Home   Kent   News   Article

Which Kent traveller sites will receive funding from the £3.8m government grant?

In March it was announced Kent County Council (KCC) secured a £3.8m government grant to refurbish traveller sites around the county.

So, which areas will receive funding, how much will they each be given and what improvements will be made?

Travellers in Chatham earlier this year
Travellers in Chatham earlier this year

There are 15 official traveller sites across Kent, seven of which are managed by the county authority, and the remaining eight are run by relevant borough and district councils.

All areas managed by KCC will receive money from the government's £10m Traveller Site Fund – but more than £2million of the fund will be split between just two sites.

Aylesham Caravan Park in Dover will receive £1,196,357.01, while Barnfield Park in Sevenoaks will get £907,415.72.

Mike Hill, KCC cabinet member for community and regulatory services, said: “The much-needed funding is being used to refurbish and make improvements to permanent sites so members of our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have better facilities and services.”

There are five other plots which will receive smaller lumps of financial support.

Coldharbour in Aylesford will be given £696,927.72, while Three Lakes Park, Sittingbourne, will get £392,526.72 and Polhill, Sevenoaks, will be granted £268,779.72.

Greenbridge Park in Canterbury will receive £204,838.72 and Windmill Lane, West Malling, will get £138,443.72.

A total of £3.8m of government money, boosted by £250,000 from KCC’s own budget, will be distributed across the seven sites.

Grants allocated to these sites will be used to make improvements to utility blocks which house baths, showers and toilets, upgrade lighting and drainage, and external repairs to fencing and access roads.

Plans for site works are currently being drawn up.

Earlier this year, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced its multi-million-pound grant for councils to invest in upgrading sites.

The funds will provide more and better places to stay for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.

It also aims to reduce tensions between travellers and settled residents, and the high costs of tackling unauthorised encampments.

Recently, the county has seen multiple incidents of people pitching up in car parks, field and other locations across Kent and Medway.

In Maidstone, fencing of a community field was broken to make way for a dozen caravans and vehicles and leaving the council with an £800 bill.

While numerous encampments have popped up across Medway in fields and supermarket car parks, such as Tesco and Morrisons.

Correction: A previous version of this story had a picture of Barnfield Park in Sevenoaks. This was not an accurate picture of the site and we apologise for the mistake.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More