The Port of Dover has committed to injecting 1% of its pre tax profits into the community fund, it was announced on Monday night’s public workshop.

This means that £100,000 a year will be put into the fund based on a calculation of profits.

Chairman, George Jenkins, also said that a board meeting next week will determine ‘a sum of money’ to get it started.

Mr Jenkins said: “We will decide what the quantum will be.

“Alongside all of the other things that we already do, it will be a meaningful commitment to this fund.”

In April, the Shipping and Ports Minister Stephen Hammond set out a plan for the future of the port, aimed at strengthening community involvement, boosting commercial development and unlocking the potential for regeneration.

Within this, the concept of a community fund was introduced - and it is hoped that residents will start to see this fully in place by next year.

This week’s meeting, held at Cruise Terminal 2 and was chaired independently by the Bishop of Dover, the Right Revered, Trevor Willmott.

It saw around 100 people, split into smaller groups, speak about how the community fund will benefit Dover.

The three main topics that were up for discussion focused on the priorities for the fund, whether it should reach the district or town, and who the fund should be administered by.

An over arching view that was fed back to board members was education for young people and making Dover a destination on the map.

The Rev, Mr Willmott said: “Whatever else happens the decision making about the expenditure of the fund will lie with a body that is known and trusted.”

Chief executive, Tim Waggott added: “It is something that has got to be easy enough to access but equal for everybody.

“Views on that will really help deliver future governance of the fund.”