by Graham Tutthillgtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Whether or not Dover wins money from the Portas Town scheme, the team behind the bid have decided they will press on with their plans to improve the town.

"As a group of volunteers, we have been enthused by the process we had to go through to produce a non-political coherent bid that is worthy of our town’s needs and aspirations," said town team chairman Louise Miller.

"We were delighted and encouraged by the support of nearly 400 businesses whose owners or managers wrote to us offering their support. So we have decided that what we must do is go forward with the Portas Project with or without the money.

"We understand that it is a big ask, but if we can make the entrances to the town more attractive and provide enticing signage perhaps we can attract more people into the town.

"More people means more customers, more confidence and the two together means profit and opportunity. Success will mean new business for the town with new shops opening up."

Mrs Miller (pictured left) said the town team needed members to support the project and they were applying for funding.

"We are properly costing the easy things like the Bench Street signage and the blue bird signs and trail.

"This is being done for all the businesses in Dover to try and give us a bit of a lift, and more importantly an attempt to give us our self-respect back.

"We understand that constrained by all sorts of ridiculous things that none of us understand, the district council is working extremely hard to deliver the regeneration.

"To us ordinary shopkeepers, it looks as though nothing seems to happen to help us. But in the meantime, we have to shrug off the cynical, defeatist attitude and busy ourselves to do something to scratch the surface and get something done."

"2012 is going to be the start of something great for our businesses in Dover."

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