The Gateway to Europe
Goodwin Sands Marine Licence Application Open Meeting

A local open meeting on the MLA will be held at 4pm on Thursday 14th July at Discovery Park ‘The Gateway’ venue.

Jack Goodhew, Port of Dover’s Special Projects Manager, will be speaking to give an update on the application. He will be joined by John Baugh and Dave Brew who will be on hand to discuss coastal processes, Lizzie Jolley and Jen Learmouth to discuss ecology and Victoria Cooper to discuss archaeology.

The Port of Dover application, supported by evidence contained in its detailed 1,500 page Environmental Statement, to dredge aggregate from the South Goodwin Sands for the DWDR development has concluded the following:

 

  • Thorough environmental studies
    • Completed by world class consultants
  • Small proportion to be taken
    • 0.22% of the total volume leaving over 99.7% untouched
  • No coastal impacts
    • Wave heights, tidal current velocities, coastal erosion
    • Modelled on 160% of required extraction 
  • Option with the least overall environmental impact

 

Having undertaken extensive engagement already with district and town councils and coastal communities and with key statutory authorities – the open meeting is another demonstration of the Port’s openness regarding the application and an opportunity to present the facts regarding the MLA.

Representatives of SOS and other local coastal parish and local councils can find further details of the Open Meeting on Facebook.

ENDS

Open Letter from Port Chief Executive

Set against this background, however, there is a cast iron certainty – the Dover Western Docks Revival is already happening. Nobody should be in any doubt about that, just take a walk to the seafront and see what is going on today.

The project’s future is not, and never was, entirely dependent on EU funding. We would have been extremely unwise to put all our funding eggs in one basket when designing a project so crucial to our future. As for the grants we have already been awarded by the EU, there is nothing to suggest they will be taken away, but there is no cast iron guarantee and there could possibly be more remote consequences of this in the later years of the project as an exit is negotiated. We will be working as hard as we can to reduce that uncertainty and ensure a strong future for our customers and community.

Dover Western Docks Revival has Government backing for a very good reason. It will create additional cargo capacity in a port which already handles 17 per cent of the UK’s import/export trade in goods. It will create high quality employment opportunities. And it will certainly act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Dover.

In this post referendum period, projects like Dover Western Docks Revival are more important than ever. As Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, said only this week, investment in infrastructure sends a very clear signal to the rest of the world that Britain, and therefore its most important port, is still very much open for business.

At this time there is one unshakeable certainty – whatever the future holds for our country, we will always be an island, we will always need ships to carry our supplies and exports, and we will always need ports like Dover to service those ships.

Tim Waggott

Chief Executive

Port of Dover

Port of Dover Responds to EU Referendum

“Naturally there is uncertainty following the outcome of the EU referendum, on that we have been clear for some time. Our organisation, our community and our business partners have risen to many challenges in the past and I am sure we will continue to do so in order that Dover retains its rightful position as a key port delivering for our island nation. Europe remains the UK’s biggest export market, it is also the supplier of a large proportion of our imports, and the estimated £119billion of trade in goods handled via the Port of Dover will very definitely not cease overnight. We will remain resolute in our commitment to being the best port in the world for our customers and community, however that world changes from time to time, and dare I say as it has been constantly changing throughout the last 410 years since our organisation has been responsible for this gateway.”

Business as usual for ferry passengers

Discover Ferries today reassured holidaymakers and other ferry users that it would be “business as usual” following the UK referendum result to exit the European Union. 

Bill Gibbons director of industry body Discover Ferries, which represents 12 ferry companies, said: “Holidaymakers can rest assured that this decision will not affect their summer travel plans. Ferries will continue to travel as normal and there will be no changes to routes or schedules and it will be business as usual. 

“In addition the ferry industry is an important source of inbound visitors to the UK.  Our ferry members handle 38 million ferry crossings a year and the latest International Passenger Survey (IPS) just published by the government shows that international inbound trips to the UK by sea increased by 6% last year from 4.9 to 5.2 million.   

“And ferry companies are responsible for a large volume of the imports and exports that are brought into and out of our country as freight. So far this year our figures show the volume of freight has increased by 4.5% from 2.43 to 2.54 million trailers trucks and lorries.” 

Visit Discover Ferries for up-to-date information and news about travelling by ferry.

Disney Magic welcomed back to Dover’s Cruise Port

Britain’s second most popular cruise destination welcomed back the luxury Disney Magic cruise ship early this morning. The world renowned White Cliffs of Dover provided a stunning vista for her passengers as she swept into view at sunrise.

The magnificent ship pays homage to the grand era of the luxury ocean liner with its art deco style interior. Boasting 11 decks and accommodating 2,700 passengers in her 875 staterooms, the ship has twenty bright yellow lifeboats which, along with the black, red, and white colours of the ship itself, match the colours of Mickey Mouse.

