THE Government minister at the forefront of the huge development plan for Ashford has made another whistle-stop visit to the town.

Phil Hope, Ashford's sponsor minister, was given a whirlwind tour of key development sites in Ashford yesterday, including the County Square shopping centre and land on the other side of Elwick Road next to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Ashford council leader Paul Clokie and chief executive David Hill were on hand to tell the minister their grand plans for the future.

Earlier in the day Mr Hope had spoken at the start of a two-day ideas workshop about the town's dramatic expansion and redevelopment entitled Ashford's Future Blue Sky, which was closed to the press and public.

Speaking during his tour of the town, he said: "There's real potential in Ashford. Seeing it physically makes a huge difference.

"There's an ambition to transform Ashford for its existing and future population."

This trip follows his first visit to the town last month.

FULL STORY AND PICTURES WILL APPEAR IN NEXT WEEK'S KENTISH EXPRESS.