Dover store remains open after Peacocks is saved
Fashion retailer Peacocks has been bought out of administration and the Dover store has been saved. But others in Kent will close with immediate effect.

Two calls in four days for fire crew under threat
Fire-fighters at St Margaret's - whose station is due to close in April - have answered a second call in four days.

Owner reunited with missing Mischka
A dog reported stolen at West Langdon has been found again.

Where's your bin?
Council officers are preparing to take action against householders who allow their wheelie bins to block the pavement outside their homes.

Footie fan dies after Dover match
A fan who attended Dover?s football match against Truro on Saturday was killed on her way home.

Raiders hit shopkeeper with baton
Robbers wearing stockings over their heads threatened a bookmaker with a baton before running off.

Trucker jailed for smuggling £5m of cannabis
A lorry driver has been jailed for eight years today after smuggling more than £5m of cannabis through Dover's Eastern Docks.

A true hero!
Read the amazing tale of courage and gallantry as a lifeboat crewman saved nine lives in force 11 gales.

Men jailed after £800k cigarettes smuggling
Four men have been jailed for their involvement in smuggling almost five million cigarettes into the country through Dover.

Battle of Britain centre cleared for take-off
Planning permission has been granted for a visitor centre to celebrate the heroism of the Battle of Britain pilots at Capel-le-Ferne.

Search for carnival queen from 50 years ago
The search is on to find a Dover carnival queen from 50 years ago. The appeal is being made in connection with Dover Film Festival, due to be held at the town hall next month, at which the 1961 Dover film will be screened.

Remembering the Zeebrugge disaster... 25 years on
Stars will be used to provide a lasting legacy of memories to those who died in the Herald of Free Enterprise tragedy.

Hello sailor! Kelly Brook launches ferry service
Kent model and actress Kelly Brook donned a captain's hat to launch a new ferry service at Dover today.

Former miners' union president dies, aged 68
The funeral takes place next week for John Moyle, who was a president of Kent National Union of Mineworkers and a union leader during the national strike in the 1980s.

'Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity'
A judge has heaped praise on brave have-a-go hero market trader David Carter who helped catch a violent offender.

Brothers bringing refreshing change to station
Passengers will soon find a refreshing change at Deal Railway Station with the opening of a new cafe.

Update: Hero's welcome for attacked trolley man
A supermarket has staged a hero's homecoming today for a trolley man savagely attacked by two men.

Campaigners urge PM to halt housing plan
Letters are on their way to the Prime Minister and a Secretary of State from campaigners at Sholden Parish Council who refuse to give up the fight to stop housing developments in the village.

Two jailed for al Qaeda propaganda
Two Germans have been jailed for being in possession of al Qaeda bomb-making propaganda when they arrived at the port of Dover.

Viva la Dover to Calais
A new ferry service between Dover and Calais will start later this month, creating 300 jobs.
News in Dover Kent

Ferry Giants Throw Seafrance Workers A Lifeline

Article published on 10th January 2012

Seafrance shipHundreds of SeaFrance jobs could be saved by a new Dover-Calais ferry service.

A French court yesterday placed SeaFrance in liquidation, effectively sinking 880 jobs, including more than 100 in Dover.

DFDS Seaways and LD Lines, whose earlier bid to take over the ailing French-owned operator, was ruled too low by the French court, says it still wants to run a new service.

In December, DFDS/LD said it would not be submitting a revised bid, blaming trade union intransigence.

But after the liquidation, it has renewed its interest in providing a French-owned competitor to P&O.

It says the intention would be to hire 300 redundant workers.

In a statement, the joint venture said it was in a unique position to create a number of sustainable French jobs, including the deployment of French flagged ships.

"We can, therefore, confirm that we have continued to pursue opportunities to establish a new route between Dover and Calais.

"Our intention is to operate two ships under the French flag to be manned with French seafarers.

"To open a new route, and provide an attractive service for customers, we aim to hire about 300 staff and expect to be able to start the recruitment process soon."

Meanwhile, Eurotunnel has offered to buy three SeaFrance ferries now tied up in the Port of Calais and lease them to a workers' co-operative.

The Leader of Dover District Council has expressed concern at news that SeaFrance is to shed 127 jobs in East Kent.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said he wasvery concerned at the impact of the decision and the effectit wouldhave on local families.

He added: "We would love to see another operator come in to help provide employment opportunities for residents of East Kent made redundant as a result of the current situation.

"However, we remain concerned at reports that Eurotunnel has not ruled out a possible future bid, and we would be concerned if this were to progress given the possible impact this could have on services and fair prices in the cross channel market.

"We understand that SeaFrance has given reassurances that it is working with staff in East Kent to minimise the impact and is working to ensure that debts are met, and we continue to work with all partners for the future and to see how best we can be supportive of local employees and families."

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