Ashford council news
Ashford council news, newest first: decisions, budgets, council tax, bins and services, each linked to the council's own papers.
Top story
Mid Kent Council Paused, Ashford Votes in May 2027
Ministers have halted the merger that would have abolished Ashford Borough Council in 2028. The May 2027 borough election now goes ahead on today's wards.
More stories
Transport
Finberry Bus: B-line Could Reach the Estate in 2027
Stagecoach is preparing to extend the B-line into Finberry in 2027, once two stretches of road are adopted and ANPR cameras go up on the link road.
Council
Ashford Churchyard Passage Gated at Night Until 2029
The footpath off the High Street is closed 9.15pm to 6am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until August 2029. Breaching the order costs £100.
Planning
Ashford Planning Committee: Six Decisions Due 19 August
The council leader's own self-build, an HMO in a listed town centre building and 34 flats on Elwick Road go before Ashford's Planning Committee on Wednesday.
Housing
Ashford Temporary Housing: £2.85m to Add 41 Homes
Ashford has approved £2.85m to buy and build 41 temporary accommodation units, as households in temporary housing fell from about 290 last autumn to about 180.
Council
Mid Kent Council: the 2028 Ashford Merger, Now Paused
Ashford was to be abolished on 1 April 2028 for a 60-councillor Mid Kent Council. Ministers paused the whole plan on 7 September 2026. What was decided, and what now.