College the ideal place to lay forgotten mosaic

Suggestion for town mural left to rot outside

An Ashford resident has come up with a creative suggestion for a new home for an abandoned mosaic which shows the history of the town.

Freddie Clements, 70, has suggested that the mural, designed by Marion Brandis, Nicholas Martin and Ashford schoolchildren 27 years ago, be displayed in the new Ashford College when it opens in September.

It was commissioned by Kent County Council (KCC) for the entrance to the old library in Church Road and displays various aspects of life in Ashford.

It was removed in 2010, when the library was demolished and replaced by the Ashford Gateway Plus building.

Mr Clements said: “Now the new college is nearly finished, is it too late to suggest dragging the Ashford mosaic from the back of the library, where it was dumped when they knocked the old one down, and have it put up in the foyer of the new college?

“It will give the new students a quick history lesson about Ashford!

“I doubt it would cost much, as the builders can drive around the corner to collect it and they don’t need a crane to lift it into place, as they have the already machinery there on site.

“It’s a shame the council have not come up with any ideas for the mosaic as it was always a part of the town, but to just dump it at the back of the library is not good.

“How long would it take to make the decision, I wonder?

“If they don’t put it in the col- lege, what’s going to happen to it?”

The mural was stored for a short time at Associate House until KCC sold the building, and then split into two pieces and stored in the car park behind the Gateway building in 2012 as a ‘temporary measure’ by KCC due to its size.

At one stage, there were talks about moving the mosaic to the Willesborough Windmill, which never came to fruition.

Hadlow College were unable to comment at this stage.

KCC were contacted for comment but hadn’t responded as the KE went to press yesterday (Wednesday).

What do you think of the idea of reloacting it to the new Ashford College? Email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk or write to 34-36 North Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8JR.

FM3691968 The town mosaic that used to be in the old library was removed when the new building was built

Mosaic has been outside the Ashford Gateway building since 2010; Mr Clements said it should be in the Ashford College

Cllr Bernard and Mrs Sylvia Moorman, the then Mayor and Mayoress of Ashford, with some of the children who helped create the mosaic in the town’s old library