2004 No. 2815

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

The County of Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2004

Made

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Whereas the Boundary Committee for England1, acting pursuant to section 15(4) of the Local Government Act 19922, has submitted to the Electoral Commission3 recommendations dated April 2004 on its review of the county of Kent:

And whereas the Electoral Commission have decided to give effect, with modifications, to those recommendations:

And whereas a period of not less than six weeks has expired since the receipt of those recommendations:

Now, therefore, the Electoral Commission, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 174 and 265 of the Local Government Act 1992, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Order:

Citation and commencement1

1

This Order may be cited as the County of Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2004.

2

This Order shall come into force –

a

for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to any election to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2005, on the day after that on which it is made;

b

for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2005.

Interpretation2

In this Order –

  • “county” means the county of Kent;

  • “existing”, in relation to an electoral division or ward, means the electoral division or ward as it exists on the date this Order is made;

  • references to wards, unless the context otherwise requires, are references to district, borough and city wards in the county6; and

  • any reference to the map is a reference to the map marked “Map referred to in the County of Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2004”, of which prints are available for inspection at –

    1. a

      the principal office of the Electoral Commission; and

    2. b

      the offices of Kent County Council.

Electoral divisions of the county of Kent3

1

The existing electoral divisions of the county7 shall be abolished.

2

The county shall be divided into seventy-two electoral divisions which shall bear the names set out in column (1) of the Schedule.

3

The electoral divisions shall comprise the areas described in column (2) of the Schedule by reference to wards, parishes, or parish wards or, where an area is not so described, the area designated on the map by reference to the name of the electoral division and demarcated by red lines; and the number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division shall be the number specified in respect of the electoral division in column (3) of the Schedule.

4

Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it shall be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Maps4

Kent County Council shall make a print of the map marked “Map referred to in the County of Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2004” available for inspection at its offices by any member of the public at any reasonable time.

Electoral registers5

The Electoral Registration Officer8 for each district, borough or city in the county shall make such rearrangement of, or adaptation of, the register of local government electors as may be necessary for the purposes of, and in consequence of, this Order.

Revocation6

The County of Kent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 19819 is revoked, save for article 4.

Sealed with the seal of the Electoral Commission on the 28th day of October 2004

Sam YoungerChairman of the Commission
Jacqui DixonSecretary to the Commission

SCHEDULENAMES AND AREAS OF ELECTORAL DIVISIONS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

article 3

Column (1)

Column (2)

Column (3)

Name of Electoral Division

Area of Electoral Division

Number of Councillors

In the borough of Ashford

Ashford Central

Bockhanger ward; Bybrook ward; Godinton ward; Stour ward

1

Ashford East

Aylesford Green ward; Highfield ward; Norman ward; North Willesborough ward; South Willesborough ward

1

Ashford Rural East

Downs North ward; Kennington ward; Little Burton Farm ward; Wye ward; Aldington parish; Bonnington parish; Brabourne parish; Brook parish; Hastingleigh parish; Mersham parish; Smeeth parish; Sevington South parish ward of Sevington parish

1

Ashford Rural South

Park Farm North ward; Park Farm South ward; Washford ward; Weald South ward; Bilsington parish; Ruckinge parish; Kingsnorth Village parish ward of Kingsnorth parish

1

Ashford Rural West

Boughton Aluph and Eastwell ward; Charing ward; Downs West ward; Great Chart with Singleton North ward; Weald Central ward; Weald North ward

1

Ashford South

Beaver ward; Singleton South ward; Stanhope ward; Victoria ward

1

Tenterden

Biddenden ward; Isle of Oxney ward; Rolvenden and Tenterden West ward; St Michaels ward; Tenterden North ward; Tenterden South ward

1

In the city of Canterbury

Canterbury City North East

Northgate ward; St Stephens ward

1

Canterbury City South West

Westgate ward; Wincheap ward

1

Canterbury South East

Barham Downs ward; Barton ward; Little Stour ward; North Nailbourne ward

1

Canterbury West

Blean Forest ward; Chartham and Stone Street ward; Harbledown ward

1

Herne and Sturry

Herne and Broomfield ward; Marshside ward; Sturry North ward; Sturry South ward

1

Herne Bay

Greenhill and Eddington ward; Heron ward; Reculver ward; West Bay ward

2

Whitstable

Chestfield and Swalecliffe ward; Gorrell ward; Harbour ward; Seasalter ward; Tankerton ward

