Folkestone's Icelandic Windfall

Folkestone’s Icelandic Windfall
The plumes of Ash pouring forth from the volcanic explosion in Iceland may just turn out to be the greatest boost to Folkestone’s economy since the Victorians took the Town to their hearts in the 19th Century.
With aircraft grounded around the UK and our airports at a standstill continental travel by rail and ferries is now full to capacity and places on Eurostar and Cross Channel ferries now at a premium.
Time then to seriously rethink the country’s future travel priorities.
Time to cancel plans for a third runway at Heathrow and instead invest in a second Channel Tunnel from Folkestone for both cars and rail.
Time to postpone the £16billion Cross Rail line in London and instead invest in new Cross Channel Rail and ferry links through new Ports and railheads at Folkestone, Dover and Ramsgate.
Time to invest in rail infrastructure to Amsterdam and Cologne rather than a see more airplanes waiting in vain for take off to Holland or Germany.
So long as Met Office Scientists can give us no assurances how long the ash from Iceland will continue to pour forth blue sky thinking needs to begin immediately at the Dept of Transport. Thinking that puts Folkestone and the Channel Ports at the very heart of the country’s immediate and long term travel priorities. Thinking that puts rail and ferry passengers and rail freight to the continent as its 1st priority .
Out of the Ashes arose the Phoenix as the legend goes.
Out of the Ashes from Iceland, Folkestone and Shepway District Council must now seize the opportunity to arise and regenerate itself. Then the £50million lost in Iceland’s banking system by KCC may just pay dividends after all.
If elected as MP for Folkestone & Hythe then to that end I can certainly promise the electorate that whoever is Secretary of State for Transport after the Election he or she will be getting a firm knock on the door from me calling for action , whether the planes are still grounded by then or not. Never again can we allow the country to be cut off from the rest of the world so helplessly when Folkestone and the Channel Ports are crying out for new opportunities to serve the travelling public and industry.
Donald Worsley 16th April 2010