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NOTICE OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
FOR ROLVENDEN
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT –
The Annual Parish Meeting for Rolvenden will be held at Rolvenden Village Hall, Maytham Road, Rolvenden on Thursday 16 April 2026 at 7.30pm.
The business to be transacted at the Meeting will be as follows:
- Chairman’s welcome
- Apologies for absence to be accepted
- Chairman’s Introduction and Report
- MP Katie Lam Report (to be read out by the Chairman)
- Kent County Councillor’s Report
- Ashford Borough Councillor’s Report
- KALC Community Award
- Reports from Village Charitable Trusts
- War Memorial Trust
- Basil Russell Trust
- Gibbons Educational Trust
- Rolvenden non-ecclesiastical charities
- Reports from Village Organisations
- Village Hall Management Committee
- Royal British Legion
- Neighbourhood Watch
- Rolvenden School
- St Mary the Virgin Church, Rolvenden
- Cricket Club
- Football Club
- Tennis Club
- Rolvenden allotments
- Gardening Society
- Rolvenden History Society
- Others
- Open Forum
Light refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting.
Antony Hinge
Parish Council Chairman
Welcome to the Website of Rolvenden Parish Council.
If there is anything that you feel the Parish Council should be aware of or there is something we can help you with
please contact Louise Goldsmith (Clerk)
email: [email protected] or call 07900 693572
Rolvenden Neighbourhood Plan Review – Community Survey
What’s happening?
Rolvenden Parish Council is reviewing our Neighbourhood Plan for the parish. The Neighbourhood Plan is a document that contains planning policies that are used to help determine planning applications for development within our Parish. It sits alongside the Local Plan for Ashford Borough Council, carrying equal weight in planning decisions.
Why are we reviewing the Plan?
Neighbourhood planning gives us an opportunity to shape how our parish develops in the future. Since our current plan was adopted, there have been changes to planning policy at a national level. Also, Ashford Borough Council are starting to review their Local Plan. We can review our Neighbourhood Plan to ensure that our policies are up-to-date and to influence change in the parish. For example, we can set out planning policies on topics including the location of any new housing that Ashford Borough Council requires us to deliver, the type of housing, green spaces we wish to safeguard, community facility priorities and improvements to the promote walking, cycling and riding.
How you can get involved
This short survey is one way that we will be gathering information over the coming months about your views on what we should be focusing on in the Neighbourhood Plan. The questions are largely open-ended and some have a series of question prompts - this is to give you an opportunity to share fully your views on a range of topics. Some have a series of questions to inspire your responses.
You can complete all the questions or some of the questions. You are also welcome to complete the survey individually or jointly, for instance, with other members of your family.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Rolvenden1
The March edition of the Parish Magazine is available here
The next Parish Council Meeting will take place earlier on Thursday 19 March 2026 at 7.30pm in the village hall
Members of the public are welcome to attend and there is an opportunity at the start of each meeting for parishioners to speak briefly.
HISTORY
The village of Rolvenden dates from at least Saxon times. The Parish of Rolvenden comprises of the ward of Rolvenden (known locally as the 'Streyte') and the smaller younger (circa 1660) Rolvenden Layne. It is approximately ten square miles in area, given over largely to farming and rural activities, with a growing number of professional, craft and tourist services.
LOCATION
Rolvenden is located on the A28 Ashford to Hastings road, three miles south of Tenterden. It is roughly equidistant from the centres of Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Hastings. The mainline railway stations are at Headcorn ,(20minutes) and Staplehurst (25 minutes). A Bus service is available to Tunbridge Wells,Hastings and Ashford.
Rolvenden lies within the jurisdiction of Ashford Borough Council and is also within the High Weald AONB and the South Kent development area.
email The Parish Clerk. [email protected].com or call 07900 693572
receive email notifications of Minutes and Agendas HERE
KCC Councillor Wayne Chapman
Town / Parish Council Report – March 2026
(Covering Appledore, Biddenden, Rolvenden, Rolvenden Layne, St Michaels, Tenterden, Wittersham, Kenardington, Newenden, High Halden, and Stone‑cum‑Ebony)
1. Highways Update
Tenterden High Street: Overnight roadworks completed for the bus stops / bus stands outside The Vine pub and opposite the Town Hall, there has been parking tickets issued to buses broken down by ABC enforcement officers which have been correctly issued.
Tenterden – Appledore Road: UK Power Networks’ planned works along Appledore Road, including the connection of new streetlights near the Oakridge Grange / Bovis Homes development, these works originally planned for three / four separate planned road closures condensed into one week, there are many reported highway traffic issues and the works over ran slightly and communications from UK Power Networks have been inconsistent, creating understandable frustration for residents, we are still seeking some clarity to the ongoing situation, there is a planned Teams call 4th March with the KCC Streetworks Senior Coordinator for Tenterden Councillors to air views, opinions and concerns, at KCC we are looking for solutions going forward, again with this ongoing concern thank you to Cllr Sue Ferguson, Tenterden Town Council Community Engagement Councillor, for championing residents’ concerns and keeping the community well informed.
Once all utility works have concluded we can look to diarise the much needed Appledore resurfacing project.
