by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Public spending cuts have killed off an organisation that worked to regenerate the East Kent economy - but its work should live on.

The East Kent Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) shuts its doors today after three years.

The organisation, which involved council, charity and business representatives, including chairman Geoff Miles, joint owner of the Maidstone Studios, had been funded by district councils but they pulled the plug after the Government slashed their budgets.

The LSP has worked on various key policy issues, including sustainable communities and a local investment plan. Both were key documents that spelt out priorities for the area in the years ahead.

Last November, it organised a high-level conference on The Big Society in Dover Cruise Terminal.

Partnership director Janice Watson said its work would not go unheeded.

It was important not to lose the East Kent stakeholder network that had been built up, and the LSP would be sharing details with similar organisations that may emerge in the future.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for supporting and assisting the LSP over the last three years," she said.

"I think we have made real progress during that time, and can go into the future on a solid footing as an area able to articulate its distinctive but shared needs."