The Ashford Area

Ashford in mid Kent is located some 54 miles south east of London on a major communications route. Both Rail and Road give immediate access to the town. The M20 which was widened and completed in 1991 has two junctions within a mile of the town. Originally Ashford was a railway town with works building steam locomotives and maintaining them, part of which still survives today, in that a wheel shop is still on part of the old works and Bombardier operates the maintainance sheds for Network South East.

The town has a population of approximately 57,000 with a compact town centre inside a ring road, which now has two way traffic, making business connections easy in the centre.

Industry is generously catered for with 16 different Industrial estates, some are just being established, a new Science and Business Park at Junction 9 of the M20 already occupied by Brake Bros, Coty and Planit/Insite UK Ltd. Orbital Park is close to Junction 10 of the M20 alongside the Southern Orbital which gives direct access from the Motorway to the new International Station.

Shopping is mostly confined to the Town Centre with a covered centre (County Square) which is currently being extended and will include Debenhams as an anchor store, and an open Mall (Park Mall), together with a variety of small individual shops and major multiples in a partly pedestrianised centre with a wide range of convenient car parking. New out-of-town retail areas have been established with major superstores and DIY retailers close to the motorway junctions. A large retail "factory outlet" centre has been built virtually next to the International Station. This is attracting a huge amount of trade to the town.

The new International Rail Station gives access by Eurostar to PARIS (2 Hours) and Disneyland direct to the heart of the city and a smooth journey regardless of the weather.There is adequate car parking at the station and already 14,000 people use the station every week. The existing domestic service connects to London Charing Cross, Victoria and Cannon Street taking about 60 - 80 minutes though this will drop to about 40 minutes when the High Speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link is opened in 2009. The line has been constructed and is in use for european trains only.

There is a skilled work force and unemployment is just below the national average. Ashford has a economic development officer, Andrew Osbourne, contact No (01233 637311).

A bowling alley has been built in the town and multi-screen cinema and nightclub at Junction 9 of the M20, there are already established night clubs and restaurants. The best place to eat is at Trattoria Romana at the bottom of Bank Street.