River levels have risen as a result of persistent rainfall. Flooding of roads and low lying land is expected from 09:45 today, 05/01/21. We expect flooding to affect low lying land and roads along the River Great Stour, particularly around Great Chart. Further light rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours until tomorrow morning, 06/01/21. We expect river levels to continue to rise until tomorrow evening, 06/01/21. Our incident response staff are actively monitoring the situation and are prepared to respond if required. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses. This message will be updated by 20:00 this evening on 05/01/21, or as the situation changes.
This information was last updated at 7:34am Tuesday 5 January 2021
Flood alert – Prepare
prepare a bag that includes medicines and insurance documents
check flood warnings
Monitor the river level feed from Gaugemap.co.uk on our River Levels page
Ashford Borough Council is currently in the process of contingency planning for the possibility that daily bin collections will be adversely affected, due to potential disruption caused by traffic congestion across the borough, following the Brexit EU exit transition on the 1st January 2021.
ABC has been working with both the Government and KCC to ensure that additional waste collection and disposal resources are funded and work closely together. We have agreed longer working hours and priority delivery slots for our collection vehicles at the transfer station, as well as additional operating hours for collections crews. ABC will be taking a number of actions to minimise disruption to collections and to ensure they are completed in a timely manner, whilst keeping residents updated. These actions will include:
Residents being asked to present bins, when possible, the evening before collection, if this isn’t possible we will be asking residents to present them no later than 6am on the morning of collection.
The contractor will be providing additional collection crews to continue collections after 6pm if needed, to do our utmost to ensure collections are completed. If necessary, additional collection crews will be working late into the evening. Staff from the Street Scene service will be working rotational shifts to ensure service is monitored throughout so that issues that we can resolve (outside traffic congestion) are dealt with promptly. Missed collections can be reported here www.ashford.gov.uk/report/
The Council will be highlighting that additional recycling can be placed in clear sacks or cardboard boxes, or held over to place in the recycle bin once emptied.
The council will be posting regular updates on social media and on the council website, regarding the status of collections, to ensure residents understand what is happening so they can act accordingly.
ABC will continue working with Kent County Council and their contractor Biffa to ensure we deliver the most effective service possible for our residents.
The area covered by flood alerts has been extended to include the whole of the Great Stour from Lenham to Ashford, the East Stour from Postling to Ashford, Aylesford Stream and the Great Stour from Ashford to Sturry.
The threat on Ruckinge Dyke and Whitewater Dyke has been raised to Flood Warning.
Warnings and alerts are in force elsewhere in the Borough of Ashford
Flood warning – Act
turn off gas, water and electricity
move things upstairs or to safety
move family, pets and car to safety
Flood alert – Prepare
prepare a bag that includes medicines and insurance documents
River levels have risen as a result of heavy rainfall. Flooding of roads and low lying land is expected to start around 08:00 today 27/12/2020. This is likely to take place in the following locations: River East Stour, the Aylesford stream and the River Great Stour. Further heavy rain will continue till around 09:00 before the weather will clear apart from a few scattered showers. Further rainfall is forecast late tonight and into Monday. We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are patrolling catchments and clearing screens. The public are advised to keep clear of rivers and avoid driving in flood water as bow waves can cause property flooding. This message will be updated later this afternoon.
This information was last updated at 6:05am Sunday 27 December 2020
Flood alert – Prepare
prepare a bag that includes medicines and insurance documents
check flood warnings
Monitor the river level feed from Gaugemap.co.uk on our River Levels page
Temporary traffic management plans announced for duration of Waterbrook inland border facility site operating at the same time as Sevington site; changes to A2070 orbital park roundabout include short ‘loop’ diversion for drivers leaving orbital park wishing to travel south-east toward Finberry, Romney Marsh and Kingsnorth.
The Department of Transport has announced plans to introduce a temporary traffic management scheme at the A2070 Orbital Park roundabout. The Waterbook inland border facility is likely to become operational for a maximum two month period starting 1 January 2021 at the same time as the partial operation of the facility at Sevington (where wet weather has delayed completion of works therefore requiring a period of dual running with functions split between the two sites).
The traffic management scheme, which will be in operation from 1 January as part of the approach to dual operation, consists of portable traffic signal controls on the A2070 westbound from the Orbital Park roundabout, and also Waterbrook Avenue, which is the access road into the Waterbrook site. The lights will manage HGV movements in and out of Waterbrook in the peak morning and afternoon periods.
All traffic on the Boulevard exiting Orbital Park will turn left onto the A2070 eastbound carriageway towards the M20 (even those motorists wishing to turn right at the roundabout to head westwards towards Kingsnorth on the A2070).Motorists wanting to head towards Kingsnorth will drive past the entrance to the Sevington Business Park before arriving at the A2070 Bad Munstereifel roundabout, where they can ‘loop’ around the roundabout before returning westbound along the A2070 back to the Orbital Park roundabout, through the traffic lights and westwards towards Kingsnorth.Motorists living on the Finberry housing development would use the same ‘loop’ because drivers will not be able to use the Orbital Park roundabout in order to turn around as they do now.
Emergency service vehicles travelling under a blue light will be still able to access the closed section of the Orbital Park roundabout.
