Conservatives Win Hythe West and Slam Lib Dems

Conservative Rosemary Griffiths has won the Hythe West Town Council seat with 53.5% of the total votes cast. Neil Matthews of the Liberal Democrats polled 44.5%.

A statement on the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives website (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) carries the result and launches an astonishing attack on the Liberal Democrats for having a 'dinosaur approach to campaigning.'

The statement, intitially unauthored but updated to include the name Gordon Williams Conservative Party agent, continues; 'They [voters] wanted a representative who cared about the community, not some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor.

'For my own part, I hope the LibDems continue with their pathetic style of campaigning - it garners additonal votes we wouldn't normally get from people who know exactly where the dividing line exists between decency on the one hand and the LibDems on the other!!'

The Liberal Democrats are drawing some comfort from the result. In a statement on the Lib Dem website (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html) Campaign manager and councillor Tim Prater congratulates Rosemary Griffiths and commends Neil Matthews for a 'sterling' campaign.

"It's never good to lose, but the result shows how competitive Hythe West has become - we've seen a big swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats since 2007.

'Going into the New Year, we're confident and upbeat about our prospects across the area.'

The by election was triggered when Conservative Councillor Richard Carroll resigned in protest over the granting of planning permission for a major development on the Hotel Imperial grounds by Shepway's planning committee.

The People's Darling

OK, it's not strictly 'local news' but FromUnderTheStone was delighted to receive another missive from Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Donald Worsley with his reaction to Mr. Darling's pre-budget announcement.

Praising Mr Darling as 'courageous' and 'the people's chancellor', Mr Worsley has some choice words for the '10,000 plus mercenaries in the City of London.'

This also caught FromUnderTheStone's eye as it represents Mr Worsley agreeing with the party line. Mr Worsley notably slammed his own party over the decision not to consider Dungeness as a site for a new nuclear power station.

Letter in full:

The Chancellor’s tax on Bankers Bonuses is long overdue but spot on.


Long seen by themselves as “Masters of the Universe” this bunch of shysters with their over inflated egos and short term memories have at last been brought to book.

Not content with leading the country to the edge of financial meltdown, a year on , led by the board of The Royal Bank of Scotland, they still have the nerve to threaten to resign en bloc if their Christmas Hampers are not stuffed with gold bars and caviar from Harrods.

Alistair Darling has now served notice on these 10,000 plus mercenaries in the City of London that henceforth they have a simple choice. Pay up and shut up or ship out to Dubai, the Cayman Islands or whatever other tax archipelago will tolerate their arrogance until a second financial Tsunami sweeps them away as some overpaid flotsam and jetsam.

Never again can we allow Bankers or their like to hold the Government or the Country to ransom to bail them out.

Northern Rock, The Halifax and RBS may go down in history as financial failures of the 1st order but nevertheless thanks to Alistair’s courageous decisions their customers still retain their savings, despite their directors best efforts to gamble them away on the stock market.

The Chancellor may not be The City’s favourite person after his budget but by emphasising that Bankers should have more in common with Captain Mainwaring than Sir Fred Goodwin he is most certainly the Peoples Chancellor.

His tax on bonuses may only raise £500m but it brings home a very clear message; greed and avarice have no place in our society when millions are out of work and millions more fear for the future of their homes, jobs and families.

It’s money nevertheless that will go a long way towards helping our 16 -17 year olds in Shepway remain in full time education or training and may just possibly help unemployed bankers find their way back to work with a social conscience.

Donald Worsley

Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone & Hythe.

9th December 2009

Prater defends Liberal Democrat Dungeness Vision

Conservative councillors and other observers have attacked Cllr Prater’s vision of the future of Romney Marsh without the power station

In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone Conservative Councillor (and Kent County Councillor for Romney Marsh) William Richardson wrote ‘The community at Dungeness does not accept the government’s decision as quickly as Cllr Prater has done,

‘We are always looking at measures to regenerate the Romney Marsh even after the final decision on Dungeness has been made, any alternative will be second best to employing 600 people, 200 contractors and twenty apprentices.’

In a letter on the Conservative website Cllr Russell Tillson, echoing his comments during a debate in the Council meeting of November 25, (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=448) terms the vision ‘cloud cuckoo land.’

‘It is clear that the Liberal Democrats are living in a fantasy world of windmills, cycle paths, B and Bs on stilts and loss-making water lifts. And a low paid fantasy world at that.’

