Ashford Borough Council

One week to Register to Vote

5 April 2019 0 Comments

Your vote matters - don't lose it

You must have registered to vote by 12 April to vote in the Borough Council elections on 2nd May.

If you are not registered you can register online to vote in a matter of minutes. You will need to give your name, address and National Insurance number. If you do not have your National Insurance number you can still apply to register you will be asked to provide more information.

Register on-line at gov.uk/register-to-vote

You can contact the Electoral Services Office for Ashford by phone,
01233 330402, if you want to discuss any issues around your registration or, to view the current electoral register, call into their office at after first telephoning for an appointment.
Civic Centre
Tannery Lane
Ashford
Kent TN23 1PL .

Please note they will not discuss your registration with anyone else including family members. If you have made an application it may take several days for us to process especially at busy periods; there is no need to reapply.

Postal and Proxy Voting

If you are not able to get to your polling station on the day of the election you may wish to apply to vote by post or proxy. For more information on postal and proxy voting, or to download an application form, please see your vote matters.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote for these elections is 5pm on Monday 15 April 2019.

If you have a postal vote you cannot vote in person at the polling station, you must use your postal vote.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for these elections is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2019.

If you are given a proxy vote and your proxy is not able to attend your polling station on election day then your proxy can make a separate application to vote as proxy by post but please note the deadline for your proxy to apply to vote by post is 5pm on Monday 15 April 2019.

There is also an emergency proxy facility for cases where there is a medical emergency or if you are suddenly called away for your employment. The medical emergency or employment reason must have occurred after the deadline for ordinary proxy applications has passed.

Your application will need to be signed by someone else to support your application. Only certain people can sign as a supporter and details are included with the application form.

Ashford Borough Council, Democracy, News

Borough Council Election Candidates

5 April 2019 4 Comments

The following candidates have been nominated for election to the Ashford Borough Council Wards in South Ashford.

Name of
Candidate 		Home Address Description
Beaver Ward
DOBSON
Rob 		30 Pittlesden, Tenterden,
Kent, TN30 6HJ 		Conservative Party
Candidate
HODGKINSON
Amanda Georgina		Flat 4 Oakleigh House,
Watercress Lane, Ashford,
Kent, TN23 5EL 		Conservative Party
Candidate
PIZZEY
Maria Ann 		24 Lynsted Close, Ashford,
Kent, TN23 5RZ 		Green Party
SUDDARDS
Lyn 		35 Queen Street, Ashford,
TN23 1RF 		Labour Party
TAYLOR
Thomas Norman 		Festival Cottage, Colt Estate,
Pluckley Road,
Bethersden, TN26 3DD 		UK Independence
Party
WARD
Alexander 		94 Sir Bernard Paget Avenue,
Ashford, TN23 3RY 		Labour Party
Norman Ward
ARNOLD
Al 		(Address in Ashford) Green Party
BURGESS
Neil Robert 		73 Hillbrow Lane,
Ashford, TN23 4XW 		UK Independence
Party (UKIP)
JONES
Dylan Alexander 		40 Copperfield Close,
Kennington, Ashford,
Kent, TN24 9RJ 		Labour Party
WEBB
Jenny 		7 Upper Denmark Road,
Ashford, TN23 7TZ 		Conservative Party
Candidate
Victoria Ward
ADBY
Jeremy Paul 		14 Church Yard,
Ashford, Kent, TN23 1QG 		Conservative Party
Candidate
BRIDGER
Matthew James 		(Address in Ashford) Conservative Party
Candidate
FARRELL
Dara 		38 Luddenham Close,
Ashford, Kent, TN23 5SE 		Labour Party
MBALI
Charlotte 		23 Western Avenue,
Ashford, TN23 1LY 		Liberal Democrats
SMALL
Jonathan 		57 Weavers Way,
Singleton Farm,
Ashford, Kent, TN23 5DY 		Green Party
STEWART
Peter Alexander 		Childrens Farm Bungalow,
Norton Lane, St Michaels,
Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6TB 		UK Independence
Party (UKIP)
SUDDARDS
Charles 		35 Queen Street, Ashford,
Kent, TN23 1RF 		Labour Party
TAYLOR
Ann Marie 		The Festival, Colt Estate,
Pluckley Road,
Bethersden, TN26 3DP 		UK Independence
Party (UKIP)

Where candidate election statements have been provided, they can be accessed by clicking on the candidate’s name. Some of these statements are on the candidate’s or party’s website. Candidate’s representing the same party in any ward may provide common statement.

We would be pleased to post the statements for any of the candidates listed. Candidates should contact us to arrange for statements to be posted.

