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Saturday 29 April 2017

BULLY BOY TACTICS.

Dear 4th May Voters,

We have an apology to make to Mr. Lofting. He has taken the time and trouble to write to us but his attachment slipped through our net. However, the sentiment in his message is so strong on the subject of free speech that we have decided to publish it today. Please forgive us, we're only human. 

Better late than never:


Heavy Handed Bully Boy Tactics

 

I thought that the end of the cold war, when the wall in Berlin came down we had seen the end of the Stazi. It appears that it has resurfaced at Shepway District Council.

 

Not withstanding the regulations on fly posting, I can understand SDC's frustrations with a rally organised against their pet project (garden town), but we live in a democratic country, remember last June?, I cannot see how a council have the powers to censor a website just because they do not like it, I don't like my hard earn't council tax being used for building land investment. Had the contents been offensive then perhaps, but as the information is to inform people to an event, then I would say this is a gross interference in our lives.

 

What are we to do?

What the SDC seems to have forgotten in their airs of superiority, is the fact we are not mindless minions. First of all tell everyone and anyone that you know, about the rally and get them to attend on 22nd April and then take a leaf out of the new generations book and take to social media in all its forms and broadcast far and wide!

 

I expect true to Stazi form, there will be a presents undercover from SDC, to see who is opposing them, but as far as I am aware, providing the march is peaceful they cannot oppose or stop it, lets be loud proud and let our feelings be felt all the way to Castle Avenue. Do not let the bullies win.

 

Richard Lofting

Wednesday 26 April 2017

AS CLEAR AS CLEAR CAN BE.

Dear 4th May Voters,

We are being contacted by residents who are still unfamiliar with the election process at County level. 

So, to be absolutely clear, this is our message to those Residents.

The Shepway area is divided up into six areas known as divisions.

Each area will have a number of candidates who will be seeking your vote. For example; if you are in the Elham Valley Division (look on your voting card) you will see that Susan Carey, Conservative (the incumbent Councillor) is standing for reelection.
Standing against her are other candidates representing UKIP, Labour, Lib Dems and The Green Party.

They are all seeking your vote to represent you at County Hall: They will be your voice at Kent County Council. 

Your vote will ONLY count in the Elham Valley Division. 

The other five areas' vote totals will have no effect whatsoever on the Elham Valley Division. Similarly, the Elham Valley vote totals will not affect the outcome of any other of the five Divisions.

When the results are known, the Shepway area will have six County Councillors representing us all at County Hall in Maidstone. 

Set out below is the outcome of the Elham Valley Division 2013 (taken from the KCC website).


Election results for Elham Valley

County Council - Thursday, 2nd May, 2013

Elham Valley - results
Election CandidatePartyVotes%
 Susan CareyConservative239344%Elected
 Nick JackUK Independence Party186134%Not elected
 Claire JeffreyLabour79915%Not elected
 Tom McNieceLiberal Democrat3987%Not elected
Voting Summary
DetailsNumber
Seats1
Total votes5451
Electorate15636
Number of ballot papers issued5477
Number of ballot papers rejected26
Turnout35%
Share of the votes (%)
Susan Carey 44%Elected
Nick Jack 34%Not elected
Claire Jeffrey 15%Not elected
Tom McNiece 7%Not elected
Results graph
Rejected ballot papers
DescriptionNumber
Voting for more candidates than entitled7
Unmarked or void for uncertainty17
Voter could be identified2
Total rejected26







FOLKESTONE EAST - KCC ELECTION. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION.

