Open on expenses
I promised to be open on expenses and I am publishing everything. You can see the detail of what I have claimed for by clicking here. Do please comment or let me know if you have any queries on how I have been spending your money. In addition to expenses, there are three members of staff who help me in my work for you.
"Life saving" Norfolkline workers thanked during top MP's visit
This week I welcomed Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP to the Port of Dover. I invited Keith, the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee to come to meet Dover's border guardians and meet two very special Norfolkline workers who were responsible for saving the lives of human trafficking victims in June.
I was delighted to welcome Keith to Dover. I was very keen to show him the excellent work that our border guardians perform to keep our border here at Dover secure. I was particularly pleased to meet Diane and Paul who deserve thanks and praise for their swift action, which saved lives.
A former Minister in the previous Government, Keith's powerful Committee in Parliament oversees border security and immigration issues. The visit provided me with an opportunity to showcase the achievements of local staff and the challenges of day to day operations. The visit's programme included a tour of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) freight and tourist controls in Dover, a Channel crossing and inspection of UKBA's immigration controls in Calais.
I requested a visit to Norfolkline, so Keith and I could meet Diane Fulton and Paul Spain, two Norfolk Line employees who discovered a group of Afghans being trafficked in the back of a lorry in late June. The seventeen men and boys were discovered seriously ill in the back of an articulated lorry and one was taken to Hospital to receive treatment.
Andreas Teschl, Norfolkline's Vice President for the English Channel said: "We are very proud of Diane and Paul. I am delighted that their rapid reaction prevented a tragedy and their work has been recognised by Dover's MP and Mr Vaz."
This visit is a great opportunity to show Keith the very real problems of human trafficking and illegal immigration that we encounter in Dover. The more we can co operate with France to strengthen border operations, the better. The British frontline border guardians in Dover make superhuman efforts to scan lorries to find contraband and trafficked people.
Keith said: "I would like to congratulate local MP Charlie Elphicke for his continued support of the frontline workers who fight everyday to ensure the security of our borders. Border security must remain a priority for the Government and the implementation of UKBA operations in both Calais and Dover is essential for this aim. Investment in up to date scanners and co-operation with the French authorities is the only way we can even begin to combat the illegal trafficking of both goods and people."
Charlie celebrates academy victory
Today I celebrated with staff and pupils of Castle Community College in Deal.
Castle Community applied to the Department for Education to gain Academy status earlier this year and has received confirmation from the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, that the school will become an academy from this September, one of an estimated two hundred nationally. I wrote to Ministers in support of their application both prior to and since my election in May and spoke up in the Commons in favour of the bid.
At lunch with the staff and pupils, I congratulated the Headteacher, Christine Chapman, her staff and students. Having been a long term supporter of Castle Community's bid, I am delighted that it will be among the first schools to shift to academy status. This is national recognition of the campaign we have all fought and the achievements of this exceptional school. I wanted to particularly praise the inspirational Headteacher, Christine Chapman who has ably led this campaign with such great results.
Headteacher, Christine Chapman said: "I am thrilled for our school and our community. Charlie's intervention made a real difference and I'm so grateful for his help in our getting early academy status. This means our school can continue to build on our strong academic position and I would like to thank all of our staff, students and parents who have contributed to this result."
The application criteria to the Department of Education required Castle Community to maintain an outstanding academic record, have the support of the school's governing body and its PTA - all of which were satisfied.
Parents, teachers and governors have all worked very hard to get to this position today and I hope that this will ensure that the children of Deal continue to receive the excellent education to which they are entitled.
The Olympic Torch should enter the UK at Dover
The obvious place for the olymic torch to arrive for the Olympic games is Dover. It arrived here in 1948 (the photo is of the 1948 torch relay) and should arrive here in 2012. Why? Because Dover is the gateway to England. And because the White Cliffs stand as a symbol for so many of the olympic ideals. The campaign is reported in the Dover Express this week.
The arrival of the torch would be done in proper style. The plan includes a celebration of water sports across the Channel, followed by a reception of the torch at the foot of the White Cliffs. A celebration of land sports will take place up to the historic Dover Castle where the 2,000 year old Roman Pharos will be lit for the first time in a Millennium - a ceremony that will see beacons lit across the nation, as was done last in the Millennium celebrations. The torch relay would then set off in earnest across Britain.
Pass the Passion is the schools' contribution to Dover's campaign. They have been working hard to make our case. They have even designed this logo which is truly charming!
Ministers pressed on People's Port proposal
Ministers have said that they will now hold a review on Labour's plan to privatise our port and sell it to the French or whoever. Yet I am not happy to let the matter rest there. I want the people of Dover to be able to buy our port under the Government's Big Society policy.
There are two reasons. First, locally, it is clear Dovorians wish to own the port to secure its future. Second, nationally, because the Big Society policy must realise its potential if it is to be taken seriously. This policy - which is really about power to the people - offers a really big change. The policy needs to be taken seriously for the amazing change it can deliver. It is too important to let people compare it to the Citizen's Charter, the Cone Hotline and all that. The Prime Minister's vision has the power to really transform Britain.
Were our port to become the people's port, everyone would see how this policy has the power to make a radical change. People will see how serious it is. Traditional style big clunking Government, with a traditional unimaginative Treasury approach, would just flog our port off on the cheap. That's why I hope the Prime Minister can show, with Dover becoming a people's port, how the Big Society policy will make a big difference. This I set out to Ministers when I pressed them on the issue in the House of Commons. The exchange went like this (you can click on the direct link here):
4. Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): What plans he has for the future of the port of Dover; and if he will make a statement. [10277]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning): Dover harbour board has submitted a transfer scheme to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. If-I reiterate if-that is approved, that will allow the board to privatise the port of Dover.
Charlie Elphicke: I thank the Minister for conducting this review. Will it consider the community's bid to buy the port of Dover and turn it into Dover's people's port? It is important that people know that the big society is not just about cycle paths, canal-side tow tracks and things like that-the big society is, well, big. It should include the port of Dover, and deprived communities should benefit as much as well-off communities.
Mike Penning: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his stalwart and continuing hard work on behalf of his constituents and his continued view on where Dover port should go. The consultation that I announced yesterday is part of the manifesto commitment to allow local people, businesses and the port to ensure that there is as much information as possible in the public domain, including the proposals on the people's port.
T5. [10298] Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): I see that the shipping Minister has been to Harwich and Felixstowe in the past week. I invite him to come and see the port of Dover, so that he can see at first hand how our plans can be the jewel in the crown of the big society and make Dover the jewel in the crown of the nation once again.
Mike Penning: That is a fantastic offer which, of course, I will accept.
I continue to press the case . . . to be continued!
Department for Transport's Statement on the Future of the Port of Dover
Today the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Mike Penning MP made a Ministerial Statement on the future of the Port of Dover.
I am delighted that the Government has delivered on our election pledge to review the sell off proposed by the previous Government. I intend to put forward the people's port bid so that the people can own our port. I remain opposed to the previous Government's plan for fire sale of our port to the French or whoever.
The full text of the Statement from the Department for Transport is located at this page.
Help me save Sampson Court
I am supporting the campaign to save Sampson Court nursing home in Deal.
I met residents and staff when I went to Sampson Court's summer garden party. I also met with Deal's Conservative County Councillor, Julie Rook and Deal's Mayor and Labour Councillor, Ben Bano. Julie received a petition from Mrs Audrey Hobbs, whose husband receives care at Sampson Court.
It is wonderful that we are all demonstrating our support for Sampson Court. We are troubled about the possible closure and I am doing everything I can as the MP to support Julie's battle to save Sampson Court at County Hall. Our combined efforts will be needed and I am looking forward to working with Ben and his colleagues on the Town Council. We need to put aside our party differences for the sake of the Sampson Court residents and the community in Deal.
I know that Sampson Court is one of the nursing homes currently being considered for closure by Kent County Council. A consultation is currently underway to consider whether the building is fit for purpose and equipped to provide the high level of care required by elderly and vulnerable people.
I will continue to pressure Kent County Council to consider this case very carefully. I know from the number of letters I have received that people care passionately about saving Sampson Court and I urge everyone who wants to safeguard the welfare of the residents, to help me save Sampson Court. I hope that together, we can achieve the right result for our community.
Charlie celebrates National Childcare Week with a host of Little Stars!
Today I visited the Little Stars Parent and Toddler Group, at Salem Baptist Church on Maison Dieu Road, Dover to mark National Childcare Week. The week, which is run by the Daycare Trust, seeks to promote and celebrate the benefits of affordable, accessible childcare for all.
As a father myself, I am keenly aware that all children should have access to high quality childcare. I would like to thank the Little Stars Group for having me to visit and allowing me to join in with some of their activities. They are a template for the kind of excellent child care that should be available to everyone. Good care at the youngest ages gives children the best start in life. I want to raise awareness of the high quality childcare that is available in Dover and Deal.
Welcome back Bill!
It was an honour to welcome Bill Shaw back onto British soil at Heathrow Airport earlier today. Both prior to, and since, my election to Parliament I have worked very closely with Liz and Lisa, Bill's wife and daughter and I felt privileged to have been included in such a family occasion.
This has been a long process from my very first speech in Parliament, to meetings with Ministers and Officials and finally taking Bill's case to Downing Street itself. The work of the Foreign Office behind the scenes with the Afghan authorities has been inspiring and I am glad that the efforts of everyone involved has paid off.
I am incredibly pleased that justice has been served and Bill is a free man once more. It must have been a harrowing three months in an Afghan jail and it is great to have him back where he belongs with his family and friends in the UK.
Bill Shaw released
It was great news to hear that Major Bill Shaw MBE (ret'd) was acquitted today. I took up Bill's cause on behalf of the family with the Foreign Office as it did not look like justice had been done in Bill's case. He was arrested back in March after paying a car pound release fee to get his vehicles back from the Afghan authorities who had impounded them. The charge against Bill was that his payment of a release fee was some sort of bribe.
From the outset the case seemed very odd to me. No witnesses were called for the prosecution. Many Afghan experts felt it had more to do with a tit for tat against our previous Government's attacks on the Afghan Government. Whatever the truth, it always seemed to me that justice had not been done and that Bill was the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bill is fortunate indeed to have the most supportive and strong family of fighters! I am delighted that the new Foreign Office Ministers have not only transformed relations with the Afghan Government, they also provided strong support to Bill.
Given his distinguished service in the Military Police, his being a rare commission from the ranks ending up a Major, a decorated soldier and honoured with a MBE, there was no doubt in my mind it was right to make the strongest case on Bill's behalf. The bottom line is that he spent most of his life defending us and it was right we should defend him in his hour of need. It is right to protect the liberty of our citizens in foreign climes and to uphold the miitary covenant. I was proud to support Bill's case and am delighted he has now been freed.
Mrs Thompson and the fence
Today I received a petition from 3,501 residents of Deal protesting against the treatment of Kath Thompson. Mrs Thompson is an 82 year old widow. This matter has been widely publicised in the national press as well as the local press.
Recently Deal Martime Museum built a fence round her kitchen. The fence is just a few inches from her kitchen windows, making the kitchen very dark. The fence was also built over a manhole cover - what happens if Mrs Thompson's drain gets blocked up? Given the museum only exists with public support, there is a real risk for to the future existence of the museum here. It would be as real shame for Deal to lose such a resource. And the general behaviour we have seen is very damaging to Deal's name.
Whatever the legalities of the matter, building a fence like this is not acceptable behaviour. The fence needs to come down and the museum trustees and Mrs Thompson need to work together to find a positive way forward. As the East Kent Mercury says, this needs to be sorted out.
The fight to free Bill Shaw reaches Downing Street
I have continued to fight to free Bill Shaw, with his wife Liz and daughter Lisa, from Kabul's notorious Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Afghanistan, where Bill has been jailed since March. I called on our Government to secure Bill's release during my Maiden Speech in the Commons and have subsequently met with officials and Ministers to press the Foreign Office to bring Bill back to his family and our country. Today we presented a petition to the Prime Minister in Downing Street, which was an awesome experience. I was deeply moved that four thousand people had signed the petition calling for Bill's release. Perhaps as movingly, Bill's two grandchildren, Caius and Madeleine, aged five and eight respectively, had added their own letters, personally addressed to David Cameron, asking the Prime Minister to bring their Grandad home. I was informed by Caius that his Grandad had missed his fifth birthday and that he hadn't had much fun at the party.
Bill served in the British Army for 28 years and was awarded the MBE for his service, he was also an instructor to the next generation of army officers at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He is now being held in "positively medieval" conditions alongside inmates from the Taliban and al-Qaeda, I very much hope that our petition presented today will convince our Government to strain every sinew to make sure Bill doesn't miss Caius' sixth birthday next May.
The People's Port
What do you do when the country is bust and the previous Labour Government has proposed a plan to sell off our port to pay down the national debt? What do you do when the cornerstone of our local economy is threatened by a serious breakdown in relations between the ferry companies and the Dover Harbour Board? And what do you do when the people of Dover are crying out for regeneration after 70 years of broken promises? Oh, and don't forget, you've just been elected for a month and are still trying to find your feet!
Last week I decided to take the bull by the horns. I tabled a detailed and substantial proposal that we, the people, should be allowed to buy the port. This has been reported on in detail by the Dover Express and the Daily Telegraph. The plan is to put the future of our jobs and money in our community's hands. Why? Because it is high time that:
- trust and confidence is restored between the ferry companies and Dover Harbour Board;
- our port, our town and the ferry companies forged a long term partnership where we all work together to take our local economy forward;
- the people got some benefit from the national class economic and transport facility that is on our doorstep; and
- that Dover sees real regeneration. We've been waiting 70 years. That's too long and it's time we saw some real action.
Deep down we all know that doing nothing is not an option. Doing nothing will see our port flogged off by a nation financially on its knees. Acting now, together, is to grasp an opportunity that could transform our community. We all know that the previous Government was so far advanced by the time of the election that the Minister's pen is even now hovering over the sale order. That we stand at 5 to midnight when it comes to our port. I believe in our community and believe we can do this. The prize for us all if we succeed is truly great - we would be able to tell our grandchildren how we changed Dover forever.
This is just the start of the debate. I want us all to be involved. I have listened and have led the way - but it's the community of us all and everyone must have a say. If we are to build a people's port, all of us need to be involved. And if the Minister is prepared to give our community the chance to own our port, an important step will be to put the proposal to community vote for endorsement. Please click the image (right) to read letter I have sent to the Minister. Please do comment here, write or email me and tell me what you think.
Maiden Speech
Today I made my Maiden Speech in the House of Commons. Clink here to see the full speech.
I spoke about the things that concern so many people in our community. The previous Government planned to sack our experienced immigration officers. People in Dover & Deal are concerned because we do not want porous borders, human trafficking, gun running or drug smuggling. We want to ensure that we have proper border security and national security. We also want to see the French take effective action on the "Jungle" at Calais. In particular ensuring that children there are properly looked after and not left to live in the streets.
The previous Government also drew up a plan to sell off our port. I pointed out how the people of Dover are trenchantly opposed to this idea. That I will do all in my power to find a better way forward than simply to sell it off at the bottom of the market, possibly to a foreign power.
And I spoke of the need to get a proper hospital back in Dover. People do not want a polyclinic - we want a proper hospital, with care beds and doctor-led emergency services. This is important to us because the nearest acute hospitals are 40 minutes down the road by car and four hours by public transport. That is bad for old people, and those who are badly off and cannot afford a car and do not have access to one. We want a fair share of health care.
Key Priorities
Following the election, I have restated my key priorities for Dover & Deal:
- A proper hospital for Dover (with care beds and doctor led emergency services) and more services at Deal Hospital;
- More jobs and money seeking a stable Government for the nation, JobCentre access in Deal and making regeneration a reality for all. Dover is not just the Gateway to England - it could be the Jewel in the Crown of our nation;
- Safeguard the Port of Dover and fight to make sure the nation's border remains in the nation's hands;
- Safer streets and secure borders campaigning for zero tolerance beat based policing, and to keep the front line immigration officers who work so hard to keep our nation safe;
- Transport better trains for Deal and the villages and much needed road upgrades like the A2 dualling.
To be elected to serve the people of Dover and Deal is the greatest of honours. I will work tirelessly to deliver the things we need for our community. It won't be easy - we have been sold so far down the river that we are now feet from the waterfall on many issues.
To turn things around will be very hard. And I do realise that few think I will succeed. But that won't stop me trying - and you never know, I might even get to pull the odd rabbit out of a hat!
Conservative Gain!
The Dover & Deal election result was declared in the small hours of Friday morning, 7th May. Here is a video by the amazing Mike McFarnell:
The result was:
Charlie Elphicke Conservative 22,174 44.0 +9.1
Gwyn Prosser Labour 16,900 33.5 -11.8
John Brigden Liberal Democrat 7,962 15.8 +0.0
Victor Matcham UK Independence Party 1,747 3.5 +0.8
Dennis Whiting British National Party 1,104 2.2 +2.2
Michael Walters English Democrats 216 0.4 +0.4
David Clark Christian Peoples Alliance 200 0.4 +0.4
George Lee-Delisle Independent 82 0.2 +0.2
Majority 5,274 10.5
Turnout 50,385 70.1 +2.8
Thank you to everyone who voted Conservative in Dover & Deal. To be elected to serve the people of Dover and Deal is the greatest of honours. I will work tirelessly to deliver the things we need for our community.
At last we have a decent MP! Well done Charlie keep up the good work.
TRACY
- Tracy Wilton
Vote Charlie Elphicke, Conservative, on 6th May 2010
Five clear reasons to vote for Charlie Elphicke, Conservative, on 6th May 2010:
- A proper hospital for Dover (with care beds and doctor led emergency services) and more services at Deal Hospital fought for by Charlie Elphicke or a polyclinic in the car park of Buckland Hospital with Labour
- More jobs and money with the Conservatives helping get a community labour exchange going in Deal and real regeneration for Dover or Labour who closed Deal JobCentre and only ever offer "coming soon" regeneration plans;
- Safeguarding the Port of Dover fought for by Charlie Elphicke or Gordon Brown's plan to sell it off, possibly to the French, if Labour are re-elected;
- Safer streets and secure borders with the Conservative plans for zero tolerance beat based policing and a Border Police force, or Labour's plan to sack up to 30% of our Border Officers and weakness on anti social behaviour;
- Honest expenses pledged by Charlie Elphicke who doesn't believe in claiming expenses for personal benefit or the Labour MP who claimed for things like: two homes in London, £200 food a month, flashy TVs, expensive Sky TV packages, light fittings, payments to relatives, blinds, pot plants, toasters, washing machines, flooring, knives, forks and a fan.
Vote Charlie Elphicke, Conservative on 6th May 2010 for Action not Words
New hope for our port
Gordon Brown's plan to sell off the port of Dover hit a roadblock yesterday. The ferry operators have objected to the sell off. They say they have been made to pay higher charges to the Harbour Board to fund the development of the Western Docks. Yet, as I too have been pointing out, the Western Docks development has been kicked into the long grass and isn't likely to happen before 2020. The operators say the Harbour Board plan to increase rates further and this will cost the people of Dover dearly with fewer jobs and less money.
