Campaigners for brown tourism signs promoting Sheppey on the M2 must now prove the Island attracts at least 200,000 visitors a year.

It is the latest hurdle in the battle which was begun by Criterion Theatre boss Jenny Hurkett 16 years ago.

Cllr Mike Whiting, a passionate supporter for the signs and a member of both Kent County Council and Swale council, broke the news to members of the Sheppey Community Development Forum on Thursday night. (Nov 5)

The Island must also agree to reintroduce a Tourist Information Centre (TIC) and compile an audit of 'secondary' brown signs by the end of the month. An earlier application to Highways England, which manages motorways and their signs, was turned down.

The Forum took up the challenge in 2018 when Peel Ports first offered to pay for the signs which could cost £40,000 each. It backtracked when it learned the full price.

Julie Nicholls, programme manager of community radio station Sheppey FM, has offered her studios in a former pavilion on the seafront at Sheerness as a TIC.

She said: "We are open seven days a week all year and are next to a large car park which is needed for a TIC. We have also been displaying leaflets for Island events and attractions since we started."

She added: "We are really excited about this. It will be an honour to be involved. Our studios are right in the heart of Sheerness. We already have many tourists popping in from the beach."

An audit of tourist signs has been started. Requests for further assistance have been sent to all the Island's parish and town councils.

But proof of visitor numbers has become a sticking point. Deirdre Wells. the chief executive of Visit Kent which is backing the Sheppey bid, said: "We need all the caravan parks, museums and attractions to let us know their figures so we can add them all together. It can include caravan and chalet owners and their guests. The more the better."

Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has written to more than 50 businesses asking for their figures and to drum up support. But the response has been "disappointing".

Cllr Ken Pugh (Con), who represents Sheppey on KCC, suggested taking an advert out along the side of the motorway.

Swale council's cabinet spokesman on health and wellbeing, Cllr Angela Harrison (Lab), suggested using data from the number of vehicles using the Sheppey Crossing to get an idea of visitors.

The Rev Steve Chalke, founder of the trust which runs the Island's Oasis Academy and creator of the Forum, said: "It is vital we get these figures. It means finding evidence that we can attract around 15,000 visitors a month. That could include sailors who use Queenborough Harbour in the summer, the jet-skiers and wind and kite-surfers, those who take part in the weekly Sheppey parkrun and even those coming from the mainland to using Island shops."

Figures will be based on visitor numbers over the past three years. There is no sign to the Isle of Sheppey on the M2 although there is one to Sheerness and the port's long-gone passenger ferry to Holland.

The Forum has set itself a target of getting the signs by March which means lodging its new bid in the first week of December.

The next meeting of the Forum is on December 15. To get involved or to submit visitor figures email Paul Murray at paul.murray@oasisisleofsheppey.org

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