2

In the borough of Dartford

Dartford East

Brent ward; Stone ward

1

Dartford North East

Joyce Green ward; Littlebrook ward; Newtown ward

1

Dartford Rural

Bean and Darenth ward; Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet ward; Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley ward

1

Dartford West

Heath ward; Town ward; West Hill ward

1

Swanscombe and Greenhithe

Castle ward; Greenhithe ward; Swanscombe ward

1

Wilmington

Joydens Wood ward; Princes ward; Wilmington ward

1

In the district of Dover

Deal

Mill Hill ward; North Deal ward; Walmer ward; Middle Deal parish ward of Deal parish

2

Dover North

Aylesham ward; Ringwould ward; St Margaret's-at-Cliffe ward; Eythorne parish; Great Mongeham parish; Northbourne parish; Sutton and Tilmanstone parish

1

Dover Town

Buckland ward; Castle ward; Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory ward; St Radigunds ward; Tower Hamlets ward; Town and Pier ward

2

Dover West

Capel-le-Ferne ward; Lydden and Temple Ewell ward; River ward; Whitfield ward; Denton with Wootton parish; Shepherdswell with Coldred parish

1

Sandwich

Little Stour and Ashstone ward; Sandwich ward; Eastry parish; Sholden parish

1

In the borough of Gravesham

Gravesham East

Central ward; Chalk ward; Riverside ward; Riverview ward; Singlewell ward; Westcourt ward; Whitehill ward

2

Gravesham Rural

Higham ward; Istead Rise ward; Meopham North ward; Meopham South and Vigo ward; Shorne, Cobham and Luddesdown ward

1

Northfleet and Gravesend West

Coldharbour ward; Northfleet North ward; Northfleet South ward; Painters Ash ward; Pelham ward; Woodlands ward

2

In the borough of Maidstone

Maidstone Central

Allington ward; Bridge ward; Fant ward; Heath ward; High Street ward

2

Maidstone North East

East ward; North ward

1

Maidstone Rural East

Harrietsham and Lenham ward; Headcorn ward; North Downs ward; Broomfield and Kingswood parish; Detling parish; Thurnham parish

1

Maidstone Rural North

1

Maidstone Rural South

Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton ward; Loose ward; Staplehurst ward; Sutton Valence and Langley ward

1

Maidstone Rural West

Barming ward; Coxheath and Hunton ward; Marden and Yalding ward

1

Maidstone South

Shepway North ward; South ward

1

Maidstone South East

Downswood and Otham ward; Park Wood ward; Shepway South ward; Leeds parish

1

In the district of Sevenoaks

Darent Valley

Crockenhill and Well Hill ward; Eynsford ward; Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth ward; Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village ward; Badgers Mount and Shoreham parish wards of Shoreham parish

1

Sevenoaks Central

Sevenoaks Eastern ward; Sevenoaks Kippington ward; Sevenoaks Town and St John’s ward; Riverhead parish

1

Sevenoaks East

Kemsing ward; Seal and Weald ward; Sevenoaks Northern ward; Otford parish

1

Sevenoaks North East

Ash ward; Fawkham and West Kingsdown ward; Hartley and Hodsoll Street ward

1

Sevenoaks South

Cowden and Hever ward; Edenbridge North and East ward; Edenbridge South and West ward; Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway ward; Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone ward

1

Sevenoaks West

Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge ward; Westerham and Crockham Hill ward; Dunton Green parish; Halstead parish; Knockholt parish

1

Swanley

Hextable ward; Swanley St Mary’s ward; Swanley White Oak ward

1

In the district of Shepway

Elham Valley

Elham and Stelling Minnis ward; Lympne and Stanford ward; North Downs East ward; North Downs West ward; Tolsford ward

1

Folkestone North East

Folkestone East ward; Folkestone Foord ward; Folkestone Park ward

1

Folkestone South

Folkestone Harbour ward; Folkestone Harvey Central ward; Folkestone Harvey West ward