Dear 4th May Voters,

On the 21st March, we invited candidates, via our website, to send us a position statement and/or video to post on our site. Posting one division at a time, we are profiling the Folkestone East division where 5 candidates are standing. Set out below is the 2013 election result for your information. 
None of the 5 candidates standing has offered a position statement or video to post on our website.  Please click on the link below to view:
As the divisional boundaries have now changed, we are posting the following 2 divisions:



Folkestone North East
PartyCandidateVotes%±
UKIPFrank McKenna91029+12
IndependentBrian William Copping84627+2
ConservativeAnn Elizabeth Berry66421-6
Liberal DemocratLynne Beaumont40413-9
LabourPaul Richard Bingham32410+3
Majority642
Turnout316625%-9
UKIP gain from ConservativeSwing

Folkestone South
PartyCandidateVotes%±
UKIPBob Neaves1,00633+10
ConservativeRory Cassian Love98933-10
LabourBen Hart63921+11
Liberal DemocratGary Fuller35312-12
BNPHarry Williams411N/A
Majority170
Turnout302824-10
UKIP gain from ConservativeSwing


Please note that Cllr. Dick Pascoe is a member of the Conservative group of Shepway District Council that supports the building of the lorry park, Princes Parade and Otterpool New Town. Our Association is strongly opposed to Cllr Pascoe standing in this election given his unrepresentative stance of supporting Shepway Residents. We would openly discourage Folkestone East Residents from voting for Councillor Pascoe.

S&DRA.

CHERITON, SANDGATE & HYTHE EAST. KCC ELECTION. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION.

Dear 4th May Voters,

On the 21st March, we invited candidates, via our website, to send us a position statement and/or video to post on our site. Posting one division at a time, we are profiling the Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East division where 5 candidates are standing. Set out below is the 2013 election result for your information. 
None of the 5 candidates standing has offered a position statement or video to post on our website.  Please click on the link below to view:

As the divisional boundaries have now changed, we are posting the following 2 divisions:

Folkestone West
PartyCandidateVotes%±
UKIPHod Birkby1,15533+10
Liberal DemocratTim Prater90326+2
ConservativeRobert Bliss76322+21
LabourPeter Wallace354100
GreenDerek John Moran2387N/A
TUSCSeth Cruse862N/A
Majority2527
Turnout3,51429-5
UKIP gain from Liberal DemocratSwing

Folkestone South
PartyCandidateVotes%±
UKIPBob Neaves1,00633+10
ConservativeRory Cassian Love98933-10
LabourBen Hart63921+11
Liberal DemocratGary Fuller35312-12
BNPHarry Williams411N/A
Majority170
Turnout302824-10
UKIP gain from ConservativeSwing



Please note that Rory Love, Conservative Cabinet member of Shepway District Council is standing in this division. Our Association is strongly opposed to Cllr Love standing in this election given his appalling track record of representing Shepway Residents. We would openly discourage Cheriton, Sandgate & Hythe East Residents from voting for Councillor Love.

S&DRA.













DODGY DAVE AT IT AGAIN.

Dear 4th May Voters,

A post from Shepwayvox that further confirms what we already know. 

S&DRA


Dodgy Dave At It Again? I'll Leave You To Decide That.

_61229864_geoffmilesphoto

Geoff Miles (pictured) – co-owner Maidstone TV Studio & Chair of the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership, was according to the KM Kent Business the fourth most influential business leader in Kent in March 2016.

Mr Miles also sits on 12 companies as a director. One of the companies he is a director of, is called Redlynch Residential Home Limited [link]. Redlynch owns a property at Redlynch House, No 19, Hillcrest Road Hythe. It was a former rest home for the elderly and now sits empty, except the house sitters.

Front View

Redlynch Residential Home Limited has made a planning application to knock down the present building on the site and put up a block of nine flats. The planning application is Y16/0866/SH, and below is the plan.

Plan-page-001

Redlynch Residential Home Ltd submitted a planning application to Shepway District Council on the 01/08/16. Redlynch had received pre-planning application advice and this was given by SDC Senior Planning Officer, Annabel Hemmings. See box No 5 here → 19 Hillcrest Application Planning Form. It is not known if during the pre – application advice the submitter  received "an increased opportunity for engagement with elected Members, through briefings at the pre- application stage."

bigpic

On the 1st August, the day the planning application was signed and submitted to Shepway District Council, Cllr David Drury Monk (pictured) and Mr Miles both attended a meeting of the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership at the Inspiration Suite, The Village Hotel Castle View, Forstal Road Maidstone, between 5pm & 7pm .

