Kentish Express Ashford & District

‘This isn’t about flags on lampposts it’s about belonging at our school’

A school with pupils from more than 80 nationalities has unveiled a multicultural emblem celebrating unity amid a backdrop of St George’s Cross and Union flags. The John Wallis Academy has this month bedecked its grounds with logos depicting numerous...

Plans for new ‘state-of-the-art’ hospital facility

Plans have been revealed for a new 24/7 “state-of-the-art” facility to “increase capacity” and provide vital life-saving care for stroke patients in Kent. Bosses at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) say the structure will...

No traders left at Park Mall as car park also set for closure

All traders have now moved out of the Park Mall shopping centre in Ashford – with just days left before the nearby car park also closes. The last remaining shop – Vapeology – shut its doors on Monday (January 6), only four days ahead of the January 9...

Former school to become holiday let

Plans have been given the green light to turn a former school and antique shop into a holiday let. Applicant Neil Hunt submitted the proposal to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) lin November to convert the Old Ebony School near Tenterden into...

Town turns red for festive fundraiser

A unique festive fundraiser saw a seaside town turn red with more than 1,000 Santas running along the promenade. The popular ‘Santas on the Run’ in Herne Bay is organised by Pilgrims Hospices, which operates throughout east Kent, and this year the...

1,000-home plan finally approved

A mammoth 1,000home development has been given the green light on appeal - seven years after plans for the controversial estate were first revealed. Hallam Land Management put forward its Court Lodge proposal for Kingsnorth in 2018. The project’s...

TV star Paul Hollywood loses battle to build kitchen garden

Paul Hollywood has lost a battle to build a walled kitchen garden at his Kent farmhouse. The Bake Off star bought the Grade II-listed property near Ashford for more than £800,000 in 2019. Proposals were lodged with Ashford Borough Council (ABC)...

‘Inspiring’ dad killed in crash

Arran McManus, from Ashford, was driving a black Nissan Qashqai that was involved in a collision with two lorries on the M20, near Lenham. called to the incident on the London-bound carriageway, between Junctions 9 and 8, last Tuesday morning, and...

Office block could be converted into flats amid lack of demand for space

Plans have been submitted to transform a half-built office block into flats amid a lack of demand in the sector. Applicant Pierre Edmonds has applied for the change of use on the site in Station Road, Tenterden. In September 2016, Ashford Borough...

Concern over plan for 300 new homes

Anxious residents are questioning whether a huge newbuild estate put forward 10 years ago is now needed in an area where thousands of homes are already planned. Pentland Homes first revealed proposals for Ashford’s ‘Kingsnorth Green’ site in 2015, set...

New home approved for driving test centre

A driving test centre will relocate to Ashford’s tallest building amid plans for its current base to be transformed into new homes. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) lodged a bid to transform part of International House into a dedicated...

DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW.

Plans for licensed premises in your neighbourhood could be hidden from view if new government proposals for secret alcohol licensing notices get the green light. SCAN THIS QR CODE and complete the survey to #defendyourrighttoknow

‘He was one in a million’

A doctor who died suddenly while celebrating his son’s wedding in Italy has been described as “one in a million”. Heartbroken former patients of Dr Rajeev Menon, 66, say the care he provided was so good he felt “like a friend”. The Kennington...

Ambitious flats plan for offices

Work to convert former council headquarters into 60 flats could start as early as next year. Ashford Borough Council moved out of the Civic Centre in Tannery Lane in December in a switch it said would save about £1.3m. The authority has now approved...

Patients ‘left to rot’ in hospital

Hospital patients are being “left to rot” on wards for up to seven months after being declared well enough to be discharged. Alarming figures expose the true scale of the county’s bedblocking crisis – costing the NHS almost £50 million a year, leaving...

How has it come to this?

“Humiliating” and “horrific” were among the words used when an overwhelmed Kent hospital resorted to turning its coffee shop into a makeshift ward last week. The cafe at the William Harvey in Ashford was closed off to customers so patients could be...

Shoppers hit out at outlet parking fees

Increased parking charges at the Ashford Designer Outlet have been branded “insulting” after rising for the third time in as many years. The centre, owned by McArthurGlen, has increased its minimum parking fee to £3 for four hours - up from £2.50 last...

‘It isn’t safe!’

Parents concerned about their children’s safety getting to and from a new secondary school threatened to pull them from class on the first day of term. Chilmington Green Secondary School opened for the first time on Monday after an 18month...

In a fowl state

An empty shop overrun with pigeons has been branded the “most disgusting” building in the town centre – but the landlord says his hands are tied by planning rules. The former Evans unit on the corner of High Street and North Street, Ashford, next to...

Route reopens but more works planned

A road used by thousands of motorists every day has reopened after a two-month closure but more roadworks are set to follow in a move labelled a “blow”. Hythe Road in Willesborough, Ashford, shut near the junction with Church Road on July 7. It meant...

New plan for 2,700 homes

Thousands more homes could be built on Ashford’s outskirts as council bosses “refresh” a major planning blueprint. Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has revealed its new draft Local Plan, which envisages 17,622 homes constructed across the district in the...

