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Politicians get the Dover message

[ October 12, 2023   //   ]

The Port of Dover set out its future at the Conservative and Labour autumn party conferences, hosting a ‘Great British Trade Reception’.

It was attended by policymakers, industry colleagues and ministers alike, including Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper and Trade & Economic Security Minister Nusrat Ghani MP at the Conservative conference in Manchester, and Shadow Trade Minister Gareth Thomas Shadow Transport Minister Bill Esterson and Dover’s prospective parliamentary candidate Mike Tapp at the Labour event in Liverpool.

 Dover chief executive Doug Bannister, highlighted the port’s role in decarbonisation, including plans to achieve the UK’s first high-volume shipping corridor as part of a rapid journey to net zero across key supply chains. He also highlighted exciting work on harnessing digitisation – as well as the need to work together with governments on a remote and digitally led solution for the incoming EU Entry-Exit system.

It also launched a ‘Port of Dover 2050’ programme on 12 October, a long-term master plan to become the UK’s most seamless, sustainable, and tech-enabled port.

Doug Bannister, said: “Port of Dover 2050 is our comprehensive roadmap to the future, which will consider everything from transport and infrastructure, to how we use our land, how we grow as a business and importantly, how we as a Port can best support the economic and social development of Dover, Kent and the UK as a net zero society. The way we travel, do business, live and work, shop, socialise, and spend our time are all being influenced by changes in the way we live and work, technological advances, the nature of the economy, our climate and environment. Port of Dover 2050 will ensure that we are ready to take advantage of the opportunities these changes present and be resilient in the face of the challenges they may bring.”

“Throughout the 2050 process, we’ll be engaging with national and local government, Dover and Kent residents, Port users, customers and our community as well as harnessing the expertise of our own port employees. In Spring 2024, we will be opening a public consultation, to hear the views of as many people as possible to inform our plans so that Dover can remain an iconic strategic asset delivering significant local and national economic benefit.

“The final plan will be published in Summer 2024 when we will report back on how feedback has influenced the development of the 2050 plan.”

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