News

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

12 March 2009

Last Thursday morning I suffered the experience which so many of you have encountered in recent weeks.

Arriving at Charing Cross Station to catch the 08.22am train to Folkestone I discovered that it had been cancelled, apparently because there was ice on the line – surely not an unknown phenomenon in an English winter.

Fortunately I was able to nip back to collect my car and drive to Kent and just managed to arrive in time for the opening of Quarterhouse, the new performing arts and business centre in Tontine Street.

This remarkable project will provide state of the art auditorium facilities for performing arts events, gigs, conferences, exhibitions and festivals throughout the year.

The building which cost £404 million was funded by Kent County Council, SEEDA, Arts Council England and Shepway District Council. It incorporates a venue for audiences of up to 500 people standing or 250 seated, a top floor business suite with 17 office and meeting spaces to let or for hire and a contemporary on-house bar and restaurant which I am assured will provide high quality catering facilities.

This project is a key part of the regeneration programme which is underway in Folkestone’s Old Town, driven by the Creative Foundation. It is a very welcome addition to the facilities Folkestone can provide.

On Friday I was at South Kent College to present the prizes in a Skilled Up competition – part of a national scheme involving competitive assessment of the skills of young people in bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating and plastering.

The hope is that many of those who took part in the local scheme will enter the Regional Skill Build competition and perhaps, in due course, national and even international events.

These skills are vital. As we all know, times are tough. They are, I fear, unlikely to improve in the very near future. But the tough times will not last forever. And we must do all we can to ensure that our young people have the skills they will need to get a good job and make the most of their lives.