Slow death of centre

Once bustling with big-name chains, Ashford’s Park Mall shopping centre has become - quite literally - a shell of its former self. One disgruntled trader went as far to say the site “died” last week following the departure of Poundstretcher, which had...

PARKING FURY HITS VILLAGE

Angry residents who say their village is plagued by inconsiderate parking fear it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. Homes in Hamstreet have been damaged and routes blocked as drivers continue to ignore double yellow lines,...

‘Forever in our hearts...’

An Amazon delivery driver killed in a tragic level crossing accident has been described as a “great friend” who loved his family and had “the most caring soul”. Brandon Hatcher, from Ashford, died after his vehicle was struck at Bax Crossing in Tonge,...

‘Months of chaos’

Fears of “monumental chaos” have been raised amid plans for a huge roadworks project to accommodate a new Aldi supermarket. The store is earmarked for land along the A28 Canterbury Road in Kennington, Ashford, and will be the town’s third branch of...

Show’s over

An ambitious film studio development linked to Netflix is set to be officially scrapped - as bosses plan to build more homes on the site instead. The streaming giant was expected to make Ashford's abandoned Newtown railway works its UK base as part of...

Making tracks

Lorries have started to remove 30,000 tonnes of harmful waste which was dumped in an ancient woodland. It marks the beginning of a year-long operation at Hoad's Wood, a beauty spot near Great Chart. The area was described as an “environmental...

Jobs axe to fall at hospital trust

Dozens of jobs are set to be axed at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust as the organisation looks to slash its wage bill by 6%. The Express can reveal some £45 million needs to be shaved from the trust’s staffing budget. It comes in the wake of wider job...

‘Council is ripping heart out of town’

TV STAR TOM BURKE BACKS BID TO SAVE SHOPPING CENTRE

Taking shape

A new Aldi supermarket is edging closer to completion with pictures revealing significant progress on the chain’s latest store. The German discounter is building a branch on Waterbrook Park in Sevington, Ashford. About 50 staff are to be employed at...

Woman dies after stabbing at home

A woman has died and another remains seriously injured following a stabbing at a property in a residential street. Police were called to Ellson Close in Newtown shortly before 1.45pm on Monday following reports of an assault. Emergency services,...

Demolition bid for derelict buildings

Abandoned and rundown buildings on the site of the former Kent Wool Growers are set to be torn down amid concerns for public safety. The ex-store - a farming co-operative that spent almost 100 years in Ashford - shut down in 2017 when it plunged into...

Fresh start for ‘dying’ market

Plans to overhaul Ashford’s “declining” market by setting up permanent pitches in a more prominent part of the town centre have been approved. Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is to allow traders to use an area next to the bandstand between Starbucks and...

Biker behind bars after fatal crash

A speeding motorcyclist who knocked down and killed a pensioner as he crossed the road has been jailed. Dad-of-one Andy Gilchrist was travelling at between 59 and 66mph along the A262 from Biddenden towards Tenterden - a road with a 50mph limit - when...

‘LESSONS NEED TO BE LEARNT’

Failings have been identified in the care of a “funny, bubbly” young woman, who died after going missing from a mental health hospital. Chelsea Louise Malthouse absconded from the Cherry Wood Ward at Littlebrook Hospital in Dartford in January last...

Bump in the road

A row between a council and developers over who owns land to complete a new school’s access road has forced back-up plans to be drawn up to ensure it opens in time this autumn. Construction is progressing at the Chilmington Green Secondary School in...

‘It’s terrifying!’

The parents of a schoolgirl who broke her neck after falling headfirst from a zipline at a popular playground say it is “too dangerous” for children. Eight-year-old Lois Crook was taken to a London hospital where a heavy custom halo brace was screwed...

Activists invade family fun day

Fate of 1,000 homes out of council’s hands

The fate of plans for 1,000 homes on the edge of Ashford has been taken out of the council’s hands because it took six years to make a decision. Ashford Borough Council insists a bid for Court Lodge in Kingsnorth should be scrapped as developers have...

‘It’s not enough!’

The deadline for shops to move out of Park Mall has been extended by four months - but frustrated traders say the move does not go far enough. Ashford Borough Council (ABC) initially told tenants they needed to vacate by the end of August before...

Spark of hope for international travel

A newly emerged competitor to Eurostar says it intends to offer a stopping service from Ashford International - but not initially. Gemini Trains, spearheaded by former Eurotunnel executive and Labour peer Lord Berkeley, revealed this week it was...

PICKING UP A STINK

Villagers are set to endure a “necessary evil” stench for the next 18 months as the removal of 35,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste finally begins. Some 20 lorry loads a day are expected to begin clearing the Hoads Wood site in Ashford which has...

COMING SOON

A new retail park years in the making is expected to host Home Bargains as one of its flagship tenants. The discount retailer is anticipated to become the second brand to occupy a unit on the new estate being built along the A20 Fougeres Way -...

‘Absolute shambles’: Traffic chaos in town

Angry drivers claim it would be quicker to walk around “gridlocked” Ashford after several long-term roadwork projects began this week. Both Kennington Road (A2070) and Newtown Road are undergoing repair work in a move expected to bring traffic misery...

