Welcome to the website for Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council
To comply with current legislation, all physical meetings are currently suspended.
New legislation has removed the requirement for a parish council to hold an Annual Meeting in May 2020. The current appointment of chairman is also carried on until the Annual Meeting in May 2021.
The 2020 Regulations permit the holding of remote meetings (this is not usually permitted). If a remote meeting is planned it will be advertised as usual, and members of the public enabled to access the meeting.
The Parish Clerk and Councillors remain contactable as usual and work goes on from their homes.
Read a letter regarding meetings from the Chairman to Parish Councillors here.
Updated support on offer from Ashford Borough Council includes help with accessing shopping slots online
ABC Information Leaflet
Goat Lees Covid-19 Rock Snake
Join the Goat Lees stone snake (outside the school) by painting a stone and adding to the tail. For details look at the snake’s own facebook page here.
** After problems with damage, the snake has now been taken inside the school gates for its own safety. If you have painted a stone for the snake, it can be left outside and will be added to the snake.**
Boughton Aluph and Eastwell Parish Council is pleased to confirm that it will be making a donation of £5000 to Family Food Bank to support their vital work in our community at this time of great need.
This donation should provide approximately 600 food parcels, each containing enough food for about 32 meals (totalling circa 19000 meals in all).
Visit Family Food Bank website
Commemorating VE Day At Home
There are some fantastic resources online to help commemorate VE day at home.
Lots of useful information including children’s activities for different age groups.
Events have moved online including the planned photographic exhibition.
Official VE and VJ day website
VE and VJ day website.
Details of official commemorations
See this website for full details of the BBC programming and extras such as how to have a 1940’s themed tea party.
VE Day Booklet from the Royal British Legion
Read Booklet
VE 75 RBL-aMental Health Support by text
A new text service has been launched across Kent and Medway for people of all ages needing mental health support.
As part of the Release the Pressure campaign, the texts are free on all major mobile networks and the service is provided by SHOUT and the Crisis Text Line.
By texting the word “Kent” or “Medway” to 85258, you will start a conversation with one of the many trained and experienced volunteers who can give support at any time, wherever you are. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help
Community Health Bulletin
To read the publication from Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group follow the link here.
Ashford Borough Council launches VERA
Ashford Borough Council has launched the Voluntary Emergency Response Appeal (VERA) to help local communities hit by the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
In recent weeks the council has been inundated with requests from residents who want to try and help in some way, however big or small. Because of the need to stay at home, many are unable to help physically so they have asked whether there is a way they can help financially instead by giving to those in need within the community.
VERA will do exactly this. Launched over the weekend, people have been quick to respond, with £1,410 donated by more than a dozen supporters so far and the total going up every day.
Their appeal can be visited here.
666 Temporary Bus Timetable
Stagecoach have published a revised timetable for bus route 666. It is operating a limited service on Mondays to Saturdays.
For the most up to date information please see the Stagecoach website here. A printed timetable has been placed at the bus stop.
Many thanks to Cllr Jenny Li who has worked with Stagecoach to keep this vital service running.
Please can neighbours pass on this information to any who cannot access the internet.
KCC Launch 24 hr Helpline
A 24 hour helpline has been set up to support vulnerable people in Kent who need urgent help, supplies or medication.
The helpline – called Kent Together – provides a single, convenient point of contact for anyone in the county who is in urgent need of help during the Coronavirus outbreak. It is a collaboration between KCC, central Government, District, Borough and local councils, the voluntary and community sector, the NHS, emergency services and other partners to ensure help is at hand for vulnerable people.
It is also the place to report your concerns about the welfare of someone else.
Kent Together is being coordinated by Kent County Council which will feed the information through the network of volunteers, district and borough council teams and local support groups, to ensure people get the support they need, when they need it
Visit Kent Together or call 03000 41 92 92
The following leaflet from Ashford Borough Council will be delivered to every household next week.
It details the way to request or offer help.
COMMUNITY LEAFLET ABC COVIDAge UK is working in partnership with other organisations such as the Fire Service to assist older people in the Borough. Call 01233 668765 for help which includes ready to eat hot meals, shopping and prescriptions and telephone befriending.
