From Thursday 6th February 2025, the Market Place in Ashbourne will no longer be a car park, as works get under way for the UK Government funded Ashbourne Reborn programme. The highways and public realm project, led by Derbyshire County Council, will transform the historic centre of the town, with wider pavements, pedestrian crossings and improved public spaces.
The changes will celebrate the town’s heritage while enabling a wide variety of future events to bring new life to the centre of town.
Artists Impression of the revamped Market Place.
Alternative car parks are available at the Cattle Market, Cokayne Avenue, Shawcroft, the Bus Station, Swimming Pool, and Clifton Road. Although part of Fishpond Meadow is currently being used as a temporary compound for contractors delivering the Highways and Public Realm project, at the end of the scheme the site is due to be returned to Derbyshire Dales District Council for future use as overspill car parking.
Derbyshire Dales District Councillor David Hughes, who Chairs the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board said:
“The Market Place, at the heart of the town centre, is currently dominated by cars. In line with the vision of our successful funding bid developed with local Ashbourne partners, the aim is to open up this area for events and other activities which support town centre businesses.
“The transformation of public spaces and highways through the Ashbourne Reborn programme is also intended to improve
the experience for drivers and pedestrians. Improved signage will point the way so drivers are directed to alternatives to the Market Place, while waymarkers around town will direct pedestrians so they can find their way from car parks to landmarks within the town centre.”
While most of the car park within the Market Place will be removed, a limited number of parking bays, including a disabled bay will be retained around the southern and western edges of the Market Place. An area for motorcycle parking will also be provided. A small number of on-street short stay bays will be retained on Buxton Road near the Town Hall, with a new parking bay created north of the signal crossing. Additional on-street car parking bays, including disabled bays will also be created elsewhere in the town centre, including at the top of Compton.
Throughout Ashbourne’s history, the Market Place has traditionally been a focal point for activities, trade and people, and Ashbourne Reborn aims to restore a sense of vibrancy to this historic public space in the heart of the town. To achieve this, through the design developed with local Ashbourne partners, the area will be pedestrianised, new street furniture and lighting added, and trees planted to bring much-needed greenery into the town centre.
Grade II listed surfaces dating back to the 18th or early 19th century will be repaired and upgraded, and areas of asphalt will be replaced with limestone setts to match the existing materials and local character.
Once complete, the area will be ready to host Ashbourne’s vibrant programme of local events, like StreetFest and the Lantern Parade, for many years to come as well as creating space for exciting new events.
The project will also see improvements made to Victoria Square, Millennium Square and Shrovetide Walk. Works to the road network on Dig Street, St John Street, Church Street, Station Road and Buxton Road will help transform the pedestrian experience in Ashbourne, making people feel safer and reducing the dominance of traffic and its impact on the town.
Throughout this year, work will be carried out to deliver the Ashbourne Reborn programme, which is led by Derbyshire Dales District Council working with Derbyshire County Council and Ashbourne Methodist Church as key delivery partners, in collaboration with Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council and AshCom who brought forward project ideas, identified opportunities and raised match funding for the bid.
The £15.9m scheme aims to bring back vibrancy, vitality and economic prosperity to Ashbourne town centre, with £13.4m UK government funding and the rest raised locally by project partners.
A second major project, led by Ashbourne Methodist Church will develop The Link Centre, a new community hub providing a range of services to residents, businesses and visitors across Ashbourne.
Full details can be found here: www.ashbournereborn.co.uk
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