From the local press I understand that ASDA seem to have lost patience with the DTIZ and don't want to be involved any longer. If it's true, then I can fully understand that - this development seems to have been coming to Dover for longer than I care to remember; when my wife started at Dover Town Council (in 1999) one of her first jobs was to put together an exhibition in Maison Dieu House detailing the proposed DTIZ plans. That was 11 years ago, and it seems as though the only thing to have changed since then is that the bus station has been demolished, so I wouldn't blame ASDA if they did walk away from this seeming non-event.
Does anyone in authority know if the rumours are true, and if ASDA are really walking away?
If it is true, how does this leave the DTIZ and the plans? Perhaps if ASDA are no longer to be involved, the proposed site for a new store could be amended to become the site for a new Leisure Centre. On Dover Locals, Kalvin Clapson (Vista Leisure's Centre Manager) has said that the old leisure centre needs investment to the extent where it's probably more feasible to build a new one, and I would suggest that the DTIZ would be the ideal place to build one. Town Centre location, visible to visitors from a main thoroughfare, convenient for locals without transport, and an excellent opportunity to regenerate our town in a way that will be a huge benefit to many. Why, they could even build some public toilets in there!
The new Morrisons demonstrates clearly to me that Town Centre locations for facilities that are wanted by the public will be much better for all concerned than moving everything to Whitfield. Isn't it time to reappraise the DTIZ and make it slightly different? Do we really need another supermarket?