The country’s largest shared space project is due for completion in Ashford this autumn.

The Ashford scheme, being built by Kent County Council and partners, replaces the town’s former ring road with imaginative design, high-quality paving materials, and a 20mph speed limit.

Shared space champion, Ben Hamilton-Baillie, acknowledged that it could take time to establish the scheme and get people and cars interacting well, after removing the ‘scar’ of the town’s old ring road. But he said he was ‘impressed by what I saw’.

‘I hope we have been able to bring together something which will inspire other parts of the country,’ he added. ‘This will produce what, I hope, is an exciting change for Ashford, Kent, and the country.’

Lighting columns for Elwick Square were delivered and erected by crane last week.