£85,000 bid won for Barton’s Point

Published Wednesday 30 November, 2022
Last updated on Wednesday 30 November, 2022

It will be easier than ever for visitors to explore Barton’s Point Coastal Park next year, after a successful funding bid by Swale Borough Council.

The council has successfully secured £85,000 from the Government’s Levelling Up Parks Fund to install new walking and cycling signs around the park, as well as information panels to help people learn more about the park’s history.

The funding will also deliver new seating, tree planting, works to reduce erosion along the edge of the lake and improvements to the entrance to the car park.

Cllr Julian Saunders, chair of the environment committee at the council, said:

“Now we’ve been awarded the funding, we’ll be installing new wayfinding signs around the park to help people enjoy more walks and bike trails. There’ll also be some heritage interpretation panels to let visitors know more about the history of the site.

“We’ll plant 20 trees during the planting season this winter and reduce erosion at the edge of the salt water lake by supplementing the banks with shingle.

“We’ll also be resurfacing the entrance of the car park as the weather warms up in spring next year.”

Cllr Tim Valentine, vice chair of the environment committee at the council, said:

“We’re delighted to be awarded this funding for Barton’s Point.

“Aside from our plans to make improvements, there’s also lots of work planned for Barton’s Point, including a new toilet and shower facility to replace the old one near the Boathouse Café, a lease for new activity operators and the Sheppey Sea Cadets are planning a new headquarters for their training courses with sleeping accommodation.”

The tree planting will start this winter, and the rest of the work is expected to be completed by spring next year.