What We Do

What We Do

General Information

As a parish council, Capel is part of the lowest tier of English local government, but also the one closest to its residents. There are nine councillors elected by voters on the electoral role in Capel. We are one of around 9,000 parish and town councils throughout the country.

Responsibilities

Our direct responsibilities include the Recreation Ground, the allotments in Five Oak Green and the Memorial Cottages, as well as the maintenance of other small structures round the parish such as the water trough in Tudeley. We have also provided the defibrillators in the old phone box in Tudeley, at Capel Primary school, and the cricket pavilion

We also represent local opinion in our dealings with other government bodies including Tunbridge Wells Borough and Kent County councils, and the Rt. Hon. Greg Clark MP. We are a statutory consultee on planning applications, and these are regularly dealt with by our planning committee. The Parish Council Flood Panel also deals with the Environment Agency that maintains the Alders Stream as a critical watercourse, Southern Water, South East Water and Kent Highways.

We have 7 Committees/Working Groups

  • Finance and Resources Committee
  • Planning Committee
  • Flooding Panel
  • Memorial Cottages & Housing Working Group
  • Staff, Office & Admin Committee
  • Recreation Ground & Allotment Working Group
  • Highways and Transportation Committee

[NB for the viewers of the ‘Vicar of Dibley’: the Parish Council represents the civil parish of Capel, it has nothing directly to do with church or ecclesiastical parish of Capel, although the boundaries of both are almost the same].

Allotments

If you are a resident within the Parish of Capel and would like an allotment please contact Louise Goldsmith, Parish Manager & Clerk by email clerk@capelparish.gov.uk

We operate a waiting list for allotments. Plots are allocated following the order of the date of receipt of the application form and parishioners who do not already have an allotment will take priority over parishioners who already hold a plot.  If you live outside the parish those who live in the parish will take priority.  Please see our Allotment Policy for full details.

Upon receipt of the application form your name would be added to the waiting list, and we will contact you when a plot becomes available. You will be given the opportunity to view the plot before deciding whether to take it on and sign the agreement.

Allotment Application Form Updated Sept 2021