Ashford hopes to exploit tunnel

Kent is no longer just the garden of England. These days the Channel Tunnel has made it the gateway into Europe. West Kent has always fared better economically than the east with its run-down coastal towns. But the latter has yet to exploit the tunnel's full potential for commercial leisure development.

However, changes are on the horizon. Ashford was put on the map by its International Passenger Station. Now the borough council hopes to encourage travellers to linger by proposing a £10m mixed-use development opposite the station. This would include offices, retail, housing - and leisure and hotels.