rising stars’ of town centre regeneration in England because of the “great strides made in improving their local high street”. It was one of ten runners up from across the country in the Great British High Streets competition, which is not bad going. […]
On Friday last week, I was delighted to welcome back to Folkestone, Tracey Crouch, the Minister for Sport, who went to school in the town. We visited the Folkestone Sports Centre and the Three Hills Sports complex on Cheriton Road. The Shepway Sports Trust also gave a presentation on their work across the district to improve the rates […]
Long-term solutions to Operation Stack are expected to be proposed in a matter of weeks. Recommendations are due to be published “in the next few weeks” following a summer of negotiations, Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins said. It follows more misery for people in Hawkinge and other areas, with HGVs parking in residential areas, […]
Folkestone's Gurkha memorial statue was unveiled by Joanna Lumley on Sunday in glorious autumn sunshine, with Sujata Koirala, the First Lady of Nepal and leader of the Nepali Congress, also amongst a number of distinguished guests. The statue which stands in the town's Garden of Remembrance was sculpted by Rebecca Hawkins who was also present […]
The Rugby World Cup has captured the imagination of sports fans across the country. More people than ever before have bought tickets to watch the matches, and the games themselves have received the largest television audience in World Cup history. Whilst it is great for rugby fans that England is hosting the tournament the real […]
Last Friday I performed the official opening of the Folkestone Pop-up Shop in Guildhall Street. This idea has been taken forward by Ray Johnson and the Folkestone Town Team, and is an innovative way to get empty shops back into use and help new businesses to start trading on the high street. The Pop-up shop […]