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Gravesend is set to have its very own beach again.

The riverside beach is to be restored by the council as part of a £2million scheme to upgrade the promenade and canal over the next two years.

The shingle beach will be recreated along the historic promenade as well as repairs to the sea wall.

Local residents voice their opinions in the video on the right of this page.

The first 1,000 metres of the Thames and Medway Canal east of Mark Lane is also to be dredged and a pumping system installed to maintain water levels in the canal.

Other works at the Riverside Leisure Area include resurfacing paths and creating a new paved area in front of the cafeteria, moving the play area in the Gordon Gardens to a position next to the café and new play equipment.

There will also be extra CCTV and repairs to paving around the New Tavern Fort.

The original beach was a popular area from Victorian times when Gravesend was a holiday destination for Londoners who often funded their vacations by hop-picking in Kent during the season.

Council leader Cllr Mike Snelling said: "The council believes the river is the borough's greatest single asset. The restoration of the Prom and the canal has always been on our wish-list.

"This project marks another step in the process of what we hope will be the re-focusing of the town to look towards the river once again."

The project has been agreed by the Homes and Communities Agency and it will be confirmed annually until 2011. The actual works are subject to the agreement of partners, including the Environment Agency and Network Rail.

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