A JOINT bid by KCC and local authority partners has won £1.8 million from the EU to breathe new life into parts of Kent. The cash - which could be match-funded - will pay for projects in rural areas of Maidstone, Ashford, Shepway and Swale over six years.

The successful Mid Kent Leader Partnership bid was led by the county council, assisted by local council economic development officers. The partnership also includes voluntary and community groups and business organisations.

The money - available through the Leader+ EU fund - supports sustainable rural development. The Kent bid focused on improving the quality of life in rural areas. Details of how the money will be spent are still on the drawing board.

The bid partnership is putting together a business plan which will be submitted to the Government Office for the South East. The type of projects that could gain funding are ICT, business and marketing skills for local businesses and access to local services. Projects will be led by local organisations, but support will be available from economic development units and from a new community development officer, funded by the bid.

Pauline Elliott, head of economic development and regeneration at Maidstone Council, said: "The Mid Kent bid centred on access to services, particularly for younger and older people. People living in rural areas cannot access the same range of services as people living in the town."

Projects on the drawing board include computers for village halls, rural transport initiatives and employment schemes using new technology. Parish councils, Kent Rural Community Council and Age Concern are among organisations asked for their input. A Kent Gateway Chamber of Commerce project in association with Kent Business Link, offering counselling and start-up advice to rural enterprises, has also been earmarked for support.

"It will be about getting employment into these areas, so that people don't have to travel to work. People working locally will be spending money which in turn, will boost the rural economy," said Mrs Elliott. "Obviously, it is quite hard for the south east to gain EU funding because we are not as deprived as some other areas of Britain. On the surface, the area appears to be quite wealthy, but there are areas where access to services is a problem."