Craig Mackinlay MP has welcomed £24,776 to clean up high streets across Thanet, as the Government spends almost £10 million across England to improve local high streets.

The funding will improve the quality of high streets across the country, helping to attract more residents and visitors so that local businesses can continue to thrive. It will be used to buy tools such as litter pickers and brushes, as well as providing training for volunteers who already do so much across Thanet on how to remove graffiti or tackle fly-tipping.

The release of the funding coincided with High Street Saturday, a new national campaign day held for the first time last Saturday to celebrate the place of the high street at the heart of communities across the country.

Craig is also supporting Thanet District Council, Ramsgate Town Council and the Ramsgate Town Team in their bid for money for Ramsgate High Street from the Future High Streets Fund – a £675 million pot of money to help local areas modernise their town centres.

High streets have long been a place to bring communities together, a place for local people to access vital services and a place for businesses to thrive. But, the South Thanet MP recognises that it is becoming harder for businesses on the high streets in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Sandwich to compete with out-of-town shopping centres and online retailers.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“Our high streets in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Sandwich are at the heart of our local community.

“I know that changes to consumer buying habits represent a new and growing challenge for many town centres, and Thanet is no different.

“That’s why this funding will help to ensure that we keep high streets across Thanet looking their best,  to encourage more people to return to the high streets as destinations in their own right.”