Article For Folkestone Herald and Kentish Express

27 October 2005

There was understandable concern last week at the news that Eurotunnel is to make about 900 of its employees redundant. The redundancies are to split evenly between Folkestone and Calais and, crucially, there are to be no compulsory redundancies.

I spoke on Friday morning to the company’s Head of Human Resources and also to the Regional Organiser of the Transport and General Workers’ Union. On Saturday I spoke to the Chairman of the employers’ representative body. They all assured me that a great deal was being done to help those who were leaving by way of advice or retraining and other opportunities. If anyone thinks I can help, I am more than willing to do so. Please phone 01303-253524 for an appointment.

Later on Friday I went to New Romney for the launch of the Romney Resource Business Training Centre. This will provide a range of courses for people of all ages on the Marsh. It is clearly proving very popular and I was able to present some of those who have done well with certificates.

Next stop was a meeting with the Chief Executive of SEEDA to discuss various ways in which the Agency can help Shepway. There are some interesting suggestions for a big Lottery bid which, if successful, could make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Folkestone.

Then, after an interview for a new magazine, I went to Club Indigo to take part in a ceremony to celebrate safer socialising and present certificates to those who have won awards. It is obviously very important that everyone plays their part in reaching the right balance between having a good time and enjoying a drink and making a nuisance of yourself by drinking to excess and behaving in an unacceptable fashion. These awards will help.

In the evening I attended a dinner at the East Cliff Pavilion at which Go Folkestone was honouring their outgoing Chairman, Phil Carter. Philip was the founding Chairman of Go Folkestone which has proved such a valuable catalyst in so many developments in the area. 

Trafalgar celebrations continued over the weekend. Sandra and I enjoyed the Lord Lieutenant’s Trafalgar Ball at the Leas Cliff Hall on Saturday night and were privileged to be at the commemorative service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday afternoon.

Finally, congratulations to Folkestone Invicta on reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup. I hope to be at Chester on November 5th for what I hope will be a truly memorable Guy Fawkes Day!