Covid-19 Services PDF AGE UK 2
Boughton Aluph Volunteer & Support website for COVID 19
A group of local residents have swung into action and formed a group to match up volunteers with residents in need: Boughton Aluph Volunteer & Support website for COVID 19
You can visit their website either to volunteer or register for help.
The Civic Centre is now closed. Email customer.care@ashford.gov.uk or call
NHS Volunteer Responders has been set up to support the NHS and the care sector during the COVID-19 outbreak. To do this they need an ‘army’ of volunteers who can support the 1.5m people in England who are at most risk from the virus to stay well. The doctors, nurses, those working in local authorities and other professionals, will be able to refer people in to NHS Volunteer Responders and be confident that they have been matched with a reliable, named volunteer.
Once you have registered and checks are complete you will be provided a log-in to the GoodSAM Responder app. Switch the app to ‘on duty’, and you’ll see live and local volunteer tasks to pick from nearby.
This programme enables volunteers to provide care or to help a vulnerable person, which is permitted under the new rules announced by the Government on 23rd March 2020. Volunteers may be asked to show the active task they are responding to if asked.
At the Ashford Borough Council elections on May 2nd. Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish residents elected two Borough Councillors, Larry Krause to represent Downs West Ward and Winston Michael to represent Goat Lees ward. Your new Parish Councillors are Nigel Bunker, Adrian Coles, Nikki Ellis, Jane Hall, Jane Hart, Jenny Li, Ken Newman and Spencer Phillips.
The Parish Council undertook 6 week public consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan for Boughton Aluph and Eastwell Parishes. Neighbourhood Plans give communities a voice in future development in their area. Our Draft Plan is based on your survey responses and evidence researched by our volunteers. It sets out 10 local planning policies. We needed to hear your feedback on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan so it can strongly represent local views. You can read the Draft Plan or summary at www.parishplan.uk The amended Plan will be subject to further public consultation and independent examination. The final version will be put to a parish referendum. If it has the backing of residents, it will be the Plan which must be used in law to determine planning applications in our area.Ashford Borough Council have published ideas for the former Mecca Bingo Site online.
To view their website click here.
About 65 villagers gathered by the War Memorial on the Lees on Sunday 11th November. Rev Canon Alan Ramsay led the Act of Remembrance and Cllr Spencer Phillips, Chairman of the Parish Council laid a wreath on behalf of the village and read the names of those remembered. Percy Amos, William Baker, Henry Bishopp, Charles Brotherwood, Edward Brunger, Ernest Burchett, James Greenstreet, Christopher Hook, Frank Huckstepp, Thomas Huckstepp, Ernest Humphrey, Frank Ladd, Richard Ladd, Cecil Martin, Charles Merton, Percy Merton, John Newport, William Norris, Frank Pocknell, Alfred Reynolds, William Sinden, Charles Stebbings, William Stringer, George Vidler, George Williams, Percy Williams, Ernest Wilson, Robert Ammon, George Dallamore, Sydney Hollands, Frederick James, Nigel Simmons, Valentine Sinden
Report crime quickly and easily using the Country Eye app Cllr Adrian Coles attended a meeting of the Kent Association of Local Councils also attended by the Ashford Police Station Commander. It was suggested that residents with phones or tablets may wish to use the Country Eye app for reporting (non-urgent) incidents.
Increased reporting should result in more attention, since policing is increasing intelligence led. 
‘Rural Means Rural’ speaker at Parish Council Meeting in August A member of the Rural Means Rural campaign group addressed the Parish Council meeting in August. For more information, their website can be found here.
Ashford Borough Council Planning Committe The planning application for 21 houses on Lenacre Hall Farm site was turned down at Planning Committee in July, The minutes can be accessed on Ashford Borough Council’s website here The meeting was well attended by members of the public from the parish. The applicant has since submitted an appeal.
Perry Court Harvesting Safety Message Perry Court Farm are busy harvesting crops and have asked us to share an important safety message to residents. Could everybody please be careful not to block roads and avoid parking in narrow areas, this will allow safe passage for all road users, including the combine harvesters, tractors and the staff operating them.
Thank you to Councillor Julie Tingey Councillor Julie Tingey has stepped down from the Parish Council. The Parish Council wishes to thank her for service over the last three years and wish her and her family well.
