Dover Society chairman Derek Leach has called on the district council to make a fresh start in their plans for the redevelopment of the St James’ Street area of the town.

It follows the decision by Asda to pull out of the Dover Town Investment Zone scheme.

“Let us, at least, try to reach for the stars,” said Mr Leach in a letter to Cllr Paul Watkins, the district council’s political leader. The derelict area is next to Townwall Street along which thousands of tourists drive each year as they head for the ferry dock.

The whole area was wrecked by bombing by German and Italian aircraft and by regular shelling. Mr Leach said: “To be honest we were never convinced about the prospect of comprehensive development dependent upon one major retailer, particularly a supermarket. That would never have attracted visitors.”

Mr Leach points out that with Asda’s withdrawal, Dover now has the chance to provide a development of style and quality to show the world something better than a “bog standard” supermarket replicated in any town.

He asked: “Rather than pay expensive consultants to tell Dover what it needs, can we this time ask Dovorians what they feel is needed?”

The society’s executive committee is suggesting piecemeal development within an overall framework managed by the district council.

Mr Leach said: “Any new scheme could include the Leisure Centre site if the proposal of moving this facility to Whitfield is still viable in the current economic climate.

“Until something positive is achieved the society calls for that part of the derelict site clear of buildings to be improved with good parking, quality landscaping and improved pedestrian access to the town centre.”