News

Council services over Christmas

17 December 2024 0 Comments

Our comprehensive guide to Council services over the Christmas period

Ashford Borough Council

Ashford Borough Council

Ashford Borough Council services at International House

If you need to contact ABC during the festive period, opening hours during Christmas and New Year are as detailed below. The main switchboard number to call us on is 01233 331111.

DateOpening hours
(for visits in-person)		Opening hours
(for phone lines)
Monday 23 December9.00am to 4.00pm8.30am to 4.00pm
Tuesday 24 December9.00am to 2.00pm8.30am to 4.00pm
Wednesday 25 DecemberClosedClosed
Thursday 26 DecemberClosedClosed
Friday 27 December ClosedClosed
Monday 30 DecemberClosed8.30am to 4.00pm
Tuesday 31 DecemberClosed8.30am to 4.00pm
Wednesday 1 JanuaryClosedClosed
Thursday 2 January9.00am to 4.00pm8.30am to 4.00pm
Friday 3 January9.00am to 4.00pm8.30am to 4.00pm

Waste collections

Please ensure your bin is presented prior to 6am.

Normal Collection DayRevised Collection Day
Monday 23 DecemberMonday 23 December
Tuesday 24 December Tuesday 24 December
Wednesday 25 December Friday 27 December
Thursday 26 DecemberSaturday 28 December
Friday 27 DecemberMonday 30 December
Monday 30 DecemberTuesday 31 December
Tuesday 31 DecemberThursday 2 January
Wednesday 1 JanuaryFriday 3 January
Thursday 2 JanuarySaturday 4 January
Friday 3 JanuaryMonday 6 January 
Monday 6 JanuaryTuesday 7 January
Tuesday 7 JanuaryWednesday 8 January
Wednesday 8 January Thursday 9 January
Thursday 9 January Friday 10 January 
Friday 10 JanuarySaturday 11 January

Normal recycling, refuse and food waste service resumes Monday 13 January.

You can also find all this information on the ABC festive waste collections webpage including recycling tips.

Garden waste collections

Normal collection dayRevised collection day 
Monday 23 DecemberMonday 23 December
Tuesday 24 DecemberTuesday 24 December
Wednesday 25 DecemberFriday 27 December
Thursday 26 DecemberSaturday 28 December
Friday 27 DecemberMonday 30 December

Garden waste collections will also be suspended for the weeks commencing Monday 30 December and Monday 6 January and will resume on your normal day of collection from Monday 13 January. 

Missed bin collections 

Missed bin collections can continue to be reported via the usual Report It channel.

Please note that any missed bins need to be reported the day after your collection was due, but no later than 48 working hours thereafter.

Once you have reported your missed collection, please leave your bin outside at the usual point of collection.

Kent County Council

Kent County Council

Report a concern

Out of hours emergencies

If there is an emergency, call 03000 41 91 91.

Contact Centre staff are available to take emergency calls only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 December and New Year’s Day. If your enquiry is not urgent you will be able to contact KCCfrom 9am on Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December. It returns to our normal hours from 2 January.

Kent Support and Assistance Service is closed from 3pm on 24 December until 9am on 28 December. They are also unavailable on New Year’s Day and will reopen on 2 January. If you need urgent assistance during this time, contact the Social Services line on 03000 41 91 91.

Ashford Gateway Plus and Library

DateHours
Monday 23 December9am – 5pm
Tuesday 24 DecemberClosed
Wednesday 25 DecemberClosed
Thursday 26 DecemberClosed
Friday 27 December9am – 5pm
Saturday 28 December9am – 3pm
Monday 30 December9am – 5pm
Tuesday 31 December9am – 4pm
Wednesday 1 JanuaryClosed
Thursday 2 January10am – 6pm
Friday 3 January9am – 5pm
Saturday 4 January9am – 3pm

Ashford Household Waste and Recycling Centre

Before visiting you must book a slot, entry without booking is not permitted.

Book a slot

DateHours
Sunday 22 December9am – 4pm
Monday 23 December8am – 4:30pm
Tuesday 24 December8am – 3pm
Wednesday 25 DecemberClosed
Thursday 26 DecemberClosed
Friday 27 December8am – 4:30pm
Saturday 28 December8am – 4:30pm
Sunday 29 December9am – 4pm
Monday 30 December8am – 4:30pm
Tuesday 31 December8am – 3pm
Wednesday 1 JanuaryClosed
Thursday 2 January8am – 4:30pm
Friday 3 January8am – 4:30pm
Saturday 4 January8am – 4:30pm
Sunday 5 January9am – 4pm

Services provided

See our Government Services guide to see what services each council provides.

News, Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council

Social Club Development

19 November 2024 0 Comments

A new planning application has been submitted for the redevelopment of the Ashford International Social Club site.

The proposal for thirty-four 1 and 2 bedroom apartments follows the refusal of an application in 2021 for a replacement social club facility with thirty-one apartments in two blocks of five and three storeys. The primary reason for refusal being:

“The proposed development, by reason of its inappropriate height, scale and massing would comprise over-development of the site that would fail to promote high quality design or complement or respond to the prevailing character of the area.”

Norman Road elevation of 2021 proposal

The latest proposal comprises two four storey buildings. Block A facing Beaver Road comprises 19 apartments, Block B facing Norman Road 15 apartments.

Computer generated view of Social Club development from corner of Beaver Road
Image of latest proposal from the corner of Beaver Road

The documents reveal that a advice was given by planning officers early this year that a proposal for forty-three apartments was unlikely to be approved for reasons including:

  • The height and scale of both buildings would fail to appropriately respond to the prevailing heights of surrounding buildings and be harmful to the local townscape, and
  • Concern about the ability for the site to sustainably accommodate the quantum of development proposed and potential over-development of the site. This would not represent efficient or optimal use of land and would be in conflict with a number of national and local planning policies
Computer generated view of development from Norman Road
View of latest proposal from Norman Road

The current proposal includes 38 parking spaces, 11 of which are accessible.

Site plan of Social Club development
Site plan of latest proposal

Full details can be examined on the Ashford Borough Council planning website, Case Ref: PA/2024/2033

Comments must be submitted by 12th December 2024

Planning and Development

SEND Information Roadshow

29 June 2024 0 Comments

Come along, be informed, have a chat and maybe meet other parents and carers of SEND children!

Are you a parent and/or carer of a child or young person who has special educational needs and/or disabilities or you believe may require additional help? Are you looking for services in your area that can offer extra support for your child as they go through their education journey? Then Ashford Family Hubs would like to invite you to our SEND Information, advice and guidance event for Ashford.

There will be a short presentation at the start to introduce the services in attendance, followed by your opportunity to visit their stalls and find out how they can help.

Refreshments will be available and some toys can be provided in case you need to bring little ones.

16th July 2024
10 am -12 noon or
1 pm – 3 pm

Ashford North Family Hub
Mabledon Avenue
Ashford
TN24 8BJ

Book Now!!! Email:

Education, Children, Disability, Health, Kent County Council, News

The Local Plan Explained

27 June 2024 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council is preparing a new Local Plan for the borough and is inviting local communities to get involved in the process.

The council is holding a series of events throughout the summer to provide residents with the opportunity to find out more about how the new Ashford Local Plan will be prepared, what it will cover, what stage are we at, and when we will go out to formal public consultation.

Attendees will be able to share their aspirations for the borough, as well as frustrations, on matters such as the environment, future needs for local housing, jobs, green spaces, and both existing and new infrastructure as well as a whole range of other topics that fall with the remit of planning.

A Local Plan provides the opportunity to shape the places that we live, work and socialise.  It addresses the needs for housing and employment, and provides a series of planning policies covering many other topics such as community facilities and infrastructure, the natural and historic environment, adapting to climate change and achieving well designed places.

Although the general principle of the plan is to encourage growth within the economy of Ashford, our Local Plan will also seek to protect Ashford’s valued assets including our landscapes, heritage, and open spaces for leisure and nature.

Once adopted, the policies within a Local Plan are used as the starting point to decide planning applications for future development.

Simon Cole, Assistant Director for Planning and Development said: “Everyone is affected by planning so it’s important to get involved and have your say. These events are intended to explain the process and provide an opportunity to meet the planning team.

“You can find out where sites have been put forward by land owners, ask questions and leave feedback. By working together with residents and other stakeholders at this early stage, as well as throughout the later formal consultations, we can ensure that appropriate development delivers the affordable homes and infrastructure that our borough needs.”

The council is holding a total of eight ‘in person’ community events across the borough throughout July and August. These events will be followed by two virtual events in late August/early September for those who are unable or prefer not to attend in person.

