I spy a spin. The idea Folkestone "Cliff lift repairs could cost £1 million" (This is Shepway, 8 April, page 3) is simply wrong. This figure is drawn from a Shepway Council draft report in 2004 which was discussing placing a Lottery funding for that amount - to renovate, renew, redevelop enhance the Leas Lift.
From the Times: MPs should be forced to sell their second homes and return most of the profits to the taxpayer, under plans to be put forward by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.
David Laws MP has said its "not surprising" that some sixth forms are considering taking legal action after a funding error which could lead to cuts in sixth form budgets from September has left schools and colleges in England considering legal action against the Learning Skills Council.
A new web site "Link Up Shepway" has been launched at http://shepway.ning.com/ and anyone across Shepway - Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and Elham Valley - are invited to join.
From http://romneymarshtimes.blogspot.com: General insurance company Direct Choice, part of the AA / Saga firm, is moving its call centres from Newmarket and Ipswich to Cheriton near Folkestone. The company has given its 220 staff the option of taking redundancy or relocating to the new offices.
The Liberal Democrats have submitted a motion to the next full Council meeting on 29th April calling on Shepway District Council to sign up to the Sustainable Communities Act.
From www.thisiskent.co.uk: Sainsbury's have announced plans to redevelop the Hythe Smiths Medical site, on Military Road, into a 34,000 square foot retail space, with 270 car parking spaces.
The Chair of Shepway Council's "Flooding Working Group" (a sub group of the Community Overview Committee), Brian Copping, is asking for examples of "localised flooding" of highways and footpaths and standing water after rainfall.
A national community wide campaign to raise funds by public subscription to build a lasting memorial to fallen Gurkha heroes will launched in Folkestone on Saturday 11th April 2009.
"We are in the early stages of a crisis of great severity and unpredictable consequences. It is now broadly recognised that, barring an improbably sudden recovery, the financial and economic upheaval is much more serious than those experienced, at least in the developed world, since the second world war. What should be done?": The Storm, Vince Cable
Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable will be speaking at a lunchtime event on May 2nd organised by the Battle branch of Bexhill & Battle local Party at Battle Golf Club from 12.30.
Three businesses from Shepway have made the KM Groups "Tasty" guide to the best pubs, restaurants and eateries in South and East Kent. The KM are asking for votes for the favourite venues in the guide, with the most popular according to the votes being shortlisted and visited by judges to decide the overall winner.
