Peter Garstin wrote:Therefore it's not fair to blame DDC for failing to bring about the DTIZ et al, because they don't have the capacity to do it. They do, however, have the ability to process planning applications with greater dispatch than they actually do;
I understand that DDC cannot force anyone to invest Peter, or create opportunities where none exist - indeed, I would be aghast if they did.
What they can do though, is facilitate and make the best of what they own, to encourage that investment and opportunity by taking a proactive role and communicating their intentions to those they represent.
Rather than letting land that they own in a highly visible area of Dover (St. James in this case) fester and deteriorate, they could come up with short term uses that will at least make the town look like it is welcoming to investment. If investors see that DDC is taking steps to make the most of Dover, they will feel more comfortable in dealing with them.
For example, why not prepare the ground, converting it to meadow grassland? Or, as I've said, level and clear the ground properly for car parking, or better still, freight parking.