Dover’s future will be discussed in a meeting held by MP Charlie Elphicke – just days before Dover Town Investment Zone petitioner Alan Shirley speaks before the district council.

Mr Elphicke has arranged the meeting to be held at Dover Town Hall, Biggin Street, at 7pm on May 2.

Mr Shirley has been granted a 10-minute slot before the council on May 14 – where he will speak on behalf of residents in Dover who wonder why the Dover Town Investment Zone has not yet been touched.

Veronica Shirley posted her concerns on Facebook, she said: “I am flabbergasted at the timing of this meeting and the subject.

“Is this a coincidence, how long has this been planned? I wonder what has prompted this?

“I am shocked at what I wonder is an underhand way of preempting the petition and stopping any impact it may have.”

The meeting welcomes anyone who wants to attend and is free for all.

A letter from Mr Elphicke reads: “After a decade of ‘coming soon’ signs things are finally starting to happen in Dover.

“Much has been done yet there is still more to do to make Dover truly amazing.”

He said: “This has been in the diary for a long time, I have had a series of ‘ask Charlie’ events, it is part of my programme.

“Many things are now happening we should start talking about the future where things are happening.

“We need the town of Dover to have confidence and believe in the future,

“I don’t think the right thing is for people to discuss it at Whitfield.

“I think we should all be part of the conversation and that’s what I am doing.”