ASHFORD has scooped a top national award for throwing off a ‘concrete collar’ during its recent regeneration, writes Business Editor Steve Loader.

The town centre’s £16 million pioneering ‘shared space’ scheme was hailed as a model for other UK town and cities, while honoured at the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) 2009 awards at The Hilton, London.

It topped 94 schemes considered by the RTPI, using a concept pioneered in Holland that removes the usual road signs and barriers separating pedestrians and traffic.

The theory is that drivers and pedestrians become more aware of each other, increasing safety, though Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson gained huge national media coverage after joking that pedestrians would only make eye contact with drivers as they bounced off their windscreens.

In fact, no accidents have been reported in the 12 months since the scheme opened.

BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Justin Webb made the presentation to Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council, architects Whitelaw Turkington and scheme artist John Atkin.

Chairwoman of the RTPI judges, Kay Powell said: "This project has transformed a town that was suffering from a 'concrete collar' that restricted pedestrian movement to and from the centre of Ashford.

“The council, working with a multi-disciplinary team involving planners, engineers, urban designers, landscape architects and public artists has transformed a series of streets where the space is now shared between vehicles and pedestrians.

"This reworking of Ashford's inner ring road has created a much more pleasant environment for people entering the town centre and the resultant neighbourhoods have become a more attractive location for retail and business development, marking a major stage in the regeneration of the town.

"The scheme demonstrates a high level of innovation and originality in the planning and design of road space and streetscape, which has resulted in a greatly enhanced and more civilised and sustainable urban environment: truly mediating space and making a better place.

“It provides a model that other UK towns and cities with similar traffic problems will surely follow."

KCC cabinet member for highways Nick Chard said of the award: “It gives further national recognition for our Ashford scheme's innovation and imagination. I am pleased that we are putting the town on the map."

Ashford Council Leader and chairman of Ashford's Future Cllr Paul Clokie said: "Since its launch, the area has been accident-free and the scheme has made the town centre more attractive to residents and visitors. It is also playing a vital role in unlocking the commercial development potential of Ashford."

The pioneering designer behind the scheme, Ben Hamilton-Baillie, said: “Ashford has helped the UK appreciate the potential for creating more civilised streets and spaces, and this will be a lasting legacy for the long term.”