A £2.5million support package is being drawn up to help Dover, Deal and Sandwich town centres recover from the economical impact of Covid-19.

Dover District Council is proposing a revised budget which will be discussed by the cabinet on Monday.

With high street retailers set to open on June 15, the fund is designed to help regenerate the shopping precincts.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, leader of Dover District Council, said: “Thanks to prudent financial management, we’ve been able to maintain our core public services throughout the pandemic and are now looking to see how we can best support the local economy as we adapt to a new normal.

“As we look to a cautious re-opening of our high streets, we want to do everything we can to support local traders.

"We are proposing a £2.5m fund in this new budget to support initiatives to regenerate our town centres.

“Of course, we can all do our bit for the local economy by returning to our high streets in a responsible way to shop locally.”

The authority is forecasting a £5.3m budget pressure from Covid-19 in 2020/21.

To date, the government has pledged £1.2m to help the council cope with the additional cost pressures and significant falls in income resulting from the pandemic.

DDC has also proposed a further £1.5m in match-funding to support a £4.2m bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration of the Maison Dieu in Dover.

The second round bid for the £8.9m project was submitted this month and a decision is due in October.

Cllr Bartlett added: “The restoration and rejuvenation of the Maison Dieu as a heritage and events venue has the potential to kick-start the regeneration of this part of Dover town centre.”

To fund the new budget, DDC is seeking £4.6m in savings, predominantly from the capital programme of major projects, and a £1m programme of asset disposals.

The Council is also planning to review the potential for additional borrowing and the release of further funds from reserves.

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