Article For Folkestone Herald and Kentish Express

27 December 2004

The end of a year is always a time for stock taking and I hope that we all start the New Year in a spirit of optimism and expectation.

So far as 2004 is concerned, I think that Shepway has moved forward in a number of very important respects.

The regeneration of Folkestone, now greatly assisted by the involvement of Roger de Haan, is moving forward apace. I hope the results will begin to be visible very soon.

The Shepway Business Forum which I have the privilege of chairing has made an impressive start and is now working actively with the District Council to promote business activity in the area.

The Folkestone Youth Project which I also Chair has now got a home and we will shortly be setting about deciding what facilities will be most attractive to our young people of the area in consultation with them.

Folkestone Academy is awaiting planning permission. Although some aspects of its design are very controversial, I was very pleased to be able to arrange a meeting between the local action group and Kent County Council planning committee. I believe that the academy will be a considerable addition to Folkestone’s educational provision.

Both these projects have benefited hugely from the involvement of Roger de Haan and we are fortunate within our community to have a benefactor who was prepared to contribute so much to the area.

There have been developments to outside Folkestone. The establishment of the new Rehabilitation Unit at the Romney Marsh Day Centre which I opened in September is a very welcome facility which will make a great difference to the quality of life for so many people in Romney Marsh.

2004 was also the year in which, at long last, a firm date was set for the installation of mains drainage in New Romney – again something I had been pushing for for a long time.

2004 was also noticeable for some local political developments. I was very encouraged by the response to my petition to keep Shepway toilets open. This was a tremendous example of people power leading to a complete u-turn on the part of the former Lib Dem administration at Shepway District Council and soon afterwards to their loss of office and replacement by a Conservative administration .

I hope that foolish decisions of that kind are now behind us once and for all.

2004 was in many ways a year of solid achievement for the area. I look forward to 2005 with growing excitement. Sandra and I wish all my constituents a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.