Objection to planning application for 10 houses at Kempes Corner (18/00508/AS) The Parish Council have submitted an objection to the planned development at Kempes Corner, you can read it here.
Objection to Rook Toll planning application (18/00596/AS) Members of the Parish Council decided unanimously to object to the planning application submitted for the site. Rook Toll was part of the Eastwell Estate used for secret tank testing in WWII and contains valuable ancient woodland. You can read the submission to Ashford Borough Council here.
Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace in the Memorial Garden, Ashford
Ashford Borough Council are hosting an exhibition curated by renowned photographer Michael St Maur Sheil, which tells of the healed scars of the First World War through our only remaining witness; the fields of battle themselves. Since its first showing in Paris in 2014, this iconic, international exhibition has travelled to major cities across nine countries and has been seen by over ten million people.
The exhibition also features local stories from Ashford and the surrounding villages, with a particular focus on the increasing mechanisation of war and the role of women.
For further details see the exhibition flyer here.
Objection to Lenacre Hall Farm planning application (18/00413/AS) Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council met last week and unanimously agreed their objection to the latest application for the Lenacre Hall Farm site. You can read the Council’s objection here.
Objection to planning application for 625 dwellings off East Mountain Lane, Kennington (18/00236/AS) The Parish Council’s objection to the proposed development (on land near to the Old Mill Public House) can be viewed here.
New Parish Councillor The Parish Council would like to welcome Adrian Coles to the Council following his co-option in March. We look forward to working with him and benefiting from his local and professional knowledge.
New Parish Clerk appointed We are delighted to announce that Rachel Girt joined us as Parish Clerk for Boughton Aluph and Eastwell in January. Rachel lives locally so is familiar with our parish. She can be contacted at boughtoneastwellclerk@gmail.com or 07419 740559. Please note that the Parish Clerk is a part time role.
Jason Matthews steps down as Parish Councillor
After more than ten year’s service to the community, Jason Matthews has stepped down as a Parish Councillor in Boughton Aluph and Eastwell. On behalf of residents, we would like to thank Jason for all of his hard work as both a Parish Councillor and as Chairman of the Parish Council for 4 years and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.
Kent Police introduce online reporting of minor crimes and road collisions
Members of the public can now report crimes and incidents as well as non-injury road traffic collisions online via the Kent Police website, www.kent.police.uk. Once a report is made, the user will receive a unique reference number and a return email confirming receipt. The aim is to provide another choice for how the public can report crime or incidents as well as to try to reduce the number of people calling 101 on non-urgent issues. This is a test/pilot scheme. At the end of each form is the opportunity to give feedback.
Local protest group formed to campaign against housing development
Major new housing developments in our parish
- a hybrid application for 89 dwellings at Lenacre Hall Farm (no. 17/01613/AS); and
- an outline planning application for 18 dwellings at the former sandpit site (no. 17/01636/AS).
Kempes Corner development approved by Planning Committee
Grants and charitable donations
- A grant of £4,200 towards a new parish War Memorial to mark this year’s centenary of the end of the First World War.
- A grant of £1,050 to Goat Lees Primary School to purchase benches and a story chair for their new outdoor reading area.
- A £100 donation on behalf of our parish to the British Red Cross to support the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.
- A pump-priming grant of £2,000 towards the construction of a detached toilet building in the grounds of the Grade I All Saints Church, Boughton Aluph.
£100 grants available to local groups The Parish Council launched a new community grants scheme for 2017-18. We will make available 5 grants of £100 to community groups based in or with a connection to our parish for projects which will benefit our parish or its residents. To find out more, download an application pack and application form.
Improved broadband service for Boughton Lees faces further delay As part of Kent County Council’s Making Kent Quicker programme, in April BT installed a new broadband cabinet on the village green at Boughton Lees. Since then BT Openreach engineers have hit a series of problems in trying to run fibre to the village along the A251 Faversham Road. Kent County Council and BT Openreach are now exploring an alternative route. If this proves feasible, the best estimate is that the work will be completed by the end of June 2018. In addition to bringing “superfast” broadband of 25Mbps+ to the village, the cabinet will help ease pressure on cabinet 14 located at Eastwell Towers which is currently oversubscribed. The new cabinet will improve the speeds of fibre connections but not ADSL. To benefit from the improved service, once the cabinet is connected, residents may need to review their broadband package with their internet service provider.
