Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
The strategic direction of the port should very much be part and parcel of the strategic thinking of the whole community, as such the good burghers of Dover should have an input. We need to stop the silo mentality that currently separates the port off from the town as effectively as Townwall Street does physically and start looking at it as just one of the components of a potentially successful and vibrant community.
Of course the Tactical and Operational decisions about how the strategy is implemented and how the Port is run MUST be left to suitably qualified and experienced management teams.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
But Martin, you havestill not replied - come on, you did the easy bit now do the harder bit and tell us more. It wasn't just a baseless statement made for effect surely.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Barry Dover had a very successful Ferry industry for many years, it employed thousands of people on good money as I stated as well as attracting thousands of day trip passengers every week. Did the Town seize the opportunity then and progress and prosper? I am sure Calais did and the likes of Ramsgate would have with buzz the busy thriving Port would give to the economy. Now the industry is in somewhat of a decline and the footpassenger traffic barely existing, there are all the calls for the Port to help the Town, which of course they should, but did the Town help its self when it had the opportunity?
Audere est facere.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Martin, Dover businesses seized the business when it was there, but what are the reasons why it is no longer there?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
Many local businesses grasped those opportunities
The entity that singularly failed to do so was our local council
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
The Belgians used to come in droves and Woollies stacked tins of Quality Street in their window to cater for their taste for English chocolates.
I remember an argument which led to a punch up between some Dovorians and Belgians in the 70s when Tesco was in town. It was at the time of the sugar shortage and the Belgians had decided to buy some which led to this particular display of hostility. I seem to recall there were other incidents of unpleasantness towards the visitors, however, and, once they discovered the train to Canterbury, they opted to go there instead. This was compounded by the construction of Jubilee Way which meant that you no longer had to drive through Dover; and so they didn't!
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Peter the end of Duty Free sounded the death knell for the day tripper and foot passengers, Ross I agree with you 100%.
Audere est facere.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
So what then should the Council have done? Lots about what once did happen but nothing solid here about what 'should have happened', lots have 'should have' but no whats....
Again its all the easy bits.
The Council could not do anything about the exchange rate
The Council could not do anything about the end of Duty Free though it did support the Duty Free Association
The Council could not do anything about stopping the Channel Tunnel though it did oppose it, while also trying to prevent successfully the worse potential outcomes for Dover, a road bridge or tunnel.
Businesses did exploit the day trippers when they came (as some have said above)
So what else?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
As Barry has stated, DDC are not responsible for many of those things, but it (as well as DTC and DHB) could have helped by supporting a Town Manager/Business Support Manager, instead of starving any such body of funds.
Even now there is no financial or moral support for such a person/position.
Roger
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Barry
what role does the Chamber of Commerce have in a situation like this? It seems that businesses 'exploited' the visitors in that they happily took their cash but had no thoughts as to how to keep them coming back or stop them looking further afield.
We still see cafes and shops closed when the town is packed in the evenings (Christmas lights etc) or when cruise ships are in port. Perhaps a strategic body is needed - is this what the Chamber does?
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Mark
Very true.I took the family down for the Christmas lights when last in Dover and there was no where except 8 Bells where one could buy a coffee. Wife won't go in there day or night.
Apparently the 'official' response was insufficient trade to justify the opening of cafes etc for the lights.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
The Chamber's job is to support and help our member businesses and provide representation putting forward the business perspective to various government and local government bodies as well as the media etc ensuring that the voice of business is heard. We also take on a more general support role for small businesses (including, up to a point, those that are not members) providing advice clinics and basically doing whatever we can to help. As an organisation we have few financial and manpower resources (an office manager, part-time Chief Exec and a part-time marketing adviser on a self-employed basis) most of the supporting role is done on a voluntary unpaid basis by experienced and successful business people.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
You could have got a coffee at Blakes.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
True Peter and I had a bet with myself that you would post that but I was talking more about Dickens Corner and the Green Room if it's still called that where peeps could watch the lights,kids and have a coffee.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Barry
Drifting from the original thread here but what is it that makes businesses in Deal - Kings Head to Dunkerly's - think it a good idea to make themselves look attractive to customers but that thinking doesn't seem to transfer to Dover?
Is it too simplistic to think that the "experienced and successful business people" you mention might help put that message across?.
There seems to be something fundamental missing and the town is in real danger now of being left behind.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
marek;
like you i just knew peter would post about blakes i wonder how many posters onc you had posted were waiting for peters blakes post lol
with regard to general grasping of the nettle, we will have to wait and see
1; if the peoples port do win, whatthey do achieve, and we have hope if they do win that they get it right.
2; if the peoples port dont win we will have to see the outcome from other bidders and how that pans out
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Mark - we are a District Chamber incidentally, with Deal Chamber of Trade representation on the Board. Since the demise of TCM in Dover (who also had representation on our Board) we are taking much more of a role to support Dover town centre businesses and have set up, only a matter of weeks ago, a new working group of volunteers for this.
What businesses do to make their properties more attractive is a matter for them so there is no real answer to your question. I could equally mention businesses in Dover that also keep their premises in very good order, The Allotment Restaurant for one then there is the Prince Albert pub who recently had a big refurbishment, of course there are others as, in Deal there are also. So your simplistic and highly generalised point is simply wrong.
Perhaps it would be better to stop knocking Dover businesses and instead try to understand the very major challenges they (we) are facing at this time.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Barry
I haven't been 'knocking' them, I just asked some questions. Your answer speaks volumes though!
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
mark
your right its graspng that nettle,
we should applaud the albert, and others who make the effort under such severe cutbacks.
but we should go on encouraging other business's to do what they can to.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
It looked like knocking to me Mark....