What are we to make of all this? It's quite clear that this is all about Gordon Brown pressing to get the fattest possible amount of money for our port and devil take our community. There is no obligation to develop the Western Docks on the one hand. Yet operators are squeezed for every penny of cash on the other.
The expected sale price covers less than one day of Gordon Brown's binge borrowing. The price paid by the people of Dover will be measured in years. Gordon Brown's plan to sell off our port just as soon as he can is not just wrong. It's seriously damaging to our local economy.
If Labour are re-elected, I am certain that Brown will steamroller this thing through regardless. I am dead against the sell off and the Conservatives have pledged a review that I hope will put a stop to this plan.
Deal Labour Exchange
Some weeks ago, I was having a coffee in the Landmark Centre with Town Councillors Wayne Elliot (Con) and Keith Turner (Lib Dem). A lady on the next door table was saying how hard it was to find jobs and was unhappy that the only JobCentre is in Dover. The trip was expensive and it all took a lot of time as well.
So we thought we should act to help people in and near Deal by setting up a labour exchange. Keith got together everyone at the Landmark (Keith runs it) and Wayne and I got onto the local businesses. We got everyone round a table and all agreed a Labour Exchange would be a good first step and could be set up at the Landmark.
So here we are - it's off the ground and going. Just a board at the moment. But Keith and his team at the Landmark have some really great ideas to get everything online, they plan to ask the Dover JobCentre if they will set up at the Landmark Centre and generally blend this action in with their excellent Jobs Clubs and skills work. They really do fantastic work and it's amazing just how well used the Landmark is by so many community groups.
Now setting up the labour exchange is not political - it was just the right thing to do. And it all goes to show what a great community we have in Deal that everyone has rallied round and just got on with it. And what a great resource we have in the Landmark Centre.
Port Meeting
This evening I went to the Harbour Board public meeting. The board members set out their view that the only way the town could be regenerated and the Western Docks developed would be through the sell off. They made a strong case and ran the meeting well. Everyone got to have a say.
Yet the truth is this is all being done right now because the Government is desperate for the £400-500m the sale would bring in. When you are borrowing crazy sums like £200Bn, every little bit helps. The sale of our harbour would pay for one day's worth of national borrowing.
Conservatives pledge to review Gordon Brown's port sell off
The Dover Express today reports how the Conservatives will review Gordon Brown's plan to sell off our port. Unlike Gordon Brown, the Conservatives will to listen to our community. I'm really delighted to have the support of the Conservative Front Bench and the Shadow Transport Secretary on this matter.
It's important for our community. It's important for the security of our borders. For sure, privatisation is not always a "bad thing" - but where it's a strategic asset like the Urenco Uranium Enrichment company or our nation's borders that, to me, is a different matter. You wouldn't privatise the army and in the same way things that are important to national security should not be sold off either.
This is why I'm getting up a petition. So our community's voice can be heard. Please do sign it to help my campaign to keep Gordon Brown's hands off our port.
Gordon Brown confirms port sell off plan
Gordon Brown today confirmed that he plans to sell off the port of Dover. He told the House of Commons:
"There will be no forced privatisation of Dover under Labour and we will look for new ways of getting in new investment into the port and the community."
This is because it is not a "forced" privatisation but a "voluntary" privatisation. The difference? One involves telling the port they are to be sold off, the other involves telling the port they are "volunteering" to be sold off. It's all a question of spin and presentation really.
That is what is happening here. Under huge pressure from Gordon Brown, the Harbour Board are submitting a "voluntary" privatisation proposal. This will be warmly received by Gordon Brown, the port will then be stuffed into his car boot for sale just as soon as he can.
The reaction of Dover's Labour MP? To attack me for telling you about Gordon Brown's plan. In fact, so weak has the defence of our port by the local Labour MP been that I'm fast coming to the conclusion he doesn't really care whether the port is sold off or not.
But I do care. I oppose this sale. I'm doing all I can to defend our English border. It would be wrong for our port to be sold to the French or anyone else.
Dame Vera Lynn joins fight against port sell off
Dame Vera Lynn is reported in today's Telegraph as opposing Gordon Brown's plan to sell off our borders.
She is quoted as saying:
"The port should absolutely stay in British hands. It always has been and it should always be. It means so much to the boys who have sailed away from it and come back."
"How could they even think about selling it off? It is not right. Dover is part of England. It simply can't be part of anywhere else."
And . . . as I predicted yesterday, the Government is denying that our port will be sold to the French. Well, they would, wouldn't they? This is, of course, the same Government that promised us a referendum on Europe and that gave us a solemn promise the port would not be sold at the last election. You just can't believe a word they say.
Port of Dover to go French?
Reports at the weekend and today indicate that the French port of Calais wants to buy Dover in Gordon Brown's car boot sale. Clearly this would be unacceptable. I expect it to be denied - but the key point remains, which is once it's gone it's gone.
The Port of Dover should remain owned by the nation. It's not right for the English border to be sold off.
Thanks to the hundreds who responded to the online survey. The result was the 95% thought that Labour had broken their promise not to sell off the port. 90% were opposed to the port being sold off. Clear majorities thought that the port pensioners should be protected and there should be a timetable to develop the Western Docks. People were most passionate on the regeneration fund for Dover, however.
I deeply appreciate the many responses, which have been of great help to me in understanding what people think. The survey is still open, so do have your say.
Port of Dover privatisation - what do you think?
A whole slew of official documents have been published in recent weeks progressing the Government's decision to privatise the Port of Dover.
Before Christmas, the Government published a report inidicating that our Port is on the block - see page 73 onwards. Last Monday, the Transport Minister gave a written statement to Parliament to move things forward. Then the Dover Harbour Board published it's draft Harbour Revision Order and privatisation Scheme. So this matter is moving forward at some speed. It is clear Gordon Brown cannot move things forward fast enough.
I have been against the privatisation of our port. I worry about our border security. My worry is this could be so far advanced by the election, it will be impossible to stop. So if this goes ahead regardless of local opinion, we need to ask ourselves as a community how we get the best deal. We need a Plan B. So I've launched an online survey to gauge views and opinions on what the Government is doing and the things we need.
Please do take the survey - it's confidential. Simply click here and have your say - please also feel free to make wider comments.
Let it snow, let it snow!
Wow! What an amazing time with all this snow. I'm including a whole load of snowy pictures I've taken in the last few days.
Yet there is a more serious point here too. This weather was well forecast, yet the M20 got closed and the M2 as well. It was a total shambles. This was before the port got closed and the Eurotunnel chaos. Why do we have a repeat of this every year? Surely there must be a way to manage this annual event better?
And the weather closing the port as well as the unreliable Eurostar service (people really should take the ferry!) causing chaos down the M20 underlined the need for a lorry park on the M20. The total chaos in Dover town underlined the need to dual the A2. We were again reminded of the need to get lorries out of the centre of Dover . . . !
On Saturday, we went canvassing in deep snow (we are either very enthusiastic . . . or very mad!) with Julian Brazier MP:
And here's the view from my home towards the Royal Hotel and some other random pics of the Deal seafront.
It was a real Winter wonderland as these views from the pier show:
Shadow Home Secretary visits Dover Port
Today, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP visited the port of Dover. He toured the docks to see how our borders are policed and heard about the Government's plans to privatise Dover's port.
I explained my concerns to Chris about the need for more border security and the deep concerns I feel about Labour's privatisation plans. We also discussed regeneration, the need for more jobs and money locally, our ideas to boost tourism as well as the need to make our streets safer.
Chris Grayling MP issued a statement saying:
"Our manifesto for seaside towns sets out a range of ways in which we will seek to boost towns like Dover. We need to stimulate small business and in particular the tourist trade - and to give those towns greater control over their own affairs. But Dover will benefit in particular from our plans for tough border controls and action against antisocial behaviour."
Door knocking in Shepherdswell
Today, our team went door knocking in Shepherdswell. We heard deeply felt concerns about Labour's plans to close Dover's Buckland Hospital. People told us they really want to see a proper hospital back, as the Conservatives plan, not the little polyclinic the Government seek to palm us off with. They are sad Buckland will be closed - so many were born there or have had children there themselves. They feel what has happened is shameful.
And residents were deeply shocked that Labour now plan to sell off our Port. They saw it as a betrayal yes - but were also very worried about the security of our borders and what this change will mean for the mainstay of our local economy. More locally, a number mentioned the bus services and said they wanted to see a better service. I am taking this up with the District Council, to see what can be done.
Labour plan to privatise Port of Dover
Yesterday Gordon Brown and the Labour Party announced plans to privatise the Port of Dover. The Dover Express has a detailed report on the plan. And the Government has issued a detailed paper on its plans.
This will come as a real shock to many as Labour gave a solemn pledge at the last election not to do this. Labour literature carried the photo of Dover's Labour MP (shown right) saying how they promised not to sell the port. But now it seems Labour are going ahead anyway.
You can't believe a thing they say any more.
Nothing surprises me now . How hypocritical, they are supposed to be a party against privitasation and there they are selling off our port.
- Tracy Wilton
Conservatives win North Deal by election
A big congratulations to Carol Stickler. Carol and the Conservatives won a very hard fought Deal Town Council by election in North Deal. The seat was gained from the Labour Party.
The results were:
Conservatives 529 votes (50%)
Labour 337 votes (32%)
Lib Dem 198 (19%)
The photo shows us celebrating with North Deal District Councillor Charlie Kirby. On the doorstep, people told us that they liked our positive vision for Deal and the way we look forward to the future we can build for our town and the nation.
As a result of this by election, Labour lose control of Deal Town Council. This will hopefully enable the finances of the Council to be properly examined and for things to be put right after the damning Audit Report into financial problems and maladministration at the Council. I hope all parties will work together positively for the benefit of our town.
Simply - wow!
- Bern
out of interest, what was the percentage of turn out?
- howard mcsweeney
How nice to see a PCC working to support and WIN a Town Council Election.
Sadly there are many in our party who avoid getting involved with Town and Parish Councils.
Ours in Calderdale are mainly LD dominated except where any conservatives stand as Independents.
Yet these very local elections should be at the heart of our campaigning and 'training ground' for District elections,
- Andy
About 25% I think. Given it was a cold, wet and windy day in December I thought it might be lower Howard!
- Charlie Elphicke
It was nearer 20% Charlie!
Labour probably wish they had sent out the polling cards!
- Charlie Barker
Indeed. I don't understand why they voted not to.
- Charlie Elphicke
As boxes secretary for Deal and Walmer District NSPCC,it was nice to see prospective M.P.for Dover Deal, Charlie Elphicke, take time out from his busy schedule to have a chat,and make what was indeed a very generous donation.,he appears to be very proactive
- John Battles
This is all well and good. I don't vote Labour but I am in two minds about the Conservatives. I have to say, that I find DDC lack vision for the town centres of Dover and Deal. The administration allowed a Tattooeist's and a YMCA shop yet another charity shop to open in a prime corner site formerly occupied by Martins, and an Amusement Arcade to open opposite Boots the Chemist despite the council fighting a previous application from the same person further down. All of this seems to be at odds with regenerating Deal in fact I would say Deal seems to have more than its fair share of value stores both independent and national. Not good for regeneration and one only has to look at Dover, Ramsgate and Margate in particular the last two to see what Westwood did to them. There does need to be a vision for employment in Deal in particular eg the Minters site at Southwall Road should be used for commerial businesses it has to go somewhere.
A job centre also needs to reopen in Deal. Remember it's a lovely town but also very poor for a lot of people. Bear that in mind
- Gabbyco
Supporting the NSPCC
Today I was door knocking in North Deal, ahead of next week's by election, when I bumped into well known Deal resident John Battles who was collecting for the NSPCC. I was pleased to make a good donation and show my support for the NSPCC and the excellent work they do. Congratulations to John - especially braving the very very cold weather!
The NSPCC work tirelessly to protect our kids and to prevent cruelty to children. Full Stop! They are strong fighters of child abuse - an issue close to my heart as a parent, horrified by the Baby P business, as all parents have been. The thing with life is that you only get one go at it - and only one go at childhood. It should be a time of fond memories for life. If something terrible happens, it can't be undone.
In the same way, I want to see us avoid putting kids into care homes or fostering placements that don't last very long. We should do more to ensure children have a caring, long term home with long term stability and a parenting figure in those sad cases where parents can't manage. Easier said than done, I know.
On Saturday evening, I saw Eric Pickles MP with Damian Collins, the excellent candidate for Folkestone & Hythe. Damian will, all being well, take over from the much respected Michael Howard QC MP at the General Election. Eric puts the lie to the idea all politicians are the same - he is one of the truly great characters of our Parliament!
that is an issue that is very difficult to address, foster kids end up boosting our prison population.
one of the problems nowadays is that the foster parents are not judged on their ability to bring out the best on these disaffected youths, but on their politically correct credentials.
three examples, homosexual couples(male or female) have a black mark against them. smokers like myself would stand no chance even though they might feel more secure with slobs as parents.
the most ridiculous of all is that a baby should go to the parents with the same coloured skin for "cultural reasons".
i happen to know of people who have been very succesful in bringing up babies into childhood then adulthood, though of different race.
that applies both ways incidentally.
- howard mcsweeney
Our bold new vision for Deal
Too often people say the only thing to happen in our community in the last ten years is that we've lost Dover's hospital. I and the Dover & Deal Conservatives are determined change that. So we've set out a bold new vision for the future of Deal. We need to see our beautiful town attract more jobs, money, visitors and services. We should do more with Deal Castle, see a cinema back and get more great family days out. Deal should witness nothing less than a new renaissance that celebrates the great history and culture of the beautiful town we call home.- More in Deal Castle, more culture and make the most of our history
- A new cinema, a dry pub and more great family days out to benefit our young people
- More local jobs and money, with more tourism, more broadband internet, mobile phones that work and deliver Betteshanger Business Park
- More services at Deal hospital
- Improve our local train services, no to the service cuts, yes to putting Deal on the fast line
I'd really like to here what people think of these ideas - and how we can all work together to make the most of our beautiful town.
this is fine if like you we live in Deal. What are the plans for Dover??????????
- anon
Nice ideas. I like it, keep it up charlie. You have my vote!
- James
There is so much raw material in Deal to work with. Despite living in Dover I support and like these proposals - I hope they amount to something! I love Whitstable and Broadstairs, and Ramsgate now it has had a facelift - and deal has as much if not more to offer if planned and marketed up properly,
- Bern
There are detailed plans too for Dover, "anon" - like the building out of the Western Docks to get more jobs, building "ocean village" to attract tourists, the double entry for lorries so we can get lorries out of Dover central, lorry car parks to deal with Operation Stack, a proper hospital, regeneration to happen, not just "come soon" and much much more. These plans are all over this site - it is a fair point I should draw it all together it a blog post and on the Action Map.
- Charlie Elphicke
Yesterday a glossy campaign leaflet popped through my letterbox. I must say it was rather impressive and told We prospective voters what an administration under the Conservatives would look like. I did notice, however, one glaring omission conspicuous by its absence in terms of Tory policy namely not a word about the environment. I am thrilled by the prospect of your party dropping their newly found green agenda or is the reason for the omission the fact that there was no room on the leaflet to explain your ideas on the environment?
- Paul
Day of Remembrance
Today's Remembrance Day service in Dover was a moving occasion with hundreds turning up to attend. This is a day when we remember the fallen - and those engaged in current conflicts, together with their families and our prayers that they have the kit they need to do their job. This day is not just about remembrance - it is also a reminder to heed past mistakes in thinking about our hopes, aspirations and ambitions for the future.
After the service, I went to join the Legion in Deal for a pint, as you do. There I met the Youth Mayor. I was really impressed with her passion for the future and what we can do. The young of today are our tomorrow - and I am very proud of this next generation growing up. They will do so well.
Action on abusive relationships
After a great day out chatting to people on the doorsteps of Temple Ewell, this evening I attended a fundraising event for a new charity aiming to help and protect people in abusive relationships. There is a large unmet need for help in Deal and the nearby villages and this is an issue I care very deeply about. As you can see, it was 1940s themed . . .
There is certainly a problem locally - a number of people have contacted me for help, which is part of what caused me to act. They are totally let down by Social Services (I think there's a problem there, as I have had a number of cases where local Social Services have failed mentally ill people too). The Police have limited powers to act. So this charity aims to fill a space to the problem of relationship abuse that affects men and women. And I support it strongly as families often lose their kids and people end up badly damaged - physically or turned into a nervous wreck.
I was told an abused person can be beaten up or otherwise attacked 30 times before finally getting away. It can take time as a sort of Stockholm Syndrome apparently develops. By that time, in all too many cases, Social Services have taken the kids away. So it's lose lose all round. This is why it's so important to provide help and assistance to people in this position. Donna (pictured left), her law firm Payne & Co and this charity will be able to provide practical help. I'm delighted to be involved and will do all I can to help it become a real success. And I will continue to urge KCC to improve our local Social Services too.
Charlie, NOT a good idea to have your photograph taken next to someone wearing German WW2 military uniform whilst clutching a pint.
I've got a horrible feeling that if your political career prospers the next time we see this will be on a Private Eye cover with a suitable voice bubble attached!
- Bob Frost
Thanks Bob! I think most people would see that it is a fanncy dress party, to raise money for charity. Clearly I shall have to avoid anything to do with the Home Office or Justice Department!!
- Charlie Elphicke
Lorries in Eythorne
Today I was out and about in Eythorne with my team door knocking and chatting to people about issues of concern. One clear issue was the problem with lorries rumbling through the village (not quite as bad as this picture, left, that I found floating about on the internet but you get the idea). These lorries are going too and from an important local business that employs lots of people.
There is a quicker route for the lorries to go down the A256 that does not involve annoying everyone in Eythorne. It's likely to be a problem with the SatNavs (the blessing and curse of modern driving!) directing the lorries through the village. So I am taking the issue up with the local employer to see what steps can be taken to deal with the problem.
For anyone interested in excellent village pubs . . . Eythorne has one! The Crown Inn in Eythorne, pictured, serves really great food and beer. Well worth a visit.
Churches Together in Deal
This evening I attended a Churches Together service in Deal - a very suspect iPhone picture is to the right! We heard all about the persecution and reliegious hatred that goes on in the World. In many countries, people who believe in God get thrown into jail or killed. Places like North Korea, India's state of Orissa, Nigeria, Somalia and Eritrea.
We're really lucky here in Britain. We don't have that sort of hatred based on race or religion. I am free to go about, believe in God and talk about how I am for life - especially when it comes to the older people they are trying to bump off these days. That's why I so loathe the sort of hate and division peddled by the BNP. Hearing these things that go on abroad makes you realise how lucky we are to have so much freedom in the UK. We reject the people that seek to divide us and try to set us against each other.
Where will Dover's health facility go?
Today I attended a "stakeholder meeting" where all the people who have to do with the proposed new Dover health facility gathered together to work out where it should go. A long list of people have to do with all this - the Hospital Trust, the Primary Care Trust, the Environment Agency, Southern Water, the current MP, the District Council, the County Council . . . the list goes on and on. Given decision making is fragmented like this, it's a wonder anything gets done, ever.
