KCC councillor David Brazier together with district councillor George Pender and Chairman of the Town Team Cameron Clark are leading the struggle to improve New Ash Green’s shopping centre., Except for the Co-op, the village centre is owned by a property company. It will only carry out repairs when they are demanded by the local authority and its periodic ambitions to redevelop the site have come to nothing. They have recently met Laura Trott MP again to continue to develop a strategy to overcome the problem.
It was agreed that the best outcome would be a full regeneration of the centre. They agree that trying to go back to the past will not work. They agree they must aim for something commercially viable within the original plan and Laura Trott agreed to look for ways to pay for this. Meanwhile, District Councillor Claire Nelson was meeting officers of Sevenoaks District Council. They discussed how the centre might become a Community Asset if a legally sound case could be prepared.
As a first step, it was agreed to have an Environmental Visual Audit, to provide evidence for the much-needed improvements in the general appearance of the centre. Their work will continue but experience proves how difficult meaningful progress is likely to be. Nevertheless, they hope to succeed and plan to report back to the community realistically and honestly without false optimism or undeliverable promises.
