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Giving the people of Ashford a choice

We are a group of Ashford Borough residents who believe that there is no place for national party politics in Local Government. 
 
We think that local people’s views should be heard, first and foremost, when change is planned for Ashford Borough and that Local Councillors should be acting to support the interests of the people in the Ward that they represent, not their Party politicies or personal political career.
 oWe have registered as a Political Party to ensure a level playing field during Ashford Borough elections and afterwards when membership of working groups and committees is decided. We are focussed on the future of our villages and town and on representing your views, as we understand them through being one of you.   
So what’s the difference between our candidates and those representing national Parties?  
 
Simple:  We have no National Party policy platform or ideology to conform to and no Party Whip.  
 

What does this mean?

It means that our Councillors are always free to vote to reflect the views of the people they represent without any conflicting loyalties. By contrast, others will always tend to fall into line behind national party policy, even if their constituents strongly disagree with the decisions being passed through the Local Council.  

 

In 2011, the Government introduced The Localism Act 2011 (c. 20)  This is an Act of Parliament that changed the powers of local government in England. The aim of the act was to support the devolution of decision-making powers from central government control to individuals and communities. The trouble is that many Councils, including our own, are too aligned to one national party. Their powers are therefore used to drive through party political agendas, and do not reflect the interests of local people as they should.

The Ashford Independents want to change that. This legislation exists to give you a voice – but you need to have representatives that have the freedom to fight for your concerns.
 
Vote Ashford Independent in May 2023 to bring more diversity into the discussions in Ashford Borough Council.
 
 
Our Mission is to give you a voice

Giving the people of Ashford a choice

We are a group of Ashford Borough residents who believe that there is no place for national party politics in Local Government. 
 
We think that local people’s views should be heard, first and foremost, when change is planned for Ashford Borough and that Local Councillors should be acting to support the interests of the people in the Ward that they represent, not their Party politicies or personal political career.
 
We have registered as a Political Party to ensure a level playing field during Ashford Borough elections. We are focussed on the future of our villages and town and on representing your views, as we understand them through being one of you.  
 
So what’s the difference between our candidates and those representing national Parties?  
 
Simple:  there is no Party Whip.  

What does no Party Whip mean?

No Party Whip means that our candidates are always free to vote to reflect the views of the people they represent. By contrast the Party Whip ensures that Conservative or Labour candidates fall into line behind national party policy, even if their constituents strongly disagree with the decisions being passed through the Local Council.  
 
In 2011, the Government introduced The Localism Act 2011 (c. 20)  This is an Act of Parliament that changed the powers of local government in England. The aim of the act was to support the devolution of decision-making powers from central government control to individuals and communities.
 
The trouble is that many Councils, including our own, are too aligned to one national party. Their powers are therefore used to drive through party political agendas, and do not reflect the interests of local people as they should. 
 
The Ashford Independents want to change that. This legislation exists to give you a voice – but you need to have representatives that have the freedom to fight for your concerns. 
 
Vote Ashford Independents in May 2019 to bring more diversity to the discussions in Ashford Borough Council.
 
 
Our Mission is to give you a voice

Our Elected Councillors:

Cllr. Heather Hayward

Roman Ward

Cllr. Linda Harman

Saxon Shore Ward

Cllr. Noel Ovenden - Party Leader

Wye & Hinxhill

Cllr. David Ledger

Weald South Ward

Winston Michael

Goat Lees

Simon Betty

Bircholt

Cllr. Katy Pauley

Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm

Ben Townend

Park Farm North

Ray McGeever

Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield

We are turning Ashford, Independent!

Help us grow the number of Wards in Ashford Borough that have Independent representation.

Map of Ashford Wards

Map of Ashford Wards
Aylesford East Stour Bybrook Goat Lees Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield Weald South Wye & Hinxhill Roman Ward Saxon Shore Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm Bircholt Park Farm North Help turn our map of Ashford, Independent!

Aylesford East Stour

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Bybrook

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Goat Lees

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Weald South

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Wye & Hinxhill

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Roman Ward

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Saxon Shore

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm

View Elected Ashford Independent Councillors 

Bircholt

Park Farm North

Map Key:

1. Aylesford & East Stour
2. Beaver
3. Biddenden
4. Bircholt
5. Bockhanger
6. Bybrook
7. Charing
8. Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm
9. Downs North
10. Downs West
11. Furley
12. Goat Lees
13. Godinton

14. Highfield
15. Isle of Oxney
16. Kennington
17. Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield
18. Mersham, Sevington with Finberry
19. Norman
20. Park Farm North
21. Park Farm South
22. Repton
23. Rolvenden & Tenterden West
24. Roman
25. Saxon Shore
26. Singleton East

27. Singleton West
28. Stanhope
29. Tenterden St Michael’s
30. Tenterden North
31. Tenterden South
32. Upper Weald
33. Victoria
34. Washford
35. Weald Central
36 Weald North
37. Weald South
38. Willesborough
39. Wye with Hinxhill

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The Ashford Independents

Ovenden House, Carlton Road, Ashford, Kent. TN23 1DP

Printed and published by Noel Ovenden on behalf of the Ashford Independent Party.

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