The historic Folkestone Leas lift will be running a winter service commencing on Thursday 4th November 2010. The lift will continue to run every week weather permitting, following its successful re-opening this year by a community interest company.
Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne announced today that by 2015 up to 100,000 Green Deal workers could be employed in the effort to upgrade and insulate Britain's homes. The Green Deal, a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment, is the Government's new and radical way of making energy efficiency available to all, whether people own or rent their property.
Lib Dem County Councillor Tim Prater has slammed suggestions on the BBC website that cross-Channel swims from the UK to France should be banned as "barmy". A BBC report at http://tinyurl.com/2undlgs says that the French coastguard is calling for swimmers to be banned from crossing the Channel from Dover to Calais.
Hosting an event is so totally different from being a guest. It is difficult to greet the visitors, engage them in the plan for the afternoon and answer all the questions that need answering from the people helping and supporting. Having said all that, the afternoon at St George's Church in Audley Road, Morehall was a great success.
As National Adoption Week 2010 kicks off on Monday (1 November), Kent County Council is looking for people to provide loving and permanent homes for children.
The Government has announced that it has asked a new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) covering "Kent, Great Essex and East Sussex" to come forward with firm proposals as one of 24 bids asked to progress their bids today. Kent County Council Tim Prater has expressed surprise that the proposals for a Kent and Medway LEP favoured by many local Councils and an Kent and Essex LEP promoted by Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter seem to have been rejected for the three county "Super-LEP".
"The package averages out at over £330m a year - more than double the subsidy paid to the Post Office for the past two years. A large proportion of the last Government's funding was spent on closing post offices. Our strategy is completely different - it addresses the underlying economics of the network, while maintaining its size and reach."
Lib Dem Tim Prater has lobbied the Government on Business Rates. At the recent Lib Dem conference, Tim spoke with Government Minister Andrew Stunell. He asked him to return the control of Business Rates to local councils. Currently the rates paid by businesses are collected by local councils and then forwarded on to the Government. Some money is then returned to the local councils.
Today we are taking a key step on the road to a more prosperous, fairer and greener Britain. We've announced support for wind turbine manufacture at Britain's ports - opening the way to a major expansion of the country's offshore wind industry.
Kent County Council have announced that repair and refurbishment works at the Ross Way Folkestone Household Waste Recycling Centre are largely complete & the centre will re-open on 1st November.
County Councillor Tim Prater is a member of Kent's Renewable Energy Select Committee. The committee has investigated how Kent can get the best from renewable energy, such as solar panels, for local residents.
Vince Cable has been on Radio 4 this morning outlining plans being brought forward by Lib Dem Government Minister Steve Webb to introduce a universal State Pension of £140 to all those of pensionable age, regardless of previous contributions.
