by David Jones

Crunch time is approaching for Port of Dover bosses over controversial proposals to sell off the port, one of the world's busiest drive-on, drive-off terminals.

New rules were announced by the government yesterday for the sale of trust ports - including Dover - which, it says, must now deliver "an enduring and significant level of community participation."

The Dover Harbour Board's (DHB) privatisation scheme has a strong community involvement theme, including the creation of a new charity called the Port of Dover Community Trust, together with employee share ownership.

But a rival People's Port Trust scheme, put forward by local MP Charlie Elphicke, has strong backing from local residents. This would effectively mean the people of Dover would own the port but the cash would have to come from banks and City institutions.

Dover Harbour Board chairman Roger Mountford was asked yesterday in a letter from Transport Minister Theresa Villiers whether the Board wished to withdraw or amend its proposals in the light of the new criteria. It was told a reply "within four weeks" would be helpful.

Meanwhile, the Board says it believes the new criteria fits in with its own plans.

In a statement, DHB said: "We believe the government's criteria reflect the port's ambition to combine community participation in the port with the ability to access private capital so that the port can fund its long-term development.

"The Board is confident its innovative and ground-breaking privatisation scheme, which it proposed in 2010, will be seen to meet the government's criteria in all respects. The port authority also sees the revised criteria as a clear reflection of Government's desire for similar community-focused schemes to be brought forward by other trust ports."

Private cash would help fund the port's 30-year master plan, unveiled in 2003. It was the first time any UK port had sought to plan its development over such a long time-scale.

In December, 2009, following a long period of examining options and local consultation, DHB submitted to the Secretary of State a draft Harbour Revision Order.

If this is approved, it would in effect give DHB planning consent (subject to conditions) to progressively build out the Western Docks as a second ferry terminal to serve the long-term growth in traffic, especially freight, through Dover.

Port chiefs believe the new criteria rules provide "the missing piece of the jigsaw" which aligns their future vision with government policy.

A DHB spokesman said:"The port now hopes this confirmation will provide the green light for government to approve its privatisation scheme and for the community to start enjoying the benefits."