Conservatives need to listen to referendum results and act

Last Thursday the people of Sandgate felt sufficiently annoyed with their 'Mayor' and Councillors to deliver a landslide decision, in a poll, to change their Town Council back to a Parish Council. I congratulate them in delivering such an overwhelming statement of their feelings to the Council.

Over the past few years, I've been both the Mayor of Hythe and the Chairman of Saltwood Parish Council. Town or Parish status really should make no difference to how your Council is treated: what makes a difference is how it is run and what you are seen to be doing. It's not what you are, it's what you do.

I have also noted how the local Tories have urged Sandgate Councillors to action the outcome of the Sandgate poll. I hope the Tories continue in this manner when they consider the planning applications to extend and expand Lydd Airport. The people have voted overwhelmingly to oppose any such expansion - in TWO local polls. We shall see.