The Department for Education has confirmed that the Folkestone Free School will open in September 2018 as the successor school to Pent Valley. This announcement delivers on the promise made when it was decided that Pent Valley was to close; that there would be a new school to replace it, on the same site, and […]
This week the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has released a new report following its inspection of the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, which provides mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services as well as other specialist services to 1.7 million people across Kent and Medway. The CQC has been able to report on […]
On Wednesday last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, presented his first budget to the House of Commons. One of the most important measures in the Budget, was the additional £2billion to support social care services; something that will help patients and their families, right across the country. I have written before in […]
The Folkestone Youth Project, better known to its friends and users as The Shed, has been a feature of life in the harbour area of the town since it first opened its doors over ten years ago. The initial idea, which was brought forward by Go Folkestone, was to create a skateboard park in the […]
At the end of last week, the Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter closed for the season, after three months working to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Every night, from the beginning of December through to the end of February it has opened in different church halls across the town providing a […]
The revaluation of Business Rates has provoked considerable interest and concern over recent weeks. This is the first revaluation for seven years, and the new bills are due to be sent out to businesses over the next couple of weeks. The revaluation itself has to be neutral for the government in cash terms; so it […]
On Tuesday this week the government set out its housing strategy in a new white paper, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. At its heart is one simple message; that we need to build a lot more properties both to rent and buy. For decades we have fallen well short of the […]
This week the House of Commons will debate and vote on the necessary legislation to formally begin the process of the United Kingdom exiting the European Union. The Bill that has been presented to parliament gives the authority to the government to trigger the provisions contained within ‘Article 50’ of the Lisbon Treaty. I […]
The Shepway Sports Trust launched its ‘Active 50’ programme, on Friday last week, which has been designed to encourage older members of the community back into sport and physical activity. I was delighted to attend a special event, at the Three Hills Sports centre in Folkestone where people were invited to try out and sign […]
I am determined that we should save the Leas Lift in Folkestone. It is an important part of our heritage, and can play a vital role in the future of the town. With the prospect of working starting in earnest on the redevelopment of the Folkestone seafront, the Leas Lift will be an important connection […]