insideKENT Magazine Issue 42 - September 2015 | Page 16

NEWS VISIT KENT SHARES THE ULTIMATE KENT EXPERIENCE Share some love about Kent – and win The Ultimate Kent Experience: this is the message Visit Kent is spreading to visitors and residents as part of a special summer photo competition designed to show off the Garden of England – and the people who love it – to the world. The destination management organisation, in partnership with Shepherd Neame, is challenging people to share their favourite images and stories of Kent on Facebook for the chance to win the ‘experience’. One lucky winner will be given the chance to experience the very best of Kent, including an overnight stay at Hever Castle, passes to a host of attractions, a hot air balloon ride, a surfing lesson and a £150 shopping card. Chief Executive of Visit Kent, Sandra MatthewsMarsh MBE, said: “Whether you are visiting Kent for the first time or have loved the Garden of England for years – we want to hear #YourKentStory. “Kent has had a rough ride this summer with the problems caused by Operation Stack, and misleading messages about the county being completely gridlocked. “We know that thousands of people from across Europe have visited the Garden of England this summer – and many more will do so in the coming weeks to enjoy our award-winning beaches, stunning countryside and rich heritage. And we really want to see their holiday snaps and hear the stories behind them! “Selfies, group photos, and landscape shots are all welcome – the more imaginative, the better. As long as it shows off our beautiful county, we want to see them.” Visitors have the whole summer to send their snaps, and multiple entries are allowed at www.visitkent.co.uk/win. Visit Kent and competition sponsors, Shepherd Neame, are offering the lucky winner the ultimate Kent experience for two people, including: • Spitfire hot air balloon flight • Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Gold Pass (family of 4) • Family ticket for Jet Stream Tours • £150 gift card for Ashford Designer Outlet • One-year pass to all English Heritage properties in Kent • Free entry to Dreamland Margate • Family annual membership for Penshurst Place & Gardens • Entry and two-nights luxury B&B stay at Hever Castle & gardens • Turner Contemporary experience day • Seal watching trip from Ramsgate Royal Harbour • Family annual pass to the Historic Dockyard Chatham • Surf lesson at Joss Bay, Broadstairs • Free cycle hire at Minnis Bay, Birchington To enter, go to www.visitkent.co.uk/win and submit an image of your favourite place, happy memories or best moment in Kent to the Facebook competition page using #YourKentStory, and explain why the image means so much to you. Photos posted on social media using #YourKentStory will also be pulled through to the Facebook gallery, but make sure you enter via the competition page as well to be in with the best chance of winning. The competition closes on Sunday 4th October. HUGE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CINEMA, HOTEL, RESTAURANTS AND APARTMENTS SCHEME IN ASHFORD TOWN CENTRE Almost 1,000 people visited Stanhope’s public exhibition about the future of the Elwick Place site in Ashford town centre on 30th and 31st July, during which proposals for the derelict site were put on display for the first time. The proposals would significantly improve Ashford’s existing leisure offer and nighttime economy, with some of the UK’s top restaurant brands targeted to take space at the new development. It is also expected that hundreds of new jobs will be delivered as part of the proposals. Comprising a new boutique multi-screen cinema, a family hotel, restaurants and cafés, an events space, car parking and homes, the proposals represent an investment of £75 million into the local economy. Gary Bourne, director at Stanhope, said: “We were delighted to see so many people at our exhibition and the overall response to the proposals, which have been drawn up in close consultation with Ashford Borough Council, was very positive indeed. We gathered some extremely useful feedback, which we will now review in advance of submitting a planning application to Ashford Borough Council later this year.” Stanhope is collating initial feedback from visitors and the response to-date has been overwhelmingly positive, with 85% of respondents who completed a feedback form stating they support the proposals. The exhibition gave shoppers the chance to review the proposals for the long-awaited redevelopment of the Elwick Place site. For more information, contact [email protected]. 16