Article For Folkestone Herald and Kentish Express

20 December 2004

Last Friday, I had a meeting at Eurotunnel to discuss their new Truck Shuttle Strategy which is due to come into force in the New Year.

This new strategy could lead to a significant number of lorries having to wait for hours before they can cross the Channel. This is only likely to be a problem when ferries cannot operate but as we know from Operation Stack these difficulties occur far too often.

I am concerned about these proposals and am in touch with the police and Highways Authority to make sure they are kept to an absolute minimum. The waiting lorries are not to be allowed to wait at the Eurotunnel terminal and it would be quite unacceptable for them to clog up any residential areas while they are waiting. I shall be vigilant in my efforts to ensure this does not happen.

Next I had a meeting with Andrew Goodsell, the Chief Executive of Saga to discuss their future plans. We are of course extremely fortunate to have such a world beating business as the major employer in the area. Mr Goodsell assured me that he was optimistic about Saga’s future. That was very encouraging given the importance of the company to our local economy.

On Friday afternoon I attended the prizegiving at Harvey Grammar School when Headteacher, Keith Rivers reported on another year of great achievement for the school. We heard an excellent address from Allan Willett, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent who presented the prizes. I have always made it clear that I am totally committed to the continuation of Folkestone Grammar Schools. Long may they flourish.

On Saturday evening Sandra and I attended the Christmas Concert of the Folkestone Orchestral Society. The orchestra gave a wonderful performance of music by Tchaikovsky including the Nutcracker Suite and the Fourth Symphony. It was greatly appreciated by a very large audience.

In Parliament we had the announcement by the defence Secretary of the cuts he is proposing to make to the size of the army. Happily it did not involve the rumoured cuts in the Gurkhas but it still seems to me to be the wrong thing to do in a very uncertain and insecure world. A Conservative Government would not reduce the size of the army. We think Britain’s armed forces are one of the country’s greatest assets which should be enhanced rather than diminished and we would not implement these cuts.

I hope that by the time you read this we shall have had the statement from the Secretary of State for Transport about the high speed rail link. As you know I have been pressing for this for a very long time. Repeated promises have been made to the effect that an announcement is imminent. It is about time those promises were met.

Finally, Sandra joins me in wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas.