Victoria Way
Victoria Way is a new route to the south of the town centre
to link the International Station at Beaver Road and the A28 Chart
Road providing better access to the heart of the town.
The new road will be an attractive, tree-lined avenue extending
from the existing Victoria Road opposite the train station, and
continue through brownfield industrial land to join with the A28
near Matalan.
It will also include a new public square with seating and public
art displays, as well as new shops, restaurants, cafes and homes over time.
Victoria Way will be delivered in phases as development along
the route takes place.
The initial phase involves creating the new route from
Beaver Road to the A28 Chart Road, and a new public square,
called John Wallis Square, adjacent to Victoria Road Primary
school.
The £16.5m project has secured Community Infrastructure Funding
from Communities and Local Government and the Department for
Transport.
Kent County Council awarded the contract to Volker Fitzpatrick in
May and work began in
June 2010 and is due to be completed by spring 2011.
Representatives from Ashford’s Future, Kent County Council,
Ashford Borough Council, VolkerFitzpatrick and Victoria Road
Primary School were among the special guests invited to an
event held in July celebrating the start of works.
Much of the initial activity has centred around land between
Leacon Road and Victoria Road, Gasworks Lane and the Brookfield
Road/Leacon Road junction.
The Victoria Road end of the project has seen the demolition of
Cherry Court and Victoria House along with the removal of the old
storage pond for the substations.
The showpiece to the project will be a new public square next to
Victoria Road School, called John Wallis Square.
John Wallis was a famous mathematician who was born in Ashford
and pioneered various mathematical theories introducing the symbol
for infinity.
Bespoke architectural fencing will create a natural edge to the
square while reducing visibility through to the school.
Different materials and finishes will be used to create an ‘Art
Trail’ with etched text and symbols relating to John Wallis’
work.
For more information download a
copy of the Victoria Way newsletter - 2.89 Mb
PDF