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  Vic, as members of the public none of us (even you) have a voice at council meetings unless exceptionally invited to speak by the chair. I thought Charlie's presentation was respectful, thoughtful, plausible and to the point. Bob Goldfield's, on the other hand, started with a highly personal rant against Charlie's article in the Express this morning and continued with attempts to rubbish his funding plans. On the whole a very poor performance which showed him up in a poor light. I also thought that the occupation of the back row of seats by the Harbour Board heavies (like the bad boys in the back row on the school bus) was very interesting.
  
  What it boils down to is this:
  
  DHB want to sell the port to the highest bidder and devil take the town. This will plug the pension deficit and provide the town with a few crumbs. Goldfield was making extravagant promises about funds for regeneration but we all know that he and his cohorts will not be there to deliver on those promises when the port is sold off. Charlie's plan has the port owned by the townspeople through a charitable trust. In the long run that is going to be far better for the town than what DHB are offering. According to my calculations, the community trust envisaged by Charlie could own the docks lock, stock and barrel within 20 years - and regenerate the town in the meantime.
  
  PG.

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