Plans to give a town centre shopping arcade a ‘sprucing up’ have been revealed.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is keen to transform Park Mall in Ashford into a busy shopping centre as part of an overhaul of the town.

The leader of ABC, Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con), has spoke of his ambitious plans for Ashford’s future this week, including a strong focus on improving the state of the ailing precinct.

He said: “I’m fired up and ready for a change.

“As well as the introduction of the new farmer’s market, we are soon to re-design the bandstand (in the High Street) and have a focus on Park Mall and promoting thriving business.

“Park Mall has great potential.

“We will also be looking at other sites around town, especially where the Morrisons store was due to be.

“I am hopeful of encouraging another popular business to develop there.

Park Mall is one of two town centre shopping arcades in Ashford, the other being County Square.

Over the years however, it has fallen victim to the changing economic climate and the recession.

Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, New Look and Next have all left the centre in the last decade, with the latter two moving to County Square.

Ashford's High Street, which links to Park Mall near Greggs, has also seen several closures, and in the last year alone it has lost Clarks shoe shop, Accessorize, Multisave, Spar, Leavers tobacconists and the Merchant Chandler.

Cllr Clarkson added: “We are aware shops are closing. We are not unlike other towns where this is happening.

“This is one of the reasons we have encouraged transforming office buildings into flats, to bring a bigger footfall into town.

“I believe in 2015 Ashford will become even more popular and the shops will begin to fill.”

Full story in this week's Kentish Express.