Dalek flowers return to brighten town

The Dalek-like floral planters that have brightened up Ashford town centre for the past few summers are heading back again this year.

Ashford Borough Council says the colourful containers – which will display pink, yellow and white flowers – will be dotted across the town.

Sixty of them will grace the High Street, New Rents, Elwick Road and The Churchyard, from May until October.

Plants including bacopa, geranium, petunia and calibrachoa will be on show, adding a welcome splash of colour.

And in addition, as we reported last week, the floral Coffee Pot Train which celebrates Ashford’s rich railway heritage is also set to chuff back here.

This 3D flower arrangement – designed to replicate the first locomotive to be built at Ashford’s Old Railway Works – will return to the raised brick planter at the entrance to the Vicarage Lane car park. It will be on display from June until October. The Coffee Pot Train was built by Ashford locomotive superintendent, James Cudworth, in 1850.

It formed the basis for all future locomotives, some of which are still being used across the world today.

Many were sad to see the closure a couple of years back of the British Volunteer pub in New Street, Ashford.

It was among a very long list of town centre watering holes that have closed over the years, either through lack of trade or to make way for redevelopment. And there were fears that this particular pub would join the list of those to be demolished, to make way for a new housing development on the site.

But whoever bought the old pub decided against that and it has been converted into flats, with the project now very nearly complete.

While it obviously no longer looks like the hostelry it once was the building has been tastefully renovated.

And it seems two features of the former pub will be staying (unless anyone knows otherwise). The large globe-like light outside what was once the building’s main front door have been kept as has the old free-standing pub sign structure, although it doesn’t actually contain the sign any more.

So while it’s sad to see any pub close at least here what is a striking and prominent building has been saved from demolition.

Just when you thought they were a dying breed the charity chuggers have returned to blight Ashford town centre.

We’ve noticed several bands of chuggers populating the upper High Street between Boots and the County Square entrance again in recent weeks.

Why do they always have to be so overwhelmingly cheery and in your face as they try to sign you up for something you don’t want? And why don’t charities recognise the damage these people do to their reputations?

Perhaps Ashford Borough Council should do everyone a favour by banning them from the town centre.