Voters should remember that Ashford Borough Council’s principal services are housing, leisure and recreation, environmental health, waste collection, planning applications, strategic planning.

Ashford Borough Council, Candidates, Democracy, News

Op Brock in place next week

23 March 2019 0 Comments

From next week, Operation Brock will be available as a tool for managing disruption in Kent. Operation Brock queues lorries bound for mainland Europe on the coastbound M20 and uses a contraflow on the London-bound carriageway to enable other traffic to travel in both directions.

Under the new arrangements, in addition to the M20 contraflow lorries can be routed to Manston Airfield and, if needed, the M26 motorway can be closed and used to queue HGVs too.

The M20 contraflow is planned to be in place by 6am on Monday 25 March, and there will be roadworks on the M20 and M26 over the weekend and into next week as the final preparations and adjustments are made.

Drivers are advised that sections of the M20 will be closed this weekend for the final work to take place, signed diversions will be in place. From Monday drivers will need to follow the different layout on the M20 from just north of Junction 8 (for Leeds) to Junction 9 (Ashford).

The M20 will be closed overnight (8pm – 6am) each night until Monday morning between Junction 7 (for Maidstone) and Junction 9. Overnight closures may also be required on this section next week if there is remaining work to complete. For the preparations for the M26, there will also be overnight closures on the weekends of the 23 and 30 March.

What is Operation Brock?

Operation Brock is a set of measures to keep the M20 open in both directions between junctions 8 and 9 in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel, by using different holding areas.

The queuing system only applies to lorries heading to mainland Europe from Kent. All other drivers should check conditions before setting out and, if they’re crossing the channel, check with their service operator for updates.

Phase 1 – In the event of excessive disruption to services across the English Channel, improved holding capacity in the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, as well as on the A20 approach to the port (Dover TAP), would be used.
Phase 2 – If phase 1 capacity is reached, we will start queuing Europe bound lorries that are 7.5 tonnes and over on the coast bound section of the M20 between junction 8 and 9 with cars and other vehicles using a contraflow on the London-bound carriageway.
Phase 3 – If phase 2 becomes full, lorries heading for Port of Dover will be directed to Manston Airfield, while the M20 is used to hold traffic for Eurotunnel. Traffic lights on the A256 after Manston Airfield will help to manage traffic arriving at the port.
Phase 4 – If the M20 holding area and Manston becomes full, the M26 could be used to hold additional lorries heading for Eurotunnel.

Highways England: Operation Brock: ready for action 22 March 2019
www.gov.uk/government/news/operation-brock-ready-for-action
Highways England: Operation Brock
highwaysengland.co.uk/OperationBrock/

For information on driving when operation Brock is in place refer to the Highways England page about Operation Brock highwaysengland.co.uk/OperationBrock/

Other ‘Brexit’ preparedness information:

Ashford Borough Council, Government, Kent County Council, News, Transport

Your Council Tax bill

10 March 2019 2 Comments

We will all be getting the bill for Council Tax within the next day or two.

We tell you how much more you will be paying this year and where your money goes.

The table below shows the increase in the precept charged by each authority and the the total for a Band D property.

Increase by precepting authority for Band D.

As in previous years Kent County Council has been allowed to add an additional sum off 2% of their precept for Adult Social Care.

The next table shows how this affects the annual and monthly payments for all properties.

Change in Council Tax for all property bands in unparished area.

Note: Ashford Borough Council normally debits one payment of an odd amount then nine rounded payments. The table shows the average.

We exclusively show how much you pay for the services of all of the precepting authorities.

Approximate amount paid for services from Band D Property Council Tax.

References:
Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/budget-book
Ashford Borough Council
www.ashford.gov.uk/benefits-and-council-tax/council-tax/council-tax-information/
Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority
www.kent.fire-uk.org/about-us/financial-information/council-tax/council-tax-2019-20/
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner
www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/setting-the-kent-police-budget/

Ashford Borough Council, Finance, Kent County Council, News

Appeal against refusal for motorcycle workshop

9 March 2019 0 Comments

The applicant has appealed a decision by Ashford Borough Council to refuse an application to change an industrial unit in Eastmead to a motorcycle workshop.

Alexander Motorcycles currently located on Ellingham Industrial Estate applied, in December 2017, to change the use of Airtech House in Eastmead Avenue from industrial/commercial use to a motorcycle workshop. Ashford Borough Council refused the application in, August 2018, because “The proposed change of use would give rise to an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance to residents within the locality which cannot be adequately mitigated. As a result, the residential amenity of the occupiers of dwellings in the locality would be significantly harmed to their detriment. “

Alexander Cadenhead, a director of Alexander Motorcycles, submitted an appeal against the decision on 3rd February of this year.

Ashford Borough Council planning case ref: 17/01873/AS
Planning Inspectorate case ref: APP/E2205/W/19/3221781

Ashford Borough Council, News, Planning and Development

HMO Application refused

9 March 2019 0 Comments

A retrospective planning application for change of use of a chalet bungalow in Bond Road as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) has been refused by Ashford Borough Council.

The application by Mr. Scott Bayliss, the owner of a number of houses in multiple occupation in South Ashford, to allow the 40 Bond Road to be used for occupation by seven people was refused on the grounds of insufficient parking provision. Although the application showed two parking spaces on the frontage of the property, these do not exist and no application was made for a dropped kerb. It is also thought that there is insufficient space on the property to accommodate two parking spaces meeting ABC’s parking standards.

Since October 2010 a planning application has not been needed for change of use of a dwelling house (Planning Class C3) into a Small HMO (Planning Class C4), however if more than six unrelated persons occupy and share amenities, planning permission is still required. When the Permitted Development rules came into force ABC made a Direction under Article 4 of the legislation which effectively removes the Permitted Development status for Small HMOs in Aylesford Green, Beaver, Little Burton Farm and South Willesborough wards.

Ashford Borough Council, News, Planning and Development

Halstow Way appropriation notice

21 February 2019 0 Comments

View from open space

Following our announcement that Ashford Borough Council have submitted a planning application for the construction of 17 affordable rented apartments on the Noakes Meadow public open space (refer to our post dated 26 October 2018), the Council have now published a notice of their intention to appropriate the site for the purpose.

Local Government Act 1972 Sections 121(1) & 122(2b)

Land known as land at Halstow Way

Notice is hereby given that Ashford Borough Council intends to appropriate for housing purposes land having an approximate area of 3,347 square metres at Halstow Way. This land consists of open space. A plan of the land is available to view at the Customer Contact Centre of Ashford Borough Council.

Any objections to the intended appropriation must be made in writing and addressed to: – Mr T W Mortimer, Corporate Director (Law and Governance) & Monitoring Officer, Ashtord Borough Council, Civic Centre,Tannery
Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1 PL, quoting reference DSJ/H6-383

Objections must be received no later than 8th March 2019.

Dated this 7th February 2019.

T W Mortimer
Corporate Director (Law and Governance) & Monitoring Officer
Ashtord Borough Council

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, News, Planning and Development

ABC Elections

20 February 2019 0 Comments

Some of the candidates for the election of councillors to Ashford Borough Council in May are beginning their campaigns.

Following the Electoral Review of Ashford Borough in 2016/17 there will be substantial changes to the wards in South Ashford. Make sure you know which ward you will be in.

When the candidates have been announced we will publish their details.

If you haven’t alread done so, Register now to Vote:

www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Ashford Borough Council, Democracy, News, Uncategorized

Victoria Park plans submitted

16 February 2019 0 Comments

Masterplan for proposals

The planning application for proposals to be included in a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for improvements to Victoria Park have been submitted for planning permission.

The proposals include the extension to existing nursery building to create new cafe provision. Improvements to entrances on public highway, resurfacing and extension to existing car park, new CCTV, lighting columns adjacent to new cafe, new feature play equipment. Restoration and repairs to landscape features – paths, planting, seating, ecological improvements etc., a new path along the boundary of Watercress Fields and the refurbishment of the listed Hubert Fountain.

Implimentation of the proposals is subject to the bid by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is expected to be submitted this month, being successful. The results of the bid are expected late summer of this year.

Proposed replacement building

The ABC planning case reference is 19/00054/AS

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, News, Planning and Development, Victoria Park

Emerging ideas for the former Mecca Bingo site

12 February 2019 0 Comments

Following the discussion at the June 2018 meeting of the South Ashford Community Forum, Ashford Borough Council have published emerging proposals for the former Mecca Bingo / Odeon site.

High streets up and down the country are facing challenging times due to online shopping and the changing way town centre are being used. This means they need to reinvent themselves and what they offer to residents and visitors.

The Council is looking to regenerate the town centre so that:

  • it is an attractive and safe place to live and visit, where people feel welcome and have a sense of community and belonging
  • it offers unique and fun experiences for everyone to enjoy in the daytime, evening and at night
  • it is a thriving place that is accessible, easy to navigate and well managed.

The former Mecca/Odeon site and the adjacent Vicarage Lane car park presents a unique opportunity to drive forward these objectives which could bring more people to the town centre and provide better facilities for residents.

The Council would like to hear your views.

To see more details and participate in the survey go to www.ashford.gov.uk/mecca

Ashford Borough Council, Consultations, News, Planning and Development