The events are intended to be ‘drop in’ sessions open to all members of the community and residents may attend any of the events in any of the locations.

The council will review and collate all the feedback received during the community events, which will be used to gain a better understanding of key local issues and, where appropriate, inform the content of the draft version of the new Local Plan.

VenueDateTime
Ashford Cinema, Elwick Road, Ashford, TN23 1AETuesday 16 July2 – 8pm
Virtual via Microsoft TeamsWednesday 28 August6 – 8pm
Virtual via Microsoft TeamsThursday 5 September6 – 8pm

Feedback forms will be available at all our in-person events. Alternatively, you can provide feedback online using the link: https://haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/lp-explained-events   

All feedback must be provided by 5pm on Monday 16 September.

Ashford Borough Council

Find out more about the Local Plan on our page Local Plan 2041.

Local Plan, Local Plan 2041, Planning Policy

Parliamentary Elections 2024

18 June 2024 0 Comments

An election will be held to elect one Member of Parliament for Ashford constituency on 4th July 2024

Below is everything you need to know about the election.

Constituency

Parliamentary constituencies have changed substantially as a result of a Boundary Review in 2023. The Ashford Constituency now comprises a larger area of the Folkestone and Hythe District than of the Borough of Ashford and more of the Borough of Ashford is in the Weald of Kent Constituency than in the Ashford Constituency.

Map of Ashford Parliamentary Election Constituency
Ashford Parliamentary Constituency

Candidates

The candidates nominated for the Ashford Constituency are:

Name of CandidateHome AddressDescription (if any)
GREEN, Damian HowardHighlands, Charing Hill, Charing, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0NGThe Conservative Party Candidate
JOSEPH, Sojan(address in Ashford)Labour Party
KENNEDY HARPER, Tristram John(address in the Lewisham North Constituency)Reform UK
RANSLEY, James GordonLees Farm, 72 Kennington Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0NSYour Local Consensus Party Candidate
ROSSI, Mandy(address in the Ashford Constituency)The Green Party
ROWLEDGE, Adam James(address in the Folkestone and Hythe Constituency)Liberal Democrats

Timetable

The following are the deadlines to vote in the Parliamentary elections. More details are given under How to vote.

Register to vote11.59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024
Apply to vote by post5pm on Wednesday 19 June 2024
Apply to vote by proxy5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (Voter ID)5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024

How to vote

Voter registration

To vote in the Parliamentary Election you must have registered to vote by:
11.59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024.

Find out if you are eligible to vote and how to apply:
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/who-can-vote/register-vote

Postal vote

If you cannot attend or do not wish to attend the polling station you can apply to vote by post but must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June

You must have registered to vote by Tuesday 18th June to be able to apply for a postal vote.

There are two ways to apply to vote by post:

You can choose to apply for a postal vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.

If you only want to apply for a postal vote for a particular type of election, you need to contact the electoral services team at your local council. 

You need to complete a new postal vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.

If you have an existing long-term postal vote that you wish to cancel, you must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19th June

Proxy vote

Alternatively you can apply to have someone that you trust to vote for you at the polling station. You must apply by: 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

You and your proxy must both have registered to vote before you can apply and by 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June.

There are two ways to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election:

Voter ID

Voters and proxy voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations.

If you do not have one of the forms of ID listed below you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. You must apply by: 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

Apply online

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on gov.uk.

Apply now(Opens in new window)

Apply by post

Apply by filling out a paper application form and sending it to your local council. 

You can contact your local council to request a form or you can download a form (Opens in new window).

You may also be able to apply in person at your local council.

If you need any help applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, contact your local council. You can also call our helpline on 0800 328 0280 if you have any questions.

Accepted forms of ID are:
International travel
  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state (Opens in new window) or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card) 
Driving and Parking
  • Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
  • A Blue Badge
Local travel
  • Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
  • 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London
  • Freedom Pass
  • Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
Proof of age
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
Other government issued documents

Where to vote

The map below indicates areas covered by the polling districts in South Ashford and shows the locations of polling stations. The boundaries are approximate and you should use the tool on the Ashford Borough Council website to confirm your polling station

Contact Electoral Services

Contact Electoral Services if you live in the Borough of Ashford

Telephone

Contact the Electoral Services Office on 01233 330402.

Email

vote@ashford.gov.uk

Post

Electoral Services
Ashford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Tannery Lane
Ashford
Kent TN23 1PL

In person

If you need to visit the office please telephone for an appointment.

