Memorandum by Dover District Council (CT
29)
As a partner, Dover District Council has responded
to this Inquiry through our work with the East Kent Partnership
and the Dover Pride board. This response builds on those comments
and provides specific comments from a local authority viewpoint
that we would like considered.
1. TO EXAMINE
THE CASE
FOR SPECIAL
INITIATIVES TO
TACKLE THE
NEEDS OF
COASTAL TOWNS
1.1 There is a high level of identified
deprivation throughout the coastal towns that is not being given
enough priority. In light of increasing pressures from climate
change and sea defences to the encouragement of further housing
growth, special initiatives should be available to coastal towns,
as currently available to the Growth Areas.
1.2 Dover District Council recognises the
importance of coastal towns, particularly, of Dover town and the
issues facing the area in terms of high levels of deprivation,
topographical issues, lack of investment opportunities and has
now made it the priority of the Council in terms of major projects,
investment and partnership working.
1.3 Dover suffers from relative disadvantage
in the region and serious deprivation in several of its urban
wards. Some wards have unemployment levels three times the national
average and are ranked in the worst 20% nationally (IMD 2004).
1.4 Dover has suffered decline like many
similar towns on the South Coast. However, despite the successful
port, the town is suffering from lack of investment that has led
to the high levels of deprivation within its urban ward. Additionally,
the reliance on the marine sector has, particularly in the recent
past, shown the vulnerability of the local economy eg Hoverspeed,
P&O, problems in France, particularly with strikes and problems
with the closure of berths.
1.5 A 30-year vision and action plan has
been developed with key partners, to tackle the issues relating
to Dover, particularly around communication, education and community,
business and skills, urban renaissance and transport infrastructure.
1.6 Other smaller seaside towns, along the
coast, for example, Deal, also require support in light of changing
demographics with ageing populations and the impact of this economically
and socially.
2. TO LOOK
AT THE
WORK ODPM IS
DOING TO
ADDRESS THE
SOCIAL, HOUSING
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS COASTAL
TOWNS FACE,
AND TO
EVALUATE WHETHER
IT IS
EFFECTIVE, WELL-FOCUSED
OR ADEQUATELY
FUNDED
2.1 The work currently undertaken by ODPM
is not focused on coastal towns and therefore in light of this,
it is difficult to give an opinion on its effectiveness to these
areas. More could be done to support coastal towns, however, unlike
Neighbourhood Renewal, many of the coastal areas have missed out
due to the scale of the scheme. Multiple deprivation is a useful
indicator, however, the individual indices need to be utilised
to tackle specific issues affecting coastal towns as well as considering
other issues facing coastal towns such as ageing population and
topographic restrictions that reduce catchment areas affecting
employment and business opportunities, infrastructure etc.
2.2 The SEEDA Regional Economic Strategy
does mention the coastal area as a priority, however, the sheer
size of this area in the South East will mean that resources are
spread too thin and there appears to be less focus on bringing
deprived areas up to the standard and reducing the prosperity
gap across the South East. Due to the overall success of the South
East, pockets of deprivation, including East Kent, is lost and
therefore is not seen as a priority.
2.3 Overall inadequate attention is being
given to addressing the extremely worrying disparities within
the South East and in particular to the structural weaknesses
that exist in the East Kent economy. This is important to the
success of the Growth Agenda as it is to neighbouring areas. Nor
is there the prospect of adequate and secure funding streams (post-SRB)
to provide community regeneration initiatives. This is further
compounded by the fact that none of the coastal towns across East
Kent provides the critical mass to succeed to the standards seen
in the large city concentrations of Southampton, Portsmouth and
Brighton.
2.4 A concerted effort from Government is
needed to build on the momentum of local delivery vehicles such
as Dover Pride, together with intervention and investment to achieve
the vision. This can be achieved through better co-ordination
and communication between government agencies and mainstream funding
being focused and implemented through the coastal regeneration
priorities as part of a sub-regional economic strategy.
2.5 Overall support for major infrastructure
development in towns such as Dover is required and issues of public
realm in the smaller coastal towns such as Deal.
3. TO ASSESS
THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF ODPM'S
LIAISON WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
IN KEY
AREAS SUCH
AS EMPLOYMENT,
MIGRATION, AND
SOCIAL HOUSING
AND CO
-OPERATION WITH
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
3.1 Again this is limited as there has been
a limited focus on the coastal towns. There is some co-operation,
however, this does seem focused to the growth areas. The plethora
of agencies leading on such initiatives does make it very difficult
to access information and ensure any progress.
3.2 Dover District Council is part of the
Local Area Agreement for Kent, however, apart from a target around
bringing empty properties back into use, there is no focus on
coastal towns. The priority for coastal towns should come from
central Government and disseminate down to local authorities through
the LAA.
