The following is the latest article from MP Charlie Elphicke on his People's Port Proposal ...Just in.
Many thanks Charlie.
* *
The People's Port
What do you do when the country is bust and the previous Labour Government has proposed a plan to sell off our port to pay down the national debt? What do you do when the cornerstone of our local economy is threatened by a serious breakdown in relations between the ferry companies and the Dover Harbour Board? And what do you do when the people of Dover are crying out for regeneration after 70 years of broken promises? Oh, and don't forget, you've just been elected for a month and are still trying to find your feet!
Last week I decided to take the bull by the horns. I tabled a detailed and substantial proposal that we, the people, should be allowed to buy the port. This has been reported on in detail by the Dover Express and the Daily Telegraph. The plan is to put the future of our jobs and money in our community's hands. Why? Because it is high time that:
• trust and confidence is restored between the ferry companies and Dover Harbour Board;
• our port, our town and the ferry companies forged a long term partnership where we all work together to take our local economy forward;
• the people got some benefit from the national class economic and transport facility that is on our doorstep; and
• that Dover sees real regeneration. We've been waiting 70 years. That's too long and it's time we saw some real action.
Deep down we all know that doing nothing is not an option. Doing nothing will see our port flogged off by a nation financially on its knees. Acting now, together, is to grasp an opportunity that could transform our community. We all know that the previous Government was so far advanced by the time of the election that the Minister's pen is even now hovering over the sale order. That we stand at 5 to midnight when it comes to our port. I believe in our community and believe we can do this. The prize for us all if we succeed is truly great - we would be able to tell our grandchildren how we changed Dover forever.
This is just the start of the debate. I want us all to be involved. I have listened and have led the way - but it's the community of us all and everyone must have a say. If we are to build a people's port, all of us need to be involved. And if the Minister is prepared to give our community the chance to own our port, an important step will be to put the proposal to community vote for endorsement. Please click the image (right) to read letter I have sent to the Minister. Please do comment here, write or email me and tell me what you think.
Letter to the Minister to follow...
