5 month report on working for Dover & Deal
Posted by Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover, at 08:53, Wed 20 October 2010:
Having been elected for just five months, I thought I should write to you about what I’ve been up to on the issues of key concern to our community.
In Deal, I have been working to get JobCentre services back. These were lost some years ago and people are still very upset at the cost of having to travel to Dover to sign on. I have also met with local rail chiefs to press the case for the fast train to stop at Deal as it passes through. Train times from Deal to London take around two and a half hours – it would make such a difference if journey times could be cut to one and a half hours. I was delighted successfully to press the Education Minister to make the outstanding Castle Community College an academy.
Over in Dover, I have been working on the peoples’ port. This would ensure that our port could never be sold overseas. It would mean a partnership between the ferry companies, the port and the people. Making it happen will not be easy, as the sell off was so far advanced at the election.
I continue to press local health chiefs to move ahead plans for the promised health facility on a site where it can be expanded to be a proper hospital again. It’s really important to have beds and urgent care services to save long and expensive journeys to Ashford and Margate. Border security is a key issue for us all. It’s great news that illegal entrants have fallen by 80%. Yet we must remain vigilant. I have pressed Ministers not to follow the previous Government’s plans to fire many of our border guardians. In the current economic crisis, that is a difficult case, yet I continue to push as hard as I can. I more than understand how many livelihoods are at stake.
In the villages, I have been fighting to protect our countryside and green open spaces from the bulldozers. Whitfield, Sholden and Middle Deal are under great threat. Local pubs matter too. Following the granting of planning permission to get rid of the Hope Inn at Lydden, I am asking Ministers to give guidance to protect village pubs. Better road access is a real issue locally. So I have been supporting campaigners against the closure of the Eythorne junction on the A256. I fear the A256 will become a ludicrous road to nowhere if that happens. You need to cross roads too, which is why I support residents in Capel-le-ferne who seek a crossing at the Dover Road.
Not everything I press for will happen. Nor will every campaign succeed. Yet I will always do my best to make a difference and ensure we get our fair share.
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Posted by J R Paine, 19:15, Wed 20 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Hello to our new MP Mr Elpicke, good to hear that the current Dover MP is slightly more concerened about the Port of Dover, lack of local hospital department facilities, and encouraging to hear about illegal entry into to the UK ,which is more the can be said for the previous incumbent who seemed to be more concerned with animal rights, however moving, all UK border Patrol back to the UK and employing the French and Private security companies to guard OUR borders is not the way to go,and we will see a dramatic increase in illegals when this is put into operation.......and Dover will once again resemble a ghetto and take the brunt of it.......
Posted by Aspy, 23:47, Thu 21 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
We NEED to talk SOON!
Posted by J R Paine, 22:54, Fri 22 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
About?
Posted by Charlie Elphicke, 06:48, Sat 23 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for the comments. Mr Paine, I totally agree about border security and am doing all I can to keep our Borders secure. Aspy - please email me at Charlie.Elphicke.mp@parliament.uk and I'll be happy to organise a meet up.
Posted by Aspy, 10:09, Sat 23 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
1 Any flesh on the bones on the People's port yet?
2 Who are you speaking to regarding Deal Jobcentre?
3 Any comments on UK Tax Gap of £120bn, of which £25bn lost on tax avoidance, £70bn on tax evasion and the balance in uncollected tax?
Posted by Aspy, 18:40, Sat 23 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
And what exactly have you done to protect our Border guardians?
Posted by Aspy, 18:40, Sat 23 October 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
And what exactly have you done to protect our Border guardians?