Reprieve for park visitor centre

A visitor centre near Lullingstone Castle has been saved from closure by Kent County Council (KCC).

The Lullingstone Park centre, near Eynsford, was due to have closed at Easter after Sevenoaks District Council said it could not afford to run it.

Local residents had been campaigning to save the centre, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Cabinet member for finance, Nick Chard, said KCC would take over the running of the centre as well as the park.

The local council had said it could not afford the annual subsidy of £120,000 needed to run the site, which houses a cafe and education centre.

Mr Chard said KCC would run the park within its existing network of country parks in the county.

He said staff there would be employed by KCC if they so wished.

"We will continue the good work being done there... we would like to see it as a thriving country park and visitor centre."