Rural Means Rural Campaign

General information

The campaign for Rural Means Rural is the voice of residents in the villages surrounding Ashford, Kent, who are concerned about inappropriate housing development in the countryside.

Ashford is surrounded by farming communities and beautiful Kentish countryside, many areas of which are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Ancient Woodland or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The communities living here are served by a network of very small, narrow country lanes with high hedgerows and services are often minimal.

The cumulative effect of continuous development puts a strain on these lanes and other village services that needs to be considered holistically. The residents feel that their concerns are being ignored in favour of meeting government housing targets and the commercial interests of developers.

A number of villages that are experiencing increased pressure for housing development are very concerned about this lack of consideration for the rural environment and special characteristics that contribute to quality of life in a rural village.

This is a joint movement of a number of villages with similar experiences, for residents to make their voices heard, and ultimately to safeguard the unique characteristics of their communities and landscapes for generations to come.

Goals:
The campaign aims to start dialogue with the relevant decision makers and bring about the opportunity to present our Landscape Protection Policy as a framework to slow the pace and ensure development meets local needs and is appropriate for the area.

We also have a petition that calls specifically for the incorporation of our Landscape Protection Policy into the National Planning Policy Framework and for Ashford Borough Council to adopt this into their Core Plan 2030.

We are calling for:
Aldington to be given a rest from further development
Shadoxhurst to have a green belt to maintain its distinct identity
Keep Ruckinge and Bromley Green small and rural
Keep Brook green
... and any others who wish to join please get in touch