2004 No. 2815
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND
The County of Kent (Electoral Changes) Order 2004
Made 28th October 2004
Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Whereas the Boundary Committee for England, acting pursuant to section 15(4) of the Local Government Act 1992, has submitted to the Electoral Commission recommendations dated April 2004 on its review of the county of Kent:
The Boundary Committee for England is a committee of the Electoral Commission, established by the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 14 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41). The Local Government Commission for England (Transfer of Functions) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3962) transferred to the Electoral Commission the functions of the Local Government Commission for England.
1992 c. 19. This section has been amended by S.I.2001/3962.
The Electoral Commission was established by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41). The functions of the Secretary of State, under sections 13 to 15 and 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19), to the extent that they relate to electoral changes within the meaning of that Act, were transferred with modifications to the Electoral Commission on 1st April 2002 (S.I.2001/3962).
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 17 and 26 of the Local Government Act 1992, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Order:
This section has been amended by section 89(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22), S.I.2001/3962 and also otherwise in ways not relevant to this Order.
This section has been amended by S.I.2001/3962.

1 Citation and commencement
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.

2 Interpretation
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 county; 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 –
(a) the principal office of the Electoral Commission; and
(b) the offices of Kent County Council.
See the Borough of Ashford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3563), the City of Canterbury (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3564), the Borough of Dartford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3560), the District of Dover (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3588), the Borough of Gravesham (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3587), the Borough of Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3586), the District of Sevenoaks (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3557), the District of Shepway (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3558), the Borough of Swale (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3555), the District of Thanet (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3556), the Tonbridge and Malling (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3615) and the Borough of Tunbridge Wells (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 (S.I.2001/3559).

3 Electoral divisions of the county of Kent
1 The existing electoral divisions of the county shall be abolished.
See the County of Kent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981 (S.I.1981/85). The area of the county of Kent was altered by the Greater London and Kent (County Boundaries) Order 1992 (S.I.1992/2090), the East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent (County Boundaries) Order 1992 (S.I.1992/2096), the Greater London, Kent and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1993 (S.I.1993/400), the Kent and East Sussex (County Boundaries) Order 1993 (S.I.1993/1742), and the Kent (Borough of Gillingham and City of Rochester upon Medway) (Structural Change) Order 1996 (S.I.1996/1876).
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.

4 Maps
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.

5 Electoral registers
The Electoral Registration Officer 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.
As to electoral registration officers and the register of local government electors, see sections 8 to 13 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2).

6 Revocation
The County of Kent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981 is revoked, save for article 4.
S.I.1981/85.
Sealed with the seal of the Electoral Commission on the 28th day of October 2004
Sam Younger Chairman of the Commission 28th October 2004
Jacqui Dixon Secretary to the Commission 28th October 2004

SCHEDULE NAMES 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.