Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
Vic Matcham wrote:I also support the DHB more jobs and the pier will reopen when all the work is done .You have to trust what they say
It can't reopen. If you look at the plans, vague as they are, it looks like the only bit of the pier left as a pier will be the very end from about where the steps up to the café start, and this will only be accessible through an operational area that the public won't be allowed into.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Whenever someone has a controversial planning application they always throw in the red herring about jobs. A few years a fruit growing company wanted to build one of these intensive units(can't think they are called) in an area of natural beauty in North Kent. The protesters pointed out that in their other locations the company employed an agency in Eastern Europe to provide cheap labour. Despite this the plans were passed. not one job was given to a local.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
The accepted wisdom in the shipping community is that the Western Docks scheme will be a white elephant with acute difficulties in berthing even medium-sized cargo or container vessels there. There are no guarantees that there will be public access to the PoW in future, or that there will be any similar amenity provided. The DHB have not announced an operating partner for the WD wharf and have given no detail over where the future jobs will come from and which jobs are apparently at risk if it doesn't happen. History is littered with broken promises from the Board and we must not believe their PR yet again.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
The D,H,B, never do things over night this has all been worked out over the pass five years or more .Again Peter sir you are working it out how you and some others want see it and not on facts ,but time will tell who is or not right sir,you are still upset because you and others did not get hold of the port under your own flag of the P.P.D, years go ,or what ever it was called.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Vic, we were very happy just to stop it being flogged off to the private sector. Just because the DHB were a nice cuddly bear when Mr Sloggett was the boss doesn't mean they still are. We are still working to get real community benefit from the port.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Sorry but I can add no more then I have already said ,you did not stop it being sold it was not up for sale in the first place it was all just talk mate.Just like what is being said now by you and others and myself.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The Minister's statement in Post 81 makes it perfectly clear that Dover has a Community Port with involvement right up to board level by people who live/work in the area. The Harbour board can no longer ride rough shod over the wishes of the townspeople.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
They have never done that .They run the port ,yes the town is getting some kind of payment which they might not have got some years back and that is good.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
25 years ago the pubs, restaurants and shops in the town were thriving with locally-employed staff of DHB, the ferry companies and other businesses operating in the docks. But now there are only a fraction of those who used to be there, in spite of port traffic having returned to pre-Tunnel volumes. Vic, I am in regular contact with people who work in the port and they are unanimous in telling me that apart from a few minor well-publicised initiatives, the port management is determined to continue raising two fingers to the town.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
Howard and Peter.
I would call the money Dover is getting very poor compensation for the chaos that DHB have initiated over the years. Sadly it seems Vic still believes their propaganda.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
The port is still here and working giving jobs,sadly it is the mines,paper mills. DEW. Gas works ,and many more that have gone taking 1000s of jobs still lots of locals working both on the ships and the port .All I do is use my eyes and ears, to see what has happen to Dover from the 1940s you cannot put that blame on to the D.H.B.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The main thrust of the argument for development of the Western Dock is to handle increased trade which will then mean investment in a "waterfront culture" for want of a better term. We know that there will always be fluctuations in freight movements due to the usual ups and downs of economies around the world, there is no guarantee that trade will grow at the current rate. In addition to Peter's comments about the size of vessels the Western Dock will be able to take there is the problem of keeping all the fruit cargo against strong competition from Portsmouth.
Without wishing to be a doom monger we are losing one cruise operator at the end of this season and in 2017 a new cruise terminal at Greenwich opens. My fear is that we could end up with no Pier, less beach, a few ugly half empty sheds to look at and no prospect of a waterfront revival.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
The D.H.B. would never let that kind of thing happen as I have said before they will move on and take on what ever comes along they know a lot more about all this then we do, it was the D.H.B that got the cruise operators here in the first place they will not just roll over and let other ports take its trade they will fight and win the ones that go away back again.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
DHB have recently got rid of much of the knowledge, the place now seems to be run by accountants and spin doctors.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
DHB have shown little or no interest in winning back cruise operators, at least half a dozen new cruise terminals have opened in the last 4 years and the numbers coming into dover have fallen year on year for at least the last five. There has been virtually no investment in the cruise terminals (new railings on Admiralty and roof on T1 were essential maintenance in the harbour fabric) staffing or equipment
Currently around 90 ships scheduled for next year, that will likely rise another 10 or so, so at least 20 visits down on this year.
The cruise operators themselves say Dover is expensive for birthing and tugs and newer terminals have better road links to visitor attractions and airports.
600 new jobs will include the theoretical jobs created in the transport, manufacture and retail sectors that we all know doesn't happen like that.
DHB could eliminate much of the distrust by putting in writing a promise for the new marina arm and reinstatement of furniture. Simple to do if that was the plan? Difficult if you are working to a different agenda though!
Arte et Marte
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Good post Reg.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
reg
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
More Nauseating stuff and surprised to see Roger Knight involved with the charade. I suppose while they are playing this game I might put in a claim as the cat needs new claws to kill songbirds and a transplant is the answer. I promise to look delighted when pictured holding a cheque.
http://www.dover-express.co.uk/f/story-27636811-detail/story.htmlJan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
Did our Music Festival receive a grant from the Port of Dover Community Fund? I can not remember, I know Roger Knight was involved with it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
Jan, yes DMF was one of the first grant awards announced.