The Government's decision to review the cases of 91 Iraqi translators who have worked for the British may be welcome but their plight needs to be treated with far greater urgency. You can back our campaign at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/interpreters
THE Conservative Party's decision to end its long-standing support for grammar schools in Kent and elsewhere has cost it the backing of one of its biggest donors. Sir Tom Cowie, who has donated some £630,000 to the party, said he would no longer be giving it any money.
![Marsh Harrier in flight [Photograph by Mohanram R. Kemparaju]](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/5/csm_marsh-harrier-in-flight-photograph-by-mohanram-r-kemparaju_b7d631b501.png)
The RSPB report that young marsh harriers have fledged for the first time from their reserve which is threatened by Lydd airport expansion. Three birds of about six weeks old have made their maiden flights from the Society's Dungeness reserve in Shepway where staff are hoping a second nest will also be successful.
Morehall Nursery and playgroup, behind Morehall Primary School in Chart Road, has been devastated by vandals who have smashed windows, stolen and damaged computers, flooded toilets, thrown paint and ruined toys and equipment. The vandalism was discovered on 6th August, and is believed to have been caused during the previous weekend.
The Herald have revealed that Tesco are planning to submit a planning application this Autumn to massively increase the Cheriton store.
Energy company E.ON has given a £15,000 grant under its new SOURCE community initiative to Sandwich Technology School in Kent towards the cost of installing a 5kW wind turbine.
Kent Police are reported by the BBC as saying that "Dave", the dolphin that has been swimming off the Sandgate and Folkestone coast for the past year, has become so humanised that he now poses a danger to people.
A packed residents association meeting in Cheriton discussed escalating anti-social behaviour in Cheriton and allowed local residents to quiz police and Councillors.
A "significant" 19% boost to Gurkha pensions announced by the Ministry of Defence only brings a standard Gurkha pension to £131 a month - described by Folkestone Gurkha Councillor Dhan Gurung as "a joke".
The BP Service Station on Cheriton High Street, Folkestone will re-open on 23 August as a combined BP and M&S Simply Food outlet. The opening will mark the return of Marks and Spencer to the Folkestone area after the closure of their central Folkestone Sandgate Road store last year.
Local Government Minister John Healey has announced that nine proposals for unitary status will now go ahead towards implementation with the intention that all new authorities are fully up and running in 2009. Kent remains unaffected by any of the changes, despite strong rumours early in the process that the County, and Shepway, could see huge changes to its Council structure.
As the Met Office predicts more heavy rain this weekend across South East England including Kent, with a risk of disruption to the strategic road network, the Highways Agency is advising drivers to adjust their travel plans as necessary.