Anyway, the upshot was pretty simple. The central Dover site option favoured by the current MP was axed. Because the Environment Agency are worried the river will flood. To say I am furious would be a massive understatement. In ten years the only thing to happen locally is we've lost our hospital. Now yet another year has been wasted. The fiasco we've witnessed is a complete disgrace. The people badly need this facility. We need to deliver for the people and I'm sick of all the chat we've had. It's time for action. It's time to get on with it.
It seems we are now left with three possible sites - in the car park of the existing Buckland Hospital (the narrow bridge, the lack of parking and the difficulty of future expansion to a proper hospital are problems), Buckland Mill (possibly too expensive) or Whitfield (it's not in the centre of Dover, so some say it's too far). Obviously, because I am so passionate about a proper hospital for the people of Dover, I am not keen on the car park site as it would be hard to expand. After you've eliminated all the other possibilities, you have to deal with what's left. In my book, it's either the Mill or Whitfield.
Yet whatever happens, a decision needs to be made soonest so we can get on and build the thing. If we continue to go round in circles, we will lose the money. It will then take years to sort out. We must put first the people in need - the people we serve and whose trust we are bound to uphold.
The issue with our hospital has been going on for far too long. I think we all know that within our area. We need a full 24 hour A
- Paul Barnes
Talking international development with Christian Aid
This morning I joined Dover's current Labour MP Gwyn Prosser and the possible Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate, a very nice, knowledgeable and interesting man called John Brigden, at a lobby organised by Christian Aid. It was mainly about the Copenhagen Summit on climate change. We had a really interesting discussion about international aid, the development of cleaner power, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and helping developing nations keep carbon dioxide emissions low. We then did a photo together to draw attention to the need to tackle poverty.
I was struck by how much the Conservative Party has changed in the last ten years. Mr Prosser was understably keen to remind everyone that we haven't always been very good on international development. It's quite true. And that's a key change David Cameron has made to the Modern Conservatives. We will ringfence the international aid budget. We will help reduce emissions. We are concerned about poverty. Indeed, in many ways, we now lay claim to be the party of poverty.
As someone who has long been concerned by poverty, the rich poor divide, the level of child poverty and the need for us all the be engaged in the wider World, I am proud to be a Modern Conservative and a support of David Cameron's aims to tackle these issues for the long term good.
What on Earth were you doing wasting your time at a groupthink meeting like this Charlie? Do you not have real issues to discuss? Global warming, Copenhagen summit on climate change? Reducing carbon dioxide emissions? I suppose your'll announce your support for a windfarm where the proposed hospital was due to be built. Oh but no that's not a good idea. Rising sea levels of six metres will overtop the blades and will stop them spinning, unlike your report about this pointless meeting, spinning I mean.
Come on Charlie if you're going to get caught up in this global warming myth at least have the sense to not involve yourself with the labour party and the liberals I mean that's just plain embarrasing. I mean John Brigdon who is he besides a County councillor? Is he a climatologist? Or does he merely hold the prolish convential view that the polar bear will die within the next five years?
- Paul
Thanks Paul. What do I do . . . duck or don a tin hat? I think there is much to be said for nuclear power and carbon capture. It's not just a case of having a group hug - get energy security as well as lower emissions. And I am keen on electric cars if that can be done - less pollution and less dependence on oil from overseas. Poverty at home and abroad is a concern to us all - the level of deprivation in Dover is a real issue. We need more jobs and money locally. Yet I do feel we should also be concerned about poverty overseas as well.
- Charlie Elphicke
Charlie, thanks for the reply but it's really important that you examine the facts regarding this issue - it may well be an eye opener. Carbon capture is, as it stands at this moment in time, a pipe dream. The technology does not exist. Sure there have been small scale experiments which show promising results (frankly I don't believe it when they say that) but on a grand scale it's impossible! If it can be done it will require roughly 50% more coal to be burnt in order to capture the carbon. Then where on Earth are we going to put the stuff? Carbon dioxide is the stuff of life and to regard it as a pollutant is to misunderstand the fundamentals of Earth sciences. I say go nuclear and go coal and fly in the face of the green lobby who, let's face it are no more than unreconstructed worried well with no real cause to fight now that Socialism is dead. Tell your man Dave that He really shouldn't be pandering to this nonsense. Now that He has lost the fight in terms of the Lisbon treaty he can show his true colours and announce to the World that He doesn't believe in Man-made climate change - most of the electorate don't either check out the latest polls. As for electric cars, erm, where does the energy required to run these things come from?..........Power stations.
As for poverty overseas well this scam has managed to make the poor overseas poorer as much needed aid is being diverted to tackle the "problem of dangerous climate change".
Your party and those who subscribe to the great myth are going to look really stupid in years to come when your grandchildren ask you "Did you really believe in that nonsense that was being peddled by ecofascists Granddad?"
- Paul
Go Whites!
Today Dover Athletic FC won 2-0 in their FA cup tie. A great win. And a healthy boost to the club's finances. See http://www.doverathletic.com/index.php for more.
Joining me watching the match was Dover Town C Cllr Nigel Collor. Great relaxation after a fantastic session on the doorsteps of Alkham, chatting to people about the change the Conservatives could make to Britain.
DAFC is doing incredibly well of late and once again showed what a jewel they are in Dover's Crown. Go Whites!
Charlie takes the Royal British Legion Pledge
Today I pledged to do my bit for the British Armed Forces family. I met with representatives from The Royal British Legion and was presented with a copy of the Legion’s manifesto for the next general election.
The manifesto sets out priorities for the next Government to improve conditions for the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It encourages MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates to “do their bit” for Service Personnel and their families, the bereaved, veterans and dependants.
The entire Armed Forces family needs the support of politicians from all parties. So I was delighted to meet with The Royal British Legion. They have an important role to play in highlighting the needs of the whole Armed Forces family. I have pledged to do my bit and would encourage everyone to do the same by visiting the general election manifesto website – www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk - to find out more.
Young people condemn massive Government debts
Annabel Shaw, 15, the daughter of former Dover MP David Shaw, gave a great speech at Conservative Party Conference. Annabel demanded an apology from Gordon Brown for saddling her generation with massive debts.
Annabel said: “Gordon Brown, I want an apology for the debt burden you are passing on to my generation. It’s my generation that has to pay the price for Gordon Brown’s mismanagement of the economy." She explained how each child born in Britain was £22,500 in debt from Government borrowing.
It was a really impressive performance. I caught up with Annabel and David to congratulate Annabel on her great speech! She is absolutely right you know. Gordon Brown has bankrupted this country and saddled us with a mountain of debt. It will amount to £50,000 per household by 2013 unless we turn things around. That is why it is so important to get public spending under control and get Britain working again.
Annabel's fine speech goes to show our young people are intelligent and care about the country. I’ve said time and again I am proud of this next generation. They are trying to help this country back on its feet. And I think we will all be really proud to hand over to them when we've had our time.
The Channel 4
Channel 4 invited me to take part in their "Twitter Fringe" or "Twinge" at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. On the platform were variously Dan Hannan MEP, Tim Montgomerie of Conservative Home and blogger Iain Dale. We were joined, somewhat unexpectedly, by blogger "Guido" and the whole thing was chaired by C4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
It was a lively discussion! Guido thought that Twitter is only good for driving traffic. I agree and use it myself mainly to update this website front page and my Facebook status where people can join in a discussion on whatever I'm on about. We also discussed the change the internet era will make to Government. I think it will be really far reaching . . . but not quite yet. In time it will be pretty much everything.
And it will transform Government - imagine the change when pretty much everything is online and published. Government open and accountable. I can't wait. Sure there will be scandals and things will come to light that will make us angry, but your money will likely be spent with a lot more care and public servants will know they are accountable. Power to the people!
Will the polyclinic be axed altogether?
Looks like a wicked attempt to spread alarm doesn't it? But sadly it's a serious question.
People know I am passionate about a proper hospital for our community. Below is a photo of the meeting I arranged with hospital campaigners including Reg Hansell and Shadow Health Minister Andrew Lansley.
We know the polyclinic is going to be delayed by the Government's flood quango. We know it may have to be built elsewhere. We know the funding for the Conservative plan for a proper hospital depends on the polyclinic being delivered so it can be upgraded. Goodness knows, it's going to be hard to get totally new investment given the Government has bankrupted the country.
But the big worry is that the Government has just announced a policy to reduce cancer waits - an attempt by Gordon Brown to save his political skin - funded by axing all new health facilities. See http://tinyurl.com/ybxrj6x Now cancer waits need to be shorter. But buying a whole load of new equipment may not be the best way to do it. Better might be to run the existing scanners for longer than 9 to 5. And to train up more experts who can operate the equipment. Because there aren't enough to operate the scanners we have right now. In other words, basic, boring admin changes that will make the whole system work better, faster and more effectively.
My fear is that our much needed health facility could be axed for a whole lot of shiny new scanners that are underused. As you might expect, I have written to the Government's local health chiefs seeking clarification on whether Gordon Brown's fight for political survival has just cost us our fair share of healthcare.
Listening to Martin and Martin Mill
Today I went door knocking in Martin and Martin Mill with my team. It was really interesting to hear what people where concerned about. A lot of people spoke about finding Government agencies incredibly unhelpful. Including the man who hasn't had a passport for 15 years, so is treated as a "new applicant". Even though they have all the paperwork on file, he still needs to find all his papers. At his age . . . no mean feat.
Generally there seems to be a problem that Government thinks people are there to do its bidding. In fact, Government should be there to serve us and be helpful. A bit of a culture change might be a good thing!
Tilmanstone waste processing plant opposed by residents
Eastry village hall was packed to standing room only this evening at the Tilmanston waste plant public meeting. Over 200 people came to make clear their opposition to this proposal at a public meeting hosted by Kent County Council.
Residents of Tilmanstone have been up in arms about the proposed massive waste processing plant in their village. So too have the nearby villages of Eastry and Northbourne, which are downwind. The plan described as "composting" is not like the one at the end of a garden. It's size is pretty close to every compost heap in East Kent rolled up and put into one place. And it's not made of grass and clippings either - this heap would process manure and food waste. As it's open air, the methane would not be captured - meaning the plant would damage rather than help protect the ozone layer.
Unsurprisingly, residents were concerned about smells, traffic, water table pollution, bio aerosols and other biohazards. Hearing of the concerns, I conducted a consultation of all residents in the areas recently and was inundated with responses protesting against the plant. Concern that was visible at the public meeting. I handed in the responses to the chairman of the meeting.
Congratulations are in order to local district and county councillors who attended and made the case for the community - pictured with me above are (l-r) C Cllr Leyland Ridings, Cllr Nick Kenton and C Cllr Steve Manion.
Hougham quilt festival
On Sunday, I enjoyed a great day out at Church Hougham. The whole village got together and organised an amazing quilt festival - with a dog show thrown in. The quilts made by the very dedicated quilters were all laid out in the church. It looked stunning. Angie Buhlman (pictured), one of the quilters, showed me around. Angie has just made the amazing black quilt shown above us to pioneer a different style.
There was also a dog show and Charlotte and our dog Star managed to win a prize!
Church Hougham and West Hougham are two villages between Dover and Capel-le-Ferne which share a parish council. They came together to put the festival on. It was a great success - almost every garden was selling something or taking part in some way. I also picked up some great marmalade and honey made in the village. Congratulations to all the organisers and the villages who made it such a great day and showcased what must be one of the strongest communities anywhere in the land.
I went there on Saturday it was very good, the Archery was brilliant , the quilts were fantastic and very proud of my Gran as i watched her Continuously making it! (Age 13)
- Tom Buhlman
Listening to Capel-le-Ferne
Today I took a team to Capel-le-Ferne to chat about the issues people were concerned about on the doorstep. Folkestone's brilliant Conservative Parliamentary candidate Damian Collins joined me (Damian is left, front in the photo).
It was pretty clear that two issues were high on people's minds - the economic mess the country is in and the weakness of our borders. People were angry that pretty much anyone seems able to wonder in and too little action is taken on human trafficking. The scale of the task at hand is well realised by the voters - if anything, the political class is scrambling to catch up with the new realities of the financial chaos left after years of debt funded spending.
People were telling me with great passion that balancing the budget is essential and that welfare spending in particular was too high. They supported protecting healthcare and want a proper hospital in Dover. Many questioned why their pensions had become worth so little will the public sector seems immune from any pain.
much as i sympathise with people living on private pensions, it must be remembered that people in the public sector would have worked for a lot less money, hence their pension is better.
- howard mcsweeney
That used to be the case Howard. And that's also the reason public sector workers got so many honours. But not any more. Public sector pay has been higher than the private sector for some time now. The real difficulty with public sector pensions is that many employees have made contributions out of their pay. So to take away what they will feel they've paid for would cause upset. This is a knotty issue as private sector workers feel their pensions have been taken away and it's unfair that public sector workers seem protected.
- Charlie Elphicke
Dover goes High Speed!
Today I went along to Dover station at 6.30am to catch the train to work. And I discovered that it was the first service of the new Javelin High Speed train.
Lots of dignatories were there, quaffing champagne (bit early in the morning I thought). So, fortified by my big cup of commuter coffee, I went over to have a chat before getting on the train to go to work. A first commuter among the first citizens! I'm pictured here with Dover's County Councillor Nigel Collor, who got the rail chiefs to make sure the Javelin went to Dover (photo courtesy of Paul Boland of www.doverforum.com).
The journey was amazing. Just amazing. The train hurtled through the Kent countryside just like the Eurostar does. It was really smooth - none of this clattering over points you usually get. It was completely full by the time it left Ashford. And it turned up at St Pancras on time to the dot.
This service could be a major success. Congratulations to C Cllr Nigel Collor for making sure Dover got the service and that we weren't left out. Dover is now an hour from London - down from an hour and a half. This is going to make a difference.
George Cross for Dover Panto
This evening the George Cross for Dover campaign took another step forward with "It ain't hard Dover, Dad". The Panto was performed to raise money for the George Cross for Dover campaign. I played the role of the Senior British Army Officer in a German Concentration Camp, with C Cllr Nigel Collor as my No.2 (we're on the left in this shot).
Congratulations to everyone who took part and helped organise it all - it was great fun, did well at raising money and helped draw attention to a cause close to the heart of every Dovorian. And thanks also to Mike McFarnell who videod it all and posted highlights on YouTube here:
There's lots to do in Dover & Deal
In the Summer, there is so much to do in Dover & Deal. We should be bolder about promoting our area. After all . . . it's not like it takes a day on the train to get to our area is it? Nor do you find on arrival that the place is overcome with swarms of people and inflated prices. The variety of sea, beautiful towns and villages as well as our rolling hills and White Cliffs are a real draw.
Take this weekend. On Saturday we had the Dover Regatta where everyone was having a great time in the Sun, before the terrible boating accident, then there was the Walmer Fair (pictured below - I bumped into Walmer Cllr Pat Heath and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports) and the East Kent Railway was holding a Teddy Bears picnic which Charlotte and Thomas really enjoyed as you can see from the photo.
So in Summer there's lots to do and some great family days out to be had. Now if we could make it more all year round . . . !
Tragedy at the Dover Regatta
The terrible tragedy at the Dover Ragatta cast a long shadow over the weekend. During the power boat race, there was an terrible accident. A man lost his life. The regatta carried on as the man's family asked that it should, yet it just wasn't the same. Everyone was in total shock. My thoughts - and I am sure the thoughts of the whole town - are with the man's family and loved ones.
The emergency services were fantastic. Paramedics were on the scene in moments, the ambulance came in 5 minutes. The fire engines were there moments later and the Air Ambulance arrived within 20 minutes. Nothing could they do, but they gave of their best and their speed of response was truly impressive.
Our young people are fantastic
This evening, the new Dover & Deal Conservative Future branch held a BBQ on Walmer Beach. It was fantastic to chat to young people in our community about their thoughts on the state of things and what they would like to see for the future.
It was amazing to see so many people come along. I was really impressed at the quality and depth of the questions. Everything from the Iraq war, to Europe and on to the things we need for our community.
Some people take a negative view of young people. Yet consider this as a demonstration of how young people can deeply impress to give confidence of the greatness that is to come. One of the people there gave up her studies to look after her mum who has cancer. Now her mum is in remission she wants to pick up her studies again and become a nurse. Then another young woman is learning to be a plumber. That's bold in such a traditionally male occupation - but people like her are driving the change and remind us that anyone can do and be anything.
Deal's amazing regatta
It never ceases to amaze me how sporty people are in Deal. The carnival week has seen 10K runs, raft races, truck pulls and today the rowing in the regatta. And of course the Walmer Fair for some more light relief and popcorn . . .
Hats off to all the people who train so hard for all these events. It's just amazing to see the dedication played out - and for some pay off. The regatta was just fantastic. A great day of family fun. Charlotte loved it. I couldn't get her away could I?
Congratulations to all who organised and took part in the regatta. And likewise to everyone who worked so hard to make the carnival week such a success. It was amazing and does so much for the sense of fun in Deal - as well as draw in lots of visitors to our beautiful town.
Boosting Deal Hospital
The Deal Hospital Fete, held to raise funds for Deal Victoria Hospital was great fun. We ended up with all manner of pot plants and the biggest balloons I have ever seen! Not to mention the golfing accessories I won in the Rotary lucky dip. It was packed out with people who came to support our much loved hospital.
And it's a great hospital too. Now some people ask why I'm so passionate about more beds and more services in Deal. Well . . . my neighbour in Beach Street had a sister who was terminally ill - she's passed away now - but he was having to visit her in Margate. He wanted a bed for her in Deal so he could spend more time with her. There were no beds. He was really upset. This is what I mean when I speak of the need for loved ones to be able to visit the sick in our community, because he didn't get to see as much of her as he would have liked in her last days. And that's why I keep on about local beds - they've actually been cutting the number of beds and I'm not happy about it.
We should have more done locally here in Deal. I was so appalled when they talked about the hospital becoming a "Dover model" health facility . . . a polyclinic in other words. My warning the community of that threat seems to have made the Government's health chiefs back off for now. I will keep on pressing for more to be done locally however.
Anyway, I disgress. The fete was great fun. I bumped into Cllr Adrian Friend and Thomas was having lots of fun. He enjoyed the bouncy castle as well as those oversized balloons . . . and afterwards we went to the Lydden Bell for lunch. A great pub with super food as well as a fabulous garden for the kids to run about in. I recommend it totally!
The amazing Bleriot weekend
This weekend was the Bleriot weekend. The 100th anniversay of the first flight across the English Channel. And Dover celebrated in style - with my family I went to see all the flying at the Duke of Yorks and at the seafront. There was so much going on, we even made it to the Coldred Steam Rally and the Deal and Betteshangar RFC funday. It really was one of those funpacked weekends where my feet hardly touched the ground! Our community is so great for family fun - I am keen to see so much more, get more tourists to visit and have more all year round action for families! On a more serious note, this weekend was also the 90th anniversary of the remebrance of the Dover Patrol. We will remember them.
Here is a brilliant YouTube video of all the excitement put together in record time by Mike of the Dover Pageant:
At the Duke of Yorks, I explained to Charlotte and Thomas what all the fuss was about . . .
