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Architect Sir Terry Farrell believes expanding the shared space
around the entire Ashford ring road is a key part of the town’s
future development.

Although the scheme has had its critics, most notably the Top
Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, the design champion feels it sets
Ashford apart and makes it a leader in the use of pioneering shared
space urban streetscapes.

Sir Terry listed the extension of the project as a central
strategic principle in his vision for the town’s future at a
presentation in the Ashford International Hotel last Wednesday.

He said: “The shared space at Elwick Road sets the town apart.
This should be extended to include the whole of the ring road in
parallel with the incremental development of sites at the edge of
the town centre. Ashford should be the first town in Britain to
reinvent its 'concrete collar’ as a network of connected pedestrian
avenues.

“Sites along the ring road are dominated by surface car parks
and the backs of buildings. Town centre edges should be animated to
create a coherent and liveable place, helping to transform
perceptions of what Ashford can offer.”

Sir Terry envisions creating an additional five shared
spaces in Somerset Road, Park Street, Wellesley Road, Station Road
and the final section of Elwick Road.

Kent County Council spokesman John Todd said: “The original
concept was to expand it and we envisaged that we would see more of
it but we only got funding for that part of it. It’s expansion
relies entirely on additional government funding.”

Ashford Borough Council spokesman Dean Spurrell said: “The idea,
like everything else, is subject to funding becoming available but
it could still happen in the future.”

The initial £16 million scheme saw the old one-way ring road
become two-way and Bank Street, Elwick Road, West Street and Forge
Lane become the kilometre-long pedestrianised shared space.

When it opened in November 2008 it was ridiculed by Top Gear
presenter Jeremy Clarkson who said: “Doing away with lights and
pelican crossings is a bit like doing away with bolts in the
scaffolding on a building site in the hope the labourers walk
around a bit more carefully. Someone is going to get killed, you
idiots.”

Despite criticism and concerns about road safety, it went on to
win various design awards, including one from the Royal Town
Planning Institute, and the only accident causing an injury was
when a driver suffered whiplash after hitting a lamppost last
Tuesday.