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Good news for Dover! From Your Dover.
A decision over the future of the Port of Dover could be made within just weeks, says the chair of the People's Port.
Neil Wiggins, who has been leading the 'communitisation' project alongside Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke, said although nothing was official, the Dover People's Port Trust (DPPT) believed Government would announce changes to proposals made by the harbour board to privatise the asset, signalling the start of the community-based plans.
He said he expected an announcement in the first two weeks of May.
"Although this is speculative, I think Government will instruct Dover Harbour Board (DHB) to change plans and make it more about communitisation."
Mr Wiggins said he believed ministers would look at changing the privatisation process which could pave the way for a people's port.
Last year, the Labour government announced that Dover port, which has operated as a trust for more than 400 years with all revenue going back into the business, was one of a list of public assets which could be sold off to help tackle the country's deficit.
DHB voluntarily submitted a scheme for consideration which looked to secure private investment, although the then government stressed it had no plans to force through privatisation.
Chief executive of the harbour board Bob Goldfield said the port's status as a public corporation, which could not borrow money, left it unable to fund additional capacity if needed.
But Mr Elphicke and Mr Wiggins teamed up to put in a £200 million bid to buy the port, where the district's residents could become members of the DPPT for £10, therefore buying a share of the asset.
The remainder of the funds for the purchase would come from City of London institutions.
DHB called the proposals "unrealistic and undeliverable".
But a referendum last month saw the town vote overwhelmingly in favour of the People's Port with 5,244 for and just 113 against.
The plans have also won the backing of union Unite and the Dover Society.
Mr Wiggins said: "I'm looking forward to a decision being made by Government. That's when the hard work really starts. At the referendum the message was clear and strong to Westminster about the wishes of local people."
POSTED: 26/04/2011 10:00:00