A bold blueprint aimed at overhauling Ashford town centre has been approved – but councillors are calling for more transparency.

As revealed last month, the town centre 'reset' plan lays out the borough council’s methodology for how to make the high street and surrounding roads more appealing to shoppers.

It will see an 'investment corridor' created between the high street and Ashford International station, aimed at beautification, improved shop diversity and culture.

The report’s author – Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) town centre regeneration manager Hannah Clayton-Peck – suggests Park Mall could be converted into housing, while highlighting Middle Row as an area with “untapped potential”.

But controversial plans to redevelop the former Mecca Bingo building and Vicarage Lane car park are hardly mentioned in the document.

Coming before the ABC cabinet meeting in November, the 10 Conservative members unanimously voted to approve the plan.

Portfolio holder for regeneration and corporate property, Cllr Paul Clokie (Con), opened the discussion by saying: “It starts a springboard for the improvement, growth and rejuvenation of the town centre.

“What we hope for is getting more niche market shops coming in as the supermarkets take over their bits.

“In that way, we would get the town centre more alive again.”

The Tenterden councillor also noted he wanted to replace cobblestones in the Lower High Street and review the market’s position, stating he wanted to bring back “the wow factor that used to be there”.

Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con) commended the plan, saying it will see the town centre adapt to the changing circumstances being experienced across the retail sector.

Cllr Dara Farrell (Lab) – who represents the Victoria ward at the centre of the reset – said he recognises the need for rejuvenation, but suggested the proposal isn’t ambitious enough.

“I actually think it needs to be much more visionary in terms of what it’s offering for the town centre,” he said.

“It negates to mention the Vicarage Lane development entirely.

“The ‘wow factor’ was mentioned, but I think you need to go beyond just replacing the cobbles on the Lower High Street to create a wow factor and I’m not entirely convinced this document does that.”

He asked what investment will be put into areas just outside of the main streets being targeted, namely New Rents and the Lower High Street.

Furthermore, he queried what will happen to “our nationally renowned barbers” in Bank Street once Park Mall businesses are moved to the road to make way for housing.

He added there was a need to improve the town centre’s leisure offerings, saying “we’ve got people drinking Stella under the bandstand – that’s about as far as it gets”.

Cllr Farrell also asked that himself and fellow Victoria ward representative, Cllr Charles Suddards (Lab), are included more in discussions and decisions as the democratically-elected representatives for the area.

Cllr Clarkson highlighted that the document is “a starting point” and also pointed out Revelation St Mary’s, Jasmin Vardimon Company dance school and the Kent Music school as leisure opportunities.

ABC deputy leader Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) supported the plan, but said: “One of the issues that bugs me about the town centre is the rubbish, and particularly in the Lower High Street there’s a big issue with vermin – rats and gulls – picking at the rubbish which is behind some shops.

“I think it’s absolutely vital we address some of these issues within the town centre and this is a terrific opportunity to do just that.”

"There’s no excuse for vermin"

Cllr Clarkson responded that he was aware of this issue and that action was being taken in the new year to combat this, saying “there’s no excuse for vermin”.

Cllr Bartlett also sought high levels of consultation and transparency with residents regarding the plan, a view echoed by Cllr Matthew Forrest (Con).

Cllr Suddards – who previously ran the Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe in the town centre – said the vermin issue shouldn’t solely be laid at the feet of shop owners in the high street, but that the council and Southern Water were at least partially to blame due to a lack of measures and action.

He also said it’s an “ongoing shame” that the former Mecca Bingo site will not be converted into a theatre.

Cllr Clarkson said nothing was being ruled out at this “blueprint” stage, but did highlight a specialist firm telling the authority that theatre conversion was “probably inappropriate for the size” of the 1936 building.

He added: “I think we will see a theatre here in Ashford in due course, so I share your concerns, but it is the town centre reset blueprint and as we move on I think you might be pleasantly surprised with what Milligan hopes to do with the Mecca Bingo site.”

Cllr Bernard Heyes (Con) expressed concern at the generally negative and “contentious” view of the town centre, as well as “the excessive amount of flatted development in Ashford”.

He also asked who would sit on an operational working group, which will work alongside the council’s Ashford town centre redevelopment advisory committee.

Cllr Clokie confirmed it will consist of residents and shopkeepers “because really they’re the people who need town centre footfall”.

Labour councillor Diccon Spain welcomed this news, and hoped as many residents as possible would be engaged in consultation before any firm decisions were made – a view echoed by Cllr Farrell.

Wheelchair users should be included in the working group, said Cllr Linda Harman (Ash Ind) who sought to promote inclusivity and involve the Ashford Access Group in the plan.

Meanwhile Cllr Neil Bell (Con) asked that village residents from across the borough are consulted on the changes.

"I think we will see a theatre here in Ashford in due course"

Labour’s Cllr Euan Anckorn asked that green spaces be protected around the town centre, to which Cllr Clarkson said attempts are being made to protect two such locations in Vicarage Lane.

One of these is the Ashford Bowls Club, which will come under the ownership of Quinn Estates when the club moves to a new home on the developer’s Conningbrook Park – or Large Burton – estate in Kennington.

Cllr Clokie said that there are limitations on the amount of green space if footfall is to be increased, but that he had taken on board Cllr Anckorn’s point.

Conservative Cllr Andrew Buchanan also wanted the problem of anti-social behaviour to be looked into but said the reset was “a good start”.

Cllr Clarkson said there would be more police support in Ashford in the future, and consultations are ongoing with the police.

Independent Cllr Winston Michael conveyed concern about retail locations on the outskirts of town, and asked that “symbiosis” between inner- and outer-town shops is taken into consideration.

Conservative member Cllr Bill Barrett said he liked the plan but noted the need to rejuvenate shopfronts and promote a wider variety of shops, highlighting public opinion on the number of hairdressers and nail bars.

Particularly he wanted consultation on what sort of shops people would like.

After all the discussion, a vote was taken on whether to support the reset proposal, which was unanimously supported by all 10 members of the cabinet.

What do you think about the town centre reset? Email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk or comment below

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