4. TO EXAMINE
WHETHER THERE
IS A
CASE FOR
MORE SPECIFIC
REGIONAL INITIATIVES,
AND WHETHER
ENOUGH ATTENTION
IS PAID
TO REGIONAL
DISPARITIES
4.1 As mentioned, the previous Regional
Economic Strategy focused on reducing the gap between the prosperous
areas in the South East and the deprived areas, however, in the
current draft RES this priority has been diluted.
4.2 With the current debate around double
devolution and local government reorganisation, it needs to be
questioned if "regional" is the right level for these
disparities to be dealt with, or whether future initiatives could
be rolled out through the Local Area Agreements.
4.3 More focus should also be given to the
social and environmental issues facing coastal towns, as the current
focus of SEEDA is on economic outputs alone and does not prioritise
these issues, which are as essential to improve.
4.4 Locally, the problems of successive
economic restructuring, the competition from neighbouring areas
and poor connections between the key elements of the town has
led to a number of fundamental issues in Dover:
— Economically, the Port of Dover dominates
the economy and expansion to meet forecast growth should aim to
maximise regeneration benefits for the town. Additionally, new
economic activities are needed in Dover to diversify.
— Low morale and negative attitudes
are a major issue in Dover and strong leadership is required to
reverse current expectations.
— The quality of education and training
provision needs to be improved.
— The lack of the sense of place, visitor
facilities and evening economy, essential for a visitor and tourist
destination.
— A comprehensive approach to tourism
development should include improvements of the range and quality
of tourist accommodation.
— Remote location of Dover with difficult
access impacting on property values and development potential.
— Economic regeneration and housing
growth could help shift, diversify and balance the character of
the town and attract new investment and visitor expenditure.
— It is essential key transport issues
in and around Dover are addressed, in particular, dualling of
the A2, A20 environmental improvements, securing CTRL to Dover
and a solution to Operation Stack that affects Dover town, the
A20 and M20.
5. TO CONSIDER
THE SECURITY
OF FUTURE
FUNDING FOR
REGENERATING AND
SUPPORTING COASTAL
TOWNS
5.1 To ensure the sustainability of any
improvement to coastal towns, sustainable funding sources are
essential. Short term funding, as with SRB, does help to address
issues short term, however, many of the long term issues facing
coastal towns will require more commitment.
5.2 To date, regeneration within Dover district
has been limited due to lack of public sector investment and priority
from Government. Dover, as the Gateway to England, should be a
priority. A major development site that the Council has been working
with partners to secure along the A20 leading up to the Port has
taken almost 10 years and, as the first impression of England
from the Port, this should have been a priority for improvement.
5.3 The Dover Pride Regeneration Partnership
seeks to improve the town through strong civic, community and
business leadership essential for long-term economic growth and
regeneration. However, despite the intentions and commitment of
Dover Pride, funding is only available for three years to enable
the partnership to be set up and deliver some small intervention
based projects (funding currently from SEEDA via the East Kent
Partnership). Greater levels of funding will be needed to sustain
Dover Pride and enable it to achieve its regeneration plans.
5.4 Unlike its neighbours Thanet and Shepway,
Dover has not had significant European and Private Sector investment,
nor has it had the same levels of Government intervention as Hastings,
which suffers from very similar issues. However, as an internationally
known place, with magnificent assets such as the White Cliffs
and Dover Castle and the gateway to England, Dover deserves the
commitment of all levels to ensure its regeneration.
6. TO EVALUATE
THE SUCCESS
OF THE
RDA'S AND
OTHER BODIES
IN SUPPORTING
AND DEVELOPING
THE ECONOMIES
OF COASTAL
TOWNS
6.1 Through the East Kent Partnership, devolved
funding is beginning to make a difference to the coastal towns
of East Kent. EKP recognises the priority towns of Dover and Margate
and are striving to improve these areas.
6.2 As previously mentioned, the RDA is
too focused on economic outputs and there needs to be more funding
available to support social and environmental projects that will
not only physically regenerate the area but also ensure all residents
have the right to access economic benefits.
6.3 Despite the development of Dover Pride
and the funding of some early projects, progress is difficult
due to the lack of interventions and investment. There is a need
for the government to recognise the importance of Dover and the
issues it currently faces. There is a need for the RDA to target
coastal regeneration through its current review of the Regional
Economic Strategy and focus funding and interventions to the pockets
of deprivation that exist in these areas.
7. SUMMARY
7.1 Dover District Council welcomes this
inquiry and the potential for the regeneration of Coastal Towns
to be a priority on the Government's agenda. There is a need for
the government to realise that coastal regeneration is as important
as the Growth Areas and acknowledge the positive work being put
in place to raise aspirations and confidence in Dover.
7.2 Dover District Council will continue
to prioritise the regeneration of urban Dover within the district
and work with partners to deliver the Dover Pride Vision. However,
long-term resources, commitment and support is required from all
partners and Government to achieve this.
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