Ashmore Park Parade Gets Face Lift!

Last night September 5th Councillors traders and residents learnt at a consultation meeting. That Ashmore Park Shopping Parade is to undergo a face lift as it creaks and groans from the effects of old age,
The old lady is now well over 50 years of age! and has been at the centre of life on the estate for all those years.

Councillor Phil Bateman said " There is at last a major face lift coming for the old lady! It is much required as the effects of old age is starting to ravage not only her once elegant lines, but structural decline has really set in.

Earlier in the year a corner of the Shopping Parade had to be cordoned off as the canopies which are a feature of the shopping parade started to collapse. Specialist contractors then had to demolish a corner of the Parade as the canopies just started to fall down.

Now a programme that is to start next week and continue into next April will begin, all with the aim of give the Shopping Parade a lift in safety terms and to improve the aesthetic value of this important local facility.

The contractor is expected to be on site next week to start preparing for the canopies demolition, external repair, erection of new canopies and finally the renewal of pedestrian walkways to the parade.

It is anticipated that these works will take place in four phases which will allow important Christmas trading for the shopkeepers.

Councillors and traders met last night to talk over the City Council proposals.There was much agreement that the work should take place quickly, they also agreed that it was important that the City Council helped them convince residents that the shopping parade was open. When all the signs were that it was just a construction site.

Councillor Bateman informed the traders that he would request that the City Council marketing team, be involved early so that they may devise a marketing plan that would help to mitigate the effects of construction work on the Parade.

All in all it looks to be a good scheme, and the revamp is much required. I am personally pleased that after all the hard work and lobbying that has gone into getting the resources for this development. It is now just days away from the start."