Folkestone to be home to Uk's Immigration & Nationality Service.

report in the Folkestone Herald (Thurs 4th Aug 2005.)
(No website as such) (part of Kentregionalnewspapers,owned by mirrorgroup)

Title.1000 Jobs on the way. (Exclusive by Sinead Hanna)

Shearway chosen as immigration service centre.

Up to 1000 immigration service jobs are set to come to Folkestone, making the Home Office the district's thrid biggest employer.
The UK immigration & nationality service is set to open a 55000 sq ft centre at the Shearway business park in 2007.
The new jobs and recently announced plans for a business centre at Cheriton parc with the creation of around 900 posts are expected to slash Shepway's jobless total by more than 70 per cent.
Chief Exec' of the Chamber of Commerce, Peter Hobbs said:" It has taken the best part of a year to make this happen, and it is going to be huge news for everyone. It is amazing for this area and Dover as well.It has been a long time coming."
The contract was originally earmarked for Cheriton Parc, but the SEEDA owned site in Shearway Road secured the deal last week.
Employees are likely to work in shifts of 350 people at a time, possibly in a new call centre.......

..... Cabinet member for economic development Linda Cufley said: " The Imm' & Nat@ Service will de a welcome addition to Folkestone, offering employment and career opportunities for local people.It will be the 3rd largest employer in Shepway after SAGA and Eurotunnel, and will be a real boost for the local economy"..............


.......... The Home Office declined to comment, other than to say it was procuring new offices to manage its "juxtaposed control" operations in France & Belgium, as well as immigration controls in the South East. A spokesman said " We are confident the end product will provide good quality office accomodation which meets the on-going needs of the immigration service in the area."
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nb; 'Shepway' is the name of the District which includes Folkestone,Hythe,Romney Marsh etc.

Linda Cufley is a former Lib Dem ,now 'People First', after splintering off from the then ruling Lib Dem's due to wanting to impose a 39% Council Tax rise locally and close all the toilets. (She was also on Kent Cnty Cl until recent elections.)
The Lib Dem split let a minority Tory control back in - until LC did a Tory/PF deal and joined the Cabinet to give Tories overall control of council).

Shearway business centre is located on the northern fringe of the town, just under the downs. - About 25 mins from the main rail station. No regular bus service to that part of the town- at present).


So, now you know where you'll have to get to, to demonstrate against UK imm & Nat policies from 2007 !!