A COUNCIL internet television channel launched more than two years ago at a cost of £1.4m is to be axed to cut costs.

Kent County Council started Kent TV in September 2007 but is now scrapping the service because of the economic downturn.

The channel is run by media company Ten Alps, which was co-founded by Bob Geldof, and broadcasts for the last time next month (March).

Kent TV was Britain’s first channel to be funded by a county council.

In autumn last year the council launched a Hollyoaks-style 10-part soap opera called Hollywould at a cost of £20,000.

KCC’s leader Councillor Paul Carter said: “Kent TV has proved itself to be a brave and bold innovation and we have learned a great deal from it.

“It has provided a source of practical, useful information for residents.

“And it has particularly appealed to younger residents with its sound clash song-writing competition, its animate and create animation competition and its groundbreaking soap opera Hollywould, which tackled young people's health issues.”

Cllr Carter, Conservative, added: “However, we are living in different and difficult economic times compared with when the pilot was launched in September 2007.

“In difficult times our spending has to be prioritised.

“We have therefore decided that Kent TV will not continue when the pilot period ends in March 2010.”

Councillor Leslie Christie, who is the leader of KCC’s Labour group and also county councillor for Northfleet and Gravesend West, said: “At long last the Conservative leadership have listened to what we have been saying since Kent TV’s inception.

“Its continuance would have been a political embarrassment to them and would not have been accepted by Kent taxpayers.

“This administration have been whingeing for years they don’t get enough money from government but have wasted £1.4 million on this luxury.

“It is not good enough for them now to say 'we are living in difficult economic times', they owe an apology to Kent taxpayers for wasting valuable resources.”