Mr Miles is the Chair of The Kent & Medway Economic Partnership & Cllr Monk has been a long standing member as leader of SDC. The minutes for 1st August make it clear they were both in the room together. See page 2 → KMEP_-_Agenda_Pack_4_October

So Mr Miles – who has an address in Sandgate – and Cllr Monk know each other very well as the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership has been going since 2013. The board; of which Mr Miles is Chair meets on average every two months.

Mr Miles is both Secretary and Director of Redlynch Residential Home Ltd and his wife is a sizeable shareholder. The main shareholder is Susan Hambleton who also lives Hythe and lives a stone throw away from No 19 Hillcrest Road.

On the 30th August 2016 Hythe Town Council – See Page 2 rejected the development of Redlynch House No 19 Hillcrest Road on the grounds of "over-intensification, the building would be out of keeping with the street scene (BE8) and there was insufficient parking"

susan_carey1

There has been 19 local objections by residents who live in or near the vicinity of Redlynch House No 19 Hillcrest Road, which has spectacular views of the Marsh & Hythe Bay. It is known that Cllr Susan (Scary) Carey (pictured) has objected as the building will directly overlook her garden and property.

View Hythe Bay1

Anyway, as I understand it, planning application Y16/0866/SH was about to be turned down, when Cllr Monk Called it in on the 20/04/17. This means that it will now come before the Planning & Licensing Committee on the 30th May 2017, possibly.

So Cllr Monk now wishes to put it before the Planning Committee to vote on; which is Tory loaded. Do you think he might try to influence the committee?  It is known that he has done this before . Do you think that planning application Y16/0866/SH will get nodded through?

Will Cllr Monk like Cllr Owen compromise his integrity?

Is this another case of Cllr David Drury Monk being dodgy?

I'll leave you to decide that.

Monday 24 April 2017

FOLKESTONE WEST, KCC ELECTION ESSENTIAL INFORMATION


Dear 4th May Voters,
On the 21st March, we invited candidates, via our website, to send us a position statement and/or video to post on our site. Posting one division at a time, we are profiling the Folkestone West division where 7 candidates are standing. Set out below is the 2013 election result for your information. 
Only Bryan Ryands, standing as an Independent, has submitted a position statement / Manifesto set out below. Please click on the links to view:

Folkestone West - results
Election CandidatePartyVotes%
 Hod BirkbyUK Independence Party115533%Elected
 Tim PraterLiberal Democrat90326%Not elected
 Robert BlissConservative76322%Not elected
 Peter WallaceLabour35410%Not elected
 Derek John MoranGreen Party2387%Not elected
 Seth CruseTrade Unionist and Socialists against Cuts862%Not elected

Bryan Rylands Manifesto: KCC Election 2017.


_61050014_5a530fb9-c2c9-4934-9c38-8773b7f31bc8My Background 

I'm a single man, who for many years worked overseas, in Europe, Africa & Central Asia. Since my return I have done a stint a Silver Spring before moving on to become a Welfare Rights & Responsibilities Officer. I am currently studying the law. I enjoy spending my time with my family and friends, cycling acting and writing plays. I act rather badly and play the piano quite well.

20160716_182349

My Politics

I'm a the public face of this blog and I'm well-known and respected across Shepway for speaking my mind and fighting against cover-ups, secrecy and incompetence at Shepway District Council. I believe that public money should remain in the UK and not go overseas to known tax havens. I have undertaken research for the blog and helped on some of the following blog posts.

·       80 Sidney Street & the Panama Papers

·       The continuing story of Otterpool Park

·       KCC's missing £142 million

·       Environmental issues including pollution and land purchases in Folkestone & Shepway

·       KCC's investments into fossil fuels, alcohol, tobacco and arms manufacturers

I'm a realist and optimist. I am a passionate environmentalist and a campaigner. I'm also a board member of a Kent based charity fighting to improve the rights of those with Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health conditions.

ind_logo

Why Independent?

