Did you know Guilton had a WW1 Airfield?

/in News/by Clerk

The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust has provided the Parish Council with a commemorative plaque to display to honour this historic site.

Today the site is private farmland so the Parish Council decided to erect the plaque at Pound Corner, a space dedicated as a quiet place of reflection for the Parish, for greater visibility.

The “Ash, an East Kent Village” book (copies available from The Heritage Centre) provides the following information:

“In 1916 ‘Guilton Aerodrome’ was laid out on 25 acres of grassland east of Overland Lane, with a staff of two airmen billeted at Overland Farm, a wooden hut and a windsock, as an emergency landing-ground for No 50 Home Defence Squadron RFC, based from 1915 at Bekesbourne to intercept raiding Zeppelins. It was guarded by three 13-pdr field guns. The duty airman had to put out acetylene lamps round a chalk circle and move a T-shaped tarpaulin as the wind changed, to show pilots of aeroplanes where and in which direction to land.”

More information on the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust may be found here: https://www.abct.org.uk/

Onlooker Report – Ash Parish Council Ordinary Meeting – 2 March 2026

/in News/by Clerk

The Parish Council met on Monday 2 March with a full agenda…

Public Contributions

  • Guilton sinkhole: Residents raised concerns about the recent sinkhole and the lack of urgent action. It was also noted that road users have been moving safety barriers and continuing to drive over the pothole.
  • Following the sad passing of much loved and long-time resident of Ash, friends are exploring ways to honour his many years of service to the community, especially his work with the Scouts.

Parish Council Business

Play Area 2 – Work Starting Soon

We’re delighted to confirm that the contract for Play Area 2 has been agreed. Work is expected to begin 20 April and finish in early June. Funding has come from S106 developer contributions, Parish reserves, and generous support from the Jack Foat, Frank Kingsland and Cartwright Godfrey and Kesley Trusts. More details will follow as the start date approaches.

Highways & Transport

  • The 20mph consultation is now open until 31 March. This follows long‑standing concerns about speeding in the village.  Please complete the survey which can be done online or by returning the form here:  20mph Speed Limit – Have your say! – Ash Parish Council A formal KCC consultation will follow.
    Please note: Parish funds cannot be used for road or pavement repairs—this is the responsibility of KCC Highways.
  • A257 pedestrian warning signs are scheduled for installation on 31 March.

Meeting Dates Changing

From May, Parish Council meetings will move to the 1st Thursday of each month in the main Village Hall.

  • 13 April meeting: Library (as usual)
  • 7 May meeting: Main Village Hall, 19:00

Other items to note

  • Recreation Ground toilets are being redecorated and will reopen on 1 April.
  • The 2026/27 precept demand has been submitted.
  • The Parish Grant Scheme will reopen for 2026. Local groups will be invited to apply—details will be shared on the website and Facebook page in due course.
  • Events at the Recreation Ground

The Ash Carnival Association has submitted an event notification, which the Council supports in principle pending further details.
If you’re planning an event, please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required.

  • Future S106 Funding

The Parish Council has been asked by Dover District Council to outline future priorities for S106 contributions to support long‑term improvements in Ash.

Annual Parish Meeting – Save the Date

29 April, St Faith’s School – 19:00 for a 19:30 start
This is a community meeting rather than a formal council session. It’s a chance for residents, groups and organisations to share updates, celebrate achievements, and meet representatives from DDC, KCC and the Parish Council. Refreshments provided. The agenda will be published at least 10 days beforehand.

Ash Village Hall Open Day

Councillors will be attending the Village Hall Open Day on Sunday 22 March, hosted by the Village Hall Management Committee. We hope to see many of you there.

Kent County Council Update

  • KCC’s budget has been approved with no cuts to frontline services, achieved through renegotiated contracts.
  • Potholes: A new contractor takes over on 1 April. Until then, only emergency potholes are being addressed.
  • Cllr Evans continues to work with KCC on safety concerns along the A257.

