Borough gets £1m for tourism, climate and business

Some of the money will be spent on promoting tourist attractions, including Tonbridge Castle

More than £1m will be pumped into regenerating a town, supporting small businesses, boosting tourism and cutting carbon emissions in a Kent borough.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) said it would issue just over £1.1m by the end of the 2025/26 financial year to fund ongoing and new projects.

The money is coming from a Kent-wide scheme - which sees a portion of business rates income shared among councils to invest locally.

Matt Boughton, leader of TMBC, said it was a "big win" and a "major boost" to the council's ambitions to see the benefits of economic growth across the borough.

The council says the money will be spent on:

• Green business grants, by helping local businesses decarbonise through measures such as solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and energy-efficient upgrades

• Tonbridge regeneration, by supporting commitments including new homes, retail and health facilities plus improved riverside access and lighting

• Carbon reduction at Larkfield Leisure Centre, by investing in solar, heat pumps and other initiatives to cut emissions

• Tourism promotion, including support for Tonbridge Castle and wider borough attractions.

Boughton said: "A thriving local economy is crucial to the overall success of our borough as a great place to live and work.

"That's why we've put supporting business, creating opportunities and investing in technology at the heart of our priorities."