
Children's lifeline faces cuts
Children ringing ChildLine in the early hours of the morning after being abused or running away from desperate situations at home may soon find that the lines are closed.
Children ringing ChildLine in the early hours of the morning after being abused or running away from desperate situations at home may soon find that the lines are closed.
Volunteers are being sought by Kent Police to make independent checks on people being held in custody.The Kent Police Authority wants people to observe and report impartially and independently on conditions under which others are detained.
Shepway Liberal Democrats are delighted that the NO2ID pledge to refuse to sign up to an identity card and identity database. Shepway Lib Dem members Tim Prater, Darren Briddock and Sam Matthews are amongst the thousands to have signed up to the pledge.
The Liberal Democrats have thanked voters for their support in the by-elections to Hythe Town Council in Hythe South and Hythe East. Although the Conservatives won both seats, the Liberal Democrats retain control of Hythe Town Council.
Recorded crime in Kent fell last year, according to Government figures published today. The county has one of the lowest levels of overall recorded crime in the South East, a region with one of the lowest levels of crime in England and Wales.
Residents in New Romney, Greatstone & Lydd-on-Sea are to benefit from mains drainage for the first time after Southern Water was given the go-ahead to lay sewers. Connections to the new drainage system will take place over the next two years. Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the go-ahead, but continue to question the cost to householders to be connected to the new service. It is likely that householders will be asked to pay a significant bill for connection.
The Conservatives in Hythe have suspended the membership of former Tory Councillor Martin Ross who is standing against his own Party in Hythe South in a by-election to Hythe Town Council tomorrow. Former Conservative Councillor Martin Ross has called for a motion of no confidence in the local Conservative Party Chairman.
Mark Hunter has been declared as the new Member of Parliament for Cheadle with a majority of 3,657. Lib Dem Mark fought a positive campaign on the issues that matter to local people, and is delighted to have been elected to succeed local favourite Patsy Calton. Despite an American-style negative and personal campaign by the Conservatives, their candidate fell to a humiliating third successive defeat in Cheadle.
Hythe South campaigner Darren Briddock attended a public meeting on Thursday held by Kent Police Authority and Shepway Council and was reassured by a commitment to work across agencies to crack down on crime in Hythe.
The NO2ID pledge has now been signed by over 9,700 people, less than 300 short of it's target, just one month after it was started. That means that over £97,000 has been raised for a legal defence fund should the ID bill become law. Shepway No2ID campaigners Darren Briddock, Sam Matthews and Tim Prater have all signed the pledge and are urging other local residents to do so as well.
Local Liberal Democrats are calling on Shepway Council to buy equipment that will help tackle graffiti. The Lib Dem group have put forward a motion to the 20 July Shepway Council meeting calling for a new graffiti busting machine to be bought.
A replica of the schooner 'HMS' Pickle will visit Folkestone Harbour as a part of a UK Tour from May to September celebrating the Bicentenary year of Britain's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and Lord Nelson's death during the battle. Folkestone will form a key part of the tour hosting 'HMS' Pickle and the Pickle Exhibition from 31 August to 5 September.