But Tom was far more interested in getting into this amazing veteran car!
While Charlotte tried her hand at Sumo wrestling at the RFC funday. Hmmm.
Tom and I had a great time at the steam rally.
On a more serious note, Cllr Ian Ward and I attended the Dover Patrol Service where the Sea Cadets once again distinguised themselves and made us all proud.
I think I might put together another of my little videos to show just how well we do family fun in South East Kent. Congratulations to everyone who helped so many events such a great success. It was just fantastic!
Nuts about Alkham!
OK . . . so everyone has their quirk. Mine is that I like going to fetes and winning coconuts. This started as a thing because Charlotte likes to poke a hole in them and drink the milk before making a big mess with the white coconut bit. But now I kind of just like winning them because it’s great fun to do at a fete and Thomas thinks it’s very funny. Usually I’m lucky if I just get one – but on Saturday at Alkham fete I won TWO coconuts. Woo Hoo!
And Alkham fete was just fantastic this year. It’s become a bigger draw than ever and is a fantastic day out for all the family. So congratulations to the organisers, the stallholders, the colliery band, the dance troops who really livened things up and everyone else who made it just such a total success. After spending an hour trying to control two little ones and our manic dog Star I needed a break and enjoyed a coffee with Cllr Sue Nicholas where we chatted about making sure the transport museum idea for Alkham is taken forward.
Like the fete, it would be just a fantastic family day out – not just one day, but every day. And we need more year round amusements for families to get out, have a break and some fun. Watch this space . . . although it may take a while to help bring it all to fruition, I’m truly keen on this idea as I feel it would be so positive for our community.
There is also a daft video which I will edit and load up!
- Charlie Elphicke
English Heritage shouldn't run our castles
i am amazed that anyone is disappointed by dover castle.
there is always renovation and improv ement work going on.
the most recent is the admiralty lookout.
last evening i went to a preview evening prior to the re-opening of the grand tower.
even in an incomplete state, it is simply stunning, i will not ruin the surprise for anyone.
go along in a week or two whne it is fully open.
the events held there cover all the school holidays and peak season.
i believe that it is phenomenal value.
- howard mcsweeney
The castle is wonderful . . . but could we not aim higher? Do you remember when there was all that armour there - where's it gone? The tunnels really are great but above ground could not more be done? I raise this because this is what people raise with me. It was a matter of great regret that EH have stopped holding functions at the castles. Our community will lose footfall and money.
- Charlie Elphicke
Dover War Memorial Project
During WWII Dover got seriously shot up. They called in Hellfire Corner. That's why we all think Dover deserves a George Cross and why I'm on the GC for Dover committee.
Keen volunteers have also set up the Dover War Memorial Project
This is an internet based memorial to all that our town lost. It wasn't just people. The big guns set up at Calais basically shot up a stunning regency town and left a mess which we are still struggling to sort out.
We also remember Walter Tull, a local man and the first ever black officer who lost his life in WWI. He was recommended for a Military Cross but didn't get one as he shouldn't have been an officer. Field regulations didn't allow black officers back then. We want to see that change and Walter given the medal he won and deserved to have.
Fair trade matters
While taking a break from the Dog Show in Pencester today, I visited the Fair Trade stall. And I bought some fair trade hot chocolate.
Fair Trade is really important to support. These are products where people in developing countries are treated properly and not exploited. It really makes a positive difference, even if it is a little more expensive, as I discovered when handing over my hard earned money! So I hope people will try and look out for Fair Trade goods where possible.
Family fun
With people complaining about bored kids and the lack of respect in our communities, you'd think everything is going to ruin. Yet this weekend I had a real reminder of just how great our community in Dover and Deal is.
It was one of those weekends when my feet hardly touched the ground, there were so many things going on! Pat was holding a Strawberry Party at his place in Taswell Street . . . 
the Priory Forum was holding a funday where our newly elected Dover County Councillor Nigel Collor and I chatted with organiser Sheila Amos over an ice cream . . .
and then the Dover Carnival was in full swing and the Men of Kent were holding a party at Walmer Castle . . . not to mention the Horticultural and Dog Show going on down at Pencester at which my daughter Charlotte won first prize for the under 10s!
There's lots going on in Dover and Deal - yet I am keen to see more for kids and families to do outside the Summer festival season. I've been thinking about things we can do like taking over a pub and making it a "dry pub" for teenagers to have fun without the downside. With such a resource you could have coffee mornings for more senior citizens and mums and tots getting together in the afternoons. Something like that, in informal non institutional surroundings, could be quite fun and do a lot in Dover and in Deal. I'd really like to know what people think.
What will Cameron's Conservatives look like?
Today I was invited to join a panel of Conservative Parliamentary candidates to discuss what Cameron's Conservatives will look like if the Conservatives win the next election. The gathering was run by the excellent Conservativehome website and covered everything from what David Cameron's central team operation looks like, David's style to the next generation of Conservatives.
Pictured with me are leading Conservative Parliamentary candidates Debi Jones (Sefton) and Andrea Leadsom (Northamptonshire South).
If the Conservatives win the next election, the House of Commons will be a very different place. Over half the MPs will be new - a greater change than has been seen for over 200 years. There will be over 60 female Conservative MPs. The average age of the House of Commons will fall dramatically. Given that the MPs would be newer and younger, I suspect a Conservative dominated House of Commons may turn out to be surprisingly radical.
And, frankly, it needs to be. Our politics are broken, as David Cameron never ceases to say. We have to mend the broken society, fix the broken economy and stitch our broken constitution back together again too.
People tell me they are particularly fed up that they don't feel able to change things about them. On the one hand there is the monolithic Europe thing going on - which seems so remote on the one hand yet passes most of our laws on the other. Then there are the dreaded QUANGOs like primary care trusts that seem not to react to quickly to what people want to see. Getting this right will be incredibly difficult and controversial. For example, say you believe in free trade without the remote laws and you are deemed to "hate Europe". Not so of course - we just want to run our own show a bit more. Call for QUANGOs to be culled and people yawn saying they've heard it all before and it never happens.
So everyone is cynical. Yet this is important. Involvement in our communities must make it possible to change things around us. It's that ability to shape things that gets people involved and strengthens the ties that bind. As a basic rule, it ought to be possible to fire anyone who makes a decision at the ballot box. That is why I support a retooling of our European engagement towards free trade and reform of the way our public life works. Not easy, but to recognise and be concerned are the first steps on the path to solving any problem . . .
Armed Forces Day in Deal
Today Armed Forces Day was celebrated in Deal. Veterans Day has now become Armed Forces Day so that we can all show due respect for our troops currently on active service, as well as the veterans who gave so much.
I joined the line up for the parade salute (see picture) with Dover's current MP Gwyn Prosser, the Leader of the District Council and the mayors of Deal, Dover and Sandwich. It's a time when all of us in all parties come together and mark what our armed forces do and have done for our country.
The parade was done really well, as was the service afterwards. Congratulations to all who worked so hard in organising a great day which was a real success. I took some video of the veterans on parade and I've put in on the front page video.
Time to move forward on expenses
The matter of politician's expenses has been much aired over the last couple of months. Following last week's issue of the Dover Express (pictured here and a full scan is to be found in the Press Cuttings section of this site for those who are interested), a lot of people have asked me where I stand on this matter.
Over a decade ago, I served on Lambeth Council in London. Corruption and conflicts of interest was a way of life there. The result was that people who should have known better forgot who they were and what they were for. The quality of services crashed and large sums of money went missing. The end result was that the least well off who most needed public services suffered terribly. I represented the third most deprived ward in what was and is one of the most deprived areas of the country. It made me incredibly angry and determined to do the best for public life and the least well off in our communities. I write all this as that experience shapes my views on this matter. My views are absolute. There can and must be no grey areas. People in public life should lead by example. This is why I say that to serve is an honour and a vocation, not a living and a trough. This is why I take a very firm line.
Hard pressed families facing hard times in this recession do ask me how Mr Prosser (or any MP) could claim for knives, forks, food, house plants, toasters, washing machines, flashy TVs and armchairs etc etc. Yet rather than simply criticise Mr Prosser, it's more important now to talk about the change we need. We need now to move on and get reform for the long term. The ideal would be to get rid of the personal type expenses and have a salary set by an independent body that will represent a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, taking into account that this group of 650 or so people do lead our nation, do make many of our laws and do hold great responsibility. MPs should not set their own salaries - for that's what got us into this mess in the first place - it has to be done independently and fairly.
Nothing will be ideal in the current national mood. Yet I can't see a better way to sort it all out that what I am suggesting. I'd be really interested in hearing what people think is a good way forward for the long term. For me the priority must be to restore trust and confidence in our public life for the long term.
MPs should do the job on a voluntary basis, then only people who were interested in it for the right reasons, ie caring for the country
- Nicola
Get together in Kingsdown
This weekend, I had a hectic time meeting with secondary school students to discuss what more we can do for younger people, discussing the things that would help put families first with Sarah who organises the Dover Family Feast get togethers.
So what better way to round the day off than a nice relaxing BBQ in Kingsdown with newly elected C Cllr Steve Manion (pictured to the right of me)? 
Steve, an Aussie, is very good at BBQs and this picture catches me in the act of being taught how to do burgers properly!
Charlotte got stuck into playing rounders with the other kids - it was a great family evening out. So putting families first kind of turned out to be the theme of my weekend!
Dover and Deal turns blue!
In Dover & Deal, the Conservative team did really well in the Kent County Council elections. With five gains, we achieved a clean sweep of all six divisions fully in the constituency (Eastry and Sholden fall into the Conservative held Sandwich division). We went from just one seat to a "full house" of six. A strong team of excellent and hard working Conservative councillors have been sent to county hall. Congratulations to our new County Councillors! Joining incumbent Dover West County Cllr Bryan Cope (and Cllr Leyland Ridings who represents Sandwich), the new councillors are:
Deal - C Cllrs Julie Rook and Kit Smith
Dover Town - C Cllrs Nigel Collor and Roger Frayne
Dover North - C Cllr Steve Manion
The elections saw a well above trend swing from Labour to Conservative of nearly 14%. This was not just a routine Labour collapse. The Conservative share of the vote also rose very strongly. All parties were surprised by the result in Dover Town where the swing was a hurricane level 18%, the Conservative vote share rising by 15%.
Thank you to everyone who voted Conservative. We want you to know that while we are all delighted and extremely grateful, we understand there is no room for complacency or triumphalism. Each new county councillor knows that they have to fight for our community day and night. That they are servants of the people. That they will not forget they hold the public trust and must bring us honour . . . as well as our fair share. They will work to improve healthcare, strengthen our local economy, improve policing, strengthen our borders at every turn and be there for people in need.
This is without doubt a very strong position for the Dover & Deal Conservatives heading into the General Election. Yet again there is no room for complacency, I and our team take nothing for granted and we know we will still have to work like Trojans for a General Election win! And we know that it is at the General Election that we can make the real change. For only a change of Government will really enable us to improve local healthcare, boost our economy (safeguarding the port and getting the A2 dualled for example) and to make sweeping changes that will make our borders secure, stamping out human trafficking and keeping drugs out of Britain.
For the six county divisions fully covering Dover & Deal the overall results were as follows:
Votes % share Change
Con 11,338 43.7 8.1
Lab 6,163 23.8 -18.5
LD 6,040 23.3 4.2
Other 2,405 9.3 7.4
Total 25,946
Note: Labour came within 123 votes of falling into third place. When the Eastry and Sholden villages of the Sandwich county division are taken into account, it is almost certain that Labour fell into third place across the constituency.
chas
it now comes to light that a rather unpleasant leaflet was issued by your party during the campaign.
were you aware iof this smear campaign?
if so, did you condone it?
- howard mcsweeney
Howard, in the heat of the campaign, people were really upset by Gwyn Prosser's highly personal and dirty campaigning. I think in the cold light of day, things done in the heat of a campaign - any campaign - can go too far. I don't like "ad hominem" campaigning. You and I have seen it on the Chatmap with that Labour person pretending to be a bona fide resident - it's a bit dirty, obvious and depressing, isn't it? And the nasty, unwarranted and deeply personal attacks on me - the idea I go about telling lies, should be sent "back to London" etc etc - in a recent letter signed personally by the incumbent MP really upset my team beyond all reason. It really was beyond the pale. As were the attacks in the press on me for simply asking basic questions on expenses, which turned out to be pertinent. I could sit here and say the Labour Party are sitting in glass houses and all that, yet in truth, things like that should not happen - on any side. And in anticipation of your follow up, you are right that to take the bait is to sink to the same level. It must not happen again. It will not be allowed to happen again. What matters are the issues. My hope is that a compact - or at least an understanding - can be agreed between all the parties that we will play the ball and not the man. I am deeply concerned that if we go for the person, turnout will fall, the level of debate will crash and we will not be providing people with a considered choice on important issues. What is done cannot be undone on any side. The matter has been well discussed on the Forum and all that will now happen is a game of he said she said. What matters is how we move forward with a more positive engagement across the board, giving the voters the respect they need and deserve in the big decisions that lie ahead.
- Charlie Elphicke
Hello Howard, I am afraid it was not a smear campaign, it was all the truth about the appalling state of affairs at Deal Town Council. I was a Labour Councillor on their until I joined the Conservatives, so I know first hand what some Councillor's NOT ALL are like on Deal Town Council and how they abused their power to the detriment of the local people. I cannot go into detail but the Labour party are very good at intimidation tactics at all levels of the party, I've experienced this first hand myself. They have also had their own little smear campaign against me. Regards Tracy
Kind Regards TRACY
- TRACY WILTON
chas
i asked whether you approved of the leaflet.
tracy
this was nothing to do with deal town council, this was a vile campaign leaflet on a labour counry councillor from dover.
- howard mcsweeney
Howard, it was part of the county council / European campaign, not my campaign. As I said before, there was a lot of anger at the highly personal attacks from Labour, so there was a strong desire to hit back which sometimes happens in the heat of a campaign. Equally, I understand the shock from the Labour Party that they should get as good as they gave, as that's not usually our way. From now on it is, in effect, my campaign. While I expect more dirty attacks on me, I do not plan to rise to the bait (although I did enjoy the dialogue with that troll we had a few weeks ago!). As you know my way is to work for consensus, stick to the issues and focus on the things our community needs to achieve its full potential. Those are the things I plan to do.
- Charlie Elphicke
Basically the campaign was not vile. T
- tracy wilton
tracey
the leaflet was, i have seen a copy.
perhaps you politicos may have a think about why so few people vote?
- howard msweeney
Conservatives and Lib Dems join forces on Deal Council
This morning, I was ambling down to Boots, when I bumped into a group of Conservative and Lib Dem town councillors being photographed by the East Kent Mercury. They have joined forces to call a special meeting of Deal Town Council calling for all councillors mentioned in the damning audit report to be removed from positions of responsibility. I am delighted for us to be joining together with the Lib Dems - just as we did on the Gurkha justice vote last week.
But I had thought there was another councillor who signed the call for a meeting - a Labour councillor. Where was he I asked? Ah well . . . they said. It seems he has been bullied back into line with threats and the usual nasty stuff the Dover & Deal Labour Party seem to be getting quite a name for lately. So he'd asked for his name to be taken off the list. Seems the Labour Party is still in denial. Still trying to cover everything up. Still hasn't taken action against the councillors at the centre of the storm. And they are still not saying sorry for sinking Deal in this ocean of sleaze.
So if any Labour councillors are reading this, who are honest and have had enough, do feel free to drop us a line and join us in our fight to clean up Deal.
Tracy and Pat fight to clean up Deal
Today, I went and joined Tracy Wilton and Pat Cook in Deal town centre. Tracy and Pat have just resigned from the local Labour Party and from Deal Town Council. They have joined the Conservative campaign to clean up Deal and mean to stand for us in Mill Hill. As you can see, we had a lot of fun messing around with balloons and chatting to people.
It is a serious concern to us all that the local Labour Party seems to sinking in an ocean of sleaze. The way they've run the town council is a complete disgrace. We cannot tolerate a culture like that exposed in the damning audit report. Public money must be spent properly - it is, after all, our money. So you'd expect the Labour Party to say sorry. You'd expect them to expel the councillors who are named in the report. You'd expect them to clean up their house. But no. Instead they've spent the last week continuing to attempt a cover up and trying to bully and intimidate Tracy and Pat. Their behaviour has been wicked and despicable. Much as reported in the damning audit report, sadly.
The problem is that they've been in power so long they just don't know what they are for any more. They seem not to know the difference of right and wrong. The only thing they seem clear on is how to claim lots of expenses - you know, bath plugs, dodgy movies, jobs for the boys, suspect consultancies, property empires funded by the public ticket etc etc. And when people find out and complain, they try and bully or smear them. They just don't seem fit for public office at any level any more.
I'm really proud that there are good people there who want the best for Deal, rather than themselves. People like Tracy and Pat. People who are honest. I know there are others, and I invite them to get in touch and join our campaign. Together, we can not only clean up Deal, we can get a proper hospital locally, justice for the Gurkhas, save the port from Labour's privatisation plans and save the country from bankruptcy. It's a long list. There's lots to do. They've made a very big mess. I hope more people will come and help us move things forward for the good of Dover & Deal and the country as a whole.
chas
i thought you would have learned your lesson about embracing defectors.
remember ken tranter?
usually that type are just headline grabbing egotists.
- howard mcsweeney
Hello Howard, I take offence at headline grabbing egotists. I love Deal and my Mother's family can be traced back to the time of the charter. Quite frankly I had had enough of the Labour group on Deal Town Council with the way they treated the staff, and the way they abused their position of trust
Hello Howard, I am a true Deal person and can trace my Mother's family back to the charter. I was quite frankly fed up of the way the Labour group were abusing their position of trust, ill-treating the staff, and wasting public money all against the Councillor's code of conduct. I and my Mother have defected to the Conservatives because they are the only party that care about Deal. I take offence at headline grabbing egotist, I care about my town. Regards TRACY
- Tracy Wilton
- tracy
- tracy
i understand your feelings, but why did you defect instead of just standing down?
the parties are diametrically opposed.
- tracy
I had had enough of L
- tracy
i had had enough of Labour spin, and the goings on at Deal Town Council. I felt that nobody listened and that they were more concerned with following the party line, and CHASING the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral chain of office than apologising to the people of Deal. Not one Labour Councillor has apologised to the people of Deal for the expense to the Coucnil tax payers of Deal caused by all the nonesense at DTC. Some Labour Councillor's, not all, have breached the Councillor's code of conduct, and have not promoted the interests of Deal e.g using an outside firm to do the flower boxes in the High Street when there are plenty of excellent horticulturalists in Deal. Why didn't they agree to the Conservatives proposal of forgoing their allowances for one year ? Which would have gone part of the way to apologising for putting a financial burden on local people (all Labour Councillors voted against this proposal).
- tracy wilton
you are talking about labour as if you were never elected on their ticket.
we have the same problem in dover town.
- howard mcsweeney
Gurkhas - stabbed in the back
The Gurkhas have stood by us in the field of battle. Many have laid down their lives. Nearly all went into harm's way. Many live locally in Dover & Deal. The Conservatives and the Lib Dems think they should be allowed to live in Britain, as they have really contributed to our country over many years. 