Dover District Council Update

  • A proposed 2.9% increase in the DDC portion of Council Tax for a Band D property in 2026/27 (£6.57 per year).
  • REACH Awards 2026: Nominations are open for:
    • Little Picker of the Year (18+)
    • Junior Little Picker of the Year (under 18)
    • Community Project of the Year
    • Green Organisation of the Year
      Closing date: 29 March.
  • Community Governance Review: Residents are invited to take part in the consultation on parish arrangements. Complete the online form via DDC website by 2 April
  • £100k in community grants will be available this year—details coming soon.
  • Great British Spring Clean: Ash’s event will take place Saturday 14 March, 13:00–15:00, meeting at Ash Village Hall. Equipment provided—everyone welcome.  Events are being held district wide if you are unable to join us in Ash

Kent Police

No report was received this month. Residents are encouraged to sign up to My Community Voice for updates on local police drop‑in sessions and other safety information.

Onlooker Report – Ash Parish Council Ordinary Meeting – 2 February 2026

/in News/by Clerk

The Parish Council met twice last week: the monthly Full Council meeting and the Finance Committee meeting. Councillors reviewed the 2025/26 accounts, approved the 2026/27 budget, and recommended the 2026/27 precept. Next up is the Planning Committee meeting on Monday 16 February.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

The Government is consulting on the biggest proposed change to local government in 50 years. Councils across Kent and Medway have submitted options for replacing the current two‑tier system (Kent County Council + district councils) with a smaller number of unitary authorities delivering all services in one area.

Residents, organisations and businesses are encouraged to take part in the consultation to help ministers understand the implications for local services.
Consultation link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-kent-and-medway/proposals-for-local-government-reorganisation-in-kent-and-medway

Deadline: 11.59pm, Thursday 26 March

Village Assets

The Recreation Ground is a valued parish asset used for sport, recreation and community events.
Residents wishing to hold an event must follow the Events Policy for the Hire of Ash Recreation Ground to ensure safety, fairness and appropriate use.  This can be found on our website.

We are pleased to support Eastry Ravens Football Club, who are temporarily using the Recreation Ground while their pitch is repaired.

Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP)

Two residents asked the Council to consider reviewing the Ash Neighbourhood Development Plan, which was adopted by referendum in July 2021 and which will help shape the future of Ash for years to come.  Policies cover how new homes can meet design standards that enhance the local character of the village and the surrounding countryside. Biodiversity and climate change policies will help improve the quality of homes and life for all.  There is protection for the much loved and used green spaces in and around the village.  Policies also cover health, community facilities, parking, broadband provision, infrastructure, as well as supporting local businesses.  The Council agreed to consider an initial gap‑analysis review in late 2026 to identify updates needed as legislation and local priorities evolve.

Current Work & Achievements

Although some projects take time to reach completion, the Clerk and Councillors are progressing a significant workload, including:

  • Finalising legal and administrative work for Play Area 2 at the Recreation Ground – a major project for the parish
  • Public consultation on a 20mph speed limit within the village
  • Updated risk assessments and policies for parish assets
  • Review of the Pavilion lease

Dates for Your Diary

The Great British Spring Clean – Saturday 14 March
Ash is delighted to partner with Dover District Council.  The Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. Each year, more than 400,000 volunteers clear litter from our streets, parks and beaches across the UK.
Meet at Ash Village Hall, 13.00–15.00. All equipment provided; everyone welcome.

Annual Parish Meeting – 29 April, St Faith’s School @ 7.00pm
An open meeting where Ash’s charities and organisations present their annual reports and updates.   All residents are encouraged to attend and hear about the work happening across our community.

Dover District Update

District councillors continue to support Ash with issues that fall under DDC’s responsibility, including:

  • Repairing broken street lighting
  • Deep‑cleaning accumulated litter at Molland Lane car park (“the Council Yard”)
  • Addressing dilapidated garages near James Close
  • Ongoing parking concerns

They remain available to assist with any DDC‑related matters

Potholes
Ash is not alone in its frustration—67 potholes have been reported in Ware & Westmarsh alone in recent days.
Please report every pothole promptly via the Kent County Council website or by calling 01304 821199 during office hours.  KCC is responsible for roads, pavements and Public Rights of Way.  Our KCC Member is Cllr Peter Evans.

