THURNHAM PARISH COUNCIL SURVEY

Community Governance Review – Thurnham West

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is conducting a Community Governance Review (CGR) that directly affects residents in Thurnham West, which  includes Bearsted Park and Ware Street. The consultation runs from 22 July to 30 September 2025.

The review may result in Thurnham West being:

1. Removed from the Thurnham Parish, and
2. included in a new Grove Green Parish Council, or
3. Turned into a standalone Parish

This comes just two years after the last review in 2023, where residents of Bearsted Park clearly stated they wanted to remain in Thurnham Parish. Despite this, MBC is launching a new review, this time without oversight from the Local Government Boundary Commission.

What Are Your Options?

MBC's consultation will ask which governance arrangement you would prefer for Thurnham West:

1. Stay part of Thurnham Parish (which as your councillors we recommended)
2. Join a new Grove Green Parish
3. Form a new separate parish
4. Suggest something else

Why Staying in Thurnham Parish Matters

Thurnham Parish Council has represented its rural community since 1894. It is made up of local unpaid volunteers dedicated to protecting the parish’s rural identity and your interests.

Benefits of Remaining in Thurnham:

1. A long-established, rural parish identity
2. Continuity of representation by local residents who live in and understand the area
3. A low council tax precept – £35.14 (Band D), frozen for four years
4. Rural-focused services: funding for play areas, safety schemes, heritage events, and environmental protection
5. A track record of defending green space, pushing for better planning outcomes, and supporting schools and families

By contrast, Grove Green is a semi-urban area, with a much larger population and different priorities. Merging could dilute Thurnham West’s rural voice, and likely increase your council tax (Boxley Parish, which is more urban, has a band D precept of £77.53).

Make Your Voice Heard

You are entitled to respond directly to Maidstone Borough Council by:

1. Online: Let’s Talk Maidstone – CGR Consultation
2. Email: consultation@maidstone.gov.uk
3. Post: Community Governance Review, Maidstone House, King Street, ME15 6JQ

Local Survey – Thurnham Parish Wants to Hear From You

To ensure we reflect the views of residents in Thurnham West, we’ve created a local one-question survey. This will help guide our formal response to MBC on your behalf.

Please let us know: Do you want Thurnham West to remain in Thurnham Parish?

👉 Click here to complete the Thurnham Parish Survey

The form asks for your name, address, and a simple yes/no answer.
Your views will help us protect your local identity and community.

Please complete the survey by 17 August 2025

 

 

A very hearty welcome to the Thurnham Parish Website

Thurnham Parish is located in a beautiful and secluded area of Kent and is just 3 miles north east of the County Town of Maidstone. The Parish covers an approximate area of 3194 acres, the majority of which lies within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the North Downs Special Landscape Area. The famous Pilgrims Way runs through our Parish and attracts many ramblers who often stop to explore the ruins of Thurnham Castle and Thurnham village that has much to offer visitors.

Thurnham Parish is surrounded by the Parishes of Detling, Stockbury, Hucking, Hollingbourne, Bearsted and Boxley. It has a population of 839 electorates and 474 residencies.

National Grid Coordinates: TQ 810 584

 

You can now contact Kent Police for all Wards and Officers here -  https://www.kent.police.uk

To identify an officer, the postcode can be placed in Find Your Area, and this will bring up the ward for the area.  To identify the team and officers for the area click ‘On the Team’.