Port's expansion plans revealed

A stretch of beach will be lost to make way for the new marina

People in Dover have been given the chance to look at the port's �420m expansion plans.

The Dover Harbour Board wants to turn the former Hoverport at the Western Docks into a second ferry terminal with a new marina and four new berths.

It said it expected the amount of freight passing through the port to double in the next 30 years.

Chief executive Bob Goldfield said the plans would create 1,000 new jobs locally and ease traffic problems.

The board and Dover District Council unveiled the plans and answered questions at a public meeting at the town hall on Tuesday evening.

Traffic issues

Mr Goldfield said: "It's absolutely vital to the Port of Dover, it's vital to the UK economy but its also vital to the community of Dover.

"We're talking about over 1,000 jobs being created in Dover within the next five years and also mitigating some of the effects of having the traffic standing on the rounds around Dover."

He said traffic to the port had increased over the past five years and as they expected it to double over the next 30 years they needed to increase the port's capacity.

The port first announced plans to build four new berths able to accommodate the next generation of giant cross-Channel ferries as well as ocean-going liners in 2006.

It also wants to revamp and expand the marina.

'Just a nightmare'

But Phillipa Waller, who lives and works in the town, has questioned how the port expansion will benefit residents.

She said: "I suppose with the tourism that's about it, that's the only thing I can see that the town benefits [from the port].

"Everything else is just a nightmare because of the traffic."

A environmental assessment of the plans is currently being carried out. Once that is completed the board expects to apply for planning permission in September.

The board said it hoped the expansion would be completed by 2013.

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