Plans to keep traffic moving in Kent in the event of cross-Channel disruption will undergo a live test next week.

Highways England and its partners in the Kent Resilience Forum will carry out a live test to mobilise a moveable barrier system on a section of the M20 from Friday 11 December. It will mean that parts of the motorway are closed between Maidstone and Ashford for four nights, with signed diversions in place.

I want to update you on the new arrangements for the COVID business grants that Folkestone & Hythe District Council has been tasked to administrate by the Government, as national lockdown ends and our district faces Tier 3 restrictions.

There will continue to be a Local Restrictions Support Grant (LSRG) scheme for businesses that ARE legally required to close under the Tier 3 restrictions. All businesses that are eligible for a grant through this scheme will be directly contacted and informed about the process by our Business Rates team.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to raise Carer's Allowance by £1,000 a year, to help support 2,904 unpaid carers in Folkestone and Hythe during the coronavirus pandemic.

The party's leader, Ed Davey, who has promised to "be the voice of the 9 million carers in our country", has written to the Prime Minister urging him to recognise the "challenges that have been made even harder by coronavirus."

All Folkestone Town Councillors were asked by the Folkestone Town Clerk over the summer if they had any proposals for new or replacement bus stops in the town. There was partial funding available from Kent County Council, and a small reserve at Folkestone Town Council for stops. It wouldn't stretch to many, but with that, and a contribution from Councillor's ward grants, then we might get a few done.

The application process for two Folkestone & Hythe COVID grants schemes to support businesses during the current national lockdown period have been launched today: one for businesses in business rated premises forced to close by the current lockdown rules, and a second for those outside those criteria but still being harmed.