Depressing? Dover's 'air of decay'

by Jess Banham

Two years ago it had a "depressing air of decay" and today Dover is still "down in the dumps, according to the Lonely Planet Guide.

The latest edition of the travel bible, which is put together by over two hundred writers, hasn't given the town the best review.

It said: "Down-in-the-dumps Dover has certainly seen better days and its derelict, postwar architecture and shabby town centre of vacant shops is a sad introduction to Blighty for travellers arriving from the Continent, most of whom pass through quickly."

Dover Town Council agrees that work does need to be done.

Alison Burton, Town Clerk at the council, said: "It's certainly been slated for major redevelopment for a number of years if not decades.

"We're working with a number of public sector partners and the private sector to try and improve things.

"I guess all that the Lonely Planet Guide is doing is flagging up the concerns of a number of residents and this council."

But the book does praise the White Cliffs and Dover Castle and Ms Burton thinks they have the potential to draw in tourists.

She added: "We've got the Dover Greeters' Scheme, we've got newly started tours of the Town Hall.

"It is a town that is iconic, it's recognised the world over, if you went out today and looked at it, with the blue sky behind it, the harbour stretched out, the new esplanade, it's a fantastically attractive town."

Dover isn't the only place to be written off - the guide also describes Surrey as "uninspiring and dull".