The end of Covid restrictions is not now going to happen fully until July 21, but Tonbridge and Malling council stands ready to act when it does.

Council leader Nicolas Heslop (Con) said: "I am delighted to announce that we have secured £200,000 in national Government investment from their Welcome Back Fund which will support our high streets across the borough as we all emerge from the pandemic lockdown."

He said: "This will be a massive and much welcome boost for our town centres."

Cllr Heslop said the borough council would work together with Kent County Council and key partners including the Tonbridge Town Team, parish councils and local retailers to deliver the improvement schemes that have secured the investment.

Cllr Heslop said: "In Tonbridge we have fresh ideas to encourage music and artwork, improve seating, support the river leisure boats, raise flowerbeds at the castle, improve the much-valued Memorial Gardens and support the Tonbridge Town Centre in tidying up the front of Railway Approach.

"Working with Snodland Town Council on environmental improvements, we have secured funding for planters; hanging baskets and improvements to benches along the High Street.

"We will promote farmers’ markets across the borough, using ideas from the Kent Farmers Market Association."

"There will be environmental improvements close to the Bailey Bridge Car Parks in Aylesford and the High Street, promoted by Aylesford Parish Council.

"There will be support to enhance the visitor economy in West Malling which was sought by the parish council and the West Malling Chamber of Commerce; and improvements to East Peckham village put forward by their parish council.

"Finally, there will be environmental improvements to Borough Green High Street and around Borough Green Village Hall, aimed to make the high street more attractive for shoppers.

"This is a very welcome investment for all our local communities.”

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