1

Folkestone West

Folkestone Cheriton ward; Folkestone Morehall ward; Folkestone Sandgate ward

1

Hythe

Hythe Central ward; Hythe East ward; Hythe West ward

1

Romney Marsh

Dymchurch and St Mary’s Bay ward; Lydd ward; New Romney Coast ward; New Romney Town ward; Romney Marsh ward

1

In the borough of Swale

Faversham

Abbey ward; Davington Priory ward; St Ann’s ward; Watling ward

1

Sheerness

Queenborough and Halfway ward; Sheerness East ward; Sheerness West ward

1

Sheppey

Leysdown and Warden ward; Minster Cliffs ward; Sheppey Central ward

1

Swale Central

Chalkwell ward; Iwade and Lower Halstow ward; Kemsley ward; Milton Regis ward; Roman ward; St Michaels ward; Woodstock ward

2

Swale East

Boughton and Courtenay ward; East Downs ward; Murston ward; Teynham and Lynsted ward

1

Swale West

Borden ward; Grove ward; Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch ward; West Downs ward

1

In the district of Thanet

Birchington and Villages

Birchington North ward; Birchington South ward; Thanet Villages ward

1

Broadstairs and Sir Moses Montefiore

Beacon Road ward; Bradstowe ward; Kingsgate ward; St Peters ward; Sir Moses Montefiore ward; Viking ward

2

Margate and Cliftonville

Cliftonville East ward; Cliftonville West ward; Dane Valley ward; Margate Central ward; Salmestone ward

2

Margate West

Garlinge ward; Westbrook ward; Westgate-on-Sea ward

1

Ramsgate

Central Harbour ward; Cliffsend and Pegwell ward; Eastcliff ward; Nethercourt ward; Newington ward; Northwood ward

2

In the borough of Tonbridge and Malling

Malling Central

East Malling ward; Larkfield North ward; Larkfield South ward; West Malling parish

1

Malling North

Downs ward; Snodland East ward; Snodland West ward; Leybourne parish

1

Malling Rural East

East Peckham and Golden Green ward; Hadlow, Mereworth and West Peckham ward; Kings Hill ward; Wateringbury ward

1

Malling Rural North East

Aylesford ward; Blue Bell Hill and Walderslade ward; Burham, Eccles and Wouldham ward; Ditton ward

1

Malling West

Borough Green and Long Mill ward; Hildenborough ward; Ightham ward; Wrotham ward

1

Tonbridge

Cage Green ward; Castle ward; Higham ward; Judd ward; Medway ward; Trench ward; Vauxhall ward

2

In the borough of Tunbridge Wells

Cranbrook

Benenden and Cranbrook ward; Frittenden and Sissinghurst ward; Hawkhurst and Sandhurst ward

1

Tunbridge Wells East

Pembury ward; St James' ward; Sherwood ward

1

Tunbridge Wells North

St John’s ward; Southborough and High Brooms ward; Southborough North ward

1

Tunbridge Wells Rural

Brenchley and Horsmonden ward; Capel ward; Goudhurst and Lamberhurst ward; Paddock Wood East ward; Paddock Wood West ward

1

Tunbridge Wells South

Broadwater ward; Pantiles and St Mark’s ward; Park ward

1

Tunbridge Wells West

Culverden ward; Rusthall ward; Speldhurst and Bidborough ward

1

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect, with modifications, to recommendations by the Boundary Committee for England, a committee of the Electoral Commission, for electoral changes in the county of Kent.

The modifications concern the names of Broadstairs and Sir Moses Montefiore, Northfleet and Gravesend West, and Tunbridge Wells Rural electoral divisions.

The changes have effect in relation to local government elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2005.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of the county and provides for the creation of 72 new electoral divisions. That article and the Schedule also make provision for the names and areas of, and numbers of councillors for, the new electoral divisions.

Article 5 obliges the Electoral Registration Officer in each district, borough or city in the county of Kent to make any necessary amendments to the electoral register for that district, borough or city to reflect the new electoral arrangements.

Article 6 revokes the County of Kent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981, with the exception of article 4.

The areas of the new electoral divisions are demarcated on the map described in article 2. Prints of the map may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of Kent County Council and at the principal office of the Electoral Commission at Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2HW.