The post you are reporting:
As mentioned on another thread, I attended the DHB Port Consultative Committee meeting at the ARK yesterday morning and as you would except the debate about restructuring/privatisation came up.
I know a lot of people are against the Harbour Board whatever they do, but they were emphasising very strongly that the main reason is that they will be able to raise the money for development, easier being a private port, than a Trust Port.
There are also community projects they could do, that they can't do now.
Support and protection for the staff is paramount, as is their pensions.
They want top establish a Community Charitable Trust and a Share Ownership Scheme and by doing this transition voluntarily, they can control the hand-over and will be able to make the decisions much better, than if it was forced on them.
By being able to control the transition, they will be able to satisfy (most) local concerns.
Charlie Elphicke was there too and as he has said before, he is against the sell-off but appreciates that he alone couldn't stop it, but was stressing very highly the need to protect staff, their jobs, working conditions and pensions as well as the security of the Port itself.
All accepted by the DHB Board.
There were of course other things on the agenda - traffic numbers and forecasts and that numbers are already starting to go up again, minor dock development works etc.
Maybe I'm gullible, but I came away with a feeling that this was good news for Dover and good news for the people who work there. I know the unions will always be against change what it is, but I do (now) believe we can achieve the development and improvements Dover needs.
I also appreciate that you can't please all the people all the time.
Roger