Sixth form students from five local secondary schools have taken part in a workshop to help determine the future of the district as Dover District Council continues to work with the community to shape its new Local Plan.
All local secondary schools were invited to attend with students from Astor College, Dover Grammar School for Boys, Dover Grammar School for Girls, Dover College, and Sandwich Technology School participating on the day.
Adrian Fox, Policy and Projects Manager at Dover District Council, said: “We were particularly impressed by all of the students who were enthusiastic, courteous, articulate, and fantastic ambassadors for their schools. We really enjoyed listening to the views of the students, who really immersed themselves in the tasks."
Cllr Jim Back, Cabinet Member for the Built Environment, said: “The Local Plan sets the framework for the district’s development up to 2037 so it was a great opportunity to hear the views of the next generation of people who will live and work in the district”.
The students highlighted the need to change the perception of Dover and to make the town a destination by bringing more events into the town centre, re-using empty shops for local start up businesses, promoting eco-affordable housing, tackling homelessness, creating more youth centres and making the district more digitally connected.
Note to editors:
The Local Plan will shape the future development of the district's towns and villages between now and 2037. It will identify:
- new homes
- new jobs and business premises
- open spaces
- community facilities for people to use
- infrastructure such as roads
- schools
- healthcare
Posted on 16 October 2018