Kent Police Update

We are pleased to welcome PC Bowler back to the parish.
PC Bowler is expected to hold drop‑in sessions in Ash and residents are encouraged to sign up to MyCommunityVoice for local policing updates.  Residents are reminded to report crime and antisocial behaviour directly to Kent Police  – For non‑urgent matters contact 101 or report online.  Dial 999 for emergencies or danger to life.

Have your say on how councils in Kent and Medway are organised

/in News/by Clerk

Government ministers have launched a consultation on the future number of councils in Kent and Medway and the areas they should cover.

Take part in the Government’s Consultation

The deadline for responses is Thursday 26 March 2026.

Once the consultation closes, the civil servants and ministers will consider everyone’s responses alongside the evidence that has been presented to them.

A decision on which option ministers have chosen is likely to be announced in the summer.

You can find more information about the process, by visiting Your councils – change is coming.

Come along to give Ash a ‘Great British Spring Clean’ on Saturday 14 March

/in News/by Clerk
Ash

Police Drop In Session with local Beat Officer – PC Bowler : Thursday 29 Jan at 11:00-13.00

/in News/by Clerk

Local Beat Officer – PC Bowler will be attending St Nicholas Church, The Street, Ash, CT3 2EN on Thursday 29th January 2026 between 11:00 and 13:00.

This is your opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what I am doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Everyone is welcome.

Onlooker Report – Ash Parish Council Ordinary Meeting – 5 January 2026

/in News/by Clerk

Happy New Year to everyone in Ash!

The Parish Council met on Monday 5 January with a full agenda and a busy programme of work planned for 2026.

 

Resident Contributions

Disabled toilet emergency cords
Concerns were raised about the lack of live monitoring in Dover District Council–owned disabled toilet facilities. Research by the Dover District Disability Group and Deal Speaking Up Group found that only two facilities across the district responded correctly when the emergency cord was tested.

Cllr Bartlett will raise this urgently with DDC and seek clarity on minimum service and response standards.

Burford Alley resurfacing
The issue of gravel being washed away from the newly resurfaced Burford Alley was raised again. This has been reported to several times. Residents are reminded that all Footpath and Public Rights of Way issues must be reported via the KCC Portal so they can be logged and actioned
https://www.kent.gov.uk/environment-waste-and-planning/public-rights-of-way/report-a-problem-on-a-right-of-way

Village sports day proposal
A resident is exploring the idea of a community ‘sports day’ to showcase local clubs and encourage younger residents to get involved in tennis, bowls, cricket, pickleball, rugby and more. The Parish Council supports this in principle and awaits further details.

Recreation Ground
Thank you to everyone who attended December’s coffee morning to view the final play area design. Following a formal tender process, HAGS has been chosen as preferred supplier and expect to be formally appointed at the February meeting.

All grant applications have now been approved, supplementing the S106 developer contributions. Both the Charity Commission and DDC have confirmed their consent to proceed.

A pre-site meeting with the contractor is next, with installation and opening expected May/June 2026.

Ash War Memorial bollards
One of the historic bollards has been badly damaged by a vehicle. Both bollards will be replaced with heritage-appropriate alternatives to maintain the character of the Conservation Area.

Highways & Traffic
We continue to work with Kent County Council Highways on options to improve traffic flow along The Street, including ongoing issues with vehicles parking on double yellow lines.

The A257 Traffic Group, chaired by Wingham Parish Council, is preparing a public petition calling for safety improvements along the A257. Although the petition is not yet published, Ash Parish Council supports the initiative and the Group’s mission to make the road safer for all users.

