AN artistic and architectural firm has been appointed to create designs which will improve the first impressions visitors have of Dover.

The First Impressions Partnership was set up as an informal working group by the Kent Maritime Chamber of Commerce and includes support from Dover Harbour Board, Dover District Council, the Highways Agency and Dover Town Centre Management.

The group has appointed the artist and architect practice Muf, based in Clerkenwell, to provide ideas. Concerned at the poor appearance of the Townwall Street corridor, the First Impressions Group has come up with a long list of improvements that are required from the Aycliffe roundabout to the Eastern Docks.

"There are many buildings and empty sites along the A20 which present the wrong image of Dover," said Dover Harbour Board's Richard Willcox, who is a member of the group. "Although there are long term development plans, we wanted to see improvements now, and working with artists will ensure a creative and unique solution to the immediate requirements.

"Artists Katherine Clarke and Ashley McCormack have looked at the A20/A2 corridor which brings the majority of visitors to Dover, including travellers using the ferries and cruise ship passengers. They have begun working on an overall strategy to create a coherent vision for the sites along the road, and will be implementing the first project within the scheme by early summer."

Muf's Katherine Clarke said: "Our suggested programme of transformations will be achieved through workshops with local communities to create areas of seasonal planting, unique lighting, one-off events and temporary improvements. Designs will be based on patterns and names of 18th century soldiers scratched into the castle walls, on the elegance of tea dancing and the local skill of apple growing in Kent."

Projects are expected to be of a temporary nature to achieve the short term aims of improving the appearance of the area, in advance of more permanent redevelopment plans.