The rainbow Pride flag, celebrating equality for LGBTQ+ people is flying over County Hall for the whole of June.

This is a Liberal Democrat achievement having been proposed by the Liberal Democrat Group four years ago.

It was accepted by the then Council Chairman on the advice of the council's equalities officer.

Trips up the tower at Old School Mews were a special feature of the Sandgate Sale Safari, Sandgate, Folkestone, which was organised by the Sandgate Society, on Sunday 6 June. And, the first visitors to go up to look out towards Dungeness over Sandgate Castle were Sal Kenward, Chair of the Sandgate Society and Tim Prater, District Councillor for Sandgate and West Folkestone and Chairman of Sandgate Parish Council.

The iconic Leas Lift in Folkestone has applied for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to secure its future. After submitting an initial expression of interest earlier this year, the volunteer-led board of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company CIC have been working hard behind the scenes putting together a comprehensive application with supporting documents to help support their bid.

The first proposed draft boundaries for Folkestone and Hythe constituency are the current Folkestone and Hythe District Council boundary minus Elham Valley (North Downs East and North Downs West wards).

Folkestone and Hythe constituency is currently the full district plus Saxon Shore ward from Ashford BC, but population growth on the electoral roll was always likely to see the constituency at least revert to the District boundary. That there are now too many people in the district to fit in one constituency (on the Government's rules) so a part of the district needs to go to a neighbouring seat.

As a part of a piece of casework for a local resident, I've been on the trail of a missing hedge...

When 7 years ago, Folkestone West Train Station got its shiny new car park by Shorncliffe Road, one of the planning conditions was planting along the new fence by Shorncliffe Road. This would over time soften the border, reduce light spill from the car park, create a habitat, provide more oxygenators, food for animals: all the good things.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council are piloting a park and ride service in Folkestone this summer.

The service - which will be operated by Stagecoach - will run from the Motis Business Centre in Cheriton near J12 of the M20, CT19 4 QJ. Users can enjoy hassle free parking paying just £5 per car to park all day. Shuttle buses will run every 30 minutes between 9am and 6pm to Folkestone Harbour via Folkestone Central Station. The park and ride service will operate every weekend until October and daily from 19 July to 31 August.

Antony Hook has made his first speech to Kent County Counci in his role as Leader of Kent Liberal Democrats.

In his four-minute speech Antony:

• Congratulated members elected to Kent County Council
• Introduced new Liberal Democrats members Mike Sole and Richard Streatfeild
• Called on the council to work together to achieve recovery after the pandemic
• Highlighted the gulf between seats allocated to the Conservatives versus the much smaller share of votes they received from Kent's people
• Set out liberal values that will guide the Liberal Democrat Group - such as belief in the open society with equal opportunity for all
• Called for people to be "liberated from poverty, ignorance and conformity"
• Said he is optimistic about Kent's future
• Called on Kent to become the leading council in the UK for embracing new technology

Antony Hook has been elected as new Leader of Kent Liberal Democrats.

He will lead the Liberal Democrat Group at County Hall and was elected unaniously by Liberal Democrat county councillors.

Antony Hook is 41, married with two daughters and represents Faversham on Kent County Council.

He is fomer Member of the European Parliament for South East England.