Ashford (borough)
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| Borough of Ashford | |
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| Missing image KentAshford.png Ashford Shown within Kent | |
| Geography | |
| Status: | Borough |
| Region: | South East England |
| Admin. County: | Kent |
| Area: - Total | Ranked 82nd 580.62 km² |
| Admin. HQ: | Ashford |
| ONS code: | 29UB |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - Total (2003 est.) - Density | Ranked 204th 105,907 182 / km² |
| Ethnicity: | 97.6% White |
| Politics | |
| Ashford Borough Council http://www.ashford.gov.uk | |
| Leadership: | Leader & Cabinet |
| Executive: | Conservative |
| MP: | Damian Green |
Ashford is a local government district and borough in Kent, England. Its council is based in the town of Ashford.
The borough was formed on April 1, 1974 by the merger of Ashford and Tenterden Urban Districts with the Rural Districts of East Ashford, West Ashford and Tenterden. There are two towns in the Borough: Ashford and Tenterden. For administrative purposes, Ashford is divided into 18 wards; the remainder of the Borough includes the following 35 villages:
- Aldington
- Appledore
- Bethersden
- Biddenden
- Bilsington
- Bonnington
- Boughton Aluph
- Braborne
- Brook
- Challock
- Charing
- Chilham
- Crundale
- Egerton
- Godmersham
- Hamstreet
- Hastingleigh
- High Halden
- Hothfield
- Kenardington
- Kingsnorth
- Little Chart
- Molash
- Newenden
- Pluckley
- Rolvenden
- Ruckinge
- Shadoxhurst
- Smarden
- Smeeth
- Stone-in-Oxney
- Westwell
- Wittersham
- Woodchurch
- Wye
The area, once mainly rural, is now fast becoming an industrial and commercial centre, particularly where the town of Ashford is concerned. The corridor caused by the M20 motorway and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and its International Station have led to much hitherto agricultural land being turned to other uses.
