MP on board as town maps out its road to recover y after Covid

ASHBOURNE Town Team has been promised support from the area’s MP Sarah Dines, who is going to ask ministers for extra money for Ashbourne.

The volunteer-run Town Team has been meeting virtually throughout the pandemic to hone what will be Ashbourne’s first “strategic plan”, and the group was joined at its latest meeting by Ms Dines, MP for Derbyshire Dales.

This strategic plan would seek to build on the current neighbourhood plan, the traffic management consultation including the potential for an A515 bypass and the future development of the airfield.

In the shorter term the team wants to look into ways of encouraging effective and attractive improvements for the town. These could include making the social distancing measures in the streets more permanent, with wider pavements and more public spaces.

A new “five-point plan” that would support Ashbourne as it reopens following the pandemic restrictions could also find funding from a government grant, ensuring shops and businesses get off to the best possible start on their road to recovery.

Following the town team meeting, Ms Dines told the News Telegraph: “Ashbourne is lucky to have the Ashbourne Town Team, who are clearly incredibly passionate about the town.

“The meeting was chaired by Anne Wright and attended by town councillors, residents and business owners, who are collectively working together to benefit Ashbourne.

“It was fantastic to witness the strategic join-up of residents, business owners and local representatives to discuss retail, marketing, traffic and pedestrian measures in the town. “The team clearly has an ambitious and forward-thinking vision for the future and I am determined to help them in any way that I can.

“I am actively talking to ministers regarding the possibility of town grants as seen in other larger towns in the Midlands and I hope to report back to the town team with good news in the future.

“I want to thank the Ashbourne Town Team for giving up their time to work tirelessly for Ashbourne.”

Mrs Wright, who runs two big shops in the town, says she welcomes the support from Ms Dines.

She said: “We were delighted Sarah wanted to come to one of our town team meetings, and it was great she wanted to join us and get an update on everything and meet the team.”

The team clearly has an ambitious and forward-thinking vision for the future.

Sarah Dines, MP (pictured)