Kent MP says he wants to bring businesses back to Sheerness high street

We spoke to Kevin McKenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey

Author: Josh BaileyPublished 21st Oct 2024
Last updated 21st Oct 2024

A Kent MP has told us bringing businesses back to Sheerness high street is a priority for him.

Over the last few years, businesses and banks have left the island, with there being just two branches for 40,000 people.

However, last month, it was announced a banking hub would be set up.

This will allow residents to access cash services whenever the hub is open such as paying in cheques, managing utility bills as well checking their balance.

Kevin McKenna the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey says: "I'm going to locate myself on Sheerness high street because I want to be visible and accessible.

Hopefully, I'll be set up by November, with our office opening ironically in the old NatWest building but that means I'm going to there and at the heart of Sheerness.

"One thing the government has done is change the rules around banking hubs and where they can be. That's allowed us to get one in Sheerness, and that's a really important step to get services back.

"We need to really think about how we make the business environment better for people, so we are going change business rates, that will help and I will like to work with people on the Island, to come up with a really good plan for what the future should look like for Sheppey.

"Making sure that a lot of the investment that's coming into the country actually finds it's way to people in their day to day lives and improves the lives of people on the island and that, lets face it, has been forgotten, especially by people in Westminster.

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