Ashford roads and travel news
Ashford roads and travel news, newest first: closures, roadworks, rail changes, buses and parking, from the authorities' own notices.
Top story
Ashford Parking Charges Frozen Until 2028 by Full Council
Every Ashford and Tenterden parking charge is frozen until 2028, so on-street stays £1.30 an hour, not £2. Councillors scrapped the February rises on 15 October.
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Police
Rolvenden A28 Crash: Police Appeal After Motorcyclist Dies
A motorcyclist in his 50s died after a crash with a car on the A28 Hastings Road at Rolvenden on 10 October. Kent Police wants witnesses and dashcam footage.
Ashford International
Ashford International Trains: PM to Ask Transport Secretary
Andy Burnham told MPs on 12 October he would ask the Transport Secretary to look into Ashford's international trains. What that does and does not commit to.
Tenterden
Tenterden Parking Petition Debated as Charges Freeze to 2028
Tenterden's 1,644-signature petition was debated on 15 October as councillors froze parking charges until 2028 and made Bridewell Lane free after 3pm.
Parking
Ashford Parking: Charges Frozen to 2028, No February Rise
Full Council froze every Ashford and Tenterden parking charge until 2028 on 15 October, so the 8% February rise is off and on-street parking stays £1.30 an hour.
Kent Police
M20 Ashford Crash: One Dead, Kent Police Seek Dashcam
A car left the coastbound M20 between junctions 8 and 9 at 5.56am on Wednesday and caught fire. Its one occupant died. Kent Police want dashcam footage.
Parking
Ashford Parking: Cabinet Defers £2 Overnight Charge
Cabinet put off the January price rises to its 8 October meeting, and took the 'free after 3' decision back off officers. Elwick Place still changes on 1 November.
Parking
Ashford Parking: £2 Overnight Charge Planned From January
Ashford council car parks would charge £2 overnight and £1.40 an hour from 1 January 2027, and four free parking offers would go. Cabinet decides on Thursday.
Ashford town centre
Park Mall Car Park: Ashford Officers Advise No Shortcut
A 48-name petition from 38 town centre businesses asked for a short exit to the High Street. Officers say all three routes would delay the Christmas opening.
Parking
Elwick Place Parking: Free After 3pm Kept Past 1 November
Full Council voted on 15 October to keep Elwick Place free after 3pm until Edinburgh Road car park opens, though the council's own page still says 1 November.
Ashford International
Virgin's Approved Deal Has No Ashford Stop, ORR Papers Say
The rail regulator approved Virgin's cross-Channel deal on 13 August. Its own decision letter says the trains will call only at St Pancras, through to 2040.
Tenterden
Tenterden Greenway Gets £150,000 Resurfacing From October
Tenterden's only cycle route gets 650 metres of new surface from October, funded by the Active Travel Fund. It will be shut for about four weeks.
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.
Trains
Ashford Christmas Trains: No Service 25 December
No trains run on Christmas Day, and most operators run none on 26 December. Last year's final train to Ashford from St Pancras left at 21.07 on Christmas Eve.