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A town has been branded "the epicentre of hair and beauty in western Europe" as two more nail bars are set to open.
Two of the most common sights around Ashford are hairdressers and nail bars.
Interactive map of Ashford's nail bars
Last February, KentOnline reported on the 26 hair salons dotted around the town - all of which have since been temporarily closed during lockdowns.
Meanwhile, there are 11 nail bars currently in the town and a particularly competitive area is the Lower High Street, where there are four salons within just 80 metres.
Both industries are eagerly awaiting April 12, when they can welcome customers back again for the first time since early November.
A new nail salon - Ashford's 12th - will be launching that day in Bank Street.
Branded K+T Nail Bar and Beauty, the business has converted the unit formerly known as The Corner Shop.
The shop was raided in September 2019, closing shortly after due to a quantity of illegal tobacco found on the premises.
It has since gone unfilled, with letting agent Stafford Perkins unable to secure a new tenant.
When asking the council to consider an application to change its use, the firm's Calum Farmer wrote: "We feel this is not a contentious use, added to the fact we have received limited interest from A1 (retail) users."
The company submitted a change of use planning application in May, and permission was granted in August.
Signs have now appeared for the new venture, and the team behind it are already taking bookings in preparation for the inevitable deluge of customers.
A second nail bar – which is currently still in the planning process – is the New Street shop previously owned by a well-known electrician.
David Easton's was vacated after the death of the eponymous owner in 2018, who opened his first shop in the town in 1962.
The unit has since gone unused, but a fellow businessman from the town has now proposed turning it into a nail salon.
The shop would be renamed Kevin & Pink's Nail Bar – the same name as a business in the Lower High Street.
It is not known whether this will serve as a second site or as a replacement.
Much of the building's layout will be retained, however internal walls will be removed to create a more open space.
'The number of nail bars and hairdressers is just getting silly now...'
Doors and windows will be upgraded, and new fire safety measures would be implemented including fire-resistant doors.
In response to these plans, Cllr Dara Farrell (Lab) had mixed feelings.
The town centre representative said: "Ashford must be the epicentre of hair and beauty in western Europe.
"I think it's good these units aren't going to be empty, but I do think we're getting to the stage where we need something else.
"Unless we find out the people in Ashford have hair and nails that grow faster than anywhere else in Kent, it's hard to see why there are so many.
"Saying that, they wouldn't continue to operate or come into the town if there wasn't demand. However, I very rarely see them very busy.
"At this point, we need some stimulus to help other businesses join the town centre.
"Again, it's better than not having anything in these units but the number of nail bars and hairdressers is just getting silly now."
Ashford MP Damian Green, on the other hand, believes the market should dictate which businesses join the town centre.
He said: "My overall view is that any shop that's full and doing business is good for the town.
"You don't want any type of business to dominate, but I'd much rather have a shop occupied and running than empty.
"The truth is, people's demand will decide whether there is too much of any business in the town - customers decide that.
"So if there's enough custom for any type of shop to open, then good luck to the owners."
For more information, or to leave a comment on the David Easton site plan, search 21/00161/AS on the Ashford Borough Council planning portal.
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