Big changes to scenes from the 70s

Many long-standing residents of our town will know just how much Ashford has altered at lightning speed in recent times, and many admit they have quite a job to keep up with these ‘changes’ to their once-familiar territory.

Modernity has most certainly had something of an effect in Ashford with newbuilds cropping up across the market town, some favourable and others controversial – the latter when something is either an eye-sore or indeed something historical has been sacrificed for something new.

The overall appearance and streetscape has changed significantly too, with many long-term familiarities disguised or demolished and fading into oblivion it seems.

When looking through the lens of a camera or indeed historical photographs, the change is more often than not a sad one.

Scenes or locations that have stayed the same for generations that need not be changed or obliterated.

Neighbouring buildings that complement each other and places of historical value.

There have indeed been some attractive additions and alterations to the town over the decades, but plenty of ugly ones too.

One wonders with one particular current project which shall remain nameless, what the architect was thinking when they drew up the plans.

It’s certainly not very imaginative.

As much as we shout, seemingly the developer gets the last laugh with planning departments allowing such eyesores.

Once it’s built, it’s built, and there’s not a lot you can do about it if you as a planner have permitted its construction or indeed given the go-ahead.

Again, what are some planners thinking when they agree and pass such projects that the likes of famous architect Edward Pugin would probably fall about laughing over.

There certainly is a mismatch of different buildings in the town that residents will be forever divided over.

While you can’t please everyone, planners do lay themselves open to the for and against of opinions.

This week’s Remember When looks back at three locations in the town centre from the 1970s that are barely recognisable today.

Do you have any photographs or slides of old Ashford you would be willing to loan me for use in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, get in touch!

Please email me: rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk

1974 - The 1963-built Ashford domestic station which replaced the historical buildings on the site. By the 1990s, the illustrated buildings were demolished in favour of a new domestic and international complex which now swamps the site. The current building is completely different to its predecessors and was deemed futuristic at the time of its inception

1973 - The top of Elwick Road to the junction of Godinton Road and the crossing over to the former Ashford Market site. Until recently, Debenhams - the flagship store of the County Square extension - occupied the site which opened in 2008. The buildings pictured were demolished 45 years ago

Young fans at Ashford’s Cineworld cinema for the first film in the Harry Potter series