A former Labour councillor claims moving the old tram shelter in Dover would be giving in to vandalism.

Keith Sansum, of Eaves Road, Dover, is opposing suggestions that the Elms Vale tram shelter in Folkestone Road should be moved to Dover Transport Museum to protect it from further acts of vandalism.

This comes after the latest attack saw Robert Mouland, a former Dover resident, calling on the council to move the shelter out of harm’s way.

Mr Sansum said there’s lots of things that can be done to solve the problem first.

He said: “If you give into vandals, everything will have gone in this district, You can’t give in to vandalism. Try to solve it first. Put CCTV in to identify the culprits, name and shame them, put them in prison. Catch who it is.

“Go into schools, educate children on what it costs to repair a pane of glass, children would think twice about damaging it then, get kids involved in protecting the tram shelter.

“We could set up a working group to look after the tram shelter.”

Mr Sansum is willing to nominate himself as a member of the working group but added there are others in the ward who feel even more strongly about it.

He claims one woman threatened to chain herself to the shelter, when it was suggested it could be moved around eight years ago.

The former councillor said: “Once you move it, it’s gone. Cllr Wanstall says it is not being used but that’s not the case.”

He catches the bus at 6am each morning and says he often uses the historic site to shelter from the rain and wind. He said others do this too, as it is still possible to see the buses approach from the shelter.

“Everyone wants to be positive and see the tram shelter saved but moving it is not right,” he said.

"If hooligans are damaging it and we take it away, they will win." - Cllr Wallace

“Let’s not give into the vandals, why should we do that? We should deal with them.”

Dover District Council said there are no plans to move the shelter at the moment but Mr Sansum fears that talks with the transport museum have already been progressing.

He said: “We are scared it will be done overnight and they will move it while everyone is in bed.”

Cllr Graham Wanstall said there have been no talks about how much the refurbishment or move would cost but claims it could be £5,000.

He said: “Dover District Council has neglected it for many years. It may be too costly or complicated to relocate.

“This needs sorting out once and for all and needs common sense and intelligent thinking, not emotion.”

Cllr Wanstall added that the horse trough which was originally in Elms Vale Road could be put back with a flower display.

Dover town and district councillor Peter Wallace said he is against plans for the shelter re-location.

He said: “I’m 100% opposed to any plans to take away the tram shelter. If hooligans are damaging it and we take it away, they will win.

“We have to stop people damaging it. We have to keep it and preserve it.”

He added that there are plans to put CCTV cameras in place to catch the vandals.