Ashford Borough Council think it sensible for motorists to avoid this area if they can or allow extra time for their journey, particularly during the early period when the arrangements are bedding-in. They will raise with DfT the need to monitor and fine tune the working of the temporary arrangements, including making sure that those exiting Barrey Road are not unreasonable prejudiced by the scheme.
With amended services running over the festive period, check Stagecoach Christmas timetables before you travel.
Please plan ahead as some services may be busier than normal and try to take the most direct route available.
There’s great value travel for all! Kids go for just £1 with any adult ticket or concession pass and for travel after 6pm there’s our unlimited ‘eveningrider‘ ticket for just £3 on the Stagecoach Bus App.
This year will feel a bit different, but Stagecoacj are planning to run a variety of bus services on Boxing Day (subject to any local lock-down restrictions). Checkout the links to the Boxing Day bus timetables below.
Monday 21 – Wednesday 23 December
Normal school holiday service
Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
Normal school holiday service but some early finishes -see below for more information
Friday 25 December (Christmas Day)
No service
Saturday 26 December (Boxing Day)
No buses on Ashford routes.
Sunday 27 December
Normal Sunday service
Monday 28 December
Normal Bank Holiday (Sunday) service
Tuesday 29 – Wednesday 30 December
Normal school holiday service
Thursday 31 December (New Years Eve)
Normal school holiday service but early finishes- see below for more information.
Friday 1 January (New Year’s Day)
No service
Saturday 2 January
Normal Saturday service
Sunday 3 January
Normal Sunday service
From Monday 4 January
Normal school day service
Buses that finish early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve,
Route AD – The last bus is 20:55 from Bank Street.
Route B – The last bus is 20:45 from Kennington and 20:42 from Bridgefield.
Route C – The last bus will leave Ashford Int’l Rail Station at 21:06, from Lees Road at 21:25 and William Harvey Hospital at 21:31.
Route G – The 23:20 from Ashford Int’l Rail Station to Godinton Park will not run.
Remember, unless you’re exempt, you must wear a face covering throughout your journey. Please use contactless payment where you can, keep your distance from other passengers and take your litter with you.
Travelling is easier with the Stagecoach Bus App
Did you know we’ve added colour-coded buses to our live map in the app? It’s great to help you find the quieter times to travel.
Email Stagecoach at CustomerHelpSE@stagecoachbus.com (Mon – Fri not including Bank Hols, 09:00-17:00)
Tweet them at @StagecoachSE (Mon – Fri not including Bank Hols, 09:00-17:00)
Call us on 03456 00 22 99 (Mon – Fri not including Bank Hols, 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-15:00)
Follow them on Instagram @Proud2Serve_SE
You can reach the Stagecoach help hub team up to 3pm on Christmas Eve. They reopen on Tuesday 29 December until 3pm on Thursday 31 December then reopen on Monday 4 January 2021.
Need more information or have a question? Click here for Stagecoach Help & Contact services.
Stagecoach UK Bus https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-east/christmas-and-new-year-bus-times
The whole of Kent is now under the new Tier 4 (Stay at Home) Coronavirus rules.
You must stay at home other than for specified reasons.
The restrictions apply throughout the the Christmas period. You cannot participate in a Christmas Bubble.
Meeting Friends and Family
Work and Business
Education
No household mixing, aside from support bubbles and two people meeting in public outdoor spaces
Everyone must work from home unless they are unable to do so.
Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities open during term time. Registered childcare, other supervised activities for childcare purposes, and childcare bubbles permitted
Exercise
Retail
Personal Care
You can leave your home to exercise by yourself, with your household or support bubble, or with one person from another household. Outdoor sport allowed but gatherings limit applies except for youth and disabled sport.
Essential shops can open. Non-essential retail must close and can only open for click-and-collect and delivery.
Closed
Bars, Pubs and Restaurants
Indoor Leisure
Entertainment
Hospitality closed, aside from sales by takeaway, drive-through or delivery.
Closed
Indoor entertainment closed. Some outdoor attractions may remain open.
Travelling
Accommodation
Overnight Stays
You must stay at home and only travel for work, education or other legally permitted reasons. if you must travel, you should stay local, and reduce the number of journeys you make. You must not leave a Tier 4 area or stay overnight away from home. Residents in Tiers 1 — 3 should not enter ‘Fer 4 areas. Do not travel abroad if you live in a Tier 4 area unless an exemption applies.
Closed (with limited exceptions)
You must not stay overnight away from home. Limited exceptions apply.
Places of Worship
Weddings and Funerals
Open for private prayer and communal worship, but cannot interact with anyone outside household or support bubble.
Funerals of up to 30 people permitted Wakes and other linked ceremonial events can continue in a group of up to six. Weddings of up to six can continue in exceptional circumstances.
Residential Care
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable
You can visit relatives in care homes with COVID-secure arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods, and window visits.
The Clinically Extremely Vuinerable are advised to stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend health appointments.
ARE YOU or someone you know, inundated with scam mail? Tempted to respond to it? Keen to help track down the criminals behind scams and help put a stop to their activities?
IF YES to any of the above then why not become a Scam Marshal for National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team.
ARE YOU or someone you know, inundated with scam mail? Tempted to respond to it? Keen to help track down the criminals behind scams and help put a stop to their activities?
IF YES to any of the above then why not become a Scam Marshal for National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team.
