Don't let them sell Dover, Gateway to England - please help us!

[boxtops]

Dear all, this is long but important!

http://www.thisiskent...360-detail/story.html

If you recognise the importance of the Port of Dover in this country's history, and its iconic status for those returning to our shores, please help us. The Port of Dover is at great risk of being sold off by Dover Harbour Board to the highest bidder - we are told that there is interest from the French, the Germans and the Chinese. We don't want a Gibraltar-like situation in Kent, we want to run our own port as a Community Land Trust, not to line the pockets of the Fat Cats in Dover Harbour Board. We want Dover's port to benefit the town - the requirements for selling any Trust port are that the sale should have Community benefit, and Sustainability - none of which the DHB proposal evidences. They suggest a 5-year period of investment in our little town - after which, zilch, and no guarantees of a sustainable on-going investment from the Port profits for local people.

http://www.doverport....Public%20document.pdf

this is the website of the viable alternative http://www.peoplesport.org.uk/

We went to a meeting of the Dover People's Port initiative last night, and we are asked to invite as many people as possible (national, local, or worldwide) to write to the Department for Transport, their MP, Dave, Ed, anyone at the House of Commons and House of Lords, to flood Parliament with objections - if there is sufficient weight, the Minister for Transport has to consider the objections. The Dover People's Port is being supported vociferously by cross-party MPs - our MP Charlie Elphicke, and the Labour peer Lord Maurce Glasman were both on the platform at the meeting last night.

(more on next post)

[skybluefred]

petition signed.Only 86 signed so far,perhaps it needs to be published on a wider
scale.

[boxtops]

Thanks SBF - this is just one forum, but yes, I'll speak to the organisers.

[parkie]

If I didn't know any better I'd have thought this was the 1st April. How much more of our heritage are we going to sell off?
All the British companies in foreign hands and now this. Maybe 10 Downing Street will be next!!!!!!
Will certainly write boxtops. More power to your elbow.

[tank1960]

signed

[boxtops]

If anyone hasn't yet seen this, please may I bring it to you again? The initial letters and emails to the Minister for Transport have to be with her by this coming Friday (27th) - the e-petition will carry on after that (135 sigs to date, we need more!) http://epetitions.dir...ov.uk/petitions/36088

[evedawn]

Hi ... Any more news on this box? Tho I'm guessing no answer will be given until after petition.

[Maydup]

Signed too.

[boxtops]

No news yet - the final date for submissions of formal objections to the Minister is this Friday, 27th, but the e-petition will keep going and have more publicity after that date - I'm not sure how long it will be before we hear of the Ministerial decision.