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Iam sure we were all deeply shocked to see the attack in London at the very heart of our democracy. I know everybody’s thoughts are clearly with the families and friends of those who so sadly lost their lives and those so severely affected by this incident.

As we come up to the Kent County Council elections, I am reminded that I need to be careful about what I am able to say in this column until after the results are known.

We have had a relatively mild winter and spring is certainly upon us and, as I have recently mentioned, the new Aspire Team, formed only in November 2016, are doing a really great job in looking after the borough’s landscape.

Their work will be enhanced by the provision of 60 colourful planters, displaying pink, yellow and white flowers, and soon to be dotted across the town centre to brighten up the area. Plants including bacopa, petunia, geranium and calibrachoa will be in bloom throughout the summer months, adding a real splash of colour around the High Street, New Rents, Elwick Road and The Churchyard, from May until October.

We are also delighted to bring back the floral Coffee Pot Train, which beautifully celebrates Ashford’s rich railway heritage. The actual Coffee Pot train was built by locomotive superintendent James Cudworth in 1850 and formed the basis for all future locomotives.

The bespoke 3D flower arrangement replicating the first locomotive to be built at Ashford’s Old Railway Works will be installed within the raised brick planter at the entrance of Vicarage Lane car park. The train will be on display from June until October.

Mace Lane is one of five roundabouts in Ashford that have been refurbished to help brighten up the town and improve the look of the borough. Overgrown shrubs have been cleared away and replaced with pebbles, and the roundabout now displays an attractive stone centrepiece.

This work is part of a wider scheme to improve the entrances to Ashford, and includes four other roundabouts – namely those located in Orchard Heights, The Street, Spearpoint Corner and Malcolm Sargent Road. All the work has been funded by New Homes Bonus money.

The enhancements support Ashford Borough Council’s commitment to improving the quality and presentation of the borough’s green spaces, as laid out in the five-year corporate plan.

All these refurbishments demonstrate the council’s commitment to maintaining a pleasant well presented borough for all our residents and visitors to enjoy.