Opinion: Why we all need to shout up about why Ashfield is actually a great place to live

It’s an area where you really have to be proactive or risk allowing all that is good and positive going un-noticed. Afterall, it’s much easier to spot negative aspects ahead of things that are ticking over nicely.

That’s why it’s been really good to see the recent launch of the new People’s Museum of Ashfield, which aims to celebrate all that has been, and still is, good about the area through the opening of a new exhibition.

It’s so easy to look down on Ashfield and paint a picture of the area as an underwhelming dump where teens run riot and nothing much good happens.

There’s no denying that Ashfield does have its issues in areas such as poverty, low-income housing and anti-social behavior, but then that can also be said for similar towns up and down the land.

The loss of the coal-mining industry was naturally going to have a devastating impact on an area so dependent on the black gold for its income and even its identity.

It’s taken a few generations of hard work, as well as significant recent investments from central government, to arrest the depressing slide and get Ashfield moving forward once again.

Quality housing, increased employment opportunities and good transport links - not to mention the abundance of local parks and top level beauty spots close by - suggest the tide is starting to turn.

I know there’s lots of great things that make Ashfield a fine place to live, but we must shout about it or the narrative can never change and the feel-good factor cannot come back.

The museum project is being led by Nonsuch Studios on behalf of Ashfield District Council as part of the Ashfield Creates programme, with Sutton-born sociologist Dr Lisa McKenzie a member of the organising committee.

She’s a great voice for why we should be proud of our roots and says “there is a lot to celebrate and that is what we want to do. We are really interested in everyone’s stories, whether your family has been here 300 years or three weeks.”

My own personal story with Ashfield began more than 13 years ago when I officially moved to Kirkby having worked in the Mansfield and Ashfield area since January 2004.

During that time Kirkby has become more than just the place I happened to buy a house and is now somewhere I’m very proud to call home.

It’s a nice little town and where my son was born. It’s a friendly community with the gorgeous Portland Park on the door step, a good school and doctors, great transport links and a modern leisure centre all within walking distance. In short, there’s a lot more going for the place that meets the eyes.

We all have a great chance now to make the museum project a big success and shout loud and proud about where we have come from, the many Ashfield success story and where we are going.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to do your bit on sticking up for a cracking home towns.

For further information on how you can contribute visit https://ashfieldcreates.co.uk/museum/