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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

15 November 2007

Memories are short. Last Friday we were beset by flood warnings. The Environment Agency said that the North Sea surge would work its way down the East Coast and that we, in the South eastern corner of the country, were at risk.

Fortunately these forebodings were not fulfilled. But my first call on Friday morning was on Alistair Stewart, the Chief Executive of Shepway District Council, to ask whether we were as fully prepared as we could be. I was assured that we were. Obviously, even on this occasion, it is essential that we are ready to deal with what the elements may throw at us.

Next stop was Folkestone Post Office to meet some of those who, like me, are campaigning against its move to WH Smith and against the proposed closure of other Post Offices in our area. I was presented with a bumper petition which I forwarded to the Post Office – whose consultation exercise ended that day – on Monday.

I was then taken on a tour of the Town Centre development which, I was assured, is on course to open on November 26. I was excited by what I saw and am confident that this will make a really big difference to Folkestone.

After that I attended the AGM of Carers’ Support, an excellent organisation which helps and supports the many carers, of all ages, who are doing such a magnificent job in our community.

I then went to Dymchurch where Damian Collins, the Prospective Conservative Candidate for the constituency and I listened to the concerns of local farmers, both about the failure of the Environment Agency to maintain the vital drainage ditches on Romney Marsh and about the extreme difficulties they face as a result of the restrictions on their ability to move animals. I shall be putting these concerns to the Agency and DEFRA.

Sunday, of course, was Remembrance Day. This year Sandra and I went to Hythe where a large number of residents gathered at the War Memorial to pay our annual tribute to those who have made, and continued to make, such enormous sacrifices on our behalf. It was, as ever deeply moving. The debt we owe is enormous. We must never forget.