I have been a member of the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, but have become very disillusioned with party politics. No matter how well intentioned, political parties always end up putting their own interests before the interests of the public they are supposed to serve. They silence dissent amongst their members by using the party whip, loyalty clauses, threats and arm twisting. Political parties, in my experience, are also dishonest and deceitful.  This is why politicians and political parties are no longer respected by most people and this is why I am standing as an independent candidate. So that the people of Folkestone West Division can be properly represented without interference by party bosses. As an independent I will also be able to work across old fashioned tribalistic party divides and collaborate with politicians from all parties to get things done for the people of Folkestone West Division

smog-britain-468085

Environment

I am a passionate environmentalist who is determined to protect Folkestone West and elsewhere against the massive and unsustainable overdevelopment proposed in by Shepway District Council's local plan. Agricultural land and open spaces must not be used for developments such as Otterpool Park, Princes Parade and the proposed Stanford lorry park. Brownfield land must always be used first. I also oppose the wide spread use, by KCC and SDC,  of potentially dangerous glyphosate weed-killers on our streets, open spaces and school grounds. I am opposed to SDCs plans to increase the population of Shepway by 41% and the serious air pollution and water risks that this will bring.

New Homes

Housing

Although I oppose overdevelopment and the use of PFI's in housing, there is a desperate need in Folkestone and Shepway for affordable, rented, social housing for the thousands of residents who cannot afford to buy a home. I support the building of many more council and housing association homes, on brownfield sites, to meet this growing and urgent need. 

50ab73e7-ad87-4bf4-ac93-2808543456e3-2060x1236

Social Care

The social care system is in crisis. Older people needing care at home or in residential units are being badly let down by third rate services which often deny basic human rights and dignity. Disabled people are also suffering in similar ways. As medical science advances and life expectancy increases, we must find sustainable tax-based ways to fund social care services fit for a modern 21st century democracy. Being board member of a Kent based charity helping those with Learning Disabilities, Autism & Mental Health conditions this is something I am passionate about. 

edgepoverty460

Poverty and Regeneration

Folkestone is in the top 20% of the most deprived areas in England with benefit dependency, low wages, zero hours contracts,  and child poverty being almost endemic across parts of the Folkestone West Divsion. I will fight tirelessly for the creation of new, well paid, jobs, training  and business opportunities for Folkestone West residents and businesses. 

2699-my-thoughts-grammar-schools

Fair Education

Grammar schools are massively unfair.  Study after study has shown that selective education discriminates against children from less-well off backgrounds and prevents them achieving their full potential. I will oppose the further extension of grammar schools in Kent and campaign to have the existing grammars turned into non-selective schools. 

tea-towel-aneurin-bevan-700x700

Save the NHS

Shepway and Folkestone West are growing. We need a health service which will  serve a  larger community of people who are living much longer. I support a non-privatised, modern NHS which will provide the highest standards of care and which is properly funded by taxation. I support the Royal Victoria hospital and will oppose any efforts to downgrade or relocate its services elsewhere.  

Abolition of KCC.  Kent County Council is too big, too distant and too out of touch with the needs of Folkestone West people. I believe that Kent County Council should be abolished and its powers, services  and budget devolved to smaller unitary councils comprising of no more than  2 to 3 district councils. Devolving power and decision making closer to the people makes for better, more effective, democracy. The new unitary council's must also be elected on the basis of proportional representation and voting at 16.

11.19.15-Accountability-Buddy-II

Accountability

Many of our district and county councillors are lazy do-nothings. Once elected they sit back, don't keep in touch with their constituents and fail to account  for their actions, or in many cases, lack of actions. If elected I will be accountable. I will publish regular reports and videos via the Shepwayvox team blogsite  and Facebook about my activities. I will publish my contact details so that it's easy to get in touch with me to raise your problems and concerns. I will also attend meetings of community groups, town and parish councils and organise walkabouts and public meetings and hold monthly surgeries where you can meet me and raise your concerns on an one to one basis.  I will also publish details of all of my expenses and allowances and any other benefits I may receive as a KCC councillor.

Vote Independent, Vote Bryan Rylands, May 4th 2017.

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Please note that David Monk, Leader of Shepway District Council is standing in this division. Our Association is strongly opposed to Cllr Monk standing in any election given the track record of his insouciant stance on representing Shepway Residents. We would openly discourage Folkestone West Residents from voting for Councillor Monk.

S&DRA.

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