Construction to start on train-themed play park in Ashford High Street outside B&M
By Isabel Fosbery
Work on a much-anticipated £150,000 town centre play park is set to begin this week.
The train-themed playground will be built in Ashford High Street, next to the raised planter area outside B&M and CeX.
Construction was initially expected to be complete by the end of November but delays in the manufacturing of the equipment halted the scheme.
However it is now hoped the project, led by Ashford Borough Council (ABC), will be ready by the end of March, with work beginning this Friday.
Councillor Heather Hayward, ABC’s cabinet member for tourism, culture, policy and performance, said: “I’m chuffed to see this project come to fruition. We want to create a play space for young families and children to have fun and enjoy, bringing life to this area”.
The development is part of ABC’s ‘town centre reset’, which examines ways to increase visitors' time in the area.
Images of the play park show how children will be able to climb on a vibrantly coloured engine, carriages and a platform built around the existing trees.
The area has been designed to reflect Ashford’s heritage, incorporating elements related to its railway history.
The project will cost about £150,000, covering manufacturing, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
It will be funded by the national UK Shared Prosperity Fund and developer contributions from Ashford Designer Outlet and The Range.
Last month ABC launched a competition to name the park, asking local primary school pupils to put forward their creative suggestions.
The winning idea came from Wittersham resident Quinn, aged six, with the area set to be called SuperSonic Ashford Express.
It is hoped the park will be a boost for the town amid news that the nearby shopping centre Park Mall is to be demolished.
Traders have been given until the end of August to leave the centre, which is due to be flattened early next year along with the neighbouring Edinburgh Road multi-storey car park.
ABC bosses say they will set up an “interim surface-level car park while exploring ideas for what the area could be transformed to in the future”.
