Q&A with Tim Prater for Your Shepway

The Q&A below answers questions posed by Your Shepway newspaper (www.yourshepway.co.uk) by James Alexandre from the paper. And yes, Kurt Cobain really DID touch my hand (Reading Festival, 1992).

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

I've been married to Season for over 11 years - we met at Aston University. We have lived in Folkestone & Sandgate since 2003. I run my own web site business and first became a Town Councillor for Cheriton in 2006, elected as both Town and District Councillor for Cheriton in 2007, and won the Folkestone West county seat (which covers Cheriton, Morehall and Sandgate) in June 2009.

2. How did you first become involved in local politics?

I decided at school (MANY years ago now) that I was against what the Conservative Government of Maggie Thatcher was doing, and that if I didn't like it, I should do something about it. I joined the Lib Dems on my 18th birthday, and have been a member ever since - over half my life! I strongly believe that to change things you have to get involved.

3. What is it you most enjoy about being a councillor?

The times that you get results. The days you see a decision changed because of something you said, a pothole fixed because you reported it, a person helped because you discussed it with someone. You don't win everyday, but you keep trying, and the successes are sweet.

4. How significant do you believe the results were at the recent local elections?

In Shepway they showed that people should not be taken for granted. Of the 11 local elections held on 4th June, the Liberal Democrats won 5 of them. Across Kent, the decimation of the Labour Party was incredible - from 20 down to just 2 seats. It's now for the Liberal Democrats as the official opposition at Kent to ensure that the Conservatives are challenged and held to account, and we plan to do so.

5. Who or what would you say is your greatest inspiration?

It depends on what I need to be inspired about! In no particular order: Barack Obama, Lewis Hamilton, David Moyes, Paddy Ashdown, Winston Churchill, Robert Smith (from The Cure), the Gurkha Justice Campaign Team, Season Prater, Steve Redgrave, Martin Johnson, Gandhi, Douglas Adams. I'd guess that's the first and last time those names will appear together in one sentence.

6. What do you think of the commercial, social and cultural life of Shepway?

I think the new life being brought to Folkestone in the Creative Quarter is fantastic, and hope to see much more of that, and especially some moves on the regeneration of the Harbour area. We have a great opportunity to see something new, bold and exciting that really enhances our area - I wish it would get started.

With the multi-cultural festival last weekend (also in Folkestone) we celebrated our diverse population, and I'm particularly proud that we live in an area that so strongly welcomes the Nepali / Gurkha community who I believe are a great asset to the area.

I'm looking forward to the Hevy Music Festival in August, and events like the Folkestone Book Festival and ever increasing HG Wells Festival show the huge wealth of history and talent in the area. Shepway has huge assets as somewhere to visit and enjoy - we need to build on them and make it one of this Country's big destinations: we've so much do be proud of.

7. What do you think the future holds for the district?

I passionately believe in tourism, and making the most of the coastline, natural beauty and creativity locally. The area had a huge part in two world wars, has massive historical assets (from Martello Towers to Roman Villas to Water Lifts) a fantastic location and the sixth continent of the world - Romney Marsh. I think we should be doing much more to make all those things (and much more) the attractions they should be, telling people about them, getting people to visit them, see them and use them, and making our area somewhere we are proud to invite people to visit. There is much to do to get that right, and its frustrating where you see it being done badly, but the opportunities are huge.

8. How can people get in contact with you and find out what you do?

Lots of ways - I try to be as open to contact as I can be! I've got a web site at www.prater.org.uk and am on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timprater. Locally we keep in touch with local residents via email newsletters and leaflets through the door, and I'm happy to here from people by phone (01303 210300) and email (tim@shepwaylibdems.org.uk) too.

9. What do you like to do in your spare time when you're not working?

I like to go for a drink with my wife - it gives us a chance to catch up on the day as we're generally both quite busy! Watching football (Everton and England in particular, Rugby, F1, seeing friends and family, the occasional gig or comedy night.

10. Tell me something that people don't tend to know about you.

I went to the same Secondary School as Ross Kemp (he went before me!), I'm an Everton fan (since the age of 5 - blame my then best friend!) and Kurt Cobain once touched my left hand.