Parish litter picks – help clean up our community After a successful first parish litter pick in Sandyhurst Lane at Easter last year, litter picks are now taking place monthly in and around Boughton Aluph. A big thank you to volunteer Ann who leads the litter picks and everyone who has taken part. If you would like to join a future litter pick or organise one in your area, please email the Parish Clerk. UPDATE: Litter picks take place in Boughton Aluph every second Saturday of the month between 11.00am and noon. Everyone is welcome. Equipment and protective clothing will be provided. Meet outside The Flying Horse.
Ashford Local Plan 2030 submitted for examination Ashford Borough Council held a second public consultation on the main changes to their draft Local Plan 2030 between 7 July and 31 August 2017. The revised Local Plan has no new development sites in our parish. However, the planned residential development at Eureka Park has been increased from 300 new homes to “in the region of 375 dwellings”. Read the Parish Council’s response to the consultation.
All Saints’ Church launches website All Saints’ Church in Boughton Aluph has launched a website. Take a look at www.allsaintsba.org.uk.
New ward to be created at Goat Lees The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has published its recommendations on the new electoral warding arrangements for Ashford Borough. There will be four more electoral wards and four more councillors in the Borough than there are now. This includes a new ward of Goat Lees around Trinity Road. From May 2019, our parish of Boughton Aluph and Eastwell will span two wards – Goat Lees and Downs West – and will be represented by two ward (or borough) councillors. You can view the new ward boundaries at www.lgbce.org.uk.
Attempted burglaries, Freathy Lane We’re hearing reports of a spate of attempted burglaries at houses on Freathy Lane, Goat Lees. Please be vigilant. If you see anything suspicious, please contact the Police.
Parish War Memorial listed by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport At the suggestion of residents, the Parish Council made an application to list our parish War Memorial which is on the village green at Boughton Lees. We have received notification that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has added Boughton Aluph and Eastwell War Memorial to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The Memorial is now listed Grade II. Read more here.
CCTV installed to protect Boughton Lees Village Green and Cricket Pitch After two more instances of vehicles causing damage to the village green and cricket pitch at Boughton Lees on 31 January and 3 February 2017, the Parish Council has been looking into measures to protect the Green. CCTV has been installed on a temporary free loan thanks to the generosity of the local businessman. Please remain vigilant. If you see or hear anything or have any information, please contact the Police.
Commemorative benches on Boughton Lees Village Green The Parish Council has agreed a policy regarding the placement of memorial or commemorative benches on the village green at Boughton Lees. Read our policy here.
Traffic and road safety in Boughton Aluph In response to concerns in the Neighbourhood Plan Survey, the Parish Council is looking at solutions to traffic and road safety problems in our parish so we can petition Kent County Council Highways with a traffic management plan based on the preferred option(s) of residents. Thank you to everyone that took part in our consultation event held at the Iron Room on 5 November. You can find a copy of the presentation and questionnaire here together with a summary of the responses. The Traffic Survey commissioned by the Parish Council in 2013/14 is available to view here.
Close to half of households take part in Neighbourhood Plan Survey Parish Council is developing a Neighbourhood Plan for our parish. This is an exciting opportunity for residents to have a say in how our parish changes and grows. Visit our Neighbourhood Plan website at www.parishplan.uk and sign up for our newsletter. The official notice from Ashford Borough Council approving the designated area for the Neighbourhood Plan can be found here. Thank you to everyone who took part in the Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Survey. We received 482 completed survey forms. Representing close to half of the households in our parish, this is well above the average response rate for surveys of this type. Your responses have been independently analysed and can be viewed here.
Financial Reports and Audits The Parish Council’s Annual Return for the financial year ending 31st March 2016 has been signed off by independent auditors PKF Littlejohn LLP. A copy is available here. Financial information for the Parish Council including audit reports can be found under the Parish Council menu item at the top of this page.
Response to Ashford Borough Council’s consultation on sites for Local Plan 2030 Read the Parish Council’s response to Ashford Borough Council’s consultation on site submissions for their Local Plan 2030 here.
If you have suggestions for items you would like to see on this website, please contact the Parish Clerk or your local Parish Councillor