It is a great pleasure to open new initiatives in Folkestone. The new Oriac House Learning Centre in the Glenmore Centre, Shearway Business Park will encourage companies to train staff upwards in anticipation for promotion or new employment rather than as a reward for past work. This is especially good for younger people.
Home Office minister for equalities Lib Dem Lynne Featherstone MP has commented on her blog, after issuing a joint statement with government colleagues. She writes: Upon the news that a gay couple in Malawi, Mr Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Mr Steven Monjeza, were to be jailed for 14 years for unnatural acts, myself as Minister for Equality, foreign minister Henry Bellingham and international development minister Stephen O'Brien issued a joint statement.
![Windsurfers [photos provided Courtesy of Michelle Roche of MRocheImages - www.mrocheimages.co.uk]](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/0/csm_windsurfers-photos-provided-courtesy-of-michelle-roche-of-mrocheimages-www-mrocheimages-co-uk_2d0d92844a.png)
The Mayor was pleased to hear from so many people that they considered Folkestone to be one of the best venues they have experienced this year. The provision of enclosed trailer parking on the car park at the seafront. People appreciated and commended the Coastal Park for the children and families whilst waiting for their races.
ONLY ten businesses have benefited since the launch of the Bank of Essex last year.
I am delighted to have been elected as the first Chair of the new Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Consortium. Following the sterling work of the volunteer-run Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterways Trust in taking the project to a stage beyond the capabilities of a charitable trust, I am looking forward to working with the ten other partners who join Bedford Borough Council in working jointly to take make further progress.
Liberal Democrat Mayor Dave Hodgson has been elected as Chair of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterways Consortium, a new body set up to take on the leadership of the exciting Bedford to Milton Keynes Canal project. The consortium, which is comprised of the eleven key partners working together to deliver the project, was established this week and elected Dave Hodgson as Chair at its inaugural meeting.