MP wants Dover to be a ‘peoples’ port’
Ferry Online Travel News 24/06/2010
Dover’s new MP has plans to provide an alternative to the mess privatization is turning into.
Government plans to privatise the port of Dover are already mired in controversy, complaints and castigation. Now, the newly-elected Conservative MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, reckons he has come up with a plan that would let the local community take control of the port and prevent it being sold off abroad.
Driven by its need to plug a huge hole in public finances, the UK’s new coalition government is grasping at any chance to raise funds. Privatizing Britain’s remaining big trust ports could raise a billion pounds for the Treasury. However, many are criticizing the plans. Ferry and freight operators say they’re worried about the potential for port monopolies to raise prices. Locals fear ceding control to profiteering corporations or owners outside the UK of key gateways into the country.
Mr Elphicke is proposing to sell “Dovorian bonds” to local people and pension funds. The money thus raised could be used to put the port under control of a community trust, which would then contract out management. Port revenues would pay for the bonds. Another option would see the community trust given the port. The trust would then sell the lease to an operating firm. Mr Elphicke says he has spoken to ferry firms and ‘interested parties’ and received good support for his proposals.
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