Kentish Express Ashford & District
Putting a lock on our love
An installation celebrating the power of love gave visitors the chance to write romantic messages on heart-shaped padlocks.
The McArthurGlen Ashford Designer Outlet Centre marked the start of its 2016 partnership with Pilgrims Hospice on Valentine’s Day, with the special project which asked people to make a donation to the hospice.
The Love Lock installation, outside the Superdry store, was unveiled on Sunday.
It was inspired by similar projects at the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris, the Vodootvodny Canal in Moscow and at the Great Wall of China.
Ashford Designer Outlet centre manager, Peter Corr said: “The Love Lock Installation is a chance for our visitors to express their love on a special day, while making a difference with their donation to the Pilgrims Hospice.”
Just 500 padlocks for the installation are being made available from the Visitor Information Centre for a minimum donation of £2.50 and all money raised will go to Pilgrims Hospice.
Any non-approved locks will be removed from the fence so the centre can ensure maximum donations to the Pilgrims Hospice and, after a few weeks, the installation will be moved and donated to the charity. The centre aims to raise £55,000 from events in the year ahead.
Mr Corr said: “We support Pilgrims Hospice’s vision for hospice care: that everyone should have access to the services they
need to cope with illness that cannot be cured and make the most of the time they have.
“With one of our three hospices situated in Ashford, only a short drive from our centre, our ability to raise funds and local awareness will make an enormous difference.”