Tourism to revitalise Edenbridge

Town Council Chairman Cllr John Scholey announced at Monday’s council meeting that Edenbridge has been awarded two grants to support community regeneration and development projects.  These will bring more than £1/3 million investment over the next two years.

SEEDA Kent Rural Towns Partnership has offered £84,696 extra for the High Street enhancement project, and DEFRA has contributed £37,282 for the Hidden Britain plans to raise the Eden Valley profile with potential visitors. This was one of the key issues which emerged from the recent Healthcheck into the Action Plan considered at the Edenbridge Partnership re-launch two months ago.

“We are very grateful that SEEDA and the Rural Towns Partnership have awarded a substantial grant to match the local funds available to enhance the High Street and make the first floor of  Doggetts Barn accessible to the physically disabled – and therefore useable as a visitor information point,” said Cllr Scholey.  “This follows the grant awarded by DEFRA which will be used to promote Edenbridge as a centre for visitors.”

Building on KCC proposals to change the layout of the High Street, grant funding will enable four additional aspects including refurbishment of the Mill Leat (with additional support from the Whitmore family), contributions to sprucing up High Street frontages and to bringing new B&B accommodation into use, installation of a small lift in Doggetts Barn, and appointment of a part-time tourism assistant to staff the visitor information service.

The Eden Valley Tourism initiative with the DEFRA money aims to make the area less “hidden” from potential visitors, and build an identity which celebrates what is special and distinctive about it.
This will include designing and creating a website aimed at providing a visitors’ information one-stop-shop, “tasters” to draw people to the area, and signpost them to   further details – what to do, where to eat, where to stay, travel directions, suggested itineraries, maps, walking and cycling guides, surrounding attractions, news, and events.

New products for visitors to use will include a double-side A4 folded map of the Valley, and A5 Valley Guide booklet, and a series of 10 folded A3 size walking guides. A link-up with Valley pubs is also proposed to produce marketing beer mats.

“We have convinced the grant-making bodies that we have the foresight and abilities to develop into the 21st century as a vibrant community.  It now remains to convert the action plans and funds into  
reality,” Cllr Scholey added.