But not, it seems, the Labour Government. Anyone else can pretty much wonder in, but if you've actually contributed to Britain, then it seems you can get lost. In Kent, two Labour MPs are heavily involved with the All Party Gurkha group. Bob Marshall Andrews and Dover's Gwynfor Prosser. Bob didn't vote with the Government. Thanks to his courage and that of some other Labour MPs, the vote was lost by the Government and the Gurkhas will now have to be treated properly.
The surprise was Mr Prosser. Having told everyone he was going to stand by the Gurkhas, he voted with the Government. Despite having constituents who are Gurkhas. Now it is usual for Mr Prosser to say he will rebel, fight for us and give out lots of bluster. Then, typically, he trots up to Westminster, claims some great "compromise deal", votes the line and sells us all down the river. We saw that with the Post Offices, with the 20p tax rate and so on. But the business with the Gurkhas is a new development - for here he didn't just sell us down the river in a general way . . . in my opinion he stabbed his Gurkha constituents in the back.
It's a black day when Dover's MP does not support these heroes and I condemn him for it. I condemn him not only for his vote - but for his weasely behaviour and his cheek in putting out the leaflet pictured going on about his support for "Gurkha Justice". It's things like this that destroy trust in our public life.
Clean up Deal Town Council
Recent reports in the local press indicate that the concerns at Deal Town Council are not just concerns - but it seems downright bad bad bad things have been going on. It looks like at least two councillors should resign over their behaviour. Frankly, as a resident and taxpayer of Deal myself, I am disgusted that the town council has been run in such a disgraceful manner. We need to clean house - just as we need to clean house on the revolting MP expenses mess. 
This is all a massive concern to the whole community. You'd expect me the crow that the council is Labour run. OK so maybe there is a bent culture thing going on with Labour MPs' expenses, the McBride stuff in No 10 and now this, but I'm actually far more concerned that we simply clean things up. That we restore trust and confidence in the town council and public life generally. So I have been appealing to the Mayor of Deal publicly and privately to join with us in cleaning things up. I don't care that he's Labour - I care far more about sorting it all out. Yet they are still in denial about the whole thing, even though it seems the press have all got the "secret" report and are quoting from it with glee!
Now, respected Labour Mill Hill town councillor Tracy Wilton has resigned in disgust. It looks like there will be a by election in Mill Hill. Hats off to Tracy for refusing to stand for this nonsense. I for one hope that we will see more of her in our local public life. Seems to me we need brave people like Tracy who stand up for what's right.
Backing local jobs in Dover
This evening I hosted a Town Hall in Dover as part of my backing local jobs campaign. On the panel was Shadow Minister Mark Simmonds MP, Kent County Council cabinet member C Cllr Parry and Dover District Council cabinet member Cllr Collor.
We had a really interesting and wide ranging discussion. People spoke passionately about their concern on business rates, the potential to get tourists from France, the number of shops closing down locally and the need for a proper hospital rather than a tiny little polyclinic. There was also a strong desire to sort out the lorries in the sea front, improve the shopping centre, make the most of the tourism offer and enable Dover to grab the opportunities before it.
There is so much that needs doing in Dover. It's a great town, yet deserves to be so much greater! I am passionate that we get lorries out of the sea front, that we get a really great harbour side leisure and entertainment complex - like Ocean village in Southampton - that we get a proper hospital and that we stop the Government's newly announced plans to sell off the port of Dover. The council has done much, yet there is much still to do. I am keenly aware this will require central government investment that has been sadly lacking in recent years. I am keenly aware of the level of responsibility that may fall on my shoulders and the level of expectation.
You know, if I get elected I will do my best. Yet we all need to be realistic. It will take a long long time to turn things around. Years of neglect and our being ignored by the Government are not going to be turned about on a dime. That said, I do mean to ensure we get our fair share, I will bang the table and I won't stand for us being taken for granted as we have been for the last 12 years!
Dover has a lovely seafront, an attractive market square, Pencester gardens, the castle
- Nicola
Most of my long posting above disappeared. I'll try again! I was commenting on the various attributes that Dover has to offer local people, and visitors to the area. Connaught park is also a 'little gem' in the area.
We should be looking into eco-tourism for the area, as Dover
- Nicola
I give up. We need more space to comment in Charlie (well I do anyway!). To continue, Dover has beautiful green spaces which we should promote whilst conserving the areas too.
If we don't use our local services, we'll lose them. And having 2 go miles 4 shopping/going online just isn't the same.
The exchange rate should mean that more visitors should be coming over from Europe ( staying in the area if we started investing in it). We've got 2 start somewhere. Tourists bring money which can b invested 2 improve things further...Start with the basic product (Dover), sell it 2 GB Europe then reinvest.
- Nicola
Thanks Nicola - there should not be a limit on the number of words you can use to comment on. I will double check to see if there is an issue.
Your ideas are really good. Please do email me full details at charlie@elphicke.com or try and post again here.
Thanks so much for all that you say.
- Charlie Elphicke
Backing local jobs in Deal
This evening I hosted a Town Hall in Deal as part of my backing local jobs campaign. On the panel was Shadow Minister Mark Simmonds MP, Kent County Council cabinet member C Cllr Parry and Dover District Council cabinet member Cllr Smith.
Many points were raised at the meeting and there were lots of really good ideas. Issues raised included getting the Betteshangar business park open soonest (SEEDA has made a complete hash of this), the need for a cinema back in Deal, a desire for the quarterdeck to be either preserved or rebuilt in a way that enables more leisure facilities for Deal and many wanted a large hotel to attract people to Deal. There was also much concern about parking charges in the town vs out of town shopping centres which are free.
We had a really good discussion on all these things. Much has been done in Deal to regenerate the town by the Conservative council. Yet more needs to be done in the way of attractions, leisure activities and kids stuff. These things take time, yet I am really keen to see them happen. It's not just about tourism - there isn't enough for our young people to do locally!
Difficulties at Deal Town Council
Serious concerns have come to light with the running of Deal Town Council. An audit report has been presented to the town council which is a matter of very deep concern. There is a clamour for it to be published, but to date it remains under wraps.
A number of very serious allegations are apparently made in the audit report about the conduct, procedures, probity and behaviour of the town council and councillors (not, it is said, officers). More than this I do not know. Yet I do know that, just like the disgraceful MPs expenses mess, we have a right to know whether public money has been spent properly. And we have a right to see the report and know what exactly our town councillors have been up to with our money.
This is very difficult for the Mayor of Deal. Yet I feel he should do the right thing. And that is to be open and to level with the people of Deal. To publish the report. And to be energetic in setting out the measures he will take to ensure that trust and confidence in the town council can be restored for the long term. If he does that, I reckon he will get a lot of respect and support.
Talking Europe
This evening, I attended a gathering at Dover Town Hall to listen to Tony Devenish, a Conservative Euro candidate for the South East.
Tony spoke of the need for change in Europe. Change that only the Conservatives can bring. We need a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. We need to get a better Europe where we have more free trade and less political interference.
It was a really interesting get together looking at the way ahead on European matters.
George Cross for Dover
The campaign for Dover to receive a George Cross stepped up a gear this weekend with a sleep out in the Grand Shaft. George Cross for Dover campaigners Stewart Dimmock and Cllr Chris Precious were among those who slept out in the Grand Shaft to draw attention to the campaign. The delightful Georgette Rapley was also there. I joined them with Castle Ward Councillor Nigel Collor (see picture). Stewart did a great interview with BBC South East to highlight the campaign.
Why do we all feel so strongly about it? Why am I a committee member of the George Cross for Dover campaign? We all know that Dover was the front line in the Second World War and the defiance of Dover and the White Cliffs standing proud are iconic to this day. Yet behind all the romance Dover was shot up, bombed and paid such a heavy price it came to me known as "Hellfire Corner". You know, Dover deserves a George Cross. And this St George's day, I will be raising a toast to the town and to the ongoing campaign for Dover to be given the George Cross it should have been awarded years ago.
Expenses - they're at it again!
If you are a benefits cheat, why should you feel any shame when the employment minister acts as he does? If you are a peddler of filth or a fraudster, why should you feel any shame when the Home Secretary, who is meant to uphold the criminal law, acts as she does?
And Dover's Labour MP has still failed to publish the full details of his expenses, as he said he would previously. Why?!?
The way MPs - especially Labour MPs - have played the system is utterly disgusting. Respect for our national leaders is important. The appalling behaviour of these Parliamentarians - particularly the two ministers in the dock this time - eats away at our social fabric. It eats away at the respect, civility, honesty and decency that we collectively try to build in our society.
It's time to clean house!
MP's expenses pale into insignificance when compared to the massive fraud that your shadow budget has put forward. I've just read on conservativehome what grand plans David and George have masterminded. A green budget? Why all this nonsense when you consider that out of one million dots drawn on a piece of paper Mans contribution to carbon dioxide comprises of a mere thirteen of those dots? Very odd really in my opinion. Charlie please explain to us why you and your party believe in man-made global warming.
- Phil
I take a hard headed approach. The science on this is not clear one way or the other to my mind. Yet if it is real and we do nothing, then the risks of heat death and rising sea levels is serious. So I believe we should look at renewables - wind farms out to sea - we should look at nuclear power and other alternatives to fossil fuels. And we should look at fuel cell powered vehicles charged from non or low emission sources. If we do that we also get the benefit of increased energy security and our towns and cities will ne less polluted and nicer places to be. For this reason, I think there is much to be said for taking a radical and positive approach. Green taxes just raise revenue and doing things like banning plastic bags etc make limited differences. What I am looking at would make us less dependent on unstable areas of the World and make real and radical change. What do you think?
- Charlie Elphicke
Go Whites!
Today Dover Athletic FC became the champions, winning the Ryman Premier title and beating Sutton 6-0. It's fantastic news. Wonderful for the club and fantastic for the town. I'm over the moon. Go Whites!
Sea Cadets on parade
Tonight, seeing the Sea Cadets on parade, I felt so proud of our young people. And I thought that if this is our future, it is going to be a great one.
The Sea Cadets were having their Royal Naval Parade and inspection by a senior officer of the Royal Navy. Parents of the cadets, the Mayor of Dover, councillors, myself and the current Member of Parliament all went to support. And we all left really impressed by what we saw.
Afterwards I reflected that people often complain about young people of today, anti social behaviour and all that. But then you see the flipside and it really is just so impressive. So a big congratulations to the Sea Cadets and all involved in making TS Lynx just such a success!
The Government's border security mess
Since my fact finding visit to Calais, the Government has put forward a response. And a weak response at that. The propose a holding centre at Calais. After the people there pass through passport control. At the moment, people are living in a place called the Jungle - pictured - which is really disgusting. What does not make sense to me is that we adopt the whole problem by having some kind of British holding centre at Calais. At present, it looks like there will be six cells. A drop in the ocean considering there are 1,000 people from overseas at Calais.
Yet in wanting to spin "action" at home, we could be conceding who has responsibility for the people at Calais. For as soon as they go through British passport control, the people there will surely be our responsibility. While it might seem great that we and the French are sharing the costs of building the holding centre, are we adopting the responsibility? Who will pay for the running costs? Who will pay for the flights home? Will we have to take in all the children? Currently 1,000 children costs Kent County Council £35m - or £35,000 each a year. It’s a big cost for our county. Surely the French should be looking after the children rather than us? Beyond the cost of all this in difficult times for our nation, I worry that the holding centre could grow and might not stay in Calais. If you were French, don’t you think you might be tempted to insist that it is moved to our side of the channel in future? Might not they say we should expand the DRC into somewhere like Connaught Barracks? This would be completely unacceptable to people in Dover and Deal. It must not be allowed to happen.
The situation at Calais
I went to Calais to see how serious the current situation is. I found kids as young as 8 years old who try, every night, to jump on the back of lorries and break into Britain. Living conditions are terrible. We wouldn’t allow animals to live that way. And we certainly wouldn’t allow kids to live like that. They live in a wood called “the Jungle”. They have shacks made of cardboard and covered by blankets. Speaking to them, I learned how the French Police come daily to spray tear gas and smash up the shanty town in an effort to get them to leave. I spoke to Dominic Fitch, an aid worker, who told me that they see Britain as “El Dorado”, the legendary city of gold. There are now nearly 1,000 people there and more arrive daily. The situation is desperate and now threatens to spiral out of control. To me this desperate situation is the result of years of soft touch border control. Here lay before me the grim reality of Labour’s years of failure. Kids really believing they’d get a better life. I explained that the Government’s economic incompetence has bankrupted the country, that we have no money and people are losing their jobs. They looked stunned.
House building concerns in Sholden
This evening I attended a packed meeting at Warden House School in Sholden, Deal. People are very concerned at the amount of development proposed for their village. I spoke to the meeting about my own concerns that 14,000 homes is too many and it would be better to have no more than 8,000 new homes locally, as the Whitfield Action Group has said before now. It is also a concern to me here in Sholden, as the roads just won't take all this development.
Beer festival at the Yacht Club
After the coffee morning in River, I went door knocking with some friends to hear about what concerns people in Dover. Time and again people told me they were fed up with Labour's polyclinic and want a proper hospital. They are worried about jobs and money in the economic crisis and anti social behaviour is a big concern too. Later we went to the beer festival at the Yacht Club to put our feet up and relax. It was great fun sampling all sorts of different ales on tap. One of the best things about Dover is the enjoyment of real ale!
River coffee morning
This morning I enjoyed a great coffee morning at River Village Hall. We'd invited the whole village to join C Cllr Bryan Cope and me for coffee and a chat. With me in the photo are Cllr Sue Nicholas and residents who had come along for the morning. Loads of people came and it was a great success. I was quizzed on everything from problems with repossessions to the benefits culture and teenage mums.
Door knocking in Kingsdown
Today I went door knocking with a big group in Kingsdown. We had a great time chatting to people about concerns in the village which ranged from concern about the safety of our borders, to the totally inadequate healthcare that we get locally. It was great fun chatting to so many people. Kingsdown is such a lovely village, has a stunning beach and is a great place to go for people thinking about a place to visit or stay. The Kings Head (see the photograph of that part of our crew we could fit in!) is a fantastic traditional pub and serves a great lunch!
Dealec - internet electrical equipment
Dealec, run by Andy Maple, is a highly successful internet based business that sells electrical equipment. Dimplex, Xpelair, Redring and much else besides in fans, showers and wall heaters for your bathroom. His showroom is near Dover Railway Station.
And he cares about the community too. While it doesn't affect him, since he sells mainly online, he's very concerned about Deal's High Street and has been campaigning for ways to reduce the level of parking charges and other things to encourage people to shop in Deal town centre. He's passionate about all he does and I listened carefully to his ideas.
Stalco - anything and everything fabrication
Stalco is a business that does all manner of metal fabrication. Steven Colyer is incredible with his hands and has a whole load of ancient presses and drills that were built to last. In our throw away society people get rid of these machines and Steven sorts them out and puts them back to work.
So he's able to fold 10mm steel, lathe farm parts and build heavy duty steel railings for the harbour. If it's metal, Steven can fix it or build it. As a result of his entrepreneurial flair, he's built up a business from nothing that employs 15 people. 15 skilled jobs that wouldn't otherwise exist. And when he's not doing that, he runs a very fine restaurant locally!
Wallett's Court - a great place to stay and eat
Another successful smaller business is Wallett's Court, a fine hotel with a spa, a fantastic restaurant and superb rooms. They also own another hotel in st Margaret's village - White Cliffs, which is doing really well. In total they employ 50 people - and local people at that.
There I met with Gavin Oakley and saw first hand what a great operation they have. I didn't need to sample the food, as I have already visited their restaurant and the food is out of this World! They've been doing really well lately and beating the recession as they've had coverage in the Daily Mail and the Sunday Times about how great they are. And richly deserved too - this is an incredibly well run hotel.
St Margaret's has really got itself organised as a village when it comes to tourism. A web site www.firstlightcoast.com has been set up advertising what the village has to offer. The village is also pioneering sustainable development and zero carbon home ideas.
Solley's brilliant ice creams!
As part of my back our local economy campaign, I visited Solley's ice cream plant. They are famous for Strawberry and Champagne ice cream which apparently goes down a storm at weddings!
Their latest product is Bramley Apple flavour ice cream. I visited their cold store and sampled the goods. This is highly recommended. They have a shop at Kearsney with lots of flavours. It's local, well made and very, very good!
Why don't locals help you by starting to email in their favourite shops and services in the district in order to encourage others to visit them too?!
You could show how many people had voted for each venue the most positive comments/ useful information could be posted alongside it, like opening times, average prices of goods/services.
Maybe you could put a link to it on this site
- Nicole
Nicole, this is a super idea. I will take this away and think how this could be done. Thank you so much.
- Charlie Elphicke
My big local economy day
Today I did a tour of successful local smaller businesses in a wide range of sectors to draw attention to just how many great enterprises we have - and why we should back our local businesses as much as we can in these difficult times. The day started with my addressing a breakfast meeting of the Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade. We discussed the national situation, what East Kent needs as a whole - there was strong backing for the expansion of Manston - and what we can do to boost Deal's High Street. It was a really positive day. I shall write about each visit in a separate blog, but I just want to say how fiercely proud I am of the successful businesses that we have. We need to safeguard them, to support them, to stand together and back each other. We should reallly do that anyway - but we should do that this year more than any. Now we are all going to watch the flicks at Westwood Cross, shop at Tesco in Whitfield and all that. No one is perfect. I'm certainly not! This should not be a prissie thing where we guilt trip each other and get all holier than thou. All I'm saying is that we should think about it. We should ask ourselves - if I'm buying ice cream, can I buy Solleys? If I want some steel fencing made, should I get Stalco to do it? If I need bread and coffee, can I visit Deal's High Street? That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'd be really interested to hear what more we can do. I'll post this on the Chatmap too as I think it's really important for us all.
Backing Dover's economy
This evening I attended the Best of Dover business event and the Film Festival at Dover Town Hall. It was impressive to see so many local business people come along and the strength of resolve that we will all weather the storm this year. Congratulations are once again in order to Mike McFarnell for organising another brilliant event in Dover. Mike's move from Pageantry to Film has been a seemless transition! Thanks too to www.doverforum.com for allowing me to use the attached photograph.
Doverforum do great work keeping us all up to date on Dovorian affairs, as well as being a lot of fun! We shouldn't forget what a great town we have and the potential that lies all around us. Only London and Dover are important enough to have names in three languages! Dover is the busiest port in Western Europe. We have the incredible White Cliffs, great scenery and a heritage story as long as your arm.
Afterwards, I thought about how great the water front could be if we use the Western Docks development as an opportunity to get the lorries out of Townwall Street. If we get on and do a big water front marina style development like they have in Southampton. And if we succeed in maximising the heritage that we have . . . "they will come" as the immortal line goes in that film Field of Dreams. I know the excellent district council is looking at these ideas in its regeneration plans and I will do all I can to support this important work so that we come out of these difficult economic times stronger and well placed for the future.
