New Ashford Gateway opens
A new, bigger and better Gateway for Ashford opened to the
public on 18 July and thousands of people from the town and borough
are expected to use it.
The new Gateway brings together the work of Kent County Council,
Ashford Borough Council and voluntary organisations.
The new building is the result of a £7.56m investment by Kent
County Council, Ashford Borough Council and central government
regeneration funding – and replaces the original Ashford Gateway in
Park Mall, which was the very successful pilot for the Gateway
concept in Kent.
The success of Ashford Gateway, and the increasing number of
customers and services wishing to use it, meant that it was time to
move on to bigger premises.
Ashford Gateway Plus will give a wide range of public services a
single front desk, putting them under one, iconic roof. All of the
services from the original Gateway – including Ashford Borough
Council customer services, payment machines and free internet use –
will be available.
There will be a new library, tourist information office,
registration services and ceremony rooms. Adult education classes
will also take place at the new building, with enough room for art
and fitness classes.
KCC Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services, Mike Hill,
said: “This new building is good news for the whole of Ashford. I
feel privileged to have been involved in this development since it
first began.
"I believe that bringing together the different organisations in
Ashford Gateway Plus, including KCC services, will bring benefits
to the town and its people.
“Ashford is a town that has embraced the Gateway as a way of doing
things and I am confident that, by offering more, it will make an
even more positive impact.”
Leader of Ashford Borough Council Cllr Peter Wood, said: “Ashford
Gateway Plus is a great asset for the people of Ashford, and is an
excellent example of partnership working.
“It will mean big but exciting changes for Ashford Borough Council,
as our face to face customer services team will be moving to the
Gateway, and this will allow our residents to pay bills, obtain
benefits advice, making planning applications, and get parking
permits in the town centre.
“This new building will be a landmark in Ashford, and we hope that
our residents will come down and discover just how much Ashford
Gateway Plus can do for them.”
KCC Families and Social Care will provide facilities for adults
with disabilities and their carers in a town centre community
setting, including a specialist Changing Places facility for people
with complex physical needs, their carers and families.
The Food with Friends Café, once fully opened, will provide
training, work opportunities and experience for adults and young
people with disabilities and learning difficulties – and will be
run by the community interest company Brogdale.
In 2003, Ashford became home to the first Gateway – a place people
could go to for borough council and county council matters. The
pilot was a success and other towns followed the model.
There are now Gateways in Gravesend, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge,
Maidstone, Tenterden, Ashford, Thanet and Dover. Sheerness is to
get its own Gateway soon, with construction work having started,
and there are also two Mobile Gateways delivering services across
the county.
The reception desk at Ashford Gateway Plus will be open from 9am to
8pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 6pm Friday to Saturday.
Media release 0162/11
13/07/2011