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

16 October 2008

Friday morning began with the presentation to the Folkestone Partnership Against Crime of a national certificate recognising the progress that has been made locally in encouraging different agencies to work together in fighting crime. I also presented a separate award to Shepway District Council, one of the key partners in this endeavour.

It was a very appropriate prelude to my meeting with the Chief Constable in Maidstone later in the morning.

In between the two I was given a presentation by the GSE Group on their plans for development at the Imperial Hotel in Hythe. Their proposals are, understandably, controversial but I give them some credit for consulting and informing the public about their plans. It will be for the Development Control Committee of Shepway District Council to decide whether permission should be given.

When I got to Maidstone I was able to update the Chief Constable on the progress of the partnership in Shepway. I was also able to raise with him some of the concerns which had been voiced at the public meeting in Lydd which I chaired three weeks ago.

After the meeting with the Chief Constable I drove from Maidstone to New Romney to meet Liz Caudwell, the Head of St Nicholas Church of England Primary School who had asked to see me to discuss a number of issues which were causing her concern.

I shared her concern and undertook to take up the issued with the relevant authorities.

After my advice centres on Saturday I spoke at a lunch meeting of the Hythe Civic Society which I greatly enjoyed. The Society has a remarkably high membership and is a strong voice for the precious environment of the town.

Then it was back to Dymchurch to draw the raffle after a very successful local fashion show.

And to round off a full weekend. Sandra and I attended the wedding of Council Leader Robert Bliss to Nina Mounteney. A very happy occasion!