Shepway Leader - a newsletter from Cllr Robert Bliss, Leader

Shepway Leader

From Shepway District Council Leader, Robert Bliss
April 2008

Crackdown on flytipping and dog fouling

Following more than 20 incidents of asbestos being dumped in Romney Marsh, the council
initiated a joint operation with Kent Police to carry out spotchecks on 145 commercial vehicles.
Officers issued 12 fixed penalty notices of £300 to people carrying waste without a licence and
are investigating other potential offences. We will be keeping a close eye on the problem and
will repeat the exercise again if necessary.
We are also putting extra patrols into hotspot areas where dog fouling has been a particular
nuisance. Dog mess is always a top concern of residents, especially for people with young
children. Our environmental community team will be using a CCTV van which can zoom in
and record evidence of owners not clearing up their dog's mess. We will also be putting up
signs in the hotspot areas to warn owners that extra patrols are about.

More affordable homes for local people

More affordable homes for local people are a priority for residents. That is why Shepway
District Council will be announcing new schemes to build more than a hundred new affordable
homes over the next year in Folkestone, Hythe and Hawkinge. They will provide rental and
low-cost ownership homes for families, single people and couples, as well as specific extra
care housing for older people with support needs. Plans are also underway to build another
hundred affordable homes over the next two years throughout the district.

Rail for Folkestone

The arrival of high speed rail services between Folkestone and London St Pancras in December
2009 will be a significant boost to the area. The Rail for Folkestone group, which was
influential in ensuring the high speed rail link for the district, met recently to determine the
next steps in the campaign.
The group recently met Southeastern Railway and Network Rail to argue the case for a service
of less than an hour from Folkestone to London for least some of the new trains. The group
also discussed whether some peak trains could stop at Sandling and received an assurance
that the existing semi-fast "classic line" service to Charing Cross will be retained, with a stop at
London Bridge.
Meanwhile alongside Southeastern Railway and Network Rail's commitment to investing
in Folkestone Central and West stations, we will need to play our part by rolling out phase
two of the parking strategy to ensure effective on-street parking controls in the roads around
Folkestone West station.
Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY
Email : Robert Bliss

Seeking a solution to Stack

We desperately need to find a solution to Operation Stack which has been plaguing the district
for too long. The latest solution to create a lorry park does seem to hold out some hope for
businesses and local people trying to get to and from work. I would urge everyone affected to
take part in the public consultation being held by Kent County Council so we can get an accurate
picture of local views and find a way forward.

Call for flooding task force

In my role as county councilor, I am pleased to support Kent County Council's call for a multiagency
task force to be set up to tackle flood risk management. We asked for an action plan for
Kent to prepare for future flooding and want to secure extra government funding for improved
flood risk management.
Visit by chairman of LGA
Shepway hosted a meeting recently with Sir Simon Milton, Chairman of the Local Government
Association and Leader of Westminster City Council, and leaders and chief executives of
Shepway, Dover, Thanet and Canterbury councils. Sir Simon talked to us about Local Area
Agreements and Local Strategic Partnerships and we were able to tell him about the progress
the four East Kent councils are making in creating a groundbreaking East Kent Local Strategy
Partnership.

Play boost

I am delighted that our council has successfully secured £235,842 from the Big Lottery Fund
for three projects aimed at improving play opportunities for children from pre-school age to 18.
Projects will be throughout the district and include a scheme to bring together able-bodied and
children with disabilities through play.

Disappointment over fire cuts

Many of you will know just how disappointed we were by Kent Fire and Rescue Authority's
decision to approve cuts at Folkestone Fire Station. Our response, which had cross-party support,
questioned the risk analysis the fire authority had carried out, and highlighted issues that make
Folkestone unique. Kent Fire and Rescue Authority voted through the cuts in February and have
assured us that Folkestone will still have full cover.
Best wishes

Cllr Robert Bliss, Leader of the Council
Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue
Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY
Email: Robert Bliss