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

29 May 2008

Last Thursday I took a delegation to see Tom Harris, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, about the implementation of the plans for the high speed rail link from Folkestone to London .

The delegation consisted of Councillors Susan Carey and George Bunting, the Shepway District Councillors nominated to serve on the Rail for Folkestone Committee, and Philip Carter, the Chairman of the Shepway Business Regeneration Partnership, who was there representing the Channel Chamber of Commerce.

There are two issues. The first is the change of mind by South East Trains, who will operate the service, on whether the trains will stop at Sandling. The second is the lack of progress in developing the parking facilities which are necessary to make Folkestone West the parkway station it was always meant to be.

On the first issue we pointed out that a stop at Sandling had always been featured as an integral part of the proposal and that it was on that basis that local people had supported it. More fundamentally, it makes little sense for people from Hythe to have to drive to Folkestone – or Ashford – in order to catch the train.

We were assured that a consultation exercise would take place before any final decisions are made but I am doing all I can to persuade them to reinstate the Sandling stop.

The parking issue at Folkestone West arises from another failure by South East Trains to live up to the original plans. Little has been done to provide the parking facilities, although the start of the service is now barely 18 months away. South East Trains have apparently indicated that they wish to wait to see what demand there is for parking after the service has started.

I believe this is totally unacceptable and, on this point at least, the minister seemed very sympathetic. So the prospects for success on this front seem particularly encouraging.

The coming of the high speed trains represents a great opportunity for our area. But everything must be in place if we are to make the most of it. There is much work to be done if that is to happen.