• The post you are reporting:
   
  Yes Vic the meeting was well attended.
  
  The open forum concentrated on the privatisation issue and lost sight that the exhibition and meeting was also for the Terminal 2 Harbour Revisions Order which is at consultation with a deadline date of comments to the Secretary of State by the 26th March.
  
  I believe the privatisation issue will continue for some time and as DHB indicated no decission until sometime next year. As an Executive Member of The Dover Society you will have seen in this weeks "Express" that we are consulting our entire membership (430) with regard to the response we propose to send in respect to both the T2 and Privatisation issue.
  
  As far as T2, I was able to get a question in at the meeting (in fact the last one at about 1955hrs) and with such a major development the road infrastructure must be part of the overall agreement for T2. This is clealy in the hands of Lord Adonis as Sec of State (Transport) and he has the power to ensure the blight on the town (Townwall Street) is removed by having T2 traffic use the M20/A20 and T1 (Eastern Docks) the M2/A2. Also NO lorries between T2 and T1.
  
  I calculate that when both T2 and T1 are fully operational some 35% volume will be T2 and 65% T1 so it is essential from the outset that the road infrastructure is put into place and must be conditional to the T2 project otherwise there will still be heavy volumes of traffic (lorries) using Townwall Street.
  
  I also raised the question that Shakespear Beach/ Admiralty Pier needs enhancing to cover loss of beach and Prince of Wales Pier. It must be remembered that before the road improvements for the access from A20 to Eastern Docks the beach went all along the seafront.
  
  I, like most people of Dover, would like to see the port remain a Trust Port but with a revision to its current restriction to financially contribute to the town of Dover (Yes the town not the District) and an amendment of the Act could, I am informed, have been made at any time if our MP had sought a bill to do so.. it may have taken a few years to achieve.
  
  Privatisation may (and possibly will) occur as the Government seeks to reduce the uncontrolled debt burden this country has. As such as many parties must put forward constuctive comments that will give the town a share of investment and protect the employees pesions etc. There must be sound investment conditions applied. I have seen when in the ferry industry assets stripped and this is what must be protected for the future of Dover.

Report Post

Your Name

Reason