Woodchurch is a Kent village, the largest civil parish in the Borough of Ashford. It is centred 6 miles (9.7 km) from the market town of Ashford and 4 miles (6 km) from the Cinque Ports town of Tenterden, in Kent, South East England. The village became firmly established in the 13th century with the erection of the large All Saints church which still boasts a 13th-century chancel. The windmill that overlooks the village from the north commands extensive views over the Walland marshes to the English Channel coast.
Woodchurch Hub is a not-for-profit organisation that is supported by Woodchurch Parish Council, whose main objectives are to promote the wellbeing of Woodchurch residents and to bring together local social groups, charities and local businesses within the Woodchurch area. We encourage “think-local-buy-local” and work towards ensuring our rural community continues to thrive. More is achieved by working together.
The Parish Council meets on the 4th Thursday of each month. Please check noticeboard or website for agenda and to confirm meeting is taking place at 7.00 pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe. Anyone from the village is welcome to attend these meetings, which include an Open Forum where matters that you would like to be considered by the Council can be discussed.
What's New In Woodchurch
- Hardship Help for Families in Kent
If you are experiencing hardship, especially during the current cost of living challenges, please download this ‘Help with Hardship‘ guide. This includes the universal support available across England / Kent, as well as district-specific support. - Section 106 project suggestions for Woodchurch – Please provide your suggestions here.
- Woodchurch Parish Council comments on Planning Application 21/01284/AS – Land between, 82-120 Front Road, Woodchurch
Download the comments submitted here - Woodchurch Parish Council comments on Planning Application 21/02624/AS – Land south east of Bridge Close
Download the comments submitted here
Woodchurch HUB on Facebook
Woodchurch Parish Council now has a Facebook page. Please give us a like and follow to find out more about what the parish council does.
Hi ya does anyone know a Diane deadman I have have had some mail come to my address thanks
I know her daughter - I’ve shared your post in the other Woodchurch group and tagged her in it
Yes Diane is my mum. I'm in Woodchurch tomorrow I can collect from you. Where abouts are you? PM your address. Thank you 😊
This afternoon at The Jean Mealham Centre - loads of fun and laughter😂; Christmas stalls; food & drink; Santa🎅; Reindeer or Pony (it's not sure😅); Christmas lights & characters!
Go along and have some fun! All welcome.
#supportlocalThe Jean Mealham Centre is holding their Christmas Market tomorrow in Woodchurch!
Check out the poster below to find out more
#community
THE GEORGE COMMUNITY
‘A month to save heart of our village’
The residents of Bethersden, near Tenterden, are hoping Christmas will come early this year as they try to raise £300,000 in the next four weeks to help buy their historic and popular pub, The George, and re-open it as a community enterprise*.
Leading the fundraising challenge is a Community Share Offer, devised by local action group The George Community, which started its campaign to save the pub almost 18 months ago after the 17th century Free House - described by residents as ‘the heart of the village’ - closed during the pandemic and the building was put up for sale.
The new urgency is driven by the fact that a valuable Community Ownership matched-funding grant from the Government is only available until the end of the year. The race is therefore on to find the necessary cash before Christmas so that contracts can be exchanged on the sale.
Local residents, former customers and anyone who wants to support the survival of pubs as valuable community assets or who might have dreamed of part-owning a pub but without the full financial responsibility, are being invited to buy single or multiple shares in The George.
The scheme requires a minimum investment is £500, which is the nominal value of one share, up to a maximum purchase of 80 shares. There will, however, be a ‘one member, one vote’ approach to ensure that all shareholders have an equal and democratic say in the running of the pub.
Share investment will not only attract 30 per cent tax relief under the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) scheme** but will also earn future interest of up to 5% or 2% above base rate, ideally paid in the form of a till tab to help encourage continued custom at the pub. Net profits will be ploughed back into the pub to fund its further development for the benefit of the whole community.
The share certificates will also have their own unique value as they have been personally designed and drawn by celebrated actress, artist and Bethersden resident Anna Calder-Marshall.
The share offer was launched on 20 November to a packed meeting in Bethersden Village Hall, where there was standing room only to hear members of The George Community founding executive team outline their fully audited business plan.
The business plan for The George has the backing of the Plunkett Foundation (which supports community enterprises), Ashford Borough Council, Bethersden Parish Council, the Bethersden Charitable Trust and Ashford MP Damian Green who has personally supported the initiative from the start. Co-operatives UK, which provided vital start-up grant funding last year, has already committed to make an actual investment of £25,000.
“We know this is a huge challenge – particularly at the present time,” said Robin Draper, Chairman of The George Community, “but this is our one and only shot to save the heart of our village and ensure it can play a full part in maintaining the community spirit and community care that Bethersden has always been known for.”
George Community Secretary Alex Withington added: “We’ve been extremely heartened by the ongoing support we’ve experienced so far - not only as we worked towards securing an agreement to purchase the pub but at all the pop-up pub events that we’ve been organising every few months to keep The George front of mind with the community. If that support translates into share purchases then there’s no question that we can get there. Then our next goal will be completing necessary repairs and refurbishments so that we can re-open the pub – even if that’s in a very limited way to begin with – before St George’s Day 2023.”
A professional and audited prospectus has been published which gives full details of the share scheme and business plan, including a five-year financial plan for the pub once it has reopened. Together with an application form, this is available to download from the George Community website - www.georgecommunity.com/shareoffer/
Printed copies of the prospectus and application form are also available at Bethersden Post Office and in Marchants on the village high street.
Members of the public who wish to support the campaign without buying shares, can contribute through The George Community’s Crowdfunding account: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-george-community-crowdfund
Photo caption: A packed village hall for Sunday’s launch of the George Community share offer with members of the Steering Committee in the foreground: (left to right) Alex Withington, Joanne Brannan, Roger Kelly, Robin Draper, Michele Sadler. Photo credit Alison Miles
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Parish Council Notices
| Document Date | Document Link |
|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2022 | |
| 20 Nov 2022 | |
| 27 Jan 2022 | |
| 20 Aug 2021 | Planning Comments – 01284 Land between, 82-120 Front Road, Woodchurch |
| 24 Jun 2021 | |
| 31 Mar 2021 | |
| 23 Jul 2021 |
Woodchurch Community Support
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