The boss of Sheerness Docks has endorsed the comments of an Island politician who has hit out at plans to expand the Port of Dover.

Conservative parliamentary candidate Gordon Henderson has instead called for the government to assist Sheerness Docks to expand.

Mr Henderson’s comments followed news that Bob Goldfield, the Port of Dover’s chief executive, is looking for a major investor to help fund a £420m expansion that would see another four roll-on, roll-off berths built in the Western Docks.

Mr Henderson said: “It would be crazy for the government to expand Dover in this way. Strategically, it would do the country no favours.

“The current roads infrastructure in and around Dover can barely cope with the existing level of business and I dread to think what will happen if another four berths are built.

“We already have the nightmare of Operation Stack closing down the M20 on a regular basis and this will only get worse if the port expands still further.

“What the government should be doing is helping the Port of Sheerness to expand its operations to enable it to handle more roll–on, roll–off business.

“Such an expansion at Sheerness would have a number of benefits. It would provide an alternative route if there was a problem at Calais, which seems to happen increasingly often, and this in turn would do away with the need for Operation Stack because freight could be re-directed via Sheerness.

“With the new bridge across the Swale such an option is now possible.”

Island borough and county councillor Adrian Crowther (Con) said he had asked Kent County Council to look into the feasibility of expanding Sheerness Docks, with regards to the Island’s improved road network.

Captain Stephen Gobbi, managing director of Peel Ports (Medway) which owns Sheerness Docks, said: “I fully endorse Mr Henderson’s comments.

“The government cannot give financial help to a private company like us but it can help bring Sheerness to the attention of shipping companies.

“We are already an experienced port at Sheerness for roll–on, roll–off trade.

“We also feel that Kent County Council should have an influence in helping get traffic from Dover to Sheerness.

“We are investigating methods of co-operation with the French port of Boulogne.”