Kentish Express Ashford & District
Tank nearly ready to recapture roundabout
Ashford’s famous ‘tank’ will be restored to its former glory by the end of the year.
The armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) – usually found on the roundabout off Templer Way and Chart Road – is now in military custody after it was removed earlier this year by the 133 Field Company REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).
They transported it to the nearby Army Reserve Centre, in Sir Henry Brackenbury Road, to carry out extensive renovation works.
However, they discovered the vehicle was in a far worse state than expected.
Officer commanding Major Phil Linehan said: “There were quite a lot of plants growing in the machine, so we’ve had to get rid of all that.
“We also found some wildlife in it when we first opened it, including a nest of field mice.
“We didn’t want to disturb them so we left it open and waited for them to vacate.
“We’ve had to strip it all back. A lot of the vehicle was rotten. We’ve put anti-rust treatment on it too. The whole exhaust was missing on the left side and we’re now making a dummy exhaust from mild steel, because you can’t get them any more.
“It will be an exact replica and should last for 50 years.”
The machine, which has been located on the centre of the roundabout for many years, served in Germany during the Cold War, then was deployed on Operation Granby during the first Gulf War, and then was sent to Bosnia during the crisis there under the United Nations Banner.
The major also said they are planning to put a pole on the vehicle, which will allow different flags to fly on special days and hopes Ashford Borough Council will keep the plants and shrubbery on the roundabout under control so that the AFV can be seen.
He added: “It was a lot more work than we expected. It was in a poor state - worse than we expected.
“We would like it to be finished by the end of this year.”
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