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HOWARD'S WAY.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

16 November 2006

 

Last Friday was a busy constituency day. 

It began in New Romney where Damian Collins, the Prospective Conservative Candidate for the constituency at the next General Election, and I attended a coffee morning at Prescott House. It raised a significant sum of money for The Royal British Legion and was a very happy occasion. 

Then I went to St Martin’s Field for a photo-shoot to mark the end of the first phase of the installation of mains drainage at New Romney. As the Mayor, Clive Wire pointed out this is something New Romney has been waiting for since 1865. The scheme has not been without controversy but I am delighted that the long campaign for mains drainage which I and others have waged is at least coming to fruition. 

This was followed by a meeting, which I chaired, to discuss the future of sea defences on Romney Marsh. The Environment Agency and local authorities were represented and some valuable assurances were given about the information to be provided when the Agency produces the next phase of consultation on its strategy to protect the Marsh from the effects of global warming. 

Then it was back to Folkestone where, again together with Damian Collins, I visited a Homeless Link scheme which is doing excellent work in helping people who had been homeless into settled lives in the community. Their funding comes from local authorities and they are very worried, with good reason, that the Government spending round, which is about to be announced, will have the effect of cutting the resources available to them. 

This was followed by a meeting with Superintendent Steve Harris of South Kent Police who explained to Damian and me the consequences of the latest re-organisation of the Force. 

Friday evening saw me at the dinner of the New Romney branch of the local Conservative Association and on Saturday morning it was back to the Marsh for my regular advice centres. 

Sunday was, of course, Remembrance Day and, after 3 years at the Cenotaph in London, I was back at the Service in Folkestone. It was well attended and, as usual, very moving. I always think that the backdrop of the Channel adds immensely to the poignancy of the event. But later on Sunday came the terrible news of the death of four of our servicemen in Iraq. 

At least there is to be a reappraisal of our strategy – not because of any initiative on the part of the British Government but because of the result of the mid-term elections in the United States. It cannot come a day too soon.