by Jan Thom

hernebaygazette@thekmgroup.co.uk

Community input and ambitious regeneration plans have earned Herne Bay recognition in a European award scheme.

The town came joint second in the European Best Practice Award for Coastal Towns, just behind the Ukranian town of Yevpatoria.

Jurors for the award scheme had been “impressed by the quality and innovative spirit of the council’s Herne Bay regeneration project, as an encouraging practice for the regeneration of coastal towns.”

Herne Bay’s entry by Canterbury City Council focused on the success of regeneration projects that have been completed or are underway, as well as the work carried out by local community groups.

It included the new Bay sports arena and extended Herons Leisure Centre, improvements to the Memorial Park, plans for a coastal park as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the future of the town’s pier and the effectiveness of the Herne Bay area action plan.

Organisations including the Friends of Memorial Park, Herne Bay in Bloom committee and Herne Bay Town Partners were praised for their community efforts.

Executive member for Herne Bay regeneration, Cllr Peter Lee, said: “We’ve beaten off some strong opposition, both in this country and across Europe, which says a lot about the hard work and commitment shown by the council and local people to improving the town we all love.”