Have your say on the European constitution
This Summer the European elections will take place. It will be the first chance people will have a say at the ballot box about us all being denied a vote on the European Constitution. The Conservatives want to see a referendum take place on the matter, as we were originally promised by the Government. If you agree, please lend them you support when the time comes.
Conservatives MEPs and Euro candidates got together ahead of the elections on June 4th recently to make the point. From left to right: James Elles MEP, Tony Devenish , Richard Robinson , Sarah Richardson , Mark Francois MP (Shadow Europe Minister) , Niina Kaariniemi, Marc Brunel-Walker , Therese Coffey, Richard Ashworth MEP and Dan Hannan MEP.
Supporting our local economy
Today I've launched a campaign to support our local economy, as reported in the East Kent Mercury. Times are tough for everyone. This is no time for politicians to score points off each other. It’s a time for us all to come together. We all need to support local business and jobs.
That includes our local shops in Dover & Deal. Our high streets and village shops are fantastic. We should think of backing our community and buying local more.
So I've teamed up with local business leaders to carry out a survey of what would encourage people to use our high streets more and how we can best support local businesses. People often tell me we don’t always get our fair share of breaks locally. How can we make more of our luck in living in one of the nicest, most scenic and wonderful places in Britain?
Care kids shouldn't be dumped in Kent
The News of the World reported today on my fight to stamp out child dumping in Kent. 19,000 out of some 50,000 children in care, having been taken away from their parents are ripped out of their home communities and 1,301 are placed in Kent. We're the child dumping capital of the country. It's not for their "safety", now, is it? The News of the World report that it's more likely to be about money - Kent foster parents get less money than elsewhere according to figures the paper has obtained. And it's not right.
More importantly, I think this is incredibly unfair on the kids. They've been taken away from their families, then they are taken away from everything else they know too. The way things work, placements don't last more than two years as often as they might. So off they go again, all friendships made at school lost, all stability gone, no-one to form that all important parent-child style bond of love with. Frankly, I think it stinks. It really does. We wouldn't treat animals like this, so why do we treat the most vulnerable in our society in such a disgraceful way?
And we should not be surprised that all the numbers show they fail really badly at school, get into crime and their lives are so often a total mess. Small wonder so many feel so little affection for the rest of society and get into trouble. Everyone loses.
So what should we do about it? I think the care system needs wide ranging reform that will give children the stability and love they need to do well at school and succeed in life. That means we don't take fostering and childrens' homes as first resort. They should be last resort. First resort should be someone else in the family, since blood is thicker than water. Second resort is adoption - reform it, make it easier. Who cares if they smoke, are old or have different lifestyles? For me the test is simple - will they provide love and stability and care as a parent would? Any parent will tell you that's what really matters.
Lastly fostering is necessary, it is important, foster parents really do care and almost all do a great job. Yet it needs to be longer term. And even in childrens' homes, there needs to be a role model the kids can settle with, not the impersonal factory style money production line that some of them sadly are.
I am indebted to some good and true residents of Deal for bringing this to my attention and speaking of their concerns for the safety and wellbeing of children they see in their daily lives. That's what community spirit is all about.
A256 concerns
Over on the ChatMap, Waldershare resident Robert Gibson raised a concern about the closing of entries onto the A256. So I went to see him today to hear more about his concerns.
The A256 "East Kent Access" is sort of a road to nowhere. It was meant to join with the A2 Thanet Way, but that has sort of never happened. One tenth of the cars use this swish dual carriageway as use the horrible, accident ridden Dover-Deal A258. And living in Deal myself, I can tell you why. You just can't get to the A256 from Deal without going through lots of single track rubbish roads. So it's much quicker to go on the A258. Hence all the accidents, since the A258 is simply not meant to take this weight of traffic. There really needs to be a link road into Sholden or Mill Hill. Think I'm being a dreadful traffic bore? Not if you live in Deal, where this is all a constant and serious concern!
And Robert's worry is that what traffic does actually use the A256 is being discouraged by highways engineers. At the Eythorne junction, they closed off the right turn from Eythorne to Dover. The result? Lots of cars down Sandwich Road outside his house and the High & Dry Pub. It not a nimby thing as the dual carriageway is only another 50 yards away (zoom in on the map and you'll see what I mean) - it's an accident thing. He tells me there have been loads of accidents outside his house since the closure. Before the closure there was about one accident on the A256.
He is more concerned still as he tells me they now plan to close the right turn into Eythorne as well. What will happen? Cars will come off the roundabout at Tilmanstone and go through Eythorne village centre. That won't affect Robert at all, but he's concerned for the village. So I'm interested to hear what residents locally think about all these plans and whether the A256 turn here should just be re-opened, traffic lighted, roundabouted or anything else. Please do let me know what you think in the comments here or by email. Thank you Robert for raising this issue.
Coffee at Peter's place
This morning, Peter Wibley kindly hosted a coffee morning at his home in River. We all had a good chat about the state of things. The topic everyone wanted to talk about was whether Britain is becoming ungovernable again. The 1970s seems such a long time ago - I shudder just at the memory of the way Britain was humiliated - yet history has a habit of repeating itself, it would appear.
Imagine what you'd have said if a friend had predicted a year ago that the country would soon be virtually bankrupt, the financial system in meltdown, we'd see the biggest downturn for nearly half a century, the Government running out of money and a whole load of workers walking out in a massive countrywide wildcat strike. You'd have thought they were crazy. And yet here we are. It's a tragedy. I feel so angry about the state we're in. If the Conservatives take power at the next election, tough measures will be needed. There will be no alternative.
As for British jobs for British workers - spin does have a habit of coming back to bite you, as Gordon Brown has just found out. That said, we simply cannot carry on with anyone just walking into Britain. Proper border security and agreed limits on the number of new arrivals is a must.
Buy local!
This afternoon I met in Deal with Jasin Kaplan, who runs the amazing new pier cafe and business leaders Jane Langstaff and Stephanie Hayman to discuss what can be done to encourage more people to buy local and support our local economy.
And we cannot just stand by and do nothing, you know. Shops are closing down locally and we need to encourage people to use our local high streets and support each other. In Deal, we talked about what could be done to boost tourism.
I'd love to see an art gallery to display all the paintings owned by the various local councils and showcase our great local artists, get a cinema back into Deal, a ten pin bowling alley and a venue for music and dance to support the Deal Music Festival. After all, Deal is the most amazing seaside place to go in Kent, so we should improve and market what a great place we have!
Jasin told me there is so much we can do, we just need the imagination and ambition. I departed inspired and determined to help chart a positive way forward! Watch this space . . .
"I'd love to see an art gallery to display all the paintings owned by the various local councils and showcase our great local artists, get a cinema back into Deal, a ten pin bowling alley and a venue for music and dance to support the Deal Music Festival.� After all, Deal is the most amazing seaside place to go in Kent, so we should improve and market what a great place we have!"
Charlie, Obviously a visit to the Landmark centre is long overdue.
- Richard Blackwell
Get together at Blakes
This evening I enjoyed a good get together at Blakes. Conversation centred on the economy and I had a good talk to Cllr Roger Walkden (pictured) about the state of Dover's shopping centre.
Roger is known for his great efforts in promoting the Dover Loyalty Scheme and no-one works harder for local businesses than he does. People were also very concerned that the country's finances are in such a mess we'll have to call in the IMF again. Let's hope we can avoid that terrible humiliation!
Deal's business gathering at the castle
This evening an incredible business get together was held in Deal Castle. It was just amazing how many people came along. There must have been over 200 there. It was a fantastic event and good on the organisers, Stephanie Hayman, Jane Langstaff and many others, for getting together so many businesses.
And it is necessary too! Deal and East Kent are in the same boat as the rest of the country. Things are tough. The high street is losing shops. We are all in it together and we all need to work together to rebuild our local as well as our national economy. I spent a lot of time listening to what people thought needed to be done.
It was a particular pleasure to meet Jasin Kaplan who owns the wonderful new cafe at the end of the pier. This man is a hero of mine! His wonderful cafe does the most brilliant fry ups ever and going there on Saturday morning with the family is the high point of my week. That's Jasin in the picture with Jane Langstaff.
Polyclinic contract awarded
Today the local health chiefs announced that they have awarded the contract for the new Dover health facility. Great news that something is being done after ten wasted years in which Buckland has been ruined. A shame it will only be a polyclinic.
At the health chiefs' public board meeting in Dover last year, I was given a public assurance that the contract would make provision for an upgrade from the polyclinic to a proper hospital. This could be necessary - since if the Conservatives win the next election, Dover should get care beds and doctor led emergency services which would mean a proper hospital instead of the polyclinic.
I am concerned to ensure that the local health chiefs have done just that so that the people of Dover can get their fair share if they decide that's what they want at the next election.
Applications for planning permission and tendering for contracts are both extremely lengthy processes, particularly so in the case of public building, so how very interesting that only a few months after the end of the public consultation period, we are suddenly presented with a fait accompli - contract already awarded!
No wonder Gwyn Prosser didn't open his mouth in support at the public meeting - it is obvious that the people of Dover have been taken for complete mugs, the site (inadequate for so many reasons) having been chosen already, in a deal with the DDC. They might say they will construct so as to provide upward expansion, but from where are they going to magic the extra (already inadequate) parking? Any other planning application which received serious recommendations against by the Environment Agency would not be allowed to go ahead. The whole thing stinks.
Let's not forget that this PCT is offering money (ours!) to people to lose weight, and that one of its members was recently reported in the national press to have described her job as "bull.......g" - not exactly confidence inspiring, is it?
By the Trust's own admission, they refer to the new facility as a "New Medical Centre" in the plans presented for public consideration, and in their various press releases. Yes, we must be grateful for any new health facilities in Dover but PLEASE would they not continue to refer to this building as Dover's "New Hospital", when it is no such thing.
- Carol
I totally agree with Carol comments. What Dover needs is a proper hospital, NOT A POLYCLINIC. It is not feasable to site it in the town centre or on the proposed site Masion Dieu Road (the old Brook House site). The traffic along Masion Dieu Road because of the one-way system, completely rules out access, also parking. Its time our local MP put his thinking cap on and seriously considered all these problems, plus the fact that Dover being a main port requires a proper hospital with a full A
- Patricia Lewis-Cook
Cllr Precious' anniversary party
A very happy wedding anniversary to Chris and Stephanie Precious . . . and a great bash too! It was a really fantastic evening and lots of interesting people to chat too.
I learned a lot about the Homestart scheme from one of the guests - providing great support to hard pressed mums. It's tough when you've got little ones. They can be very demanding and exhausting - especially when the exercise their lungs in full . . . Homestart voluunteers provide support, help and a bit of much needed respite. What a great programme.
MPs who fiddle expenses should be expelled
The way Parliamentary expenses have been abused and the John Lewis list retained is a spectacle that I find truly disgusting. Yet worse still are the repeated attempts to hush everything up. And they are at it again! Having said they would publish the expenses today we learn they now won't do it properly after all. Let me be clear, again, on where I stand. MPs who fiddle expenses should be expelled. To be a Member of Parliament should be an honour and a vocation, not a living and a trough. People have a right to know how their money is spent. If I were the Member of Parliament I'd publish my receipts and the whole lot. I am challenging Gwynfor Prosser to do the same.
The clear implication of your headline next to a photograph of Gwyn Prosser is that you are accusing our MP of 'fiddling' his expenses. This is a very serious allegation. I have know Gwyn for over 20 years and he is a decent and honest man and this entirely unfounded allegation is at best dirty tricks and at worst libellous. Either way it says a lot more about you than it does about our MP. Shame on you Mr Elphicke!
- Maggie
Maggie, there is obviously no such implication, yet to make it clear that I am not accusing Mr Prosser of fiddling his expenses, I have replaced the photo with one that I hope you will agree cannot be confused with Mr Prosser. The simple truth is that we have no idea as he won't publish the details. We only know that he voted to keep the John Lewis list. I am very puzzled why he has not been leading the way on this matter. I do not understand why he said he was publishing full details earlier this year and then cut and pasted already publicly available information that showed no real detail at all. Nor do I understand why he said he would publish full details of his expenses in October and did not. Finally I do not understand why he said he would publish them this month and has not done so. This matter has been the subject of some debate in the local press - see the cuttings section - so people can read the press cuttings and make up their own minds on why he still refuses to publish the full details.
- Charlie Elphicke
It is perfectly clear. If you have nothing to hide,"why hide it"?? If he is so decent and honest why has a stalwart like Tony Sansum threatened to sue him; "for negligence"?
- Colin D
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas break, enjoyed a time a cheer, mince pies and (not too!) excessive food and drink. We knew we needed to enjoy it while we could as 2009 will not be the easiest of years.
I spent Christmas with my family. I decorated the tree with my daughter Charlotte. Little Thomas tried and help out, but as he's only two, he could only do the lower branches! We were really lucky that my mother joined us . . . my wife Natalie and I got a chance to switch off and relax a bit.
We all know that this year is not going to be the greatest. Yet we know we'll get through it and there will be a better tomorrow. We've been here before and we've lived to tell the tale. I am passionate about getting the best long term future for our community in Dover & Deal. Getting more high quality businesses to move to our area is really important for jobs and opportunity. Uniting Dover properly with the sea and sorting out the attractiveness of the town and sea front will make a serious difference. Taking the lorries out of Townwall Street will aid the effective regeneration of Dover. Upgrading the A2 and the delivery of a proper hospital are things we'd all dearly love to see. Realising this better future for us all is my greatest ambition.
Family feast at The Ark
At the Ark Christian Centre in Noahs Ark Road, Tower Hamlets Family Feast provides meals for families to get together, meet, play and eat. Today I joined the Christmas Celebration meal with the family. It was really packed - there must have been about 150 people there.
Family Feast is run entirely by volunteers who passionately believe that the simple act of sitting down to share a healthy low cost meal together can help to strengthen a family. They provide a meal every month to local families and also provide an opportunity for families to play together. It was excellent and I had a good chat with parents and the organisers.
Thomas and I are pictured with James Smith and his son Zachary. James and his wife Emily help organise these fantastic monthly get togethers.
Too many local shops are closing
I went to Woolworths in Deal today with the kids to do some Christmas shopping. Now while we all love a bargain, spare a thought for the people who work there. While at the checkout, I spoke to the till assistant about what was going to happen. He told me how concerned he was as this is not to time to be looking for work.
Then I went to Martins newsagent to pick up a paper and some coffee. I was expresing concern about Woolworths and they told me they are closing down as well. Right after Christmas. These two excellent shops are closing - right on top of a number of other shops being lost in Deal. The story's the same in Dover as well.
It's really important we do all we can to protect our high streets and the jobs they bring. As we know, many others are facing similar challenges. So I will be speaking to Brian Binley MP for Northampton South who chaired a commission into saving our town centres to seek his advice on how other areas are rising to the challenge to see what we can learn.
Perhaps local councils should think a little more before granting planning permission for huge out of town developments
- Robert gibson
Dover Mayor's Annual Ball
A highlight of Dover's social calender is the Dover Annual Ball. This year it was just excellent and everyone had great fun. I even tried waltzing . . . and I admit with mixed results. Memo to self: spend more time watching Strictly!
Now, I know we're all meant to throw rocks at each other and that Dover Town Council is under Labour control and all that - but I have to say Diane Smallwood is a great mayor and wonderful fun! I'm pictured with Buckland Labour councillors Jan Tranter and Mike Smith. Mike and his charming wife Anne (also a Buckland councillor) were super company on our table and we had . . . well . . . a ball.
Very many thanks to the fantastic Doverforum team who have allowed me to use this photo. Their report of the event is much better than mine and worth a read.
Getting into the festive mood . . .
It's that time of year again! This morning I went to a great mulled wine party in Dover. As you can see, we had a real laugh getting into the December party spirit (for me, I must confess, this was initially a bit of struggle, after very hearty Men of Kent dinner in Deal last night!).
A number of people talked to me about their concerns for Dover's economy. Unemployment locally has risen more quickly than in the rest of the country, which is clearly a serious cause for concern. It underlines to me that importance of strengthening our local economy for the long term, with more higher skilled jobs and greater prosperity that will make us all better off.
However, we didn't let these worries hold us back from having a good time . . . December and Chistmas is a time to relax and enjoy life a bit, after all. And goodness knows, we need to in order to prepare ourselves for the harder times ahead.
Celebrating our excellent schools
Today I visited Dover's Astor College for the Arts and Walmer Science College with Michael Gove MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children.
It was a great chance to show off the incredible job Kent County Council and our schools have done in forging such a strong partnership. We saw what a success the Astor Federation is and what a amazing job it does in equipping Dover's children for the future. Michael and I are pictured with above with pupils from Astor - the Federation head Chris Russell is on the right.
We also met Sue Knight Fotheringham, head of White Cliffs Primary. Sue has turned White Cliffs from the worst performing primary school in the country to an outstanding rated school. Hats off folks! Just think of the different lives the kids attending White Cliffs will be able to lead with such a culture of success in their school. It's such a fine thing to see and makes us all so proud.
We then went on to Walmer Science College and heard about their plans for the future. Like Astor, they are taking a deep interest in vocational and skills based education. Michael and I are pictured with a group of teachers we saw who were meeting to talk through a skills based teaching programme. We were really impressed.
Speaking at Kent University, Canterbury
This evening I spoke to students at the University of Kent at Canterbury. There was much concern about the economy and how hard it is to get a job in the current market.
The students believe that the Government's economic incompetence has practically bankrupted the country - they are, of course, right about this. The arrest of Damien Green MP was viewed with serious concern. The students told me they did not want to live in a Police state.
It was a really interesting evening and I greatly valued the chance to hear what younger people think about things and the sort of future they want to see built for themselves and our country.
River Church Bazaar
Today I went to a Church Bazaar in River with local district councillor Sue Nicholas. It was a hoot - as you'll see from the video on ElphickeTV! We played an odd game that involved dropping a (toy!) mouse down a tube for Sue Nicholas to hit. It didn't go entirely to plan . . .
In the photo, I'm holding an egg slice, which I was really pleased to find - you can never find egg slices these days, can you? I then went on to do a good deal of my Christmas shopping, buying up half the bazaar in the process.
Sue and I also enjoyed lunch there - people kept coming up to ask if I was about to be arrested by the Government for daring to be a Conservative. There seems to be a real sense of anger over the Damian Green business. I think it offends against the British sense of "fair play".
It was a really super day out. Congratulations to everyone who helped make it such a great success - especially Church Warden Hurling and his charming wife Gaynor who Sue and I are pictured with. Gaynor definitely wins the great wig competition.
Border Security and immigration matters
The security of our nation is too weak - the human trafficking that goes on is disgusting. I feel strongly that we should have a proper border Police force and I am personally appalled that the current Government basically allow anyone to just wander in.
This is why the arrest of Damien Green MP on trumped up accusations is such a worry - because he is one of the good guys who want to keep our county safe.
Making the case for our local economy
This evening, I attended the Enterprise Forum where David Cameron gave an excellent speech setting out how the current Government has basically bankrupted our country and why it's time for change.
Afterwards, I spoke to David about the need to strengthen East Kent's economy. We have so much potential in Dover & Deal - the biggest port in Western Europe, great roads, an airport down the road and some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful countryside that Britain has to offer.
