For some years one of the permanent issues which has been rumbling in the background without ever quite grabbing the headlines has been mental health.

Planning is at the forefront of many people’s thoughts at the moment, both locally as we move to the final stages of the preparation of Ashford’s Local Plan, and nationally as the Government ponders changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Taking the temperature of local business is always interesting and important, and at this delicate time for the national economy it is particularly relevant. So one of my regular business breakfasts organised by the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce was very timely last Friday.

This week I bring good news and bad news. The good news is that Highways England has been briefing me about their new plans to avoid Operation Stack.

The recent event at Farrow Court, the excellent housing complex run for older people by Ashford Borough Council, illustrates what can be done when you treat housing not just as an important police area in itself, but as a key which can unlock the door to other desirable outcomes.

If there has been one subject guaranteed to make the blood boil throughout my period as Ashford’s MP it has been Operation Stack.

Anyone travelling past the Tesco superstore will have spotted that work on the new Junction 10A has already started in earnest. This is a junction which, when I first became Ashford’s MP twenty years ago, was promised “in seven years’ time”.

Along with councillors and officers from Ashford Borough Council I had an interesting morning showing the Minister for Town Centres, Jake Berry, around some of our significant changes.

Damian Green MP attended an event hosted by The Wildlife Trusts to show his support for the creation of a Nature Recovery Network.  A well-designed network of places for nature which links ups green spaces and protected areas in our towns, cities and countryside would have positive benefits for b

For most of the time I have been Ashford’s MP the Ambulance Service has been the part of the NHS about which there has been the fewest complaints.