Boost for Dover ‘people’s port’ as government announces new rules (Guardian)

Change will make possible the creation of ‘big society’ ports and for public
opinion to be considered in the competition process

The government is to announce a change to the rules on the sale of ports,
making it possible for the creation of “big society” ports around the country
and suggesting the planned sell off of the Port of Dover may be halted.

In a fillip to campaigners for the “people’s port”, as the campaign by the
Dover community to bring its port into local ownership is called, the
government is putting down a written ministerial statement on Monday in which
it will announce fresh requirements.

The new framework will allow local public opinion to be considered in the
competition process, and will stipulate that some of the profits should go
back into the local community.

Dover Harbour Board, which has run the port since 1606, began plans to
privatise it in January 2010 but has come up against a high-profile campaign
opposed to the sell-off spearheaded by the singer Dame Vera Lynn, famous for
her wartime hit The White Cliffs of Dover.

The local group Dover People’s Port have raised some £200m in order to …

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