Butchering a hole in the good ship Britannia

It would seem that the good ship Britannia has sprung a few leaks with various ministers running about trying to stick their fingers into the multitude of holes that Covid and Brexit have combined to drill in the hull.

One of the holes is to do with pigs. Lack of butchery staff from overseas has caused the ludicrous situation where pigs are being culled in Britain, while pork products are having to be imported in order to keep our shelves filled. Add to this the shortages of lorry drivers, doctors, nurses, policemen and women - the list goes on.

Strangely, Brexiteers still adhere to a Prime Minister who cynically makes treaties only to tear them up when it suits him - justifying the accusation of ‘Perfidious Albion’ which was first made in the eighteenth century.

Add to this the shortages of lorry drivers, doctors, nurses, policemen and women the list goes on...

What’s going to happen to County Square? Over the years it has become a major centre of Ashford life for a great many people. Muffin Break and Costa Coffee have become established meeting places, each with its devoted set of regular customers and each with its unique character. We can only hope that, whatever else happens, these two stalwarts will continue to operate. I hope the wonderful security men and women will still be there with their splendidly friendly, low-key style. I wonder what the chief exec of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce meant when she said ‘...there has to be a housing mix and other facilities.’

Since the council has set its face firmly against a viable High Street market, I’d like to see at least some part of the Square used to house a good indoor market.

So the Beaver Road Sports and Social Club, having fallen on hard times, hopes to solve its financial problems by having flats and a smaller club building built on the site. Last week the KE showed how the flats might look. Are there no architects with a creative vision?