Business grant and relocation in Kent news
Ashford celebrates national award for shared space
Ashford shared space has scooped a top national award for town regeneration. The pioneering scheme picked up the category award at the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute ceremony in London’s Hilton Hotel, Park Lane.
BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Justin Webb made the presentation to Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council, architects Whitelaw Turkington and scheme artist John Atkin.
Kay Powell, Chair of the Judging Panel for the RTPI 2009 Planning Awards said: “This project has transformed a town that was suffering from a ‘concrete collar’ that restricted pedestrian movement to and from the centre of Ashford. The council, working with a multi-disciplinary team involving planners, engineers, urban designers, landscape architects and public artists has transformed a series of streets where the space is now shared between vehicles and pedestrians.
“This reworking of Ashford’s inner ring road has created a much more pleasant environment for people entering the town centre and the resultant neighbourhoods have become a more attractive location for retail and business development, marking a major stage in the regeneration of the town.
“The scheme demonstrates a high level of innovation and originality in the planning and design of road space and streetscape which has resulted in a greatly enhanced and more civilised and sustainable urban environment: truly mediating space and making a better place. It provides a model that other UK towns and cities with similar traffic problems will surely follow.”
Kent County Council cabinet member for highways Nick Chard said: “This is very good news. It gives further national recognition for our Ashford scheme’s innovation and imagination. I am pleased that we are putting the town on the map.”
Cllr Paul Clokie, Leader of Ashford Borough Council and Chairman of the Ashford’s Future Partnership, said: “We are delighted the scheme has picked up another prestigious award.Since its launch, the area has been accident-free andthe scheme has made the town centre more attractive to residents and visitors. It is also playing a vital role in unlocking the commercial development potential of Ashford.”
Source: Edwards Harvey PR
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