Shouldn't we be doing better than we are? I think so. Realising the potential of Manston, getting the A2 dualled, regenerating the Dover harbour front and uniting Dover with the actual sea, rather than the current sea of lorries would make such a difference. We need to get more businesses to set up locally. I'd be really interested to hear your views on what more we can do to get our fair share - please feel free to comment or email me at charlie@elphicke.com
The Godfather . . .
Today I became a godfather. The baby sort - not the other sort! To baby Teddy, pictured with the other godparents.
It was a really moving christening service and I feel really privileged to have been entrusted in this way by Teddy's parents Liam and Vicki.
Coffee at Roger's Place
Cllr Roger Walkden kindly hosted a coffee morning for anyone in Dover's Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory area to drop in. The turnout was amazing - we couldn't squeeze everyone into a photo, but as you can see we had a really good go!
What did people talk about? There was a lot of concern about the trouble at the port. People are really worried about local jobs and increasingly concerned that the current Member of Parliament has seriously mishandled the whole business. Especially as the retirement pensions of port workers are at risk. A couple of residents were concerned that dog mess bins are not emptied, which the councillors are looking into. Also raised was the safety of parking in some of Dover's roads.
There was also a lot of amusement about the national press coverage on the fake Status Quo singer getting a ride in the Dover Mayor's limo. The town councillors present did get a bit of a ribbing . . .
Thanks so much to Roger and his lovely wife Jean for making us all feel so at home.
Meeting Deal ATC
This evening I went to see the Deal ATC. Their band is one of the legends of Deal Carnival. And when I went to see them, they were hard at work practising. As you can see, I had a lot of fun joining in the drum practice.
So roll up young people of Deal! Not only do you get to play the carnival, you also get to go on outward bound adventuring and learn to fly. Not only that, but you also get to gain all sorts of qualifications that will be useful when it comes to getting a job - and goodness knows, you need the best edge you can get when it comes to finding a job in these difficult times . . .
A big thanks to all the officers, staff and cadets who made me so welcome and congratulations on running such a great ATC.
Marching with the Port Workers
Today I joined the port workers on their march protesting against them being outsourced. In these difficult times, we are all united in supporting the jobs and prosperity of the people of Dover. I do not agree with this outsourcing, or the privatisation of the port of Dover for the reasons I have previously set out. I have met directors of DHB and told them that clearly and unequivocally. I fear the Government means to privatise our port, whatever we say.
In this spirit of us all getting together cross party, it was a bit disappointing that Dover Labour tried to politicise the whole thing. I had to laugh though when Gwynfor Prosser MP started haranging me with the usual boring partisan rubbish that is so often heard from politicians when they are nervous. As they stood there behind a big fat Labour Party banner, I pointed out that I was not there to politicise the event. I was there to offer bipartisan support for the people whose jobs are threatened. That there are times when we should all join together and stand firm with the community and put party politics to one side. That this was one of them. That they should think about that.
Then again, I can see why they are running scared, as it does look like the Government has been consulted and not made any objection to this whole outsourcing thing. And they could, you know, since they do appoint the entire harbour board. So it's kind of hard for Dover Labour to explain why a Labour Government should allow this to happen without any objection isn't it? Hmm, time to find a scapegoat to distract attention eh brothers? Step forward Bob Goldfield . . . freshly minted distractive Labour bogey man!
At times like this, it's important to remember why we are all involved in public life. For me, that is to serve the community, to work to get the best for people and to deliver a fair share for Dover & Deal. That's why I was there. Many port workers came up, shook my hand and told me how pleased they were I was there for them. And you know what? I was proud to be there for them.
Strike expected at Port of Dover next Tuesday
There will be a 48 hour strike at the Port of Dover next Tuesday. We're not talking about any old port here - we're talking about the busiest docks in Western Europe. Given that so much of trade travels through Dover, this strike could not come at a worse time for our nation.
The reason? The Dover Harbour Board want to outsource, or privatise, 200 jobs. And it is the thin end of the wedge. The Government appear to have been consulted on this and agreed. While privatisation may have benefits in many cases, in transport matters it clearly works less well - just look at our airports!
I do not agree with the privatisation of Dover Docks, on national security grounds (along with data protection concerns). Border security, like the army, is just too important. I think the Government should intervene urgently to sort out an unncessary mess of its own making. What were the Government thinking approving this measure?!
We shall Remember them
Today's Remembrance Day service at Deal was a very moving experience. Veterans, parents and children all gathered to remember those who gave their todays for our tomorrow.
It was a particular privilege for me to lay my wreath with Cllr Ben Bano, leader of Dover District Council's Labour Group. For on this day we put aside that which may divide us and stand united, together, to remember the fallen. We are all in it together. And they did it for all of us. I would like to congratulate everyone who helped organise today's ceremony. They did a fantastic job.
Does no-one want to be a Lib Dem anymore?
Will the Lib Dems ever get round to selecting a Parliamentary candidate? For ages now, the sitting Labour MP for Dover & Deal and I have been setting out our stalls . . . but from the Lib Dems, hardly a peep. I raise it, as people are beginning to ask if they've given up altogether. They are certainly cutting it a bit fine, as there is talk of a General Election as early as next year.
What exactly is going on with Dover & Deal's Lib Dems? Have they have just lost their way locally or does no-one want to be their candidate? Last time, their candidate was the excellent Antony Hook, whose blog I highly recommend. Antony likes to take a pop at me (who says politics isn't fun any more?!), albeit a touch bitter at times (but then they did get thumped in the by election, so it's all quite understandable).
So who will stand for the Lib Dems . . . ?
Servant of all I survey
It's amazing how much you find out simply by listening to what people have to say. And it helps me greatly in my work to understand what people would hope to see. After all, if you don't know what people want, how can you work effectively on their behalf? So I am asking every voter in Dover & Deal what they think in a constituency suvey.
This isn't simply a homespun homily. Abraham Lincoln said in the famous "Gettysburg Address":
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"
I also take this as a reminder that the job of everyone in public life is to listen, to serve and, above all, to represent. Too often politicians seem but slavish party toadies - lobby fodder who say little in Parliament and vote as they are told without much thought for the people who elected them. The worst tell their constituents one thing and then go up to Parliament and vote in the opposite direction. No wonder public trust in politicians is so low when this sort of stuff goes on.
No-one should be arrogant enough to believe they will do a perfect job or change the World - although we might hope to get lucky! Yet my hope is that I will never get tired or forget the interests of the people whose trust I would hope to serve.
Coffee at Nigel's place
Cllr Nigel Collor kindly hosted a ward coffee morning, open for any resident of Dover's Castle Ward to drop in. It was great to meet people and have a chat over a cup of coffee. The excellent Doverforum reporters came an took the photo here and posted it on their website.
What issues came up? Residents in the Gateway Flats are concerned about the proposal for a cable car up to the Castle. They told me it would go right over the flats and would be very ugly - as well as a potential safety hazard. One gentleman was understandably worried about planning permission that had been granted for a house next door that would take away all his light. On a lighter note, I was also asked why I don't wear a tie very often . . . at this point a picture of (a tieless!) David Cameron was waved disapprovingly in my direction. What can I say? I guess I'm just not a very buttoned up kind of guy! Pictured: Cllr Roger Frayne, Cllr David Hannent, Thomas Mitchell, Cllr Roger Walkden, Barry Wadsworth-Smith of the Doverforum, Cllr Nigel Collor, and me . . . tieless!
Mandie's brilliant result in St Radigunds
Many congratulations to Conservative candidate Mandie Sehmbi who came within 25 votes of capturing the St Radigunds ward council seat in a by election.
Labour just clung on to the seat in an area traditionally solid for them. Mandie was, until recently, the organiser of Dover's Carnival.
Full credit to the Lib Dems who, though they may struggle to find anyone prepared to stand as their Parliamentary candidate, did work very hard to gain a greater share of the vote. It was understandable that they should feel a little bitter at getting just 12% of the vote after giving it such a good go.
The full results were:
- Viv Revell (Labour) 244
- Mandie Sehmbi (Conservative) 219
- Lib Dems 93
- Dover Alliance 86
- Independent 72
- Independent 32
Kingsdown concerns
Attending an auction in Kingsdown, I heard about the problems of French mobile phone reception that affects parts of this lovely village. There are a number of issues with parking in the village, which I hope the councillors will be able to resolve together.
On the campaign trail in St Radigunds
By elections are great fun. A chance to meet people on the doorstep and talk about issues of concern. The biggest issue raised with me by voters in this traditionally strongly Labour supporting area is the shocking treatment of Buckland Hospital.
To say people are disgusted would be an understatement. They tell me how the sitting Labour MP made it a big issue that he'd save the hospital back in 1997. Yet now its closing, to be replaced by a polyclinic. People are upset and tell me they just don't feel he's really fought very hard for Dover. They say he's more interested in following the party whip than speaking up for our interest.
There's a lesson here I won't forget. You have to fight for hopes and aspirations of the people you represent.
Concerns in Denton
Speaking to residents in Denton, I heard about how much of a problem speeding traffic is - and there is no broadband access. Also, it's a shame the excellent pub has shut . . .
Mandie Sehmbi for St Radigunds!
Well known local campaigner Mandie Sehmbi is the Conservative candidate for the St Radigund’s by election. I have long been struck by how passionate Mandie is about Dover. She tells me she is incredibly angry about Labour palming off Dover with a polyclinic - she wants to be Dover have a proper hospital. Until recently, Mandie organised the Dover carnival. The most recent one being a total success.
Mandie is also angry that Labour Ministers have allowed port jobs to be privatised. She says it's an insult to Dover. Mandie thinks the lack of investment in Dover is an insult. That we deserve our fair share and we aren't getting it.
Some people say no-one in politics believes in anything anymore . . . to them I say Mandie is your answer!
Go Whites!
Dover Athletic's performance against AFC Wimbledon was brilliant! The game ended nil all and will be replayed on Tuesday.
Wimbledon is way higher in the league than the Whites. Yet Dover had the upper hand throughout the game. What a performance! And all before a capacity crowd too. It all goes to show how the club is going from strength to strength. Congratulations to the team.
In the photo I'm with club director and leading local businessman Roger Knight
Time for change at Dover Town Council
For years, Dover Town Council has been a virtual one party state. Labour have been in power there so long, the hunger for new ideas and innovation is weaker than Dover deserves. It's time for a change.
This year, the Council Tax has gone up by 29.6%, with further increases planned for next year. And a lot of the money is wasted. Thousands are being spent on leaflets which are never delivered. 11,500 pounds were wasted on producing fridge magnets.
Not so long ago, I proposed that Dover twin with the town of Fuzhou in China. I worked hard to deliver the opportunity . . . yet it was rejected out of hand. That's a shame as twinning with a great city and province of some 7 million people from the fastest growth country on the planet could have brought jobs, money and investment to our community.
To me this highlights all that's wrong with the council - insular, backward and inward looking. In these difficult times, all of us in public service need to work harder than ever to deliver the hopes, aspirations and dreams of the people we work for. There is just not enough money in Dover and our community deserves its fair share.
There will shortly be a council by election in the traditional Labour heartland of St Radigunds. The record of the council will come under scrutiny. The Conservatives will stand as it's time the people of Dover had a real choice.
No port privatisation!
I attended Dover's Port Consultative Committee the other day. There I said that the Port of Dover is a national asset and should remain so. The need for National Security and Border Security are overwhelming that the Port should remain an asset of the nation.
So I totally oppose the privatisation of the Port for these reasons. I am deeply unhappy about the recent changes at the Port which amount to privatisation. I am deeply concerned that the Ministry of Transport were not only consulted about the changes, but appear to have approved them.
The Ports Minister, who turned up the other day, and the current Member of Parliament should clarify exactly what the Ministry's role in this was a matter of urgency. They also need to level with the community whether they will permit further privatisation or "outsourcing" of Port jobs.
I am worried about Government's future plans for the Port. The Western Docks development will require a lot of money. Possibly more money than the Port has available on its own. It may require a joint venture partner. If that happens, it is essential that the Dover Harbour Board retain management control of the joint venture. It would not be right for the Port to be under the control of European or Middle Eastern interests - again on grounds of National and Border Security.
These are my thoughts and I would be genuinely interested to hear what people think about the way ahead. The Port is Dover's largest employer by far and critical to our economy. It's therefore vital that we all work together to get the best result.
Building a Britain everyone can be part of
The gap between rich and poor has been increasing. For me changing this and building a Britain that everyone can be part of is a key reason I got involved in public life.
Gordon Brown and his Government have taken people for granted and let them down. He does not understand what it is like to live on a low income when the cost of living is rising. That is why he raised taxes for the least well-off when he cut them for the wealthier. His boasts about crime show how out of touch he is. Anti-social behaviour and alcohol fuelled crime are real problems for our area - and violent crime is a real worry. Just go out in Dover town centre on a Saturday evening . . .
David Cameron's Conservatives want to help the least well-off. That is why we are putting forward ideas to heal our broken society and proposals to help needy pensioners. Locally, the Conservatives are spearheading the regeneration of Dover and Deal. The road upgrades we are proposing will also help to create more jobs. A few months ago, I began talks to build up links with the massive Chinese city of Fuzhou to get more investment locally - yet Dover Labour voted that down so they have gone elsewhere. What a waste and a terrible missed opportunity
Nationally and locally Labour are just not helping us. We deserve better.
Crime fighters!
Conservative-controlled Dover District Council has had great success in fighting crime in partnership with Kent Police. The Council’s Anti-social Behaviour Unit is working to crackdown on crime. A key priority is to provide more things for our young people to do. More things for younger people to do is a priority to help cut crime.
But they can't do it all on their own. They need the support of Central Government. So David Cameron and the Conservatives have launched a long-term Crime Action Plan. The key measures are:
- Make families stronger, keeping families together so children have a stable upbringing
- Support teachers to teach children the need for respect and bringing more good schools into deprived communities, for example, the Astor Federation has turned the failing St Radigunds School into the successful White Cliffs Primary
- Help young people to come off welfare and into work. Work brings responsibility, dignity, money and respect, making people less likely to commit crime
- A National Citizens Service, where all 16-year-olds can go on a six-week programme to develop the confidence and skills to contribute to society
- Tough enforcement and prison sentences for young people caught carrying illegal knives, whilst also working to rehabilitate young offenders.
Tackling the North South divide
Many will be horrified about the Policy Exchange think tanks's report on the Northern Cities. I certainly am - the top line strikes me as defeatist and depressing. Yet I think they may have done the country a favour in (re) sparking a debate about the North South divide.
This divide is frankly one of the worst features of our country. I've often heard it said that the North has the quality of life, the South the quantity of life. In other words, the South has great wealth, but less time, community and increasingly less beauty as it subsides gently in a sea of concrete and congestion. The North has less material wealth, yet there seems a greater sense of community, more time for people and some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful countryside our nation has to offer.
Somehow it seems that every new home in the South (built in lovely places like Whitfield and Sholden) pulls the rug further from under the North and makes the South a worse place to live. The Policy Exchange report seems to say we should accept this is the way it's going to be.
I've long wondered - how can we rebalance to unite the country so that all have the best of both worlds? Can we build a truly united nation? This is not about tarting up places with regeneration. This is about a great national effort to strengthen the Northern (private sector) economy - a whole skills revolution, the establishment of a renewed labour pool in the North, incentivisation for new businesses to establish in the North rather than the South. Just reading this, you can see how hard it would be to do. I feel deeply that a house divided against itself cannot stand and that we need to act to tackle the North South divide.
What do the Conservatives offer locally?
People often say to me "what would you do different from the current lot?" To my mind, very little has been achieved in the last ten years for our community. It’s not good enough. Let’s look at the key issues:
- A new Dover hospital. Labour have ruined Buckland. The Conservatives have helped to gather signatures for the hospital petition. We have been fighting alongside local health campaigners for a new proper hospital with beds and 24/7 GP-led emergency services.
- Crime and anti-social behaviour are worrying problems for our area. Violent crime has doubled in the UK in ten years. Nearly 2,000 people are victims for violent crime locally every year. We need more police on the beat preventing crime, with zero-tolerance and more facilities for our young people.
- Rising living costs are hitting family budgets, with prices rising for food and the cost of motoring. Gordon Brown has been increasing taxes on the lowest paid, fuel duty has gone through the roof - and now they are raising the price of car tax discs too. Local wages have fallen over £1,000 in the last five years, meaning an even bigger squeeze here. People who work hard to earn their keep should be rewarded, not punished.
- Post Office Closures have hit local people hard, particularly the elderly and those without transport. Gordon Brown’s closure of six local Post Offices leaves large areas without proper Post Office cover. More Post Offices are expected to be axed by Gordon Brown in due course.
Local Transport has seen terrible underinvestment. The A2 upgrade was axed by John Prescott. Gordon Brown has done nothing about making the A258 safer. We need to get lorries out of Dover and regeneration in. I would like to hear about your ideas to further improve our community. It's time we got our fair share. Why shouldn't we enjoy the same level of success seen elsewhere in Kent?
Tilmanstone fete
I really enjoyed the Tilmanstone fete this year! Sadly, it's the last one being held at this wonderful venue. I got a pot plant!
Maggots in our hospitals . . .
The case of a proper hospital in Dover was underlined to me again recently. Turns out that our local acute hospitals have problems with infestations of rats, insects, flies and maggots.
I'll tell you what really upsets me. It's the maggots. It means that flies have been around long enough to breed. To me this highlights a downside of big centralised impersonal acute hospitals. It underlines the need for Dover to have a proper hospital, which will be easier to keep safe and in which the community will take pride.
Dover has some world class businesses
I went to see Dover’s Model Production company and London Fancy Box to see for myself what Dover's businesses do. The excellence we have locally and the great skills of our workforce are sometimes overlooked and it was great to see. We have some World class businesses locally and it makes me really proud.
The Model Production company makes complex plastic components for pumps, light fittings as well as many other applications. The things they do really are World Class. It’s really great to have a businesses of this quality in Dover. We need more high technology business like this that create value add jobs to really realise our potential and dreams as a community and a nation. Congratulations to the whole team at Model Production for building up such an exciting business.
In the photo, me with Kieran Jaynes of Model Production.
Dover Air Training Corps looking to grow
Following its great success at the Dover carnival, 354 (Dover) Squadron of the Air Training Corps, motto "Venture Adventure" is looking to gain more recruits. So roll up, roll up!
The squadron formed part of a 50 piece band from across Kent which lead the recent Dover carnival. I went to visit the cadets with District Council cabinet member Cllr Nigel Collor. We went to see the officers and cadets to congratulate the squadron on its success and to hear about the squadron's plans for growth.
Turns out that the lads and lasses don't just play instruments - although they do that very well - they can also learn to fly and get a strong boost to their school eduction, leading to qualifications. It's clear to me that the ATC is really important to our community. The cadets learn the importance of teamwork and respect - things too often missing in our neighbourhoods. The cadets have great fun there and they are keen as mustard.
There are 23 cadets in total, who gain valuable education qualifications as well as having a lot of fun and learning to fly. I really hope more people will sign up and enjoy a broader horizon. They are lead by Flt Lt Nigel Harman, who's a great leader and a real inspiration. Great stuff!
Connaught Park anniversary - a great success
The celebration of Connaught Park's 125th anniversary was a fantastic success and a great day out.
My whole family had great fun. Star, our dog, tried to do a runner . . . but we just about kept her in check! Congratulations to Cllr Sue Nicholas and everyone else involved for putting on a wonderful day. In the photo - me with Cllr Nigel Collor.
Eastry Fete - a great day out
Eastry's village fete was a fantastic success and a great day out.
My whole family had great fun. I even managed to win a coconut! So a big congratulations to those organising the fete for putting on a wonderful day and thanks to George Mattheson for so generously hosting it at the Aumbury.
In the photo . . . me with Mrs Bradley and Eastry Cllr Nick Kenton. Mrs Bradley is the mother of an Iraq war hero.
New play area in Pencester
I went to see the new play area at Pencester today. It's really great! Conservative led Dover District Council have done a smashing job and it was full of kids - including my daughter Charlotte, pictured.
I had a real struggle getting her out when we had to leave . . . !!
Shadow Health Secretary meets health campaigners & GPs
Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley MP, came to Dover to meet our health campaigners and local GPs. He listened carefully to what everyone had to say.
The GPs explained they'd like to commission local beds and doctor led emergency services in Dover. Andrew Lansley said that he would support them in the event a Conservative Government is elected.
For me, this is a defining moment. Dover deserves its fair share, has a right to expect fair treatment and should have a hospital. Without the ear of Government little will be done - and let's face it, we haven't exactly had the ear of Government Ministers when it comes to getting things done locally in the last ten years have we? What Andrew's visit says to me, is that Dover will get the ear of a Conservative Government and there is hope that things can change.
MPs who fiddle expenses should be expelled
The way Parliamentary expenses have been abused is a spectacle I find truly disgusting. So let me make my position on MPs' expenses very clear:
MPs WHO FIDDLE EXPENSES SHOULD BE EXPELLED FROM PARLIAMENT
The reason I raise this now is that MPs have just voted to keep the "John Lewis List". One of the MPs that voted for it was Dover & Deal Labour MP Gwynfor Prosser. And let me be really clear on my reaction. I condemn him for it totally, utterly and unreservedly. I'm not usually one to go swivel eyed about things - but this issue is an exception.
MPs - and Mr Prosser - had a real chance to restore trust in public life. Instead they stuck their snouts deeper in the trough. Shame on every MP that voted for it. It's a disgusting spectacle. Families are under real financial pressure. MPs should be thinking about how they can put more money in the pockets of the people, not line their own pockets.
More jobs and money for hard working families are my priorities - this is why I am involved in public life. For me, to serve is an honour and a vocation, not a living and a trough. Simple as that.
A proper hospital for Dover - update
In the last ten years, Buckland Hospital has been systematically destroyed, to universal dismay. Mr Prosser, the Labour MP, told a public meeting that he supports a plan for a polyclinic in Buckland’s car park.
That would not be good enough. Dover deserves a proper hospital. While the ideal would have been to improve and invest in Buckland over the last ten (wasted) years, it’s not the best for a new facility. The access, location and future space to expand are not the best.
So I don't agree with Mr Prosser’s support for the Buckland polyclinic. Nor do I believe this would be the “temporary” solution Mr Prosser claims. Ten years of advising the Shadow Cabinet on the management of the public finances has given me the experience to understand how things work at the highest levels of Government. It has also taught me how often temporary becomes permanent . . . and that people are right to be cynical as good intentions without funding are good intentions and no more.
Thankfully, things have already moved on. Reg Hansell, David Hannent, Pauline Majors, Denise Smith and 20,000 signatures do make a difference. I support and salute their work. Discussions are ongoing for a better located site and the likely settlement looks set to be better than the original offer Mr Prosser is so keen on.
Yet I am pessimistic that these discussions will get us fully where we want to be. I am not convinced the Government will agree to care beds, or adequate emergency services. I have therefore been pressing those engaged in the discussions for a site where greater expansion will be possible in the future. So that if this Government fails us again, a new Government would have the scope to make the further improvements we would all hope to see.
Dover needs a full hospital with A
- Pat
The Government's crazy school closure plan
Many parents will be terrified at the Government's plans to close schools. The threat is to close schools that fail to meet a benchmark of 30 per cent of pupils achieving at least five good GCSEs including English and maths. Schools like Archer's Court, which does great work, are wrongly placed under threat.
Now, we all want better results, yet this policy is clearly barmy. Every school is unique and one size does not fit all. Locally, head teachers have been pointing out to me that the existence of grammar schools makes it a lot harder for non selective schools to achieve this benchmark. This is clearly true.
So I have taken this up with the Shadow Secretary of State for Schools, Michael Gove MP, who he tells me that he is acutely aware of the issue and believes account needs to be taken of special factors that affect schools.
In working the improve the quality of education, the Government should not go around stirring up fear. It's just not a way to treat teachers, parents or our kids. The education of our children is too important and a more thoughtful approach is required.
The photo is of me giving tickets for the Archery competition to the head of White Cliffs Primary School, with Chris Russell, Head of the Astor Fedferation. The White Cliffs School story is a lesson for us all - catchment areas may be tough, but it doesn't follow that schools in such areas have to be rubbish! Well done to them for bringing hope for a greater future to our children.
I think it's great that we have such a variety of schools - faith based, grammar, non selective, independent, city academies. I would like to see that variety further increased, with more schools that offer workplace skills based vocational education. All of us who are parents of school age children know that getting the right type of school with the right culture is a priority. A greater variety will make it easier for parents to achieve.
Wind farm planned?
Residents in East Langdon and around are very concerned about the planning application for a wind farm. I oppose this and have formally objected to the development.
Why? Wind farms are a good thing, but should be built in the sea where there is more wind and areas of outstanding natural beauty like this should not be ruined.
Concerns in St Margaret's
Meeting with residents in St Margaret's, I heard of the problems with trying to get to village shops (the pavement kind of vanishes in the village centre), the dangerous A258 junction and issues with French mobile phone reception and broadband in places.
Visit to Pfizer
Together with my South Thanet colleague, Laura Sandys, I visited Pfizer with Shadow Chancellor George Osborne. It was amazing to see the work done at this World Class research centre. Above is how Pfizer reported the visit in their magazine.
I am really proud we have businesses like this in East Kent and will do all I can to see that they not only stay, but expand over time.
Rally for a hospital
Some 1,500 came along for the hospital rally and march on Saturday.
Afterwards, I joined Cllr David Hannent at Blakes to help raise funds for the Dover hospital campaign. We pulled pints behind the bar. Blakes kindly donated all profits from the event to the hospital campaign fund.
It was great fun to help raise funds for the hospital campaign. Blakes have been incredibly generous in their support. Cllr Hannent deserves the congratulations of the whole community for the great work he did with Reg Hansell to organise the most amazing and successful march I've ever seen.
Marching for a hospital
Over the last ten years, Buckland Hospital has been ruined by the Government. It's now got to the point where it isn't really a hospital at all - not beds, no doctor led emergency services.
Today I joined the march of some 1,500 people calling for Dover to have a proper hospital. Reg Hansell and the Dover Hospital campaign group organised it. I spoke of the need for Dover to have its fair share and a proper hospital was part of that.
In the picture, Reg is in the foreground as I have a few words with the charming and engaging C Cllr Newman, who represents Dover Town at KCC.
World Hepatitis C Day marked
World Hepatitis C Day was 19 May 2008. I joined Dover Hepatitis C campaigner Tracy de Gietelink to mark the day.
Few infected people know they have the condition. Tracy, who herself has Hepatitis C, runs the "Woman Aloud" The C in Me workshop to bring attention to Hepatitis C and how carriers can avoid infecting others.
Tracy told me that this condition is the leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Yet Hepatitis C has a 'zero' profile amongst the general population in this country.
Hepatitis C is most commonly associated with drug users, and the prison population, so measures are already in place in these areas, to educate and identify carriers of the virus. The workshop seeks to reach the people, especially women, (there's been a 40% increase in ladies over the age of 60, diagnosed with Hepatitis C, in the last year) who have had either medical or dental procedures, before 1991, (when proper Hep C screening of blood donations began). They might have unknowingly received contaminated blood products.
Another group that need flagging up are the growing amount of people of all ages having body art and piercings. As Hepatitis C shows no symptoms, until the end, who knows who sat in that chair before them? It could have been anyone. Tracey was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1991… after having given blood on 3 prior occasions.
I was really impressed by Tracy. She is doing fantastic work - not for herself, but to warn others to take care. That's real compassion. I admire Tracy so much for her work. She highlighted to me the importance for routine medical testing for Hepatitis C.
Dual the A2!
The A2 was in the plan to be dualled 10 years ago. Now it's been axed by the Government. People raise with me concerns that this holds back the economic development of Dover & Deal. In my book, that cannot be allowed and we must get this road upgraded as a priority.
Go Whites!
Congratulations to Dover Athletic on becoming Ryman League Division One South champions.
Winning the league was a tremendous feat and a great success for the club and our community. I was personally overjoyed to see the team lift the cup recently following the Sittingbourne game and take it for a well deserved walk around the pitch! The team deserve the highest praise for their great effort and the brilliant result.
Yet congratulations are also due to everyone at the club who helped achieve victory. Not least the club's board. The long, near 4 year, march back from relegations and financial problems didn't just happen by chance. It happened because of the unity of purpose shared by everyone at the club from the board downward. This I saw for myself attending the presentation dinner at the Ramada.
The Whites are so fortunate to be so well supported. There are regularly over 1,200 supporters in the Dover terraces. With this kind of support, the team can only go from strength to strength. Go Whites!
Gordon Brown's 10p tax con
Last week the Government made a "U Turn" on the abolition of the 10p tax band. Except . . . it's all a massive con!
The rebels (who include Dover's MP Gwynfor Prosser) have been duped by Gordon Brown and the Government. In the Dover constituency the estimated 5,000 losers are reduced to 3,000 losers only. It's a disgrace that 3,000 of our poorest neighbours will still lose out. Especially when real local earnings have been falling and the cost of living rising.
Who would have thought that a Labour Government would cut taxes for the rich and raise taxes for the poorest?
Carnival Selection Day
Today I attended the carnival selection. This is, clearly, a risky thing for anyone, anywhere near politics to go!! However, it was great fun and I had the wonderful Mandie Sehmbi to look after me, as you can see.
A particular congratulations to Marek whose lovely daughter (left photo) was chosen as a carnival rose.
Meeting the A258 Action Group
The A258 road from Dover to Deal is a disgrace. For years it has been a serious danger and nothing has been done about it. Lots of warm words, no action. So I arranged for the families who have lost loved ones on this dangerous road to meet Theresa Villiers MP, Shadow Transport Secretary.
It was a really good meeting. I learned a lot. The families were so passionate and sincere. They fight, not for themselves, but so that other families do not suffer the loss they have suffered. That's real compassion. I was greatly moved and will do all I can to help.
Elvington surgery
Residents of Elvington and Eythorne have been concerned about their GP services for some time. Today the primary care trust held a public meeting to discuss what should be done.
The views of residents were represented with great strength by District Cllrs Jennifer Record (pictured right) and David Lloyd Jones along with Parish cllr Reg Hansell (middle). Hopefully we shall see some action and I will keep monitoring the situation.
6,722 Dover & Deal households risk repossession say experts
So says Experian, the credit rating experts. 6,722 households in Dover & Deal have poor credit ratings and are "at risk" of falling behind on mortage payments or repossession.
The evidence shows that as the credit crunch bites, mortgage rates are rising sharply, mortgages are harder to find and property prices across the UK are falling at their sharpest rate for 30 years.
The Government needs to act quickly before it is too late. They need to help get people access to mortgages and better rates. Otherwise we will see what is currently worry turn into a real house price slide. One person I spoke to in Deal last week told me they had a mortage offer at a nearly 10% interest rate. I nearly fell off my chair.
The financial system is complicated - but the Government should follow the advice of Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and allow banks to sell mortages to the Bank of England in return for Government bonds. That would enable banks quickly to get hold of more cash and start lending again - at better rates. The Government also needs to do more to help the least well off. Now is the time to save the 10p rate of tax, not raise taxes on the least well off as planned.
Labour increases taxes on the poorest
Figures show that millions of the UK's poorest people will pay more in tax as a result of the scrapping of the 10p rate band. The Government has confirmed that 5.3 million will lose out under the changes - over 5,000 of whom live in Dover & Deal.
I was delighted to see that Dover's Labour MP signed a Parliamentary Motion opposing the changes. Yet to make a real difference he will need to vote against the tax change itself. It will come to Parliament for a vote shortly.
The poorest in our communities are already hard pressed by rising prices and the credit crunch. There just isn't the room to pay even more tax. I urge Mr Prosser follow his instincts and stand up for hard working people in Dover & Deal when it counts by voting against this unfair and unjust measure.
Housing in Whitfield
Meeting with the Whitfield Action Group impressed on me how concerned people in Whitfield are about the proposals to build thousands of houses locally. And rightly so. The Whitfield we know and love could be ruined. Sunk into a characterless New Town.
We know that if more than 8,000 new homes are built in our area, it will be Whitfield that bears the brunt. Any plan for over 10,000 houses is likely to seriously impact Whitfield. Of course, we all support regeneration, more jobs and money locally. We know that could mean new homes. Yet new homes should be built only when really needed - according to actual demand rather than a plan. The worst possible result would be for the Whitfield we know and love to be lost, with little gain for our local economy.
I think Whitfield works. It has a sense of community most places can only dream about. People are engaged and involved in what goes on locally. It would be a shame to lose all that in a soulless New Town. We have seen excessive development across the South East in recent years. We are sinking into a sea of concrete and congestion. East Kent is wonderful - yet is threatened with ending up like the rest of the South East. Right now, we have a lot of quantity of life and quality of life. I think that quality of life is worth preserving.
MP backs Post Office closures
The closure of so many Post Offices has been a tragedy for our community. I and the local Conservatives fought the closure programme tooth and nail. The closure at Capel in particular is shameful
Dover's Labour MP, Gwynfor Prosser, claimed he was against the closures too. So what exactly was he doing voting in favour of the Government's closure programme? It's very disappointing that he didn't back the community - and even more disappointing that he seems to say one thing to constituents and do another thing in Parliament. It doesn't seem a very straight thing to do.
Sea Scouts ready to grow
With Cllr Nick Kenton, I went to see Dover Sea Scouts.
Their motto is "Ready aye Ready" and they are ready to grow their numbers. The Scouts, based at TS Lynx near Connaught barracks, are hoping to take on more cadets.
The Sea Scouts are so important to our community. The kids learn the importance of teamwork and respect - things too often missing in our neighbourhoods. The cadets have great fun there and they are as keen as mustard. There are 40 cadets in total and I hope more people will sign up.
They are lead by Lt Sheila Watson, who's a great leader and a real inspiration. I hope community money can be found to do up their building and increase capacity. This picture is Cllr Kenton, myself and the cadets.
Jamie Oliver eat your heart out!
School food in Deal and Sandwich is prepared with the finest ingredients from local suppliers and cooked in a traditional way by local social action company Whole School Meals.
I visited St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Walmer and Castle Community College in Deal and was very impressed. I heard from school heads what an amazing difference healthy food mad to the students' success. The school dinners were amazing. Whole School Meals want to see a wider take up of their brainfood by children - especially those who qualify for free school meals.
Seems to me that schools in Deal are living the Jamie Oliver dream - the kids are so lucky. A big congratulations to Whole School Meals. Yet strangely, quite a lot of children are bringing packed lunches to school - especially those qualifying for free school meals. I tried to get the East Kent Mercury to give more exposure to the benefits for kids on free school meals, but they didn't want to join in. I think that's a real shame.
Labour have killed our Post Offices
A short update to my previous post. It is now confirmed that all 6 post offices in the Dover & Deal constituency will close - including the excellent post office in London Road, Sholden. Labour have really lost the plot - this means that many communities will effectively have no post office services. It's absolutely tragic.
I'd like to pay tribute to the many in the community who fought valiantly to put a stop to the closures. And to councillors of all parties who fought hard for the community.
Eastry coffee morning
Going to the Eastry drop in coffee morning was a great chance to chat to residents over a cuppa. Pictured standing beside me is Cllr Nick Kenton.
Labour killing post offices
Labour are closing 6 post offices locally. People in Capel have told me how angry they are as their post office was paid for by the village and only opened a few years ago. Mr Patel, who runs an excellent post office and shop in Sholden only did the shop up a couple of years ago. Where's his investment going to be thanks to the Government's crazy closure campaign? And Mongeham looks set to go too.
Mr Ferrier pictured here is lucky - his post office in the centre of Deal is not one earmarked for closure. Yet he'll probably have big queues come Christmas with two post offices local to Deal looking like they'll be closing. Dover town also loses two post office.
This is the decision making of the madhouse. I've been getting up a petition to Parliament to try and get the Government to see sense. Considering how they have been making such a mess of everything they do lately, this does seem a bit unlikely. There's always hope . . .
Fun in Aylesham
Back in the Summer of 2007 the Aylsham by election meant some campaigning. Along the way we stopped off at Father Jeff's Church Fair and were treated to strawberry tea! Sadly I didn't win a coconut this time . . . memo to self: "must try harder!"
Community safety day and Pencester Park
With PCSO Phillips, Cllr Jan Tranter (Lab) and Cllr Nigel Collor (Con) and many others, I supported the community safety day at Pencester Park. This was back in the Summer of 07, when the evenings were still light.It was a fun time. People told me about being woken up in the middle of the night, intimidation, getting beaten up and house breaking. More community respect and Police powers will do much for safety and security in Dover. Seems clear to me that we should support the Police with zero tolerance policing powers and get more police on our streets.
Feted to have fun in Alkham
A beautiful summers day at the Alkham Valley Fete back in the Summer where I enjoyed a fine day out with local River Ward Conservative Councillor and leading light Sue Nicholas. And . . . I won a coconut!!
On patrol
I went round with the Police for a full shift in November 2007 - 7pm Sat to 3am Sun. Earlier on I went round with PCs Lidgely (L) and Hawkes (R), seen here.
The Police went to see River Rec - there had been complaints about young people behaving in an anti social way. We met swarms of bored young people in River. They told me they wanted more activities in Dover for younger people. Getting more for younger people to do is much needed.
Charlie Elphicke
Here you can read about local news matters and what I've been up to. You can make comments too. I'd welcome your feedback, so please do feel free to comment!
From Twitter
Had positive meeting with Southeast Trains and Network rail on improving rail services to Deal and the villages
3.4 days ago
Presenting and consulting on Dover People's Port proposal to Dover Town Council on Thursday 6pm, Maison Dieu House. Public welcome; do come!
23.4 days ago
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You've done a great service here, you mentioned this cause in your maiden speech to parliament and i am very happy to see you carried through with your words to make a difference in helping this man to defend himself when he had offered such great service to this country. I sincerely hope you manage to make good on your other promises to make Kent and particularly the Dover and Deal area to, 'become a jewel in the crown of our nation'. - andy
- Andrew Manion