County could get a ‘strong EU tie-up’

Kent could remain part of a “strong, cross-Channel partnership” with the European Union, a county council cabinet member has revealed.

About 65 million visitors come to Kent and Medway each year, bringing £3.8 billion into the economy and supporting 77,000 jobs.

But the county has relied on €80m of EU funding to invest into major local programmes over the past 20 years, including tourism.

Kent County Council’s Conservative cabinet has said it hopes to continue working closely with European neighbours once a Brexit trade deal has been finalised, with Whitehall’s deadline set for December.

KCC’s economic development cabinet member, Cllr Mike Whiting (Con), said Kent wants to remain part of a “strong, cross-Channel partnership” during a public meeting at Maidstone County Hall, in Sessions House, earlier this month.

The former KCC highways boss told his nine cabinet colleagues: “Kent has benefited significantly from EU funding for projects in the past.”

The Swale member cited a €23.3m transnational tourism project called ‘Experience’ which involves 14 partners in the UK and France, including Visit Kent and Kent Downs AONB Partnership, which launched last September.

The four-year scheme is intended to offer more job opportunities, improve infrastructure in Kent and Medway and stimulate business growth in the local visitor economy.

More than €6m of funding has already been allocated from French authorities and business groups to the project, which runs from September 2019 to August 2023..

KCC previously said the scheme represents the last opportunity to benefit from European funding as the government enters EU-UK transition talks.

After the meeting, KCC opposition leader and Ashford councillor Dara Farrell (Lab) said he was less convinced Kent would receive its fair share of EU funding following the December General Election result.