01.02.2026
Dear Reader,
This year has been off to a great start! Below are some of the things that I have been up to so far.
Best wishes,
Tony
New Medical Centre at FOLCA Update
For many years, GP services in Folkestone and Hythe have suffered as surgeries have closed and doctors have left the area. That’s why, since 2020, the District Council have been pushing to build a new medical centre in the FOLCA building. The process, has, however, been difficult. In October, after funding negotiations between the NHS and the District Council stalled, I intervened and helped broker a solution with the parties and the Government. Now, the NHS has officially backed the project, which I recently pressed with the Care Minister, Stephen Kinnock MP (pictures below). There is more work to do but this development is a major step forward for GP services in Folkestone. I will continue discussions with colleagues in Romney Marsh to improve services there too.
Social Media Usage for Under-16s
The Government has changed guidance to schools to ban smartphone use in schools. They are also seeking views on whether to ban social media use for under 16s. Fill in my survey to tell me your views about this to help me respond to them: https:// www.tonyvaughan.co.uk/social-media- under-16/
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Tackling Sewage Pollution at Dymchurch and Littlestone
It remains completely unacceptable that Dymchurch and Littlestone beaches have “poor” official water quality ratings – the only two in Kent – which have permanent “no swim” advisories in place for the 2026 bathing season. Last December, the Environment Agency Regional Director admitted to me that he did not know when the EA will have identified the root cause of the pollution affecting these beaches. I have kept up the pressure on him – including via legal requests for information. I am particularly concerned that the EA is relying too much on assumptions rather than evidence and seems to be overlooking key pollution sources linked to infrastructure and wastewater discharges. I am particularly concerned that the EA and Southern Water are missing the real effect of sewage discharges via the “Hythe Long Pipe” because of flawed modelling. There are also real questions about the high levels of E Coli found in beach sediment suggesting persistent contamination that is not reflected in their modelling. I will keep pushing them to get to the heart of the problem urgently!
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Building Local Skills and Talent
It’s always great to see the work being done at EKC Folkestone College. This time I visited bricklaying students working with new bricks kindly donated by Persimmon Homes. It
is encouraging to see EKC training up our local students to open doors to good, local jobs.
It’s also critically important for local employers to have a pipeline of hard-working, skilled workers that they can rely on. In the summer, I will be visiting the new Persimmon Homes
development in Littlestone to see the start of the affordable homes they are building there.
Fantastic work, everyone!
Turner Schools Radio Interview
I enjoyed being grilled by students for Turner
School Radio again – this time to talk about
sewage pollution in our constituency.
Rainbow Centre
I recently visited the Rainbow Centre and met with the team to gain some valuable insights into the vital work they do with local homeless people. I also learned about their future plans for moving to improved facilities and I’m excited to see the accommodation project come to life at the Methodist Church.
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Folkestone should be the UK’s Next Town of Culture
Folkestone is a unique cultural hub and, thanks to this Government, it has the perfect chance to showcase this. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced that towns can apply to be the UK’s next Town of Culture with the winner receiving the grand prize of £3 million to deliver a programme showcasing their town’s culture in 2028.
I may be biassed, but I struggle to think of a town more deserving of this accolade than Folkestone. Our corner of the country is home to literary, animation, documentary and music festivals like no other. Folkestone is buzzing with a vibrant, grassroots-driven culture defined by artists, venues and businesses with inclusivity at their heart. Winning the UK Town of
Culture Competition would develop our national and global reputation as a creative innovator and leader.
Want to share your thoughts on who should be involved? Fill out my survey here.
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Dungeness Nuclear Taskforce
Since I was elected in 2024, bringing new nuclear to Dungeness has been a top priority for me. I asked my first-ever oral question in the House of Commons about it. Nuclear Week in Parliament was a great chance for me to meet with industry bodies and private sector companies who could invest in Dungeness. I marked Nuclear Week by calling for the District and County Council to join me in the formation of a Dungeness Nuclear Taskforce to work with the Government, private sector, unions and all other stakeholders to craft the industry pitch for Dungeness, and to drive this work forwards together. This single body will see representatives from different political parties work together for a single goal: new nuclear at Dungeness. I look forward to updating you on the progress of this initiative.
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Saving Grace Hill Library
Early in January, Kent County Council (KCC) decided to auction off our treasured community asset, the Grace Hill Library. This decision was met with anger by the local community. The building was closed at the end of 2022 and, since then, I have supported the community campaign to save it, restore it to its former glory, and re-open it as a library and community hub. Following KCC’s decision, my online petition gained over 1,300 signatures in under 5 days, which I presented to KCC before a crunch vote on the issue, at which KCC dug in their heels. However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel: at a recent meeting, Folkestone Town Council voted unanimously to buy the building and has asked KCC to agree not to auction the building. We await their response.
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Rogue Managing Agents – Beware!
I continue my work helping residents being fleeced by rogue managing agents. I recently met with Carolyn of the Eaves residents’ group in Sandgate who are having difficulties with service charges and transparency. I have also had ongoing meetings with the managing agent and residents at the Shorncliffe Heights estate. It is crucial to hold these managing agents accountable for the services that residents are paying for – often over the odds, and often not delivered properly or at all.
The Grand
It was a pleasure to meet local residents at the Grand on the Leas. I was given a tour of the Grand and learned about the ongoing
restoration work, as well as the incredible work that Grand Arts Community Interest Company does for local arts and charitable
causes.
Work Experience Announcement!
My office now offers work experience to all secondary
schools in the constituency and we’re off to a great start.
Students apply via their school.
“The experience was eye opening and exciting, it was
amazing to see the team working together like clockwork, I
would highly recommend it to other students. My favourite
part was doing communications work in Westminster and
exploring the Houses of Parliament.“ – Max.
(Recent work experience student)
Recent Developments
Breakfast Clubs Rollout – Three more primary schools have been granted free new breakfast clubs under the
Government scheme: St Peter’s Church of England,
Christchurch CEP Academy and Lydd Primary. That means 901 more children in our community will now have access to a free breakfast at school – helping families with cost of living pressures and making sure children start the school day fed and ready to learn.
SEND Funding Announcement – On 16 January, the Government announced a £200 million investment in SEND teacher training. The idea is that teachers should be able to accommodate the learning needs of all children in mainstream schools. Until recently, teachers didn’t have to know anything about SEND so couldn’t properly tailor their approach to the individual needs of children. That is all changing.
Business Rates – Pubs will get a 15% cut to new business rates bills from April 2026 followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, as well as a review into the method used to value their
business rates.
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VOLUNTEER WITH ME!
If you would like to help me serve the people of Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh, please
get in touch via tonyvaughan.co.uk/contact.
Best wishes,
Tony Vaughan KC MP
Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe
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MEET YOUR MP
I hold surgeries every week to discuss personal matters on which you need assistance.
Email: [email protected]
Book a surgery: tonyvaughan.co.uk/contact
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Read my articles: here
Parliamentary contributions: here