Malcolm Dyer of the former Romney Marsh Regeneration Partnership, in comments made to FromUnderTheStone, said the Liberal Democrat’s position is ‘as shiftable as the pebbles on Greatstone Beach.

‘I will be surprised if they do not completely revise their national position and Mr. Prater will instantly gain a nuclear glow to his cheeks!’

In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone, Cllr Prater hit back at these accusations, saying the comments did not fully understand the Liberal Democrat suggestions for the Marsh.

Repeating his vision of tourism playing a major role in the future Marsh economy, Cllr Prater stated ‘I'm afraid neither Cllr Richardson or Malcolm Dyer seem yet to understand what we're suggesting for the Marsh economy.

‘It’s not a question of tourism or nuclear power station. If we can have both - fine: I'm not personally fundamentally anti-new Nuclear build. But it seems less and less likely that we'll get new Nuclear build. We're looking at other options. What else would a rational person do?

‘"Cloud-cuckoo land" is waiting for a one-off solution that may or (increasingly likely) may not happen.’

The decision by the government to not consider Dungeness as possible site for a new nuclear power station has been a hot topic for debate. Polls conducted by other websites and Romney Marsh FM appear to show that public opinion strongly favours a new nuclear power station on the site, although many of the links are through Conservative web pages. Commentators have termed the decision a ‘hammer blow’ to the Marsh economy.

Liberal Democrat policy of ‘no to nuclear’ appears to fly in the face of popular local opinion and as a result appears to be placing the Shepway Liberal Democrats in a difficult position.

Cllr Prater's full vision for the Marsh: http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/articles/000124/dungeness_the_real_nuclear_option.html.

Sunnier Side of Folkestone

Discover Folkestone have produced a video showing the more pleasant aspects of life on the South Kent coast. featuring video and still photography, anyone interested follow the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HheVJt92OM

Folkestone Gig Tonight - Higher State - Bar Below

Souvenir Circus event tonight features local band Higher State are at the Bar Below tonight. Expect avant-garde short films and awesome 60s tunes. £3 on the door, 9 till late.

Higher State - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmBpTuB5qHw
Souvenir Circus flyer and info - http://www.souvenirshowbox.co.uk/

Tim Prater Not In PPC Race

Over the course of the last few weeks, since Neil Matthews stepped down, the future Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Lib Dems has been the source of much discussion for those interested in local politics (all three of us).

Not since the iron curtain was up and members of the Politburo lined up to oversee the victory parade has there been such furtive speculation as to who is in which position!

Observers noted Cllr Tim Prater's views and pronouncements on Marsh based development with interest. Perhaps, in commenting on the Marsh Cllr Prater was spreading wings in an attempt to bring Martians (is that right?) into the Lib Dem fold.

However, in an email to From Under The Stone Cllr Prater writes "I have personally never wanted to stand, never planned to stand, never gone for approval,

"I'm now a Councillor at 3 levels, and very happy to be so - I'm going to try to do the best job at those that I can."

Presumably the way is open for Cllr Lynne Beaumont, as the Herald predicted some time ago. Unless there is a surprise waiting in the wings...

Blueskypie Secret Party Roundup

Guests of the latest Blueskypie ‘secret party’ enjoyed a wide variety performances encompassing mime, music and even a bit of stand-up comedy in Googies Arts Café in Rendezvous Street on Wednesday night.

Featuring acts either based in or with ties to the area, the entertainment ranged from the bizarre to the thought provoking. The Subterraneans, performing for the first time, produced an engaging set of what can only be described as ‘yet-uncategorised-turbo-revolutionary-folk’, at one point incorporating a loud hailer. Local singers and guitarists Dan Lucas and Marty Radcliffe performed, with a stand-up comedy slot from James Abbot.

Compere ‘Henry 18th’ and mimes from Shhh! Productions kept the audience amused and perplexed in equal measure during the breaks, and the evening was rounded off with a 20 minute DJ set from Pete Blue which brought guests onto the dancefloor.

Normally performing in clubs around the world, Pete Blue accompanied a projection of poetry and images, along the theme of Apathy, created by Blueskypie organiser and promoter Louie Burns.

Speaking after the event, Mr. Burns was pleased with the result. “I think the last part made people think, but ended the night on a high.”

Typically coy about the next event, scheduled for late January, Mr. Burns would only reveal “It will be called Revive. It will be a bit more relaxed next time!”

To book tickets or get involved in other Blueskypie events follow the link on the right.