A dwindling town centre is a step closer to receiving a new “mega-market” in ambitious plans to help rejuvenate the area.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is set to call in experts to help plan for “Best of Kent” stalls selling locally produced goods.

Would-be shoppers have since welcomed the proposals, which were put forward by Labour councillors Diccon Spain and Brendan Chilton, at an ABC meeting on October 19.

Cabinet members decided on November 30 to press ahead with the town’s scheme by creating a “task group” to work out detailed proposals.

Cllr Heather Hayward (Ash Ind.), cabinet member for performance and direction, told the council chamber: “We’ll also be looking to utilise the knowledge in this area – so we’ve already had some offers of guests to come and join that panel to speak to us as well who have got experience of other markets in other areas.”

The task group is set to be chaired by Cllr Hayward and will include council officers, councillors from all parties, and outsourced market experts for advice.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Diccon Spain, who initially proposed the idea, said: "I am very happy that the council, both members and officers, are responding so positively to the motion we proposed for a 'Best of Kent' market in the town centre.

“It's really heartening to see the council moving forward together on something that I believe can really help revitalise Ashford town centre.

“I think it's crucial that we have people with real experience of running thriving markets involved to help us make this successful,” he added.

Local community interest company Craftship Enterprise which runs the Ashford Makers Market is set to be involved in the plans.

Melissa Dawkins, founder of the firm, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It is something that had been spoken of in previous years – as a mega-market to scoop up all of the other markets that happen and have them collectively together I’ve always thought was an excellent plan.”

Ashford hosts numerous other markets around the town - the lower high street market, the ‘Makers Market’ in Park Mal, and has previously hosted a litany of others, such as the Kent Food Hub and a farmer’s market.

Ms Dawkins continued: “Instead of having competition if you put all of those things together it feeds off of each other and then it helps to create success for everybody in my opinion.”

The proposed market is set to focus on locally produced goods.

“My whole business, social enterprise and passion is about supporting local makers and producers so of course my only thought to be honest is pulling in different producers across Kent to be involved in it,” Ms Dawkins said.

“I think it will animate the town, it will expose Ashford to new people, new businesses who may even want to develop things further, maybe even get shops who knows, but I certainly think it will drive footfall into the town.”

The task group is set to report back to the cabinet with detailed proposals in Spring/Summer 2024, according to council documents.