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SEEDA
GIVES KENT COALFIELD A NEW LIFE
Quick action by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
in implementing its Kent coalfield regeneration programme is already
changing the look of the former collieries.
Chief executive
of SEEDA Anthony Dunnett hailed the dramatic changes during his
speech at the Coalfield Conference at Aylesham on October 27.
"Since
SEEDA was established 18 months ago, the Kent Coalfield has seen
a dramatic breathe of new life," Anthony Dunnett said.
He continued:
"Having been ignored and left to waste for the last 10 years,
we are pleased to see the community involved in shaping a new
future with much needed investment from SEEDA."
SEEDA organised
the conference in partnership with the Coalfield Communities Campaign,
Dover District Council, Canterbury City Council, Kent County Council
and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
The Minister
for Housing, Planning and Construction Nick Raynsford was among
leading figures from central, regional and local government who
addressed the conference.
SEEDA took
over ownership of Tilmanstone colliery in April this year and
within a few weeks heavy plant was on site reclaiming 25 acres
of land and clearing away any signs of the former mining operations.
Work is on schedule for completion by the New Year.
More than
two-thirds of the Tilmanstone site is being purchased by Geest
Properties and work is well advanced on building a new food production
complex for Kent Salads (Geest Foods) which is due to be opened
next spring. This project by Kent Salads will retain 300 existing
jobs and create up to 150 new jobs in the future.
"The
fact that we have agreed terms with Geest, a major local employer,
illustrates the confidence in the future that the regeneration
programme is bringing to communities in the coalfield," said
SEEDA¹s Area Director East, Stephen Sadler.
"The construction of this new food production factory, with
its positive impact on existing and new jobs, is a tangible sign
of the rapid progress being made with the coalfield programme
in the south east. It¹s also a tribute to SEEDA¹s close
working partnership with local organisations, in particular Dover
District Council," added Stephen Sadler, who heads SEEDA¹s
Coalfield Regeneration team.
The Tilmanstone
reclamation, which also includes landscaping and infrastructure
work, is costing approximately £2.1m and is just one of
a number of projects SEEDA is undertaking in the former coalfield.
At Betteshanger,
where SEEDA is responsible for the former colliery and the spoil
tip, a total of 289 acres, a master planning exercise is in hand
to identify 20 acres for employment, accommodation and training
purposes. The work is scheduled to start by 2001 and will create
up to 250 jobs and accommodation for 50 families.
The majority
of the Betteshanger land will be reclaimed and re-landscaped where
necessary and consideration given to creating a country park with
public access and an emphasis on conservation and education.
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