Council Talk

In talking to one of our residents earlier this week, he mentioned that he read this column, but felt I should say more about what the council has planned rather then what we have achieved. I pointed out to him that in the past I had been taken to task for talking about what we intend to do, rather than what we actually achieve. I must say that he did understand that it was a situation in which one couldn’t win.

I had a most delightful experience last Friday evening when the Council Chamber was filled with many of our young school children who, with their parents and teachers, were there to receive their awards for the Magna Carta Flag competition. They had competed by creating a picture showing the proposed design for a commemorative Magna Carta flag. The entries from well over 100 children were so imaginative and interesting that we found judging very difficult.

In last week’s paper I’m sure you will have seen that the council has finalised a deal to purchase Park Mall shopping centre. The acquisition follows the purchase of the Wilko store and is another example of the council taking decisive action. We have heard people say that the town centre needs revamping and we are addressing those concerns. The council will look to enhance the centre and hope to attract new independent retailers.

While we of course should look to the future it is also important to take a moment to reflect upon the past and the sacrifices many people have made on our behalf. It was therefore pleasing to see many residents line the streets along the Intelligence Corps freedom of the borough parade last weekend. Given the close ties that the Corps has had with the borough it was fitting for them to be so warmly welcomed throughout their march. I was delighted to meet the new tourism minister Tracey Crouch MP at the Tourism Symposium held in Ashford at the beginning of June.

This was her first official appearance in her new role Minister for Tourism and Sport. The minister recognised how important tourism is to the economy and took the time to endorse our new wine trail in Tenterden, describing it as a great opportunity to “give wine lovers a taste for the Garden of England’s best produce”.

The Tourism Symposium offered a real endorsement of Ashford’s tourism offer, while this new wine trail provides an exciting example of how we can develop it further in the future.