A Dover town councillor has put forward his own plans for the development of part of the town centre after Asda pulled out of the Dover Town Investment Zone scheme.

Cllr David Hannent said Asda’s withdrawal put the whole scheme into the melting pot, but also provided an opportunity.

"The town needs this development to help regeneration as a body needs a heart," he said.

"Dover is already adequately provided with supermarkets, especially with the recent addition of Morrisons. It would be a mistake to seek an alternative supermarket to Asda. Supermarkets do not attract out of town visitors prepared to spend money.
"This town could and should attract visitors to enjoy the delights of Dover Castle, the Roman Painted House, Town Hall, Grand Shaft, St Edmund’s Chapel, the White Cliffs and the many varied events staged in the town. This would create an opportunity to provide additional business and investment in the town."

Cllr Hannent said the facilities needed included tourist bus parking, car parking for tourists, a better quality of development to improve the area generally, housing which would create a different atmosphere in the "barren" centre of town, low level investment, leisure and a good number of good quality shops.

The development would also require offices and toilets.

"Imagine signs on the A2 which say to passing vehicles: Welcome to Dover, come in, park here for free and from that parking place you are immediately into the town centre. Which other town can say that about their by-pass?

"The free parking could be for 1 hour and once you have the tourists in, they must be offered an experience that will bring them back."
Cllr Hannent is calling for a modest-sized bowling alley, open areas for sitting and having picnics with plenty of parking, hotels, department stores and, more importantly, a ‘lanes’ development in the way of Brighton.

"These ground floor stores could be financed by dwellings above," he said
"The history of Dover shows that there used to be lanes there. Around Russell Street, Dolphin Lane and St James’ Street were St James’ Passage, Crown Court, Townwall Passage, St James’ Lane, St Margaret’s Place, Fector’s Place, Taverner’s Lane and Arthur’s Place.

"Why is Dover so backward in coming forward with an idea like this? The answer usually given is money; well, that doesn’t have to be the stopper. What is needed is the proper vision, and a master plan."