Work to remove the crumbling Flume artwork and repair cracked paving in Ashford’s town centre will start in May.

The project to fix and improve the shared space in Bank Street and parts of Elwick Road and Tufton Street has now been approved by members of the Ashford Joint Transportation Board (JTB).

The work will start on Tuesday, May 26, and is estimated to take 20 weeks.

During the repairs, the Bank Street bus stop will be relocated to Church Road and the taxi rank will be moved to Elwick Square.

Kent County Council says all the broken and crumbling paving stones will be replaced, which will be “a permanent fix to issues that have arisen since the shared space scheme was completed in November 2008.”

A report on the project states that the subject of repairing and retaining the Flume artwork, which runs through the paving, was discussed but in the end it was agreed “the best solution for the future durability of the shared surface is to completely and permanently remove” it. A KCC spokesman said the metal components of The Flume would be “recycled” after it was ripped up.

Among those who will not be sorry to see it go is Gary George, owner of Papa G’s barbers in Bank Street.

He said: ““When the workers are here ripping it up it will cause even more problems to my business, like it did when they installed it.

“Things are hard enough for businesses as it is at the moment. The whole thing has just been a big problem.”

A small part of the Flume in Elwick Road will also be removed, but for the most part this will be left untouched.

The type of stone to be used to the new surface is ‘Kobra’ Chinese granite slabs, which will colour-match the new surface with other paving in the area, the report states.

They will be laid on a bed of mortar rather than a sand base which will provide a durable base and allow for proper cleaning of the slabs.

The work will be carried out in three phases, which KCC says will “minimise the effect on local businesses, ensuring that deliveries will be able to continue during the works”.

JTB chairman Charlie Simkins, KCC councillor for Ashford Rural West, said: “It is good news we have a date.”