Community Updates

Tree donation
1st Ash Brownies & Guides will donate a commemorative tree for their 100th anniversary in 2025, to be planted in the Recreation Ground in Autumn 2026.

Library addition
A new projector screen has been approved for the Ash Village Hall library and will be installed soon.

Guilton Airfield plaque
The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust confirmed that a plaque commemorating Guilton Airfield (WW1) was supplied to the Parish Council in 2018 but never installed. We are pleased to confirm it will be installed at the War Memorial in due course

Planning
Three planning applications from December were reviewed.
The next full Planning Committee meeting will be held on Monday 19 January.

District & County Reports

From Dover District Council
Cllr Bartlett continues to follow up on outstanding issues relating to district-owned assets, including:
• the village car park
• litter and fly-tipping at Molland car park
• the deteriorating garages near James Close

He also highlighted the poor road conditions through Guilton, which have been repeatedly reported to Kent County Council.

Residents are reminded to report potholes and road defects directly to KCC online
https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/what-we-look-after/roads/potholes

Apprenticeships
DDC is promoting funding opportunities for local businesses to support apprenticeships as part of National Apprenticeship Week.
More information is available on the GOV.UK website and the DDC apprenticeships page.

New Year, New Hobby
A free event will take place at Dover Maison Dieu on Saturday 17 January, featuring over 30 local groups, clubs and organisations.
Activities include percussion ‘jam’ sessions with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and performances from local groups.

From Kent County Council
Cllr Evans was unable to attend but confirmed he is liaising with KCC regarding A257 safety concerns, particularly following another serious incident in December.

KCC budget has been delayed and will be announced later in the month.

Community Policing Update
We are pleased to share that PC Jon Bowler is expected to return to operational duties at the end of January, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Ash.

End of Year Review from Ash Parish Council Chair, Cllr Ian Ellery

/in News/by Clerk
As we reach the end of 2025, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the highlights and achievements of Ash Parish Council over the past year.
We have worked hard to improve communication with residents, ensuring that discussions from our monthly Full Parish Council meetings are shared promptly on Facebook and in the Parish Magazine. Agendas and minutes are available on our website, alongside a wide range of useful information. Residents are warmly encouraged to attend Parish Council meetings – you do not need to have an issue to raise in order to come along. Unless otherwise stated, meetings take place on the first Monday of each month at 19:00 in the Ash Village Hall library.
This year we engaged residents on the 2026 Highway Improvement Plan and agreed the plans for a new play area at the recreation ground, both of which are progressing. The final design for the play area will be on display at the Community Coffee Morning on 6 December. The project will move forward subject to approval from Dover District Council’s Planning Department, permission from the Charities Commission (as the recreation ground is a registered charity), and the securing of grants and S106 developer funding.
We have also taken steps to manage Parish owned community facilities more closely. A recent tree health inspection brought positive news, with only one tree requiring attention. The allotments provided by the Parish Council are now fully let and better managed, with a reduced waiting list and provided for the benefit of 34 Parish residents. Work is now complete to replace the time-expired fencing, supported by a generous grant of £9,292 awarded by Dover District Council’s Rural Prosperity Fund. The Recreation ground toilets have been reopened with robust new steel doors, and during the winter months the internal areas will receive a much-needed refresh. Huge focus has been given to maintaining and improving the Recreation Ground to enhance the environment for all users; from repainting the benches and fences over summer to maintaining the play and gym equipment all year round.
Community initiatives have been a strong focus. In March, we supported the Great British Spring Clean, collecting over 20 bags of litter. We approved several small community grant applications, including the much-loved Ash Advent Tractor Parade, the beautiful 80th VE Day floral display by St Nicholas Church arrangers, and the planting of 1,400 daffodil bulbs by Ash Wildlife Friendly Village. We also dedicated two public benches in Pound Corner to commemorate VE and VJ Day. We also worked with Kent County Council to resurface Burford Alley using S106 developer funds, and with Dover District Council to install new public litter bins at Chequer Lane and Westmarsh Village Hall.
Our Planning Committee’s objection to the proposed Ash Levels solar farm contributed to Dover District Council’s decision last week to reject the application – a positive outcome following four years of campaigning by Save Ash Levels.
Parish Councillors continue to report issues that affect daily life, from potholes and damaged footpaths to broken street lighting and fly-tipping. We encourage residents to keep reporting such matters directly to Kent County Council and Dover District Council. Councillors also support many local groups, including the Pavilion, Ash Wildlife Friendly Village, Ash Village Hall Committee, the A257 Working Group, and others.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Clerk, Sarah, our Finance Officer, Jo, and our Community Caretaker, Duncan, for their diligent work in keeping the Council and the parish running smoothly.
My thanks also go to our Parish, District, and County Councillors, past and present, for their dedication and many hours of service. If you would like to become a Parish Councillor, we have one space to co-opt a new Councillor – please email email hidden; JavaScript is required for further details.
The Parish Council are already planning for next year and we will be sharing more with residents early in 2026.
Ash is a wonderful place to live, work, and visit.
On behalf of your Parish Council, I wish you a peaceful, happy, and healthy Christmas and New Year.
 

