Residents being asked how best to spend £20m grant

Ramsgate is one of 75 towns included in the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods programme

Residents in Ramsgate, Kent, are being asked for their views of the town so a council can decide how best to use £20m of new government funding.

Thanet District Council said the money would be spent on "dealing with some of the issues that matter most to local people".

Councillor Rick Everitt said: "This is a significant opportunity for local people to change the face of Ramsgate and getting a wide input is integral to getting this right."

The survey is open until 8 September and can be found on the council's website.

"This is a very exciting time for Ramsgate," said Mr Everitt.

"With the prospect of £20 million of new government funding, in addition to the regeneration projects already under way, we have the opportunity to make a huge difference to the town."

It comes as a "neighbourhood board" has been set up to develop a 10-year vision and regeneration plan for Ramsgate.

The council said the board included representatives from the Ramsgate community, local businesses, sports and cultural organisations, the not-for-profit sector, and public sector agencies, alongside the MP and representatives from the district, town and county councils.

Young people aged 18 to 25, council and social housing tenants, high street businesses owners, private sector investors, representatives from cultural or leisure venues, and representatives from community, cultural or faith organisations are also being asked to apply to join the board.

Information on how to apply will soon be available on the council's website, it said.