Letter: Dover's problems

Sir: The Dover community has served many millions of travellers without any trouble, but when they are located in large, intimidating numbers they do threaten old and young alike. One particular street in Dover is now predominantly home to hundreds of asylum-seekers, and it is this part of our community which is quite rightly ill at ease.

If Mr Aaronovitch travelled to Dover, he would meet a community that is as welcoming as any within Britain. But this community asks why, whilst shopping, travelling home from school, or simply out walking, it should be subjected to ugly, frightening situations. The authorities, quite rightly, are trying to reduce the numbers in our town and, with this, the recent events should be reduced.

Dover is a major Channel port and therefore will always have such unfortunate people arriving on its ferries. The question is, how can we help them? Calling the front-line community "right wing" does not do this.

Politicians of all colours should accept their responsibility and provide the infrastructure to accommodate the large numbers within the whole of Britain.

KEVIN KIELY

Dover