The post you are reporting:
David Little.
Good question, one I will answer honestly, which will contain some negative issues, which I will apologise for in advance.
As I do not live in Dover, it would not be right for me to answer this question in any other way, except how I perceive Dover as a non-resident.
To improve Dover, I believe you have to start with what was is good and is already successful, look to what can be done to improve the town and build on those success's.
Dover Castle, Western Heights, Dover Museum, Town Hall, lovely churches, Crabble Mill, Dover Transport Museum, The Seafront, Kearsney Abbey, Waldershare Park, Russell Gardens, Bushey Ruff, Connaught Park, various listed building's and more (sorry if I've missed some) are all assets and sites of interest that visitors to Dover would love to experience and I believe it is these assets and future projects planned for Dover that could turn Dover's fortunes around.
The Cruise Terminal could be one of Dover's best assets. The Cruise Terminal Team has done a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances. Dover's global position, a fair way up the English Channel, has probably been the biggest challenge in keeping the Terminals open and I believe that had Canterbury not been so close, the Cruise Companies might have pulled out long ago. The cruise team are to be commended for keeping it open and are doing what they can for Dover.
Now, Dover must give the cruise ship companies, a reason to consider the town of Dover, as their main visitor attraction for their passengers.
The worst part of Dover and what I think is the main problem, is the awful experience of driving through Dover from both directions.
Between the top Jubilee Way roundabout and the Aycliffe roundabout, I doubt if any new visitor driving along this route, would even think about stopping or coming back to Dover, to visit in the future. That means that they are missing out on visiting some wonderful things that we know Dover has to offer them.
I know that I am saying nothing new here and before it all kicks off about who is responsible for looking after this route.
That argument will just go round in circles, as it has done, for so many damaging years.
It is a problem that needs solving today, one way or another it cannot be allowed to fester
The fact is, that it is damaging Dovers Visitor Experience.
Whose responsible and who should pay for turning this problem into an asset, for Dover, should be resolved now for the sake of Dovers future.
So your answer from me, David, is to spend the first £1million, on re-vamping this route, creating a better experience for potential visitors traveling through Dover, thereby building up the visitor numbers at its already established visitor sites, enabling them to improve their visitor experience and numbers, which will give the Cruise Companies a reason to use Dover as its main visitor attraction for its Cruise Passengers in the future.
