Ashford town centre - proposed changes

Ashford has many great qualities and strengths, but it also faces some challenges. We are proposing some improvements along Church Road to make the town more welcoming, enhance public spaces so they are more accessible and enjoyable, and provide better support for local businesses and communities.

Vision

• Develop a safe and attractive town centre with high-quality public spaces that encourage more people to spend time there whilst connecting people with nature
• Support a diverse mix of uses in the town centre, including cultural, social, commercial, and leisure
• Encourage active and healthy lifestyles
• Integrate innovative solutions to help meet climate goals

Proposed improvements

The proposed changes are based on research and feedback from local people over the past few years. Church Road is the main road through the town centre, but it is currently broken up and mostly designed for cars. Shops, services and facilities are spread out, which makes it harder to create a strong community feel.

We want to bring Church Road together by making it easier and safer to walk along, helping people spend time there, and creating spaces that can be used in different ways. These changes aim to make the area more welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.
Planned improvements include:

• Adding seating areas and play spaces so people can relax and meet others
  Introducing a 20mph speed limit along Church Road
  Planting more trees and adding planters
  Making walking safer with new crossings and improved pavements
  Creating flexible outdoor spaces for events and markets
  Using “parking pockets” so parking can remain but spaces can also be used for community activities
  Adding cycle lanes and more cycle parking

This project looks at the whole length of Church Road. However, due to current funding limits, we will first focus on the central section between Dudley Road and Fordbridge Road. We will continue to work towards improving the rest of the road in the future.

Ashford Square and Library Square will become key places for people to meet and spend time together. These changes aim to encourage more local visits and make it easier to walk, cycle, or use public transport. The main improvements include:

Creating public spaces for people of all ages, suitable for events, festivals, and learning activities
Improving walking routes with new, even pavements
Adding seating and play areas for relaxing and socialising
Installing new crossings to safely link both sides of Church Road, including the gym, library, and future car park development
Adding more greenery, such as trees, wildflowers, and planted areas between parked cars
Introducing separate cycle lanes and more cycle parking
Improving safety with a 20mph speed limit, narrower roads, and raised crossing areas
Keeping parking spaces, but designing them so they can also be used for community activities when needed