Full English? MPS enjoy taste of our best produce
IT WASN’T exactly a ‘breakfast’ as billed – more a strong show of support in Parliament for the wide-ranging produce generated in Kent.
Maidstone and The Weald MP Helen Grant, and Sir John Stanley, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, were among a party of county politicians who gathered at the Commons to support the Kent Breakfast initiative staged by the agency Visit Kent.
The programme encourages hotels, B&Bs, cafes and restaurants to serve breakfasts consisting of at least 60% of ingredients sourced from within the county.
Exhibitors included Linton Chocolates, Shepherd Neame brewery, Biddenden Vineyards, Brogdale fruit and Cheesemakers of Canterbury.
Also flying Kent’s flag was Hugh Robertson, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent and minister for tourism.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for us to promote our Kent Breakfast campaign,” said Amanda Cottrell, chairman of Visit Kent.
“We were amazed at the number of visitors over the course of the day who went away with a real taste for the county’s produce.
“We are grateful to Helen and Sir John for taking the time to come along and publicly show their support.” PULL out the bunting – we want new business in our town.
In a bid to add colour to the centre, councillors are recommending hanging flags and banners.
It is one of the proposals being put forward by the council’s corporate services overview and scrutiny committee to make the best use of the town’s assets.
Chairwoman Fay Gooch said: “We want to make things happen, to regenerate, to bring businesses to the town and the borough of Maidstone.
“We want people to feel they can come to Maidstone, whoever they are.”
Mrs Gooch admitted flags and bunting on their own would not be enough to attract new business.
But she said it was just one idea among many that could reinvigorate the county town and make it a more pleasant place to live, work and shop.
She added: “This is to generate some kind of thinking process to trigger a bit more investment.
“These are ideas, but they need to be properly discussed and thought through.”
Other ideas include introducing more street furniture, such as signs pointing out the town’s key areas of interest, and new benches.
The committee has also recommended seeking ideas from developers to redevelop eyesores such as King Street car park.
While Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce welcomed the intention, chief executive Jo James stopped short of giving her all out backing to the bunting.
She said: “If you’re going to look at attracting investment and business into the town centre, which is vital for the survival of the high street, it’s got to be aesthetically pleasing. It’s not just about what shops you have.
“Whether bunting is the right answer, I’m not too sure, but it has to look bright and colourful.”
Mrs James said flower displays offered another solution. She added: “I agree in principle that they need to do something to make it bright and lively.
“Bunting is one method of doing it, but there are other methods too.”
The paper, called the Capital Programme Review, will go before the council cabinet on June 12.