25/01/10 Unemployment In Shepway - Numbers rise

Statement issued by Peter Hobbs, Chief Executive, Channel Chamber of Commerce

I was dismayed to see that jobless figures announced this week show that for the second month in a row the number of unemployed people in Shepway has risen sharply. Another 93 have lost their jobs, pushing the total to 2,532.

These bare statistics hide the human tragedy of unemployment. We now have another 93 families in our area suffering the misery, uncertainty and hardship of unemployment. What’s more, I note that jobless figures have also gone up in the neighbouring districts of Dover and even Ashford, where a huge regeneration drive is underway. 

Talking to Job Centre Plus earlier this week, I know they are concerned about these figures and that they are seeing more 'skilled' people being made unemployed who are obviously finding it difficult to find new work locally. 

This is bad news for our community and I believe it underlines the need for decisive action on the part of local businesses and the local authority to redouble efforts to revitalise our economy and bring new jobs and new hope to our people. 

For our elected politicians at Shepway District Council this means putting economic regeneration and job-creation at the very top of the agenda, starting with the planned development of Lydd Airport. 

The Channel Chamber of Commerce has long championed the need for investment in the airport as a means of securing existing jobs, creating new employment opportunities and boosting the economic fortunes of the district. 

We need a thriving and successful airport and we need to do all we can to help those people who are suffering the pain of unemployment. When Shepway councillors meet on 3 March to vote on the airport’s planning applications they will also be voting on whether they want to give fresh hope to people desperate to find employment in our area.

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