Democracy, Government, News, Uncategorized

Plan for the Borough consultation

12 May 2024 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council is consulting on its Plan for the Borough for 2024 – 2028

Plan for the Borough

The Plan sets out Ashford Borough Council’s priorities over the next four years as we face the dual challenges of climate and economy and strive to bring people and organisations together to achieve the vision: To make Ashford a place where people, business and nature can collectively thrive.

Three pillars support this vision and form the priorities against which progress will be measured:

  • Planet – Working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and creating places for nature will be at the heart of everything we do.
  • People – Listening and serving the Ashford community is our philosophy; we will make best use of available resources to build an equitable and fair society.
  • Place – We are planning for the future of our community and to make Ashford a place people are pleased to call home and love to visit.

The draft Plan can be downloaded from the Council’s Consultation Portal using the link below

Ashford Borough Council, Plan for the Borough, 2024 – 2028 Draft pdf (14.6 MB)

Consultation

The Council is giving the opportunity to let them know what you think of the Plan and suggest any changes or additions. Feedback and contributions you provide, will inform the final plan document and the council’s priorities over the next four years.

You can give your feedback, before 14th June 2024 via the Council’s Consultation Portal.

News, Ashford Borough Council, Consultation

Coneybeare Site Consultation

29 April 2024 0 Comments

New proposals have emerged for the Coneybeare Site

Ashford Borough Council are consulting on revised proposals for the site between Torrington Road and Eastmead Avenue. The west of the site was previously used as allotments and the east for the light industrial premises of Coneybeare & Company.

The Council consulted on a proposal for the site in 2022 but have now produced revised proposals including 16 apartments and 12 houses plus a community hub for a ‘men-in-sheds’ organisation. The commercial element of the previous scheme has been omitted and open space element extended.

A concern that has long restricted the development of the site is poor access. This previously being limited to the Coneybeare access from Torrington Road and a narrow passage at the east end of Eastmead Avenue. The new proposal shows the main access across the site of Eastmead House, previously the premises of Alpha Blinds.

Consultation

The Council are consulting on the new proposals via their consultation portal at haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/coneybeare

The Consultation is open until 24th May 2024

In-person Consultation

An in-person consultation is being held

  • On 9th May 2024
    from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm
    at Christchurch Community Hall
    Christchurch Road, Ashford, TN23 7XB
Coneybeare site - artists impression: view east along shared surface street
Coneybeare site - artists impression: view west along shared surface street

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, Planning and Development

Public Meeting of the Committee

19 April 2024 0 Comments

The next meeting of South Ashford Community Forum will be

at 7:30pm

on 24 April 2024

at Christchurch Community Hall

Christchurch Road, Ashford, TN23 7XB

Please note the change of venue and time

this is due to St. Francis Hall being out of use

There is restricted parking at Christchurch.
A Brownie group have a meeting ending at 7:00 pm. Please do not enter the building until  the children have left and leaders have cleared away.

The meeting will be held as a Committee Meeting to which all residents of the Community Forum area are invited. The format will be a round table discussion to which all attendees have the opportunity to contribute.

We are aware that an event is happening at the Civic Centre and our Councillors may not be able to attend.

Agenda

  1. Welcome
    Sign in
    Apologies
  2. Minutes of meeting of 24 January 2024
    Matters arising
  3. Reforming South Ashford Community Forum
    • 3.1 Constitution
    • 3.2 Bank Account
  4. Finance
  5. Planning
    • 5.1 Updates
    • 5.2 BP Filling Station
    • 5.3 HELAA Submissions
  6. Any other business
  7. Date of next meeting

Minutes of Meeting of 24 January 2024

We have prepared a draft constitution for discussion under item 3.1. This was arrived at by editing the 2006 Constitution.

South Ashford Community Forum Draft Constitution

Although consultation has not opened on the proposed sites for inclusion in the Local Plan to 2041, we will start to draw opinions on those in South Ashford.

The table below lists all in Beaver, Norman And Victoria Wards.

