Parking Consultations

General Introduction

We are continually seeking to enhance the quality and accessibility of parking facilities, as well as the wider highway services, for both residents and visitors to the borough. This forms a key part of our commitment to ensuring that the network remains safe, efficient, and responsive to local needs.

From time to time, we undertake formal parking consultations to gather the views and feedback of the community. These consultations provide an important opportunity for residents, businesses, and stakeholders to share their experiences and help shape future improvements. All feedback received is carefully considered and plays a valuable role in informing decisions about parking provision, management, and any proposed changes across the borough.

Not all changes to parking arrangements - whether on-street or within car parks - require a formal consultation process, although the majority do.

ON PUBLIC ROADS

Any changes to parking and waiting restrictions on public roads (such as yellow lines or parking bays) must first be agreed by Kent County Council, with whom we work in partnership.

Kent County Council is the Highway Authority and retains statutory responsibility for the public highway. As such, they may introduce changes to the highway network without direct involvement from Ashford Borough Council, although we are typically consulted as part of the process.

The County Council is expected to prioritise locations where road safety data indicates that Casualty Reduction Measures (CRM) may be required. Changes to parking and waiting restrictions - through the introduction of new lines and signage - form just one of a number of measures that may be used to improve safety and traffic management on the highway.

For guidance on how to request changes to roads in your area, and the types of measures that may be considered, please refer to Kent County Council’s website: Changing roads in your area - Kent County Council

IN CAR PARKS

Changes to the operation and regulations within Ashford Borough Council’s off-street car parks may follow a similar consultation process. However, unlike on-street restrictions, these changes do not require formal approval from Kent County Council to be sealed, although they would normally be consulted as part of the process.

Request New Restrictions

Kent County Council - As the Local Traffic Authority, Kent County Council is responsible for the design, introduction and legal implementation of on-street traffic management measures on the public highway. This includes the provision of waiting restrictions (such as single and double yellow lines), no stopping restrictions, bus stop clearways, school keep clear markings, and other highway safety improvements. They are also responsible for promoting and making the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), in consultation with statutory consultees, to ensure these measures are properly authorised and enforceable.

To request new restrictions, such as double yellow lines, please visit the Kent County Council, Changing roads in your area website.

Ashford Borough Council - Responsible for the design, implementation and ongoing management of local parking controls within the borough, including residents’ parking schemes, permit parking areas, and time‑restricted parking such as limited waiting bays. This includes the day‑to‑day administration of these schemes, enforcement arrangements, and ensuring that restrictions operate effectively to balance the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. While the Borough Council manages these local parking provisions, they are often delivered in partnership with Kent County Council as part of wider traffic management schemes.

Ashford Borough Council are responsible for the relining of any worn parking restriction markings, even if they were initially installed by Kent County Council. To report worn markings, please visit our reporting page.

Information on requesting a new permit scheme, along with further information about requesting new restrictions can be found in the document below:

A Guide To Restriction Requests [pdf] 127KB

Consultations

Within each consultation, you can access further information, including:

Relevant reports and meeting minutes
Plans and proposals
Legal notices

Parking consultations also provide an opportunity for you to submit comments or raise objections.

All objections must be submitted in writing, either by post or email.
Each consultation will remain open for a defined period.
Please ensure you check the closing date before submitting any objections.

Ashford Borough Council

Current Consultations

Amendment 27, Pluckley Village

Amendment 3, Trafalgar House Loading Area

Recent Consultations

Amendment 1, County Square Loading Area

Amendment 2, Off Street parking order

Amendment 28, Various Roads

Amendment 25, Various Roads

Kent County Council

Most changes relating to roads and highways within the borough are the responsibility of Kent County Council, rather than Ashford Borough Council. This includes the introduction, amendment, and consultation of traffic regulation measures such as waiting restrictions, road layouts, and other highway-related schemes.

If you are seeking information on proposed or upcoming changes, or would like to provide feedback on a current proposal, you should refer to Kent County Council’s consultation platform. Details of all current and recent amendments can be found via their Let’s Talk Kent website.

Map-based Orders

We have now transitioned to a map-based Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) system.

Using the link below, you can view all Traffic Regulation Orders across Kent that have been incorporated into this map-based service. This digital approach replaces the traditional text-based schedules with an interactive and accessible format.

The system enables users to explore all on-street restrictions in areas where mapping has been completed. This includes waiting and parking restrictions, as well as moving traffic controls and speed limits. By selecting individual roads or map areas, users can clearly identify the restrictions in place and understand how they apply at specific locations.

This improvement provides greater transparency and ease of access to TRO information, allowing residents, businesses and road users to view restrictions more clearly and in a more user-friendly format.

Traffic Orders (traffweb.app)

Current Traffic Regulation Order

Download the current written Order from the TPT website.

The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process

Introducing new parking restrictions or making changes can take some time.

This is partly because we need to give people who may be affected the opportunity to have their say. This includes local residents, as well as key services such as the police and fire service, who may want to comment or raise any concerns.

For most changes to parking and waiting rules, there is a formal public consultation period. This allows anyone affected to review the proposals, ask questions, and submit comments or objections before a final decision is made.