'CLONE TOWN ASHFORD' - GREENS AGREE WITH COUNCIL OFFICER: TOWN CENTRE IS 'SOULLESS'

The New Economics Foundation has produced a report on how the dominance of chain stores is creating 'clone towns' which lack individual character as they are dominated by the same chain stores. Ashford was surveyed for this document. The Green Party agrees with comments made by Ian Hill of Ashford Borough Council, who is quoted in the report Clone Town Britain(1). Mr Hill is reported to have said:

"The sense of identity has gone. There's something soulless about the place. People want somewhere to feel a part of and meet their needs without being in a sterile environment. I think it's a nice little town, but it doesn't really know what it's trying to do, what it is about. It needs an identity for itself."

"Mr Hill is of course correct. Chain stores help to reduce diversity of choice in the town centre. Their gradual spread throughout Ashford's town centre is only slowed down by the siting of many retail warehouses on the outskirts of the town. It is, of course, easy to criticise. But Ashford has been loosing diversity in its town centre for decades. Local residents can remember two cinemas in the town, an open air swimming pool at Beaver Road, a theatre and a variety of green grocers and butchers in the town centre. The Green Party is supporting the Local Communities Sustainability Bill being promoted by members of all parties in Parliament(2). This Bill is designed to strengthen the powers of local councils over planning processes and to preserve local shops and post offices.

"Our town centre is already 'marooned' in the north of Ashford, with long-term housing expansion planned and envisaged considerable distances away from the centre. The Council has do more than support fair trade and given planning permission to more supermarkets. But the Green Party doubts it has the political will to do so." ENDS c326 words