‘It seems yet again, Herne Bay loses out’

Although Canterbury City Council was successful in securing the cash for its Canterbury projects, it missed out on money for schemes devised for Herne Bay.

The authority had applied for £13 million to rejuvenate the King’s Hall and the Bandstand, improve the area around the Clock Tower and better connect the seafront and town centre.

Cllr Fitter-harding said: “The bid process has resulted in comprehensive plans for how we can massively improve the King’s Hall and Bandstand for future generations, connecting them better to the town and making them places for visitors to enjoy and residents to learn new skills. “We await feedback from the government and I look forward to considering a

round three levelling-up bid and exploring other funding. “We’re thrilled, of course, to have received £550,000 to help regenerate the Tivoli and Beach Street area and we’re pressing on with that.” Tom Mellish, chairman of the Herne Bay Coastal Community Team, praised the work the city council had put into the bid and expressed hope that transformative plans for the town could still be pushed through.

He said: “While we are pleased that Canterbury city has got funding to improve the castle and its other tourist attractions it does seem that yet again Herne Bay has lost out in its bid to bring about an economic change and a boost to tourism for the town. “Herne Bay is a rapidly developing town and it needs everyone’s support in ensuring the economic and cultural development keeps pace with the demographic changes.”

There were plans to revamp the King’s Hall in Herne Bay