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  We have a chicken and egg situation and this is a difficult one to resolve. We need more businesses to relocate in Dover District, not just Dover Town and not just retail.
  
  We need planning to provide both sufficient housing accomodation and commercial development potential. They go hand in glove. The houses will only be built as a response to demand and that demand will only grow if their are jobs.
  
  There is little that a Local Authority can do beyond the zoning of land and ensuring business friendly planning, the rest will be up to the private sector. Of course there are the regeneration schemes, transport links and so on. We have the fast rail link and in time that may well help in the long term. We need the A2 dualled of course and with the likely demise of Boris estuary airport idea maybe Manston will be developed more as a regional airport.
  
  At the end of the day, however, we are at the mercy of the economic situation and we will depend on private businesses and their decisions. We can see that in the Dover Express today where it seems that DDC have decided that it is time to play hardball with Asda. let us not kid ourselves, DDC know, as I am sure they do, that there is a lot of bluff there. If Asda pull out then the whole scheme will be blighted. It could be a long time before that scheme is completed, unless DDC know something I (and Asda) dont....
  
  Bob. You are right but we need to deal with society as it really is today and not what we would like it to be.
  
  Ross - those things of course are provided by private businesses in response to customer demand, not by Councils. That is why we need population growth and the housing that goes with it.
  
  Howard - one option at the time when the offices in Whitfield were considered was Burlington House (the only town centre option and more expensive long term than the Whitfield offices). It was discussed. 'Nough said....

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