Kentish Express Ashford & District
Praise for town’s ‘wartime spirit’
Ashford council says it has received more than 1,100 applications as it begins offering support to businesses in the borough.
The borough council has collected a multi-department team of its officers to come up with ways to support industry through the coronavirus pandemic.
The procedures have been put in place by members of the Economic Development team including LoveAshford, Corporate Property, Tourism, Licensing and Revenues and Benefits teams.
Included in the aid being offered is a jobs retention scheme, statutory sick pay, retail business rates holiday, retail grants, small business grants, extra time to pay tax, VAT deferral, business interruption loans, bank support and information on support for the self-employed.
Already more than 1,100 submissions have been made for these measures, with the first payments having been dispatched on Friday and the second batch is due to be sent out this week.
The council says feedback from businesses who are submitting their applications has been positive.
Ashford Borough Council also highlights that if eligible, businesses should fill in this online application form on the council’s website.
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, leader of the council, said: “I’d like to thank the team who have been working hard to put
The Mayor of Tenterden has praised the town’s response to the coronavirus outbreak as volunteer groups seek to cope with a surge in demand.
Cllr Jean Curteis said she was “overwhelmed and very moved” by the efforts of townspeople, highlighting in particular the Helping in Tenterden (HIT) group.
The mayor, pictured, said: “I think it’s absolutely marvelous the way people are coming together to help each other.
“The Helping in Tenterden organisation (HIT) is doing a wonderful job in helping with food deliveries and financial support for those residents most in need.
“It evokes memories of the wartime spirit, so something good has come out of this extremely challenging time.”
HIT is a joint venture involving Tenterden Town Council, Ivy Court Surgery, St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden Social Hub, Tenterden Community Hub and MyTenterden.
While the group of volunteers has been all of these new processes in place to administer the payments quickly.
“These payments are going to be vital to helping as many of the borough’s businesses make it through these unprecedented times as possible.”
Other routes of support can be found via this link, and the Kent and Medway Growth Hub have set up a phone line at 03333 602300, for business support advice, 8.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
Webchat is also available on all the relevant business pages on the Ashford Borough Council website. answering calls to aid with food deliveries, pick up prescriptions or even walk dogs, the number of calls for food donations the food bank have been receiving is fast outstripping their supplies.
Volunteers are reporting that more donations of money and food are desperately needed to make sure people are safely fed.
A spokesman said: “Every tin, packet and penny is vital, and especially needed are tinned meat and fish, tinned potatoes, long-life milk, coffee, tea and jams, all items which are non-perishable.
“When you shop, please consider those in need and ‘bung a tin in the bin’”.
Town councillors have voted a £1,000 emergency grant to HIT, with a further £2,000 available in the future, and a pledge that additional grants will be made if it proves necessary.
Donate non-perishable food to the donation bins outside Waitrose, Tesco, St Michaels Post Office and Store and St Mildred’s Church porch.
Alternatively, give money to Family Food Bank, account number: 23659130, sort code 60-19-04, using ‘Tenterden’ as the reference.
You can also donate via cheque, made payable to Family Food Bank, Unit 4, St John’s Court, Ashford Business Park, Foster Road, Ashford, TN24 0SJ.