THE man who has helped welcome thousands of cruise passengers to Dover is leaving the town, partly, he says, because of the way the district council has tried to take over his successful group. Ray Tiltman, 54, is a director of the award-winning Cruise Welcome Group, was set up in 1997 to try to attract passengers arriving at the cruise terminal to come into the town.

He claims Dover District Council had offered his group no assistance during that time, but had recently tried to "take it over". "All our work has been done voluntarily," said Mr Tiltman. "We have built up a good relationship with the cruise companies, and we are invited on board the ships to talk to the passengers when they arrive."

Last November, the group gained second place in the special category of the South East England Tourist Board's awards to celebrate excellence in the region's tourism industry. At the presentation, which was held at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, there was much applause for Mr Tiltman as he received the award on behalf of the group, which was described as "one of a kind".

But Mr Tiltman told the Mercury this week: "The council has started putting a paid employee at the cruise terminal for the 'port of call' visits by liners. Why couldn't they have given me the resources they are now putting into paying a member of staff?"

Mr Tiltman, who lives in Folkestone and previously worked for Saga, came to Dover 12 years and retired as an insurance consultant four years ago because of ill health. He set up the group when he recognised the need for it, and he said he had been grateful for all the support he had received from the local business community, especially Peter Inwood, of Victory Cars, who had provided him with an office.

Now he is moving to Blyth, near Newcastle, where he is going to work in general tourism promotion. "I am handing over all the database and other information to the group secretary Colin Sawyer so he can carry it on, and I wish him well," he said. Mr Tiltman has also been one of the most active members of Dover Town Centre Management, and he has served on the retailers group

In response to Mr Tiltman's claims, Dover District Council issued a statement which read: "DDC is working in a number of areas to support Dover's important cruise industry and has recently made improvements in tourist information at both terminals as well as initiating a much-needed and successful cruise shuttle bus service with Dover Harbour Board and Dover Town Council.

"In two months this service has already transported more than 600 passengers and crew to the town centre with obvious benefits for local businesses. The council is also a key member of Cruise Connections, a Kent-wide group chaired by DHB which promotes Dover to the cruise industry in America and Europe. Mr Tiltman did approach the council for funding assistance last year but was only prepared to accept a completely unconditional contribution which the council was unable to agree to."