Council bosses and civic leaders leapt to the defence of plans to transform the Port of Dover after its chief executive revealed his shock at opposition to the £120 million scheme.

Tim Waggott said he had been “taken aback” by objectors to the Western Docks Revival project, which aims to build a new cargo and distribution facility, as well as a community leisure space.

However the district council has received 343 letters of objection to the plans, which also includes a new marina, piazza and more public access.

Only six letters of support were received.

Mr Waggott told a meeting of Dover’s Port and Community Forum last week he had not expected the amount of negativity surrounding the start of the construction phase – prompting a surge of support from community leaders.

The town council has led the protests, primarily opposing the closure and demolition of parts of the seafront and the Prince of Wales Pier.

However, KCC councillor Gordon Cowan, who is also on the town council, said: “I stand 100% side by side with you. This project is vital for Dover.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for, for decades. It will bring the economy alive. It will bring regeneration to our community.”

Mick Tedder, from the forum, said: “You have to ask those who are against this ‘what’s the alternative?’ The alternative is to do nothing.”

The district council’s Tim Ingleton said he believes that, combined with the St James’s Development, the Western Docks Revival would help Dover rival Southampton and Portsmouth.

And district council leader Paul Watkins claimed the objections did not relate to the project – which already has government and planning approval – but to “technicalities of listed building consent” surrounding the port’s proposals to remove and restore historical fittings on Prince of Wales Pier.

After the meeting last Tuesday, Mr Waggott said: “In recent weeks it’s felt like we’ve been kicked in the teeth.

“The objections we had seriously took us aback. It’s as though a vocal minority genuinely wants us to do nothing with this largely derelict site rather than create something that will benefit Dover for generations to come.

“The response from the Port and Community Forum, however, has been incredible and we really appreciate it. I certainly didn’t expect a round of applause!

“As far as the Port of Dover is concerned, it’s now full steam ahead with this crucial piece of dock redevelopment.”

The project has also been given a vote of confidence by the European Commission, which is to inject £104 million of funding into the Dover to Calais route to support major improvement projects on both sides of the Channel.

The UK’s slice will be ploughed into the Western Docks Revival, while in France, the cash will be used to bring forward the Calais Port 2015 project – a scheme to build a new harbour, terminal and berths to accommodate the bigger ferries and provide port capacity for future growth.

In the past two years, ferry freight traffic through Dover and Calais has increased by 20% and is expected to rise by a further 40% by 2030.