Welcome to Shorne Parish Council.
This website provides residents and those interested in our Parish’s activities with the most up to date information on local news and issues affecting our community.
Parishioners are welcome to get in touch with the Parish Clerk or individual Councillors, through the contact details provided on this website, on any matters of concern or where advice or assistance is required.
About Shorne Parish Council
Shorne Parish is one of six rural parishes in the Borough of Gravesham. It is situated about 3 miles to the east of Gravesend, covering an area of almost 5 square miles, stretching from the River Thames in the north to the A2 Watling Street in the south. As well as Shorne village, it includes Shorne Ridgeway, Shorne Ifield, Lower Shorne, Thong, and Shorne West.
Shorne Parish contains approximately 1,060 residential properties, made up of around 690 in Shorne Village Ward, which includes Shorne Ridgeway, Shorne Ifield, Lower Shorne, and Thong, and around 370 in Shorne West Ward. The population given in 2011 was 2,487 but is likely to be higher than this figure.
Shorne Parish Council consists of 9 elected councillors, 6 representing Shorne Village Ward and 3 representing Shorne West Ward. Dates of meetings can be found here.
Parish Precept 2026/27
The parish precept increased by 3.8% for 2026/27, this being the underlying rate of inflation at the time of the decision. This follows a 3% increase in 2025/26, and a 3.77% reduction in 2024/25. The precept per property remains the lowest in Gravesham, and by a considerable margin. The 3.8% increase equates to around half a penny a day for a Band D taxpayer. To put this in perspective, Shorne’s parish precept accounts for less than 2% of total council taxes payable.
Proposed Land Exchange at Shorne Common
Shorne Parish Council has the opportunity to obtain 4 acres of woodland and grassland, extending from Shorne Common down to Crown Lane, as part of a proposed land exchange. An informal consultation was carried out between 26th June and 31st July 2025 at https://shorneparishcouncil.gov.uk/proposed-land-exchange-at-shorne-common-have-your-say/. The consultation was publicised on our noticeboards, in the parish magazine, on our website, and on social media. In addition, notices were hand-delivered door-to-door to properties in Mill Hill Lane and upper Butchers Hill.
A total of 34 responses were received, with a significant majority in favour of the proposal. The Council has therefore decided to proceed with the proposed land exchange, subject to obtaining the necessary consents. Part of the proposal includes the diversion of footpath NS166, and an application has been submitted to Kent County Council. Representatives of KCC’s PROW team have visited the site, but it is unlikely that they will consult on the application until 2027. It will also be necessary to apply to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to de-register a small part of Shorne Common on the eastern side of Mill Hill Lane, and simultaneously register the 4 acres of land as replacement common land under Section 16 of the Commons Act 2006, a process that is likely to take a similar length of time. We will keep parishioners informed as the process progresses.
Lower Thames Crossing given the Green Light
On 25th March 2025, it was announced that the Secretary of State has granted the Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing to proceed. This will be the largest construction site we have ever seen in this area, with a massive “spaghetti junction” between the Inn On The Lake and Marling Cross, and 10 lanes of traffic passing Shorne. Shorne will lose its direct access to the M2, and traffic volumes and patterns will change forever throughout the area. Preliminary work has now started on the diversion of a national gas pipeline between Thong and Shorne West.