Controversial cobbles which have been in a town centre for almost 25 years are to be removed as part of a major renovation project.

The uneven pavements in Ashford's Lower High Street are to be ripped up and replaced with black tarmac by Kent County Council.

It forms part of a joint effort between KCC and Ashford Borough Council to improve the "look and feel" of the town centre as well as "enhancing" safety for pedestrians.

First introduced to the Lower High Street in 1999, numerous complaints have been raised about the cobbles over the years, with some shoppers saying they deter disabled people from the town centre.

They will now be replaced as part of a £600,000 programme which began on Tuesday when contractors started work on part of the Shared Space scheme on the ring road.

But Sam Mathews, company director at the long-running Soundcraft Hi-Fi store in the Lower High Street, says he can see positives and negatives to the plans.

"The cobble stones are really dangerous for the elderly," he said.

"We've had a number of customers come in who have tripped up on them and really injured themselves.

"People on wheelchairs are affected too, it's a nightmare for them.

"Overall, a lot of money went into making the high street the way that it is now.

"But if it's tarmacked, I think it's going to take the look of the high street away. It will loose its authenticity."

Mr Mathews says he often attends council meetings with a colleague, but feels council bosses do not care about the high street anymore.

"There are so many vacant shops now; we are the only company which is a real destination store for the high street," he said.

"With the way the town centre is at the moment with hairdressers, cafes, tattoo parlours, nail bars, and estate agents, there is nothing in the town centre to draw people in and spend money."
He thinks it would be more cost effective to re-grout the cobbles, rather than ripping them up, discarding them, and laying tarmac.

"It's like all the money which was invested in the cobbles when they were laid is completely wasted," he said.

"Visually, it won't look that good."

Joanna Awuni and Mercy Muller, from Camise Hair Salon in the former Linda's Florist site in the Lower High Street, say anything to improve the town is a good thing.

Ms Awuni said: "I think it's good. It gets very busy out there, especially as McDonald's is here, so it will be good to be fixed up.

"I think it will improve the area."

In a statement, a KCC spokesman said the changes will lead to a "nicer, safer and easier to maintain public realm in the town".

"Previous temporary fixes will be repaired, making the area more visually appealing, more accessible and improve resilience to damage over time," they said.

"The cobbled area of the Lower High Street will be removed and replaced with black tarmac to create a safer, even surface.

"This will make it easier for pedestrians, especially those with mobility issues or visual impairment, to safely navigate the area.

"Black tarmac will improve the contrast between pedestrian and road areas also to help accessibility."

A start date for the cobble replacement has not yet been confirmed by KCC, but is expected to take place next year, with the whole £600,000 programme due to be finished by the spring.

It is currently unclear whether the cobbles in Park Street and North Street will also be removed.