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The future of the former Kent coalfieldWhen the coalfield closed in the 1980's it left behind acres of land ravaged by tips and industrial sprawl, and poverty and deprivation in mining communities. Not only had most of the men in the colliery villages lost their livelihoods, they had also lost the finance for social clubs and sports facilities that had been paid for by a levy on miners wages and by British Coal. Various government agencies and charitable trusts have been established with funds for redeveloping former coalfields. Projects include developing new skills, training and education; creating new jobs and opportunities; and maintaining and improving retail, leisure and sporting facilities within mining communities.
These new bodies include the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, established in 1999; the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) with priority funding for coalfields and also including the Community Chest small awards; and SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) who are reclaiming the colliery sites. To help support social and recreational facilities in mining communities the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) was set up as a charitable trust in 1995. Some of the major projects in Kent to benefit from these funds include the Aylesham Community Centre, the Betteshanger Social Welfare Scheme Sports Club, and the redevelopment of the Tilmanstone and Betteshanger Colliery sites.
SEEDA is also redeveloping the Betteshanger Colliery site. The colliery is being redeveloped as a mixed industrial and leisure site while the massive tip will be landscaped as a nature park and open space. The new park is called Fowlmead County Park and should be open to the public in 2007.
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