Elwick Square Ashford

[David Neylan]

Have you heard of Elwick Square, Ashford, Kent?

It is an award winning example of Shared Space.
http://hamilton-baillie.co.uk/index.php?do=news&nid=13

I went and visited it on a weekday lunchtime last summer and I think it is a disaster.  It is a good example of how a watered down scheme can kill a great idea.
For a start it is on a minor junction of the ring road of a largely pedestrianised town, when I was there the motorised traffic dominated. The square is on a slight slope so the traffic speeds through the Shared Space while pedestrians are faced with a vast expanse of grey surface to cross, many times the width of the road it replaced looking exposed, most opting to use the faded zebra crossing at one end.  There was little turning traffic and there seemed to be no give or take here either - is this typical of Kent?

I asked a few people what they thought of it - non were positive.

[Ian Perry]

Hi David,

I think that you will be interested to read the following:

WORK BEGINS ON PARKING SCHEME IN ASHFORD TOWN...
http://www.ashford.towntalk.co.uk/news/display/13563/

"Work aimed at making parking restrictions clearer in Ashford town centre’s Shared Space is currently underway."

"The work includes installing additional signage and road lining to mark out the disabled, loading and Pay & Display bays together with the taxi rank in Ashford’s Shared Space."

First they remove the signs, now they replace the signs...