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Would you say that EH 'gambling' on the millions of Seachange money spent to HOPE that people continue to visit the Cstle is a bad thing?? A CALCULATED risk. The 'risk' here is that it all happens and fits together, but even part success could mean money to stop the decay for another 50 years.
As I suggested and on the document, the bigger picture is a park and ride. Park on the outskirts of Dover and move in and around Dover on an integrated transport system. Go to Dover on the train or ferry. Ideally people won't need cars to move around and onto the Heights.
I am not thinking in the millions of people as that would be rediculous but the castle attracts something like 300,000 visitors a year and does that cause chaos at present?? Dover could easily double that with out little difference but make a huge different to the town and local economy
Starting with the moats and forts. You only need to go up there and see the effects of the neglect from both vandalism and nature. Sections of wall have already collapsed and are at danger of further collapse if trees and ivy are not removed. Sections of the Redoubt are majorly deteriorating and trees could soon damage the Shaft. Look at the collapsing walls around the North Entrance. Look at the tree in the bowl at the top. A long term strategy of maintenance would be a condition of development. Get more people to access the heritage, open it up to the public, discourange anti social behaviour. A long term financial would HAVE to be built into the plans else I certainly won't let it happen !! Look at the money the Home Office spend on the Citadel to keep it standing. It is a SERIOUS risk of major collapse if the neglect of the last 30 years is allowed to continue !
In no way is it a bit of grass cutting and a little repointing that will ensure it is all around in another 200 years!!! Volunteers can do their best to stop it but what we can do is limited.
Green spaces - the Heights should be tree-less and the land all around it grazed. The hotel, memorial and limited new houses will take relatively little of the space (look at an aerial photo of Dover and see how green it is). Again the long term aim should be to permanently graze the Heights, maintaining the chalk grassland which is at risk of neglect - look at how much effort the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership put in to try and improve the situation. Open the Heights as a proper maintained country park where people walk to and around
Personally I can see a relatively small sensitive development of quality housing would not damage the heritage in any way, it could improve the community, it could bring life back into the neglected Officers' Club. A Hotel would create a permanent presence that will improve security and antisocial behaviour, and (again if a term of the agreement) provide a trickle of funding for ongoing maintenance.
The memorial, combined with Castle, Heights and Roman remains properly developed would give Dover the opportunity to become a weekend location rather than the 'nip to Dover to see the Castle and back home' destination........