Tenterden, Woodchurch Road: 23rd Feb – 20th March, (Section 278 Oakridge Grange / Bovis Homes development), Developer-funded footway, verge and bus stop improvements are progressing under temporary traffic management. These upgrades will enhance safety and accessibility once completed.
Biddenden
Winter patching works on Sissinghurst Road have stabilised areas affected by frost damage. Further inspections are scheduled as temperatures normalise.
High Halden
Drainage investigations near the A28 are ongoing. Ensuring effective surface water management remains a priority ahead of heavier spring rainfall.
Kenardington & Stone-cum-Ebony
Rural lane inspections undertaken through January and February have identified minor defects, now programmed for repair.
Newenden – A28 Bridge
Newenden Bridge on Rye Road will be closed for three consecutive weekends to conduct essential repairs to the bridge parapet following impact damage.
These closures will take place on:
28th February to 1st March, 7th to 8th March, 14th to 15th March
Closure times: 07:00 Saturday – 19:00 Sunday (each weekend)
The closure will be in place at the bridge over the River Rother, on the A28 between Kent and East Sussex. A full diversion route can be found on One.Network.
This work is necessary to ensure the bridge remains safe for all road users.
We’ve informed local businesses and will provide further updates as repairs progress.
Thank you for your patience while we carry out these essential works. Maintenance remains scheduled for 2026/27 with the full closure expected for 12/16 weeks. I continue to monitor progress and will update residents when more detailed timescales are confirmed.
2. Winter / Spring Driving
Kent County Council’s winter resilience programme has operated effectively across the division, with routine gritting carried out on priority routes and additional attention given during adverse weather periods.
As we move into spring:
Pothole repair volumes are being assessed.
Surface dressing schedules are being finalised.
Drainage and verge maintenance will increase.
Residents are reminded to continue reporting issues via:
www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-or-track-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement
3. Kent County Council Budget Full Council Meeting
Thursday 12th February, we passed our first Reform UK KCC Full Budget and we voted it through with the majority of the vote. Thank you to the hard working Kent County Council staff as well as the 151 Officer for the independent analysis and approval. A reduced increase, a 3.99% rise on the KCC element of Council Tax, whereas the opposition parties wanted to tax higher with 4.99% just like previous years, that would of been 25% increase from what we delivered as the Reform UK Administration.
4. Public Consultation of Local Government Reorganisation & Devolution (LGR&D)
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is coming to Kent, now it is time for public consultation.
LGR will cost Council Tax payers lots of money, with little to no money or funding from the Central Labour government to help, and they are implementing and forcing this upon the residents of Kent.
Option 1A: The Kent County Council Model - The financially sound option
Fastest financial payback (approx. 3.3 years), Lower duplication of senior management & back-office costs, Stronger monitoring savings than 3, 4 or 5 unitary models
1a Delivers County wide services easier, rather than a patchwork of policies across boundaries
The more councils you create, the more overheads you duplicate.
One Kent Council means one monitoring structure, one senior team, one strategy.
LGR Reform should save money — not multiply admin costs!
The other options put forward by other district councils may suit their local area better, the KCC option 1A is better for all of Kent.
To take part in the government’s consultation, visit Local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway.
The deadline for responses is Thursday 26 March 2026.
5. Kent reserves and Cadets Day
24th February at County Hall Maidstone, we had the honour of welcoming some of Kent's armed forces to celebrate the annual Kent Reserve and Cadets Day, military reserve units and cadet detachments from across Kent and Medway represented at an event to highlight the support and benefits armed forces personnel can bring to employers and wider communities, they were welcomed by the KCC Leader Linden Kemkaran and Chairman of Kent County Council (KCC), Richard Palmer, who himself served with the 2nd Battalion the Queens Regiment as well as currently being adult staff in the Air Training Corps (RAF Air Cadets).
Reservists can join the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and special forces in Kent and Medway and their day jobs can range from refuse workers to business leaders.
Information stalls were set up in the Stone Hall of County Hall to showcase the work of different regiments cadet units and how their skills can support employers.
6. KCC Family Hubs Courses
Family Hubs across Kent offer free courses to help you feel more confident, connected and supported — from pregnancy, baby’s first months and to the teenage years.
Baby bonding, Understanding behaviour, Online safety, Building stronger relationships
Whatever stage of parenthood you’re at, we’re here for you.
Explore the courses and book your free place today: https://loom.ly/Kyd-Wbw
7. KCC Feed Your Foodie Campaign
Thank you, Kent! You have recycled an extra 2,000 tonnes of food waste since September compared with last year. That’s a 22% increase - or 143 double‑decker buses’ worth
This didn’t happen by accident, it happened because of you
Your efforts to pop those peelings, leftovers and even used tea bags into your caddy are making a real difference!
It's not too late to join in: order your caddy at www.kent.gov.uk/foodwaste
8. Parish / Town Council Meetings – February 2026
If I am unable to attend any Parish / Town Council meetings in March due to other commitments, I am as always available via email [email protected] if needed.
9. Contact Details
Email: [email protected]
For highways, street lighting, or footpath issues, please report online via:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-or-track-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement