MORE people are coming to Shepway for holiday and day trips, according to the latest Tourism South East survey of the local visitor economy. An estimated 3.7 million UK and overseas visitors are spending more than £197 million a year.
Sandgate resident Season Prater is calling on Sandgate residents to send a clear message to the Conservatives on Sandgate Council by supporting her in a Sandgate Valley by-election on May 1st. The council has been in the news recently for its highly controversial change from "Parish" to "Town" status and that Chairman Geoffrey Boot has moved from being Chairman to Mayor of Sandgate, with many local residents upset about the plans.
If you earn between about £5,400 to £16,000 a year, you will notice a tax increase in your pay packet in April. This is because the 10% income tax band has been doubled to 20% by the Labour Government, in a change announced by Gordon Brown last year but only brought into force this month. This extra tax is being used to cut taxes on higher earners.
Following two recent spam email messages which seem to have been sent from members of the Liberal Democrats, local computer engineer Darren Briddock is warning that there seems to be a spate of spam emails coming from Gmail accounts, and is advising Gmail users to make sure they have changed their password recently.
Shepway Council are collecting brown-top bins back from households across Shepway who are refusing to pay the Council's new £35 Garden Tax. Thousands of bins are being collected by Shepway Council vans and the recycling and composting rate is expected to drop significantly.
The Liberal Democrats are mounting demonstrations against the Chinese Government's repression and human rights abuses in Tibet on the occasion of the Olympic flame being carried through central London this Sunday 6th April.
Sandgate resident Season Prater will be the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Sandgate Valley by-election on 1st May. The by-election is to Sandgate Town Council following the resignation of Councillor Jenny Bailey.
![Nick Clegg at Sheffield Hallam University [Picture: Alex Folkes / fishnik.com]](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/8/csm_nick-clegg-at-sheffield-hallam-university-picture-alex-folkes-fishnik-com_bbbb7d95fc.png)
Nick Clegg has launched the Liberal Democrats' local election campaign, highlighting the party's record of offering genuine improvements for people across the country.
Nearly right: a story on BBC Nottinghamshire on-line http://tinyurl.com/4hy7le on Friday reports that "Peter Carroll, the MP for Folkestone, the UK-base of the Gurkhas, has been campaigning for a better deal for the soldiers." Peter has most certainly been keeping up the pressure in his campaign for a fair deal for all Gurkhas in the UK, but unfortunately, current Folkestone & Hythe MP Michael Howard has not stepped down in Peter's favour - unless the BBC know something we don't...
Hythe Pool is closed on Friday 4 April for roof repairs following recent storm damage. Anyone planning to use the pool on Saturday 5 April, either for a pre-booked session or for a casual swim, is asked to call first on 01303 269177 to check that work is complete and the pool is open.
Under a year since East Kent Hospitals Trust confirmed they were going to save money by selling the main building at Folkestone's Royal Victoria Hospital, the Trust have announced a £7.5m surplus in its budget.
South East Region Liberal Democrats have backed a motion adding their strong support to the Gurkha Justice campaign call for a fair deal for all Gurkhas on residence and pensions. The conference in Ashford on Saturday 30th March backed the motion, which was supported by ex-Gurkha Folkestone Town Councillor Dhan Gurung who spoke in favour of the motion.
