Borough centres to get £200,000 investment
Town and village centres across Tonbridge and Malling are to benefit from a £200,000 cash injection following a successful grant bid from the borough council.
The money will be invested in a range of ‘Welcome back’ schemes to make shopping areas attractive to visitors and residents, following a slump in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The schemes will see improvements to Tonbridge, West Malling, Borough Green, East Peckham, Larkfield, Snodland and Aylesford. Proposals include:
- New public area benches and refurbishment of existing seats
- Creation of new flower beds and planter displays
- Improvements to the Tonbridge leisure boat moorings
- A blitz to clear graffiti from public spaces
- Promotional support for farmers markets
- Marketing campaigns to encourage visitors
- Car park improvements
The council will be working with a range of partners including the Tonbridge Town Team, parish councils, retailers and Kent County Council to deliver the improvements which are being paid for by a grant from the England European Regional Development Fund.
Nicolas Heslop, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: ‘Our smaller retailers in particular were hit hard during the pandemic and it’s great news that we have been able to secure this investment.
‘By helping to make our towns and villages attractive, welcoming places we can increase footfall, attract more tourism and give our communities the boost they need.’
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The project is receiving £200,000 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.