A press release from Shepway Council has confirmed that the Shepway Cabinet have thought again following opposition to plans to immediately close the historic Folkestone Leas Lift from local campaigners and the Council's Corporate Scrutiny Committee.
In 2008, the Highways Agency installed an expensive "quick moveable barrier" on the M20 to deal with Operation Stack problems.
Shepway Councillor Tim Prater has written to the Highways Agency this afternoon to ask why the new "moveable barrier" between junctions 11 and 12 of the M20 has not been deployed, despite Phase 2 of Operation Stack being implemented.
Shepway District Council is consulting local businesses and local residents on the proposed introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone in Folkestone West. The proposals would introduce paid parking permits costing £25 per car for households in affected areas near Folkestone West train station.
I would be really grateful if you would put some serious consideration into continuing operation of the Leas Lift while negotiating with the Radnor Estate to establish a new leaseholder, which will hopefully be Shepway District Council.
Shepway Council Leader Robert Bliss is sending out a letter to people writing to him calling on the Cabinet to ensure at their 15th April meeting that the Council keeps the Folkestone Leas Lift running.
Local Lib Dem campaigner Gary Fuller, during a recent walk through streets in the West End of Folkestone between the Town Centre and Sandgate, was saddened to discover that an area filled with some of the most beautifully pristine properties in the town is blighted by the failure of Kent Highways to act on Potholes.
I spy a spin. The idea Folkestone "Cliff lift repairs could cost £1 million" (This is Shepway, 8 April, page 3) is simply wrong. This figure is drawn from a Shepway Council draft report in 2004 which was discussing placing a Lottery funding for that amount - to renovate, renew, redevelop enhance the Leas Lift.
From the Times: MPs should be forced to sell their second homes and return most of the profits to the taxpayer, under plans to be put forward by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.
David Laws MP has said its "not surprising" that some sixth forms are considering taking legal action after a funding error which could lead to cuts in sixth form budgets from September has left schools and colleges in England considering legal action against the Learning Skills Council.
A new web site "Link Up Shepway" has been launched at http://shepway.ning.com/ and anyone across Shepway - Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and Elham Valley - are invited to join.
From http://romneymarshtimes.blogspot.com: General insurance company Direct Choice, part of the AA / Saga firm, is moving its call centres from Newmarket and Ipswich to Cheriton near Folkestone. The company has given its 220 staff the option of taking redundancy or relocating to the new offices.
