The town centre is to get another boost with a major facelift after the borough council won a £1million grant from the West Kent Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which is part of the Government’s Local Growth Fund.
The money will be used to improve the area around Mount Pleasant Road from the Monson Road junction to the Church Road/Crescent Road junction; one of the aims of the council’s Five Year Plan.
In bidding for the money the council said it wanted to create a more pedestrian-focused space on Mount Pleasant Road by installing pedestrian paving across Monson Road, York Road and Mount Pleasant Road and looking at the positioning of bus shelters.
The project will introduce wide, stepped areas framing the war memorial to enhance it as a focal point and create a stronger link between Mount Pleasant Road and Civic Way.
It’s hoped that enhancing the setting of the war memorial will create the feel of a public square for use on civic occasions such as Remembrance Sunday.
Other benefits of the project include improved access and movement through the area for all users with emphasis on pedestrians and cyclists.
No date has yet been set for work to start although it’s hoped it will get underway within the next year.