Traders told to leave Park Mall by August

A closure-hit shopping centre and neighbouring multistorey car park are to be knocked down, council bosses have revealed. Traders in Park Mall in Ashford have been told they need to vacate the site by August 31 ahead of demolition work. Bosses at...

Crisis deepens

The number of patients forced to endure long waits in A&E corridors continues to soar as an alarming crisis deepens across Kent. Worrying new figures show three out of four hospital trusts in the county recorded their worst-ever emergency figures in...

‘Our countryside is being consumed!’

Plans for a sixth development in an area where more than 8,500 homes are already proposed has led to fears the “countryside is being consumed”. Residents living to the south of Ashford have long been braced for scores of properties in the area, most...

‘It’s humiliating’

Coming soon! New school takes shape

A new secondary school on a huge ‘garden town’ development is edging closer to opening with work now underway on its interior. Construction of Chilmington Green Secondary School started last February almost two years after plans were first...

Bid for 140 village homes thrown out

Ambitious plans to “dramatically expand” a village have been thrown out, much to residents’ relief. Hallam Land Management described their bid for a new housing estate in Hamstreet as having “significant benefits”, but others instead said it was “not...

‘We are dead if we get sent back’

Afamily who fled to Kent from Colombia after being threatened by a murderous drugs cartel fear they will be killed if a Home Office decision to send them back is not overturned. Luisa Rodriguez, 37, and her three daughters have been living in a budget...

Spoke too soon?

A new multimillion-pound Brompton Bicycle factory is set to be given the green light - but the project is still on hold as profits plummet by more than 99%. The folding bike maker announced plans to build a huge HQ on stilts on land close to Ashford...

Not again

Pictures reveal the extent of damage to an abandoned nightclub following a suspicious blaze. Ten fire engines were called to the former Liquid nightclub in East Hill, Ashford, at 11.15pm Friday evening (December 27). Residents living in the town...

About time

A landmark clock tower covered in bird poo is to chime for the first time since the 1980s as part of a multimillion-pound redevelopment of a railway works. The 1907-built structure at the entrance to Ashford’s Newtown works has been abandoned for...

‘It’s like a warzone’

Louisa Gilbert lies on a bed in an overrun A&E department at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital, pushed up against a staff desk. The frail 89-year-old - who has dementia and terminal lung cancer - has been here for more than two days, waiting for a...

‘We can’t cope!’

Almost 1,200 objections have been lodged against plans for 140 homes amid fears the scheme will “overdevelop” a village. Developer Hallam Land Management wants to build on a 35acre plot on the edge of Hamstreet. The site at Cotton Hill, off Hamstreet...

ROAD RAGE

A housing developer is bidding to pull out of contributing more than £50 million worth of new infrastructure and community facilities - including a £30m major road improvement. The future of the A28 dualling project in Ashford has been thrown into...

Going nowhere

Plans to move a private school out of its historic location to make way for 1,200 homes have been scrapped due to spiralling costs. Ashford School announced earlier this year it was considering selling land in East Hill and constructing a new...

‘BEACON OF HOPE’

New pictures show how a highlyanticipated block of “homeless pods” built to help tackle a town’s housing shortage is nearing completion. With the first residents preparing to move in, KentOnline was yesterday given an exclusive tour around the 23 new...

APPROVED

Ambitious plans that will see luxury new homes, a rocking horse museum and workshop, cafe, and farm shop built on disused land have been given the green light. The two-pronged scheme comes from the Stevenson Brothers, a Kent-based firm which has been...

‘Luke had the biggest heart’

A dad-of-six who had the “biggest heart and would help anyone” tragically took his own life, a coroner has ruled. Luke Greenaway, 33, previously struggled with his mental health but there had not been any immediate issues in the weeks leading up to...

COMING SOON

Work on a long-awaited Aldi supermarket is set to finally begin after a “frustrating” planning dispute was finally resolved. The German chain gained permission in November 2022 to open a store on Waterbrook Park in Sevington, Ashford. But a condition...

Market revival

Plan to transform town centre by setting up permanent pitches in more prominent areas as trader numbers plummet -

Sushi restaurant eyes empty site

A vacant high street unit which served as a travel agents for almost 40 years could become a new Asian-themed restaurant. Plans have been submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for a new Kokoro eatery. The site earmarked is the former town centre...

UNLOCKED

Council bosses believe they have finally found a solution to a longrunning environmental issue preventing thousands of new homes from being built in east Kent. Concern over the pollution of Stodmarsh nature reserve, near Canterbury, has seen some...

Show’s over?

An ambitious film studios development linked to Netflix has been thrown into doubt as bosses have failed to secure an operator to run the site. streaming giant was expected to make Ashford's abandoned Newtown railway works its UK base as part of a...

Explosion tragedy

A woman who tragically died after an explosion at her bungalow "meant the absolute world to everyone who knew her". Charlane Burvill, a loving mum, wife, sister and nan, lost her life in the devastating blast in Charing, near Ashford last...