Ashbourne is a market town within the Derbyshire Dales in England. Because of its proximity to the southern edge of the Peak District and being the closest town to the popular location of Dovedale, the town is referred to as both the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. As a result of this tourism has always been important for the town's economy. As outlined by the 2011 Census, the town boasts a permanent population of about 8377 people. It consists of many historical buildings and several independent shops and is famous for its traditional yearly Shrovetide football match. The cobbled marketplace hosts a traditional outdoor market every Thursday and Saturday all through the year, complementing the wide range of individual shops inside the town. Despite the fact that its market heritage is important, Ashbourne's market was under threat of closure from Derbyshire County Council in November 2012. Residents of Ashbourne have opposed any such moves by the council and started an online petition. Ashbourne became the 97th Fairtrade Town in March 2005 after a lot of local companies, cafes, shops and community organisations started supporting Fairtrade. Ashbourne offers a considerable variety of public houses for such a small town centre. Currently, you'll find 10 pubs trading, as well as two social clubs. The famous and rare 'gallows' sign across St John's Street is still central meeting point within the town. Local historians have noted that almost 1 in 4 buildings within the town have at one time or another been an alehouse, pub or inn or were redeveloped on the site of such an establishment. For all your property improvement jobs, be certain that you utilise trustworthy pros in Ashbourne to make sure you get the most effective quality service.