Residents in the unparished urban heart of Ashford are being asked to decide whether a new Town Council should be created to protect the local community’s voice ahead of a major government overhaul across Kent.
Ashford Borough Council has launched a Community Governance Review (CGR) consultation, seeking public input by December 5, 2025, on forming a dedicated, locally elected Town Council. The consultation goes live this Friday, October 24. The review is being driven by the Government’s plan for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which will see the current two-tier system—Kent County Council and all borough/district councils—replaced by a smaller number of large Unitary Councils from April 1, 2028.
The main concern is that in 2028, the unparished urban area of Ashford will be left with only the distant Unitary Council, which will cover multiple towns. Areas of the borough that already have a Parish or Town Council will retain a critical local layer of governance, but the urban centre will not.
“When the proposed changes to local government are introduced this could mean that in the unparished urban areas of Ashford, only the Unitary Council will exist,” warned Cllr Linda Harman, Chair of the Local Government and Polling District Task Group. “This review is your opportunity to shape how local decisions are made and where your contacts for local issues are based,” Cllr Harman stated. “I urge every resident to take part—your voice truly matters.”
A new Town Council, which would be composed of locally elected councillors, would take on responsibility for a range of important services currently handled by Ashford Borough Council. These can include:
- Maintaining and supporting allotments, parks, and open spaces.
- Managing bus shelters and some community centres and leisure facilities.
- Acting as a local advocate to represent the community’s interests.
Funding for these services would come from a ‘precept,’ an extra charge added to residents’ Council Tax bill, with the new Town Council setting the exact amount based on the services they choose to deliver. This Community Governance Review provides residents with a critical window to ensure their local interests are represented before the sweeping changes of LGR are fully implemented in 2028.
Residents can give their views and shape the future of local governance by the deadline of December 5, 2025, at the dedicated consultation portal: https://haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/community-governance-review.