The M20 between junctions 11 and 12 was still closed for Operation Stack on Thursday morning. Operation Stack was put in place on Tuesday in response to ferry crossings from Dover to Calais being blockaded by a strike at Calais, and at its peak yesterday the M20 was closed back as far as junction 8 towards Maidstone.
The cost of a Southeastern "saver return" train fare from Folkestone Central, Folkestone West and Sandling to London will rise from £29.80 to over £31 in 2007, according to figures released today. A "cheap day" return will rise to over £16 for the same journey.
Shepway Councillor Lynne Beaumont has warned that Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe residents may soon have to get used to the noise of Boeing 737s flying over Folkestone. Plans to expand the runway at Lydd Airport aim to allow these large planes to operate out of Lydd.
Shepway Liberal Democrats elected their 2007 executive committee at their AGM at the Burlington Hotel in Folkestone on 17 November. The new line-up is:
Kent hospitals are being told to delay routine patient appointments for eight weeks, otherwise they will not be paid for them, a new BBC report has revealed. The minimum period is being enforced by primary care trusts because a drive to meet government waiting time targets was costing too much money.
A campaign is being launched by Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums across England to encourage more members of the public to volunteer and help improve health services in their area. The Forums are made up of volunteers from all backgrounds of the local community who represent patients and the public in decisions about health and health services.
I've recently discovered that the state of our streets and towns has been cited by marketing experts as the major block on "selling" Folkestone and Hythe. The litter our our streets, the overflowing bins, and the state of the town centre at night mean that those marketing experts feel its not even worth trying to get people to come here. Their prognosis is simple - get and keep Shepway clean and tidy - all the time. Make people like where they live, and want it to succeed. From there, the marketing has a chance.
Welcome Home Toby!
The Liberal Democrats have selected Toby Philpott as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe. Toby was elected following a hustings meeting and ballot of members from across the constituency following a hard fought three way race.
Kent Trading Standards have warned that rogue companies may be targeting businesses trying to extract unnecessary money from them.
The Shepway Liberal Democrats Annual General Meeting & Hustings for the new Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe is this Friday, 17th November 2006 from 7.15pm at the Burlington Hotel, Earls Avenue, Folkestone CT20 2HR. Party members are welcome - please do come along and have YOUR say in this important decision!
The Lib Dems have just released a new short film about Iraq, David Cameron, Gordon Brown and the Liberal Democrat alternative. You can see it this weekend on the front page of the Shepway Liberal Democrats web site at www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk or at Google Video. The film will also be broadcast this Friday 17th November on BBC1 at 18.55, BBC2 at 17.55 and ITV at 18.55.