by Rebecca Hughes

Plans for a major multi-million pound lottery bid to help restore an area of Fort Amherst have been announced.

Fort Amherst Heritage Trust and Medway Council are applying for the £2 million grant to bring back to use areas of the site and the adjoining Middle Lines.

Ideas for the zone, which consists of the Spur Battery, Spur Casements and Prince Williams Barracks, include the creation of an amphitheatre and a camping area.

Victoria Melhuish, general manager at Fort Amherst, said: "It is a huge amount of money we are going for to develop an area which most people in the Towns don’t know is there.

"It’s quite a ruined area, but we are hoping to open it up to the public by creating a camp area of an amphitheatre."

The £2 million bid would be the largest single investment to date.

The Trust will be holding a public consultation event on Sunday, February 17, to seek the views of the local community on the future use of the area, including possible activities and functions that could be held there.

The consultation will be held in the newly restored Amherst Guard House from 12pm until 2pm. There will also be an opportunity to view Guard House with a one hour guided walk starting at 12pm.

Members of the public who are unable to attend the event but would like to contribute ideas can email Fort Amherst at info@fortamherst.com.

To book a place for the consultation event visit www.fortamherst.com, and click on Lottery Bid consultation event.