Investment, improved health care and developing Dover play a part in Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke’s pledge to improve the district over the next five years.

Mr Elphicke was clear favourite in the general election and even increased his majority with more than 21,000 votes.

He said: “Last week’s election confounded all expectations. The pundits all expected another coalition.

“Would it be Labour and the SNP or Conservatives and Lib Dems again they wondered?

“It is a huge honour and privilege to have been re-elected to serve as your MP.

“Much was done, yet there is much more to do. In the election I set out a clear plan for the next steps.”

He said that stopping the port sell-off, the construction of a new Dover hospital, and Deal’s high-speed train were a few elements of his success in the last five years.

“This is an exciting time,” he said. “So many of the building blocks are in place but now is the time for delivery to make things really happen.”

In the next term, he wants to see Burlington House torn down and the Dover town centre development go ahead.

He also wants the Western Docks revival and the Betteshanger Sustainable Project to take steps further to create more jobs.

“This is what destination Dover and Deal is about,” said Mr Elphicke. “Getting our community, the district council and the Harbour Board working together as a team. Each doing all they can to see our area become a jewel in the crown of the nation once more.”

Next month the new Buckland Hospital is set to open its doors for the first time.

It aims to prevent people from travelling out of town for appointments and to create easier access to health care.

“There will be so many services provided there,” he said.

“The next stage is to see five star health care. Not the big wards of old, but individual care and recovery suites locally. This will enable people to get better in our community and it would mean a big change to the way we do health care.”

Not forgetting Victoria Hospital in Deal, Mr Elphicke said he will continue his fight to get the “best possible health care settlement.”

He said: “The future of the hospital is secure, yet I care deeply about making sure we have the best possible range of services – particularly for the elderly, the vulnerable and those who find it hard to travel.

'The next few years should be really exciting for our community.' - Mr Elphicke

I am incredibly optimistic about what we can do together.

“The next few years should be really exciting for our community.

“About the changes we can make to ensure that in the years to come we will hand over a much greater community than we found.”