Welcome to the website for Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish Council
Borough Council Elections
Polling took place for the Ashford Borough Council elections on May 2nd. Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Parish will now have two Borough Councillors, one each from the Downs West ward and Goat Lees ward. This is because of changes made by the Local Government Boundary Commission.
The count at Ashford is taking place on Friday 3rd May. Results will be put up by the Kent Messenger group here, probably after midday.
Your newly elected Parish Councillors are Nigel Bunker, Adrian Coles, Jane Hart and Spencer Phillips. They were all elected uncontested as there were less nominations than seats.
Neighbourhood Plan Consultation & Events
The Parish Council has launched a 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 need 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 where you will also find an online questionnaire.
We are holding three community exhibitions about the Draft Plan. Locations and dates are below. Please join us. Parish Councillors will be on hand to answer your questions.
• Goat Lees Primary School – Saturday 27 April, 10.00am to 1.00pm
• Iron Room, Boughton Lees – Saturday 4 May, 10.00am to 1.00pm
We must receive your comments on the Draft Plan by 19 May so that we can take them into account and make any necessary changes to the Plan before moving on to the final stage of drafting. 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.
Former Mecca Bingo Site in Ashford
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.