Discovery Park, the thriving science park for ambitious and growing life sciences companies near Sandwich, has been named a Life Sciences Opportunity Zone (LSOZ) by the Government’s Office for Life Sciences. This designation reflects the park’s strengths and growth potential, particularly across advanced manufacturing, digital and artificial intelligence in healthcare. As one of six new LSOZs…
A new cross-border partnership project has been awarded more than 2.5 million euros of European funding (European Regional Development Fund) – as part of the Interreg VA 2Seas programme – to provide vulnerable people in our communities with ongoing assistance to access support services. The ‘ENSURE’ project aims to break the cycle of disadvantage which…
This week, 13 Kent councils, including Kent County Council, will be uniting to reduce single-use plastics across the county. The local authorities are releasing a Facebook campaign across their channels including a competition showcasing reusable items as a viable alternative to single-use plastic. The week-long initiative will use vintage imagery and nostalgic messaging to ‘remember’…
Breastfeeding mothers are being celebrated and supported, thanks to the ‘Beside You’ campaign which is now launching across Kent on Valentine’s Day. ‘Beside You’ is an online resource giving support and advice to breastfeeding women, with an aim to normalise breastfeeding in Kent and Medway. It initally started in Medway and is now being extended…
Kent County Council has today (Thursday) agreed its budget plans for 2020/21 which aim to prioritise the services that improve the quality of life for the people of Kent. The council will be spending over £1 billion on essential day to day services, an increase of £77 million (7.8%) over 2019/20. This is the largest…
A budget amendment requesting an additional £500k spend on Detached Youth Work across the county was agreed at Full Council meeting today, which when added to planned new spend, will give a bonus of £1m in new cash for Youth Services in Kent. The additional £500,000 will be found a reduction in the council’s spend…
Kent Highways crews are finding and fixing potholes caused by the extensive rain over the last few weeks. As surveys of the condition of roads continue following Storm Ciara, this weekend Storm Dennis is expected to bring further wind and rain. Last weekend highways officers from Kent County Council dealt with over 500 enquiries to…
Kent County Council has welcomed an initiative to increase walking and cycling. On Tuesday morning, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne attended the all-party parliamentary group for cycling and walking as it launched its manifesto in parliament, setting out an investment strategy for the country. Its aim is to increase walking and cycling…
Essential maintenance work on Sandwich Toll Bridge has been postponed. The works to repair the swing bridge were due to begin on February 17 and last seven weeks. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond Kent County Council’s control, the emergency works by Southern Water have now been extended. It had always been intended that the closure…
Kent County Council will be undertaking works to George Park to help reduce the risk of surface water flooding to the local area. The park will be landscaped to store surface water collected from the surrounding roads. The water will be collected in ponds and swales, known as attenuation areas, where it will slowly filter…
Highways officers from Kent County Council dealt with over 500 enquiries over the weekend and were clearing trees between 6am on Sunday and 2am today. Some minor roads across the county remain closed this morning (Monday) and work continues to clear fallen trees and floods. Torrential rain on Sunday caused many main roads to be…
Kent County Council is working on a heat network for Maidstone as an important part of its plans for carbon reduction and tackling climate change. The project team held an event on February 4 to engage with the market to understand private sector appetite for the further development of the project. More than 60 different…
The town of Sandwich is set to benefit from a £100,000 windfall from The Open Legacy Fund, an initiative run by The R&A to leave a positive and long-lasting impact on the local environment and communities in which The Open is staged. The R&A has agreed to provide £75,000 in funding towards the redevelopment of…
Kent County Council has expressed its disappointment at Swale Borough Council’s decision to oppose £38 million of government cash for local road improvements. Swale Borough Council announced last week that it had decided not to support money earmarked by government for infrastructure improvements to support the Swale Local Plan, adopted by the borough council in…
Brockhill Country Park is offering a sustainable alternative to a bouquet of flowers this Valentine’s Day, asking the public to swap their normal bouquet of flowers for a patch of wildflower meadow. It means you can not only show your love for someone special in your life, but also show how much you love the…
As businesses across Kent prepare for big changes following the UK’s departure from the EU, Kent County Council is strengthening cross-Channel ties to support them. The Straits Committee, a new initiative to reinforce links and collaboration with Kent’s European neighbours is launched today in Arras, France, with the aim of supporting business and economic development…
This National Apprenticeship Week, Kent County Council is reminding employers they can get financial assistance from the Local Authority to help them take on an apprentice. As a large employer, KCC pays an apprenticeship levy to the Government and, in return, receives levy funds to spend on apprenticeships for its own new and existing staff.…
