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PLANS FOR FOLKESTONE HARBOUR

Dear Ed,

Has anyone been to see the De Haan plans for the Harbour?

I paid a visit yesterday and was favourably impressed. I believe that this ambitious proposal could be of long lasting benefit to Folkestone and with the benefit of a fast rail link would draw visitors o­n a regular basis.

It seems a pity that the old railway line and arches would have to go to make way for a new Marina but presume that the costs of upgrading it to meet modern safety criteria and then finding someone to run the branch line as a going concern are unrealistic.

It is a pity too that there is conflict between this project and the Trent /Godden project which has already been approved. My personal opinion is that the latter is less attractive than the De Haan proposal although there may well be merit in having a Multiplex Cinema and Bowling Alley.

There appears to be strong support for the new proposals and hopefully Shepway Council can find a way to re-visit the approved Trent proposal and perhaps find a middle ground incorporating ideas from both projects.

David Godfrey