Request for Speed Restrictions on the A257 turned down by Kent County Council

/in News/by Clerk

When responding to the public consultation for Ash Parish Council’s Highway Improvement Plan, many residents requested a speed reduction on the A257 Ash Bypass.

The A257 was repeatedly cited as a major safety concern due to perceived excessive speeds and poor junction visibility.

The current speed limit on this road is 60mph and the Parish Council took your concerns to Kent County Council to request a reduction to 50mph, as part of the Highway Improvement Plan process.

Disappointingly, Kent County Council, as the Highways Authority, has made the decision that a speed reduction will not be possible on this stretch of the A257.  They informed the Parish Council:

“The wider team have discussed in depth the proposed speed reduction on A257, Ash and unfortunately this has not been deemed feasible. Having looked at the speed survey results in detail, the current speeds show a good compliance with the existing 60mph speed limit but also show that a 50mph would be largely not complied with. For us to consider reducing the speed on any road we look at the existing speeds and would need them to show support of a reduction by already travelling around the proposed speed limit but in this case, they do not. Therefore we will not be looking to reduce the speed limit here.”

On a positive note, the Parish Council have funded Kent County Council to install ‘Pedestrians Crossing’ Warning Signs at three locations along the A257 and these should be installed soon.

More updates on actions requested in the Parish Council’s Highway Improvement Plan will follow.

Nominations Open – Who should be recognised for their significant contribution to the Parish of Ash?

/in News/by Clerk

We are seeking nominations for the KENT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS COMMUNITY AWARDS SCHEME 2026

The KALC Community Awards Scheme’s aim is to acknowledge and give recognition to a resident/group of the Parish of Ash who has/have made a significant contribution to our community over a period of years, whether through long-standing service, inspiring achievements, or actions that have brought benefit and recognition to the Parish and its residents.

If you know of someone who merits an Award, please do nominate them.  The person must live or work within the Parish of Ash boundary.

The winner will receive a certificate signed by the Chairman of Kent County Council, the High Sheriff of Kent and the KALC Chairman.  The Award will be presented by the Chair of Ash Parish Council at the Annual Parish Meeting on Wednesday 29 April 2026. A nomination form is printed below.  Only ONE nomination per resident but all adult members of a family may submit a nomination form.

To make your nomination, simply download and complete this form: NOMINATION FORM and return via email to: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Alternatively, completed forms in a sealed envelope should be delivered to: Ash Parish Council, c/o The Library, Ash Village Hall, Queens Road, Ash CT3 2BG

The closing date for receiving nomination forms date is Friday 2 January 2026.

 

2025 WINNER

Marilyn Barden was recognised for her contribution to the Parish as “an enthusiastic and supportive St. Nicholas Church Bell Tower Captain, who has secured the future of bellringing in Ash and conserved skills at risk of dying out in the village.”