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 […]
‘Art Buff’, the mural created for Folkestone by the internationally renowned artist Banksy is to return to the town. This is excellent news and our thanks are due to Sir Roger De Haan and the Creative Foundation for their tenacious legal battle to secure its future. Last year when the work was created by Banksy […]
Britain has a proud tradition in providing a home for genuine asylum seekers and refugees, and delivering international aid around the world. According to the Red Cross, last year 126,000 refugees were living in the UK and more than 30,000 people entered the asylum system, seeking asylum in this country. According to figures from the […]