Building a better Dover

In December 2007, local Conservatives helped organise a transport day which was attended by Shadow Shipping Minister Julian Brazier MP, Shadow Roads Minister Robert Goodwill MP, Cllr Nigel Collar and myself. Under discussion was a long term solution for operation stack with a lorry parkand a plan to free up the centre of Dover from lorries.

We put forward the idea of lorry parks to stop the Stack. We have also put forward the proposal for fully duelling the A2. This should, of course, been done 10 years ago. It was axed from the roads programme by John Prescott and is an example of the way we have been disgracefully neglected.

We also put forward the proposal that the A2 should be the route to the Eastern docks and the M20 to the Western docks once built. This would free up the centre of Dover and help the regneration plans to be a success. That KCC have taken these matters up and that Shadow Ministers visit is evidence that a Conservative Government would end the years of underinvestment in our community. That's why we need change.

Photo (L to R) C Cllr Keith Ferrin (Tranport Cabinet Member KCC) Cllr NigelCollar (Transport Cabinet Member DDC), Robert Goodwill MP, Julian Brazier MP and Charlie Elphicke

Carols at the Dover Removal Centre

I attended the most moving carol service at the Dover Removal Centre. There I met with many of detainees and listened to their stories of how they ended up in the removal centre.

Some people think that border security is simply about chucking people out of the country. They say it doesn't happen often enough and the Government has been weak on the issue. Yes, Britain is pretty much full and yes the Government has made a real mess of things, allowing our borders to be highly porous and not getting a grip on bogus asylum seekers.

Yet that does not mean we should lack compassion. We should always be willing to hold out a hand to those in real need of asylum. And when we have allowed people to come to Britain, when they have put down roots and built a family, I cannot find it in my heart to say they should be thrown out and the family split up. So I have taken up cases such as these and done my best to help.

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. 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.