What is the key to revitalising Ashford’s town centre? Free parking? Cheaper rents? A bigger market?

Former county councillor for Ashford Elizabeth Tweed, from Charing, believes an updated and improved Marks & Spencer could be the answer to a thriving High Street.

“They have some amazingly frumpy things in the Ashford store,” she said. “And I’m not the only one who thinks this.

“When I was still an elected member of the county council, I suggested that if Marks & Spencer improved their offer in the town centre, it would bring more shoppers into the town.

“This is especially true for the ‘woman of a certain age’ who would like the chance to buy the stylish clothes in M&S’s adverts, worn by Helen Mirren and Twiggy, but few if any appear in the Ashford branch.

“And even if they do, they are snapped up quite quickly.

“Some of the styles on offer were available back in 2005, admittedly in a different fabric."

Cllr Jeremy Adby, ward member for the town centre, agrees Ashford’s Marks & Spencer is due a revamp, and would support a bigger food hall.

He said: “There has been a strong hope that M&S would extend for a while.

“There was talk of an upstairs and I’ve wondered if they would open it up.

“I would approve of an extended M&S, as it would bring more people into the town.

“Ashford’s could do with a refit, to lighten the place up and modernise it."

Bosses at the giant chain say they aim to offer as much choice as possible in their smaller stores and are working hard to bring 'a wide range of products' to Ashford.

Full story in this week's Kentish Express, out today.