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DAMIAN'S PROPOSALS COULD KICK-START HAWKINGE ECONOMY

Damian Collins meets with local Tories on Saturday

The Tories clear choice of successor to Michael Howard and the man who proposed the idea of 'Acorn Areas', Damian Collins was out canvassing in Hawkinge on Saturday (28 October) with members of the Shepway Conservatives.

This was the prospective parliamentary candidate for Folkestone and Hythe's first official visit to the village although he admitted he had already looked around the area.

At the candidate selection meeting in July when members unanimously backed Mr Collins, he set out a number of key priorities for the constituency whilst vowing to take the fight to the opposition parties at both local and national level.

Damian said he would build on Michael Howard's legacy and reach out to voters who have not yet supported them in recent elections.

At this year's Conservative Party Conference in Bournmouth, Damian proposed during one of the ‘Meet the Candidates’ sessions an idea to create new local enterprise zones, called ‘Acorn Areas’. The areas he said, would attract lowers taxes and lighter regulation. It received the support of the Conference and will be presented formally to the party’s policy review committee, chaired by Oliver Letwin.

In a statement Mr Collins said: "If you believe that small businesses are at the heart of strong communities, as well as a strong enterprise economy, you may share my concerns that not enough is done to support and encourage them.

"Community businesses, like a neighbourhood general store, or village shop, play an important role in the well-being of the area they serve.

"These businesses are good for the economy, and the quality of life of local people. Yet the taxes and regulations heaped onto them make existing businesses struggle and put people off starting up on their own.

"These ‘Acorn Areas’ could be a village or neighbourhood with few or no community businesses. 

"Within these areas businesses may pay little no business rates, which can currently cover one third of their overheads. 

"We could also look at tax incentives for these businesses, and also for individuals who invest in them."