Town a fitting film set as shops close

The body blow news that Debenhams is to close in Ashford is yet another nail in the coffin of a once vibrant retail High Street shopping centre.

Those who have witnessed the weak footfall in this large store will not be the slightest surprised at the announced closure.

With the demise of M&S, it leaves the town’s premier retail centre with the loss of two of the most well known stores in the whole country.

With the inability to let the eight restaurants being critical to the long term financial success of the Picturehouse area, Marks and Debenhams gone, along with quite a few unlet shops in Bank Street and elsewhere locally, our hopeful new arrival Netflix will be champing at the bit to use this area as a set for a sequel to the film Night Of The Living Dead. Whatever blether is issued by Ashford Borough Council and other parties attempting to ameliorate the impact of this news, it will not obfuscate the consequences of this major blow to our town.

Additionally it again highlights the sagacity and commercial commonsense of ABC’s policy to make major investments in town centre property at a time when experienced retail investment companies are looking to reduce their portfolios, rents are falling and tenants failing at an alarming rate.

Very worrying; even more so as ABC seem extremely reluctant to give it’s ratepayers much information and/or any assurances.

Kerrigan Bethel,

Wye will now mean more trips to Canterbury. Cllr Clarkson thinks these two empty shops could be turned in to restaurants. How many more food outlets do we need in this town?

I am confident the votes to change membership of the council was nothing to do with Brexit but the people of Ashford showing their frustration at the way our council ignores the needs of the town to follow their own ideas of grandeur.

I would like to wish the new members of the council the very best of luck but I don’t envy your task ahead.

C. Chamberlain,

Willesborough