Kelly Tolhurst is new Maritime Minister

Kelly Tolhurst MP.

As part of the Cabinet reshuffle, the Prime Minister has appointed Kelly Tolhurst MP, a marine surveyor by trade, as the new Maritime Minister. Kelly is also the MP for Rochester and Strood. She is also Patron of the MSBA, having been a long standing committee member.

Kelly became a councillor for Medway Council in 2011 and worked to get a River Medway strategy in place to encourage economic development and improve leisure use to replace declining commercial activity. One success was the restoration of Sun Pier, which now provides boat access to Chatham, below Rochester Bridge. Kelly is a marine surveyor and a keen Dragon racing sailor on the Medway, when time permits.

British Marine’s press release notes Kelly’s concerns about the MMO’s burdensome procedures for dredging of moorings on the Medway and effects on the leisure marine sector. With Mark Garnier MP she has set up an All-Parliamentary Party Group (APPG) for marine leisure

One thought on “Kelly Tolhurst is new Maritime Minister”

  1. Congratulations Kelly. Great to have someone who has a real interest, experience and commitment to the maritime sector. Pleased that the issue of non commercial dredging has been raised. The Medway SHA does not seem to realise that doubling the licence fees conflicts with the original idea of a reasonable threshold for minor Maintenance dredging, effectively de silting. As for the outrageous charges by the MMO for licensing, clearly aimed at big commercial operations, now raised from £90 to £120 per hour, resulting in the potential cost of a Capital licence at around £12,000.
    Time for a review I think…

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