UK ‘seaside ghost town’ full of empty shops gets £20m for high street | UK | News
A “ghost town” has been set up for a £20 million investment aimed at rejuvenating its high street, pubs and parks. The funding is part of the Government’s Pride in Place scheme, designed to transform neglected areas and make them more attractive places to live.
Residents of Sheerness, the largest town on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, have endured years of boarded-up shops, anti-social behaviour, gangs and abandoned streets; this led many to say that the town had been “forgotten” by the authorities. While families say they avoid certain areas due to fear of crime, some claim there is “not much to cheer about.”
The town’s struggles are compounded by infrastructure problems. A section of Sheerness High Street was closed by Southern Water for emergency water repairs on 20 October and the closure is expected to last until 31 October.
Traffic disruptions affected local bus services, but the partial reopening has since allowed normal operations to resume. Sewer repairs are also taking place on nearby Winstanley Road.
Despite its picturesque coastal setting, life in Sheerness is challenging for many residents.
Liane Winchester, who has lived on the island for eight years, said: “There are beautiful sunrises and beautiful sunsets. Other than that, there is very little to cheer about. People think, ‘Oh, the seaside! It’ll be beautiful’, but it’s neither.”
While England’s coastal cities attract more than 270 million visits a year, generating around £14 billion in tourism revenue, local people often face a completely different reality.
The Office for National Statistics’ Multiple Indices of Poverty (IMD) rank all neighborhoods in Sheerness among the most disadvantaged in the country; the average annual income falls 31 per cent below the national average (£29,900).
Winchester described the hardships he witnessed: “I’ve seen people so desperate that they literally steal food, not luxury items, from Aldi. It’s heartbreaking.”
He added that amid the cost-of-living crisis, petty thefts were once again on the rise, albeit limited, and stores were being forced to install security tags on shopping carts.
The £20 million Pride in Place fund is expected to breathe new life into Sheerness by addressing run-down streets, local pubs and public parks.
The funding, from the Government’s £5bn Pride in Place Programme, is one of 169 sites across the UK to be selected for long-term support.
According to Swale Town Council, the investment aims to fund projects that local people would like to see, such as creating new green spaces, improving public spaces and boosting local businesses.
In addition to the long-term funding, Swale will also receive an immediate share of £150 million of capital funding that can be used to kick-start public realm improvements.
Councilor Tim Gibson, Leader of Swale Borough Council, said: “This is fantastic news that gives us a golden opportunity to deliver real, positive change to our communities.
“We have already demonstrated the community impact of the government-funded Sheerness Revival project and the success of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which has benefited communities across the county.
“We are committed to ensuring this funding is used to support projects that will make a real difference to local people.
“We will learn more about the program in the coming weeks and consider how we can ensure local people are at the center of how this money is invested in their communities.”
