The 2,760-strong Dover Town Investment Zone petition is not being backed by the Dover Society.

At the organisation's annual meeting on Monday, chairman Derek Leach explained the society did not want to intervene “at a time when delicate commercial negotiations were in progress.”

The DTIZ petition has been led by River man Alan Shirley, whose supporters have been urging Dover District Council to explain why no progress has been made with the St James development in 12 years.

The target of 1,600 votes was smashed and now Mr Shirley has been granted a 10-minute speech before the council on May 14 and an ‘extraordinary’ meeting.

When a vote was taken 22 voted against the committee’s decision and 16 voted in support. However, because there were many abstentions, the decision could not be overturned.

Around 70 people were at the society’s meeting.

Mr Leach was re-elected chairman with Jeremy Cope as vice-chairman. Other officers and the committee were re-elected. It was reported there are now a record 477 members of the society.