by Graham Tutthillgtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Calls have been made to the district council to remove the Big Screen in Dover’s Market Square.

The demands have come from the Dover Society whose chairman, Derek Leach, has written to the council asking for its “speedy removal”.

“It is no secret that the Society was opposed from the outset to the installation of the screen and particularly its location, adding to the eyesores of the town centre,” he said.

“Its promise was never realised with no event watched by substantial numbers of people. Now, we understand that the district council is seeking ways and means of offsetting the continuing running costs possibly by non-stop advertising.

“Having had to endure patiently the structure itself and its all day long intrusive broadcasts of nothing in particular (for most of the time) for some years, we feel that it is high time to call it a day and to cut the losses of Dover ratepayers.”

Mr Leach said that while the cost of removing the screen might be “substantial”, the amount could be recouped in about two years the savings in running costs.

“Taking into account the improvement this would make to the Market Square, it seems a bargain!” he said.