Daring to dream….
As Leader of the Borough Council, I am frequently asked “What is your vision for the town?”. My reply is normally “How long have you got?” It often surprises people that, despite being a born and bred Ashfordian, I’m not stuck in the past; we can’t roll the clock back. Like many, I love to […]
Election results 2023
( date from Ashford Borough Council ) Congratulations to all newly elected Councillors. We look forward to working with you. Interesting times ahead for Ashford Borough Council.
Noel Ovenden speaks to the Kentish Express
I came into local politics nine years ago because I believed that Wye residents needed an alternative and that national party politics had no place in Ashford Borough Council. That belief has not changed; if anything, as the Westminster dramas have continued to unfold over the last two electoral terms, my beliefs have grown stronger. National […]
The demise of democracy
Somehow the Government have decided, contrary to the evidence, that the planning system is holding up the building of new homes so, in the Queens speech, it was unveiled that the biggest shake up to the planning system since 1947 is on the cards. The proposed reforms will make it more difficult for existing homeowners […]
Local elections 6th May 2021 – what they mean for Ashford
As the leaflets start to flow through your letter boxes you will have noticed that it’s election time ( again)…. In our area you will be voting to elect our representatives on Kent County Council. Ashford Borough has 7 KCC Wards. You can see which one your home is in, in the […]
Calling for fair play!
Yet another example of national parties stacking the odds against independent candidates is brewing… The Government has confirmed that the Local Elections, postponed from 2020 will run on 6th May 2021. All good for democracy so far.. BUT the proposal is to run the elections without any door-to-dooor presence and even to fine any candidate […]
Cllr Heather Hayward Shortlisted for 2020 LGIU & CCLA Cllr Award
The LGIU and CCLA have just announced the shortlists for this 2020 Councillor Awards and our colleague, Cllr Heather Hayward of Ashford Borough Council is among them! Heather has been shortlisted for the 2020 Cllr Awards for Community Champion.
Deliver, Deliver, Deliver!
We visited Ashford MP, Rt. Hon Damian Green today to discuss our thoughts on the government planning White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ and the more immediate changes proposed to the planning system. Our message was simple; Target the developers and management companies to meet the government housing targets. They land bank planning approvals but […]
Councils are not the planning problem
The pressure on local councils to ‘Build, build, build…’ comes directly from government, is justified on the grounds of the ‘housing crisis’ and ‘driving the economy’ but is in direct conflict with most residents feelings as well as messages about the vital role of green spaces to human health and the environment. Like many of […]
Building a community through a garden…
On a scrap of land next to Belgic Court in The Limes development in Roman Ward, Cllr Heather Hayward is leading a transformation. The land, at the corner of The Limes, Ashford, was a playground area. Five years ago, planning permission was granted to build 8 self-contained flats, with a condition that half of the […]