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

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.