Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
I think you'll get thrown out
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
I think you will, Vic, and that the press will be already there in preparation of the event, and that it will be in the next local edition of Dover Express!
I think the whole DTC is in awe of this, and are keeping their fingers crossed.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I am not one from backing down as you have seen in the pass. But I will sit or stand and listen to what is said first.I get on well with the town council and I no wish to upset that or see my name in the press over the meeting. So we will see what happens. But I am not looking for headlines ,but I do have very strong views over the port.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
Ray, at a public meeting in the Town Hall I asked Bob Goldfield if he would consider applying for a change in the trust status to allow for investment in the town. His response was an emphatic, 'no' because, in his words, "the stakeholders would not like it".
With so many set on keeping everything 'as it is', what benefits to the town are they seeing that the rest of us are missing?
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
It is alot better than seeing our port go bankrupt, or sold off to a oversea buyer which could happen with the MPs plan and the DHB plan.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Still can't see why whoever owns the Docks, that it cannot be benificial to the Town - surely if a 400 year old agreement is so restrictive then any new agreement can have provisos built into it?
It isn't like Pfizer where they can relocate their business to another part of the world !!
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Chris, I don't understand the resistance to improving the benefits to the town from the port. The days when most of the port wages came into town are long gone and that is showing.
With Europe on our doorstep via the port this should be one of the richest and most vibrant towns in the UK, so to benefit the town, and the whole of the UK, we need to get the best arrangement for the 21st century not stick to a system more suited to medieval times.
I don't know anything about port operations or economics at this level but I'm willing to listen to this proposal and give my support if persuaded by the arguments, others might listen and conclude the opposite.
Unfortunately some seem not to want to listen and put up their own arguments against without listening.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
The Peoples Port idea only became flesh when we realised the new Government in Whitehall still wanted to press on with selling the port to the highest bidder. Our guiding principle has always been 'if it must be sold, let the people of Dover buy it'.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
I don't understand the resistance either. In terms of good public relations alone moves to show DHB working with and for the town should give them enormous benefits. Of course DHB are not known for caring about their image, on many occasions they have made it clear that that they 'do not have to' concern themselves with such things as normal planning applications or explain their actions on charges to ferry operators.
They very much give the impression of considering themselves a law unto themselves and have a dreadful reputation of approaching any negotiations with an inbuilt arrogance that earns them no favours. As the closest port to mainland Europe the business will always be there (so little chance of going bankrupt unless they succeed in putting everyones back up so much they are prepared to pay more to avoid them) so the question is how best to manage it for the benefit of both the port and the town. Despite DHB's assertion that their responsibility begins and ends at the harbour gates anyone that has ever been stuck in a queue of port bound traffic knows that the operation affects us all. Maybe ten pounds is a small price to pay to have a say in that.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Chris.
Because Mr Goldfield has said an emphatic "no" to changing Trust status, we should accept that and forget pursuing that avenue?
I believe he said no to the Peoples Port as well, so should that not be pursued either?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
Not what I said and, of course, all options should be considered but it makes the most sense to put energy into pursuing the option that offers the best results.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Another option would be to stall the DHB transfer scheme until such time as the DHB board realise that Dr Goldfield is a liability and replace him with someone who realises that the port has stakeholders outside DHB's customer base.
And Vic, I shall ask the chairman to allow you to say your piece.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Thank you Peter that is all I am asking,I did phone the Town clark but they did not get back to me.
I have no wish to upset the meeting . but again like alot of the others my feeling for the port and the Town are very very high.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Yes Vic and it is right that you should be heard. The technicalities of the law demand that only DTC registered electors can vote but I think that people from the whole district should be able to express their views.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Peter, I do not know where you obtain the information that the new Government "still wanted to press on with selling the Port to the highest bidder".
When did Gov. state this, and to whom?
The Government has been using public consultation to try to find a solution to the Dover Port status.
People generally want to see the local area obtain benefits from the Port. This could imply an amendment to the Port's present charter.
Any proposal as to how revenues from the Port could be of local benefit in the future should have been made in the representations to the Secretary of State for Transport. This is the road I followed.
No-one in London informed me that the Government had decided to press on with ther DHB privatisation plan instead.
To state that they did without any proof is trying to influence people into voting for Charlie's p/p plan using unfounded arguments, so please show us the proof, Peter!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
What are, if any, the legal ramifications of selling off the port that was and still is left in Trust. Is it legally possible to sell off a Trust. I don't know the answer therefore cast this question over to the legal eagles , who must have explored this avenue, prior to their plans to flog it as a PP.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Conversations with politicians. Alexander. Never documented.
So we had to act to prevent being presented with a fait accompli.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Peter
Maybe you could address the point raised in post 216...thanks.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Chris, it's not the trust which may be sold, it is its main asset which is the port. Trusts are able to buy and sell assets as long as the proceeds are used according to the trust deed.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Peter
Thanks
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
