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Finally, I cannot believe that the Port of Dover and the various assets belonging to DHB, such as the promenade and various buildings, pass to a private trust (DPPT) rather than to a local council.
Subordinate to this, I could imagine (as also mentioned by me in a later phase of the p/c), that DHB remain in its current status, but on the condition that port toll revenues go to the said councils and National Treasury, and the rail link be introduced.
I am not aware of any proposals from DPPT that are beneficial to Dover, and do not recognise DPPT as anything other than a private trust that has political connections in Parliament.
A transfer scheme of DHB to a local council would mean a transfer of a State asset from one State institution (charter board) to another (local government), and would not require any sell-off or privatisation, therefore the State Treasury could not expect to receive a lump sum of £200 million from any investor/buyer.
Indeed there would be neither investor nor buyer.
Both the DHB and DPPT proposals envisage inflicting an enormous debt on the Port of Dover, usually mentioned in the region of £400 million. A private owner would first of all try to get back their invested money with a profit (DHB plan). An investor would try to get back their lent money with the interest (DPPT plan).
Ultimately, I cannot see DPPT getting anywhere unless they physically transfer my proposals over in bloc to their own baggage, but of-course I will challenge this too, as their proposals should have been made in 2010.
