What is this project about?

This is a project to upgrade an important, but currently unlovely, thoroughfare in Ashbourne town centre. Shrovetide Walk (aka Civic Square) is adjacent to the Library and connects Dig Street and Compton to the main visitor carpark, retail and hospitality venues on St. John’s Street. It is the site of Ashbourne’s weekly Thursday market.

What are the key features?

The aim is to celebrate the unique contribution to the Ashbourne community of the annual Royal Shrovetide Football match which attracts a following of thousands, locally, regionally and nationally. The main features will include a redesigned garden and green space with benches and specially devised sculptural and commemorative artworks together with contextual story boards.

What’s the significance to Ashbourne?

This is both a self-contained project which has a lot of grass roots support, it also forms part of a larger plan to enhance and regenerate a number of areas of public space in the town. It is one of the few areas of green space in the town centre.

Who is delivering it?

This project is being led by AshCom, a not for profit volunteer led organisation, working with the site owner Derbyshire Dales District Council, and with the support of Ashbourne Town Council and the Shrovetide Committee.

What is the current status?

The architect led designs for the improvements have been agreed and the project received planning consent from the local authority in December 2021. The project costs are around £100,000 of which AshCom has now secured some 50%.

What needs to happen next?

AshCom needs to secure the remainder of the funding required before it can move forward to appoint contractors to implement the proposal, which ideally it wants to complete before the autumn of 2022. Achieving this deadline is totally dependent on raising the £50,000 required.