Open Letter: Sir Terry Farrell's Proposed Design Plans for Ashford

Dear Sirs,

Sir Terry Farrell's presentation for Ashford cites transport as being at the “heart of vision for the future” (Your Ashford, June 9th 2010).

The architect may wish to more fully understand Ashford's heritage before he decides on railway being the single most important piece of Ashford's history.

The railway was introduced to Ashford in 1842, while the Tenterden and Rolvenden of Kent and Sussex railway was established later in 1900. If Railway was so integral to Ashford's heritage, then why was it not also designated a National Heritage site?

Sir Terry Farrell also fails to address the true heritage of the town, the Market, which was established in 1600. In spite of this, previous perpetrators of “design excellence” moved the integral market to a flood plane in the 1990s and the street market has suffered significant erosion in the last two decades.

The site of the true heritage of Ashford is now being sold to developers for housing, in spite of Ashford Borough Council promising when the market was relocated in the 90s that the space would not be used for housing.

Residents now find the land being sold between the town centre and Victoria Park which will further separate the residential communities from shopping and the ubiquitous traffic facilities Sir Terry is so keen to highlight and implement.

I would be happier to see a developer focusing on the needs of the communities in Ashford and the usefulness of design, with sensible traffic infrastructure and more jobs, community facilities and events than another concrete wilderness.

Yours faithfully,

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington