There are fears a high street will become full of speeding e-scooter riders if cobbles are ripped up and replaced with black tarmac.

The uneven pavements in Ashford are set to be removed early next year by Kent County Council (KCC) as part of a £600,000 programme.

But business owners feel the move will cause a number of problems in the Lower High Street and are calling on authority chiefs to review their decision.

The project forms part of a joint effort between KCC and Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to improve the “look and feel” of the town centre, as well as “enhancing” safety for pedestrians.

But Geoff Mathews, owner of the long-running Soundcraft Hi-Fi store in the Lower High Street, thinks the cobbles need preserving.

“At this time of year particularly, the environment needs to be safe for people walking up and down,” he said.

“We don’t want it to simply be tarmacked over and become full of skateboarders and e-scooters.

“This area is a really nice feature to the town and it needs preserving, not simply tarmacking over.

“It is not a green solution. We feel KCC is more geared towards a quick fix than preserving something that is a feature within the town centre.”

Vernon Seager, of the Central Ashford Community Forum, is frustrated by a lack of consultation over the move.

“Our initial objection was that this decision was solely at the discretion of KCC Highways,” he said.

“Since the forum opened this up for general discussion, other equally important reasons to object to the tarmacking have come forward.

“Replacing natural granite cobbles with oil-based asphalt is contrary to ABC’s ‘green pioneers’ policy.

“We also think the tarmac would increase the speed of cyclists and e-scooter riders through the town.

“We also have unanswered questions regarding rainwater being discharged into drains.”

Victoria ward councillor Charles Suddards (Lab), who previously owned the Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe in the Lower High Street, also believes the cobbles should stay.

“The aesthetics of the cobbles is very important to gain footfall in the Lower High Street, which is very much an area which has been neglected,” he said.

'Its uneven nature is not in line with modern design standards...'

“Tarmacking it is just going to be another disincentive for people to visit the area which is a great shame.

“It is a potentially beautiful, historical aspect of the town.

“I think what they are proposing is the worst of all possible worlds.”

The cobbles were discussed at a recent meeting of ABC’s joint transportation board.

Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con), who chaired the meeting, feels the change of surface “will make it easier and safer for pedestrians, especially those with mobility issues or visual impairment, to safely navigate the area and lead to improved accessibility for all”.

He added: “These works are taking place to facilitate the long-term maintenance of the high street.

“The cobbled road construction and its uneven nature are not in line with modern design standards.

“In addition to offering resilience to the highway condition, and flexibility with future repairs, these road improvement works will also have an added benefit of reduced noise and vibration when compared to the cobbled surface.

“I was pleased the council will investigate their return during the ‘town centre reset’ which will include the redevelopment of the former Mecca Bingo hall.”

When asked for a response to the concerns over the removal of the cobbles, a KCC spokesperson said: “While the area is indeed a conservation area, conservation legislation does not apply to highway maintenance.

“The road was also asphalt before being cobbled.”

A start date for the work is not yet known but the whole £600,000 project, which has included upgrades to ‘Shared Space’, is set to be completed by the spring.