On arrival at Dover Cruise Port, passengers were able to take advantage of state-of-the-art terminals and award winning facilities and customer services for a smooth and swift disembark.  Being perfectly positioned for turnaround or port of call visits for the British Isles, Northern Europe, the Baltic, Eastern Mediterranean and USA, passengers can enjoy a variety of itineraries and excellent pre and post cruise accommodation. On leaving the Port, there are the fantastic and historic attractions that Dover has to offer as well as the many beautiful and diverse attractions in the wider county of Kent, The Garden of England.

Sonia Limbrick, Head of Business Development (Cruise), Port of Dover, said:

“I would like to thank Disney Magic for visiting us again at Dover Cruise Port. Dover is one of the most progressive cruise Ports in the country and is already a Port of choice for over 20 individual cruise lines and around 200,000 discerning cruise passengers. With the significant investment received and ongoing progression of the Dover Western Docks Revival project we anticipate great things for our future and look forward to continuing to welcome Disney Cruise Line ships to our Port.”

Update on Port of Dover travel

The Port of Dover is extremely busy this morning as a result of heightened French security for Euro 2016. In addition, France is not allowing vehicles carrying alcohol to cross its borders during these matches, and French police in Dover are advising British travellers of this. Those carrying alcohol are being invited to surrender it if they wish to proceed with their journey. We understand the resulting delays are frustrating for our customers and we would like to assure them that the Port of Dover is doing all that it can to accommodate them and alleviate delays.  Moving forward, we advise tourists to avoid bringing alcohol to the Port and to leave in plenty of time for their journey as continued heightened French security measures are anticipated for the remainder of Euro 2016. Also, tourists should consider using the M2/A2 to avoid freight traffic.

Euro 2016 fans advised to plan journeys

The tournament is taking place from Friday 10 June until Sunday 10 July and it is expected that some supporters will choose to drive to France using the Dover to Calais route.  Ten years ago when the World Cup was in Germany over 350,000 England fans travelled – with 36,000 using the Port of Dover and 20,000 using the Channel Tunnel – and the expectations are that this year with Wales, Northern Ireland and England all in the competition that it is likely that at least as many if not more fans will be heading abroad.

Highways England Emergency Planning Manager, Ollie Brown said:

“Safety is Highways England’s top priority and we want to help fans travelling to support their national teams to make their journeys safely and avoid being stuck in traffic. We have been working with our partners to manage traffic heading to Euro 2016 safely. Our traffic officers will be working 24/7, both on road and in our control rooms, to keep the region’s motorways and major A roads flowing and to keep drivers updated. Traffic could be higher than normal and we advise drivers to plan their journeys and to allow extra time.”

Highways England wants all fans to have an enjoyable and above all safe journey to the continent. We are working with our partners to safely manage traffic heading to Euro 2016 and our traffic officers will be working 24/7 to keep the motorways and major A roads flowing

Drivers are advised to:

  • plan and leave plenty of time for journeys
  • check travel conditions before setting out and,where it is safe to do so, during journeys
  • ensure they and their cars are fit for the round trip to France – including taking regular breaks and topping up with fuel.
  • tourist traffic is advised to consider using the M2/A2
  • freight and cruise traffic is advised to use the M20/A20
  • local traffic is advised to consider other routes such as the B2011, A256 or A258, which may not be suitable for HGVs

Highways England provides live traffic information via its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available at @highwaysSEast .

Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways England information line on 0300 123 5000 to keep up to date with road conditions.

Dover Primary Schools Tag rugby tournament

During the morning schools played in the group stages to establish seeding’s for the afternoons knockout stages. The standard of rugby was excellent with some real talent across the district showing their skills.

A very competitive final in the cup competition saw River 1 beat Temple Ewell 1 by just one try. In the plate competition Charlton beat River 3 and Priory Fields won the Fair Play Trophy. River Primary now progress to the County Finals to represent the Dover District in June

Prizes were presented by Richard Christian (Head of Communications) from the Port of Dover who are key supporters of grassroots rugby in the Dover district.

Special thanks to Danny Vaughn from the RFU who coordinated the event with the assistance from the play leaders from Dover Grammar School, Astor College, Sir Roger Manwoods and Castle School whom refereed matches and collated results.

CUP WINNERS – RIVER 1

CUP RUNNERS UP – TEMPLE EWELL 1

PLATE WINNERS – CHARLTON

PLATE RUNNERS UP – RIVER 3

FAIR PLAY WINNERS PRIORY FIELDS

 

Report by Mark Finnis – Dover RFC

Government Easter travel advice to customers
  • Be aware there are additional security measures and checks currently in place for travellers coming to the UK.
  • Security has been intensified at the UK-Belgian and UK-French borders, and passengers should expect to see Border Force Officers performing enhanced checks throughout ports, airports and Eurotunnel.
  • Allow extra time for your journey – there will be high volumes of travellers returning to the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend and there may be delays.
  • We ask passengers to be patient – check online with your carrier for the latest travel information.
  • GOV.UK has additional Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice pages for France and Belgium at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice