News

Tackling domestic abuse

20 February 2017 0 Comments

silhouette of figureAshford Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed to continue to provide funding for invaluable domestic abuse work in the Ashford borough and to make permanent the post of Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator.

The domestic abuse annual report highlights an increasing demand on services as more victims are gaining the confidence to come forward and seek help.

It also praises the work of professionals across the health, police, fire, voluntary, local authority and charitable sectors in dealing with an increasing workload in spite of some reductions in resources.

The charity Ashford Domestic Abuse Forum (ADAF) leads services across the borough and created the One Stop Shop; a weekly drop in centre where victims can receive advice and support.

Ashford has one of the busiest One Stop Shops in the county but can boast a high level of staff attendance and good reputation for partnership working, thanks in part to the appointment of a full time Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Crime, News, Safety, Wellbeing

Proposal for Elwick Road Car Park

17 February 2017 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) have submitted a planning application, to their own planning department, for creation of a temporary car park in Elwick Road. Part of the site comprises land that was included an outline application submitted by Stanhope plc for residential development, as Phase 2 of the planned cinema complex on the old Ashford Market site.

The application states that the “car park is intended to replace spaces lost at Dover Place during construction and to assist parking on the new K College campus which is opposite the site”. The car park will have a maximum of 107 spaces, which may reduce during its life.

It is ot envisaged that the works will have a life longer than three years.

ABC planning case references:

Case Ref: Description Posted on
17/00201/AS Creation of a new temporary car park on redundant land. Change of use from the previous B1 use to Sui Generis proposed car park 17th February 2017
15/01282/AS Outline application for development of up to 200 residential units with access to be considered at this stage (Phase 2) 12 October 2015

Ashford Borough Council, News, Planning and Development, Transport

College Site Public Event

13 February 2017 0 Comments

Note corrected times for Public Surgery

Chartway Group, the developers of the Ashford College site in Jemmett Road, are holding a public surgery, at the campus, this Thursday, 16th February, between 6 pm and 8 pm. Information will be provided about the development that will deliver a range of 1 – 4 bedroom properties to meet the needs of different members of the community, ranging from starter homes to larger family houses.

Chartway, in partnership with Orbit Homes, a leading housing association will release the homes as mixed tenure:

  • 25 rented,
  • 50 shared ownership – part-buy, part-rent
  • 53 outright sale by Orbit,,
  • 30 outright sale by Chartway Group’s Westerhill Homes.

Information relating to the development is available on the website: www.jemmettashford.co.uk/

News, Planning and Development

KCC Mental Health Service Consultation

13 February 2017 0 Comments

Mental Health Service – Promoting IndependenceKent County Council

Kent County Council

Opens: 10 February 2017
Closes: 24 March 2017

Kent County Council is proposing to integrate two existing services into a single service when the existing contracts expire in October 2017.

The Housing Related Support and Supporting Independence Service both work to enable people with mental health issues to live independent lives in the community. The proposal is to join up these services to allow for more flexible support, a more person focused system which is easier to access and promotes independence.

Bringing these services together and working differently with our service providers, enabling them to meet people’s needs in a person centred and more responsive way will mean that people receive the support they need, when they need it and will enable us to deliver the efficiencies required.

We would like to hear your views on how the new service should work to best meet the needs of the people of Kent. Please read through our consultation document which sets out the existing and proposed service, then use the online questionnaire to tell us what you think.

For alternative formats, please email alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or telephone 03000 421553 (text relay 18001 03000 421553). This number goes to an answer machine which is monitored during office hours.

Consultation Documents

Respond to this Consultation

Consultation Links

Consultation Summary

Name Mental Health Service – Promoting Independence
Description KCC is consulting on a proposal to combine contracts for Housing Related Support and Supporting Independence into one integrated Mental Health Service – Promoting Independence.
Dates From 10 Feb 2017 at 16:00 to 24 Mar 2017 at 23:59.
Status Open
Consulting Organisation Type Kent County Council
Consulting Organisation Name Kent County Council
District / Borough areas affected by the consultation Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells
Consultation Topic General interest, Adult social care, Healthcare and public health
Consultation Methods Online survey / questionnaire / forms
Contact Details

Kent County Council 10 February 2017
http://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/MentalHealthIndependence/consultationHome

Consultation, Health, Kent County Council, News, Wellbeing

LGBCE fails to sort out South Ashford wards

8 February 2017 0 Comments

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England have adopted Ashford Borough Council’s proposals for ward boundaries for Ashford. This leaves an amended Victoria Ward split by the main railway line through Ashford and isolates the Watercress area even more so than with the existing ward boundaries.

South Ashford Community Forum believes this is a lost opportunity to rationalise the wards and will comment on the proposals. Its proposals can be seen on its website https://southashford.org.uk/index.php/2016/08/09/sacf-electoral-review-proposal/ .

The draft proposals can be seen on the LGBCE website http:// www.lgbce.org.uk

Democracy, News

College site proposals

7 February 2017 0 Comments

Chartway Group have created a website showing their proposals for redevelopment of the Ashford College site in Jemmett Road.

The College finally received planning permission recently after signing a Section 106 agreement on a planning application that Ashford Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted to approve in 2011.

The proposals can be seen at http://www.jemmettashford.co.uk

News, Planning and Development

Time to talk

2 February 2017 0 Comments

Time to talk day 2017“It’s #timetotalk because if you say something, you realise how many people around you haven’t, and needed to”

Conversations about mental health change lives.

At the moment, too many people with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless by other people’s reactions.

But talking about mental health doesn’t need to be difficult. It can be as simple as making time to have a cup of tea or go for a walk, and listening to someone talk about how they feel.

Being open about mental health and ready to listen can make a positive difference to someone’s life.

This is what Time to Talk Day is all about – giving us all the chance to talk and listen about mental health.

Whatever the hour, every conversation, every text, every share means more people are reached and more lives are changed. (more…)

Health, News, Wellbeing