HELAA Site reference Call for Sites Consultation Portal Response ID Address Ward CF Area
HELAA/LP41/198 1178822 Land at St Stephen’s Walk and Stanhope Road, Ashford, TN23 5BD Beaver South
HELAA/LP41/103 1178424 Land south of Asda, A2042, Ashford, TN24 0SD Norman South
HELAA/LP41/146 1178675 Land off Norman Road and Romney Marsh Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0SD Norman South
HELAA/LP41/163 1178745 Land south of Norman Rd, Ashford TN23 7DG Norman South
HELAA/LP41/188 1178800 Coneybeare, Eastmead Avenue, Ashford, TN23 7SB Norman; Victoria South
HELAA/LP41/210 1178916 Old Stanhay Works, Ashford, TN23 7HE Victoria South
HELAA/LP41/211 1178920 1 Victoria Road, Ashford, TN23 7HE Victoria South
HELAA/LP41/217 1178959 Beaver Road, Ashford, TN23 7RR Victoria South
HELAA/LP41/221 1178984 26 Bank Street, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1BE Victoria South
HELAA/LP41/061 1178083 Kent House, Station Road, Ashford, TN23 1PJ Victoria Central
HELAA/LP41/169 1178756 County Square Shopping Centre, Elwick Road, Ashford, TN23 1YB Victoria Central
HELAA/LP41/186 1178797 Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN23 1PL Victoria Central
HELAA/LP41/194 1178811 Kent Wool Growers Site, Brundrett House, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN23 1PN Victoria Central
HELAA/LP41/205 1178848 Elwick Place Phase 2 Victoria Central

SACF, News, Planning Policy

East Stour Park application withdrawn

23 January 2024 0 Comments

A planning application for the 90 dwelling East Stour Park development and an associated application for the site opposite the Ashford Designer Outlet have been withdrawn.

Image of proposed East Stour Park residential development

The developer initially proposed a development of 240 apartments for the site at the junction of Romney Marsh Road and Norman Road at a Public Consultation Event in March 2019. An application was submitted in May 2019, reducing the development to 212 apartments.
On 19 February 2019, Ashford Borough Council’s Planning Committee rejected the application by a 15:1 majority vote (against the officer’s recommendation), ABC Case ref :19/00709/AS. The developer appealed against the decision in July 2020. The appeal hearing took place virtually in April 2021 and the inspector dismissed the appeal on 2 December 2021.

In October 2022 the developer submitted a new application, reducing the number of units to 80 in three blocks of five storeys, later increased to 90 units, ABC Case Ref: PA/2022/2669.

An outline application was submitted in January 2023 for a Community Centre, supplementary to the residential development, ABC Case Ref: PA/2023/0065.

Both the 90 unit residential development and the community centre applications have been marked as withdrawn on the ABC planning website this month.

News, Planning and Development

Noakes Meadow Consultation

23 January 2024 0 Comments

Noakes Meadow has funding from Section 106 (Local Development) to improve the open space. 

Noakes Meadow

The money can only be spent on improving the open space and replacing the play area. Ashford Borough Council would like to hear from the local community to ensure improvements made to Noakes Meadow reflect what the local community need.

Tell Ashford Borough Council what you would improvements you would like made by completing a short survey (approx. 2 minutes)

Tell Ashford Borough Council what you would improvements you would like made by completing a short survey (approx. 2 minutes)
or download a form to respond by post

Respond by 9th February 2024

The questions in the survey are:

  1. Please score, from most important (1) to least important (4), what items need improving at Noakes Meadow.
    Give a score to at least 4 options.
    • MUGA (caged sports area)
    • Play Area
    • Flooding Paths
    • Accessibility
  2. The following items of play equipment could be installed at Noakes Meadow Play Park.
    Which five items of play equipment do you think should be installed?
    Select between 1 and 5 options.
    • Roundabout
    • Seesaw
    • Swings
    • Trim trail/obstacle course
    • Toddler Unit
    • Spinners/spring
    • Multi-climb unit
    • Other – please state
  3. Would you like the play area to be for mixed ages (toddler through to over 8’s)?
  4. Would you like to see a new access path improving accessibility all year round at Noakes Meadow?
  5. Do you think the paths and access are suitable currently?
  6. Is the MUGA cage well used?
    This is the caged sports area in the centre of Noakes Meadow.
  7. Do you think that the MUGA entrances need to be improved?
  8. What sports would you like the MUGA lines painted for?
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Other – please state
  9. Is there anything else you would like to see added to improve Noakes Meadow?
  10. Is there any other feedback regarding the proposed play upgrades at Noakes Meadow that you would like to tell us about?

Consultations, Ashford Borough Council, Children, Consultation, News, Parks