Dover is being given £4 million from the Government to help restore it to its former glory.

The port town is one of three places being given funding for cultural and heritage projects, it was announced on Friday morning.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham named Dover, Blackpool and Torbay as the first three seaside towns to benefit from Sea Change, a new funding programme that aims to kick start wider economic regeneration in coastal resorts through good design and investment in culture and heritage.

The money will be used for projects such as improving high streets, promenades, harbours or gardens, constructing new buildings or converting existing ones for use as cultural centres, or enhancing existing galleries, concert halls, and theatres.

Dover's MP Gwyn Prosser welcomed the announcement: "This is an opportunity to kickstart investment and regeneration in Dover and Deal and help improve the quality of life for residents and attract new visitors to the area.

“I am proud of our rich heritage, castles and ancient monuments and look forward to seeing what opportunities there are to futher regenerate Dover and Deal."

Dover District Council will be putting forward suggestions for what the money should be spent on, but one suggestion is a feasilbiity study into installing a cable car to link Dover Castle with the town and, eventually, the Western Heights.

Dover's transport network would also be examined and around £2 million could be used by English Heritage to improve Dover Castle.

Sea Change, initiated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports and led by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), will run for three years, with £15 million allocated each year.

See next week's Dover Mercury for the full story.