Borough of Ashford - Local Government

Local Government

See also: Ashford local elections

Ashford Borough Council performs only adequately overall.

There are 43 electoral wards in the Borough; 18 of those serve Ashford town; the remainder the outlying villages. The Conservative party has held control of the council for much of its history, apart from periods where no party had a majority, and recently has had a majority since the 2003 election. After the latest election in 2011 the council is composed of the following councillors:-

Year Conservative Ashford Independent Labour Liberal Democrat Independent
2011 30 5 5 2 1

There are two town councils in the Borough: Ashford itself, and Tenterden.

There are 39 civil parishes within Ashford District. They are:

  • Aldington
  • Appledore
  • Bethersden
  • Biddenden
  • Bilsington
  • Bonnington
  • Boughton Aluph and Eastwell
  • Brabourne
  • Brook
  • Challock
  • Charing
  • Chilham
  • Crundale
  • Egerton
  • Godmersham
  • Great Chart with Singleton
  • Hamstreet
  • Hastingleigh
  • High Halden
  • Hothfield
  • Kenardington
  • Kingsnorth
  • Little Chart
  • Mersham
  • Molash
  • Newenden
  • Pluckley
  • Orlestone
  • Rolvenden
  • Ruckinge
  • Sevington
  • Shadoxhurst
  • Smarden
  • Smeeth
  • Stone-cum-Ebony
  • Tenterden
  • Warehorne
  • Westwell
  • Wittersham
  • Woodchurch
  • Wye with Hinxhill

The area, once mainly rural, is now fast becoming an industrial and commercial centre, particularly where the town of Ashford is concerned. The corridor caused by the M20 motorway and High Speed 1 and its International Station have led to much hitherto agricultural land being turned to other uses. The town is very much in the news due to plans to double its urban population (currently approx. 60,000) over the next 30 years, with new housing planned in areas around the town such as Cheeseman's Green.

From the town centre, roads radiate to Charing and Maidstone (A20/M20), Faversham (A251), Wye and Canterbury (A28), Hythe and Folkestone (A20/M20), Hamstreet, Lydd and Hastings (A2070) and Tenterden (A28).

In 2010 Ashford Borough was found to be the worst local authority for recycling in England, with just 15% of waste being recycled. Recycling boss at Ashford council, Cllr Gerry Clarkson, said: "I think it's brilliant in the sense that we can only go up."

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