News

TIME MACHINE BID TO RENOVATE HISTORIC TOWER

New life could be breathed into Folkestone’s Martello Tower if a bid for Euro funding is successful. 

Martello Tower  at East Cliff

The tower, at East Cliff, is at the heart of a project called Time Machine being put forward for funding by the Boulogne and Shepway Co-operation partnership (BOSCO). The key partners who have worked together to develop the bid are The Creative Foundation, Shepway Council and the Town Hall of Boulogne.

If successful, the project would see the tower and the Villa Huguet in Boulogne renovated and used as a heritage and cultural centres for exhibitions and education workshops.

“The project aims to make disused historical buildings and cultural activities more accessible for residents and visitors, while enhancing the buildings themselves,” said Robert Bliss, Shepway Council Leader and President of BOSCO. “We want to involve everyone in the community on both sides of the Channel, but in particular primary and secondary school children, excluded young people and adults with learning difficulties.”

“We will know in March whether our bids have been successful. BOSCO has a very good track record and has already secured around £2m of European funding so we are quietly confident,” said Cllr Bliss.