Kentish Express Ashford & District
Town is looking neat and tidy thanks to groundstaff
One month on from the launch of Aspire Landscape Management, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson visited their depot to meet the team behind the operation.
At the start of October the council brought the responsibility for grounds maintenance across the borough back in-house.
The new service, called Aspire Landscape Management, covers the day-to-day work of mowing, pruning, planting, clearing and litter picking on various spaces owned by the council including open green space, parks, floral beds, cemeteries, areas around housing sites, hedges, sports pitches and associated footpaths.
Cllr Gerry Clarkson said: “I was extremely pleased last week to see the very marked improvement in the way our borough was beginning to look.
“The Drovers Roundabout looked the best it has for years and as I drove down towards Beaver Road I saw our newly created in-house Aspire ground maintenance colleagues hard at work on the grass verges, all of which will contribute to making a real difference to the appearance of Ashford.
“This is yet another part of our overall strategy to make Ashford a vibrant and pleasant place.”
ABC says various residents have been in touch to express their thanks at the work Aspire has undertaken in their first month.
Cllr Clair Bell, ABC portfolio holder for borough presentation, who officially opened the depot at the end of September, said: “By enhancing Ashford’s overall appearance and attractiveness this will raise civic pride and make the borough more attractive for residents, visitors and businesses.
“The new in-house service gives us greater flexibility as we will be able to move resources where they are needed most, with an ability to be more fluid with changing priorities.”
For more information about Aspire visit www.ashford.gov. uk/aspire-landscape-management