52-572: Rother is a local government district in East Sussex , England. Its council is based in Bexhill-on-Sea . The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries. The neighbouring districts are Wealden , Tunbridge Wells , Ashford , Folkestone and Hythe , and Hastings . Aside from its coast, Hastings is surrounded by Rother. The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under
104-500: A grade-separated Roundabout interchange . £92million of government money was made available to the scheme in July 2013. Preparatory works started in September 2014, which involved nine hectares of ancient woodland being removed. Trees and shrubs were relocated to adjacent land and nesting boxes were installed to protect endangered species such as the dormouse. As a result of the widening of
156-591: A 2002 report stated that a 14 mi (23 km) section of the A21 south of Flimwell was the most dangerous road in the south east outside London, and the 38th most dangerous in the country, however it has since been overtaken by the A259 between Pevensey and Bexhill-on-Sea . When the Pembury bypass ends at Kippings Cross , the next section of A21 is a low quality single carriageway road with several steep gradients across
208-434: A borough or district council. In these cases local government functions are divided between county and district councils, to the level where they can be practised most efficiently: Many districts have borough status , which means the local council is called a borough council instead of district council and gives them the right to appoint a mayor . Borough status is granted by royal charter and, in many cases, continues
260-425: A district will consist of a market town and its more rural hinterland. However districts are diverse with some being mostly urban such as Dartford, and others more polycentric such as Thurrock. Non-metropolitan districts are subdivisions of English non-metropolitan counties which have a two-tier structure of local government. Two-tier non-metropolitan counties have a county council and several districts, each with
312-535: A dual carriageway standard following the Pembury bypasses completion, however they were delayed multiple times. In the 2000s, an upgrade scheme was proposed by the Highways Agency , and in 2013 it underwent public enquiry. The scheme layout followed the existing carriageway and involved the construction of a pedestrian and cycle route along its whole length, as well as upgrading the Longfield Road roundabout into
364-591: A few short stretches of single carriageway , resulting in frequent congestion , especially in peak periods. Beyond the East Sussex border, the road is entirely single carriageway , sometimes with steep gradients. Another bypass takes the A21 around the narrow road through Salehurst and Robertsbridge . Immediately before Hastings is the final hill, almost 4 miles (6 km) in length. The A21 starts in Lewisham in London at
416-683: A junction with the A20 known as "Loampit Vale Junction". From there the road uses various roads in Catford , where the A205 (the South Circular Road) crosses the A21; it runs south east up Bromley Hill to enter the London Borough of Bromley , where there are sections of dual carriageway, on the town's gyratory system (part of which is called Kentish Way ) . Up Masons Hill the road reaches Bromley Common ,
468-670: A median age of 52 years) and the lowest per capita income in the UK. There are several main roads crossing the district. The major trunk road is the A21 , London to Hastings road; it is joined by the A28 road from Ashford road near Hastings; which in turn is crossed by the A268 Hawkhurst to Rye road. There is also the A259 coastal route The Hastings Line , East Coastway Line and the Marshlink Line are
520-400: A road through various farms until eventually it gets to Scotney Castle where the dual carriageway ends at a roundabout. The next section of road is a single carriageway which travels past Bewl Water and Kilndown until it once again becomes a dual carriageway for 1.2 miles (1.9 km). However it has been reduced to one lane in each direction to reduce speeding. As the dual Carriageway ends,
572-559: A section of the High Weald ; and to the north the lower land, named the Rother Levels, across which flow the River Rother , which rises on the Weald and flows easterly towards Rye Bay, and its tributaries. For much of the course of the main river it constitutes the boundary between East Sussex and Kent , and is given the alternative title of the ’’Kent Ditch’’. Tributaries of the river include
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#1732855585546624-457: A style enjoyed by a predecessor authority, which can date back centuries. Some districts such as Oxford or Exeter have city status , granted by letters patent , but this does not give the local council any extra powers other than the right to call itself a city council . By 1899, England had been divided at district level into rural districts , urban districts , municipal boroughs , county boroughs and metropolitan boroughs . This system
676-545: A third tier of local government. The council has been under no overall control since the 2019 election , being led by a coalition called the 'Rother Alliance' comprising Labour , Liberal Democrats , Greens and some of the independent councillors. The independents in the Rother Alliance formed a local political party in January 2023 called the 'Rother Association of Independent Councillors' (RAOIC). The first election to
728-486: A type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties (colloquially shire counties ) in a two-tier arrangement. Non-metropolitan districts with borough status are known as boroughs , able to appoint a mayor and refer to itself as a borough council. Some shire counties now have no sub divisions so are a single Non-metropolitan district such as Cornwall. Typically
780-484: A unitary authority or those that transferred from one county to another, including those that changed name. Nor does it include unitary authorities that have been abolished ( Bournemouth and Poole ). A21 road (England) [REDACTED] [REDACTED] A228 / A264 near Pembury [REDACTED] A26 in Tonbridge [REDACTED] A25 near Sevenoaks [REDACTED] M25 near Sevenoaks The A21
832-525: Is a trunk road in Southern England , one of several which connect London and various commuter towns to the south coast. It provides a link to Hastings , East Sussex and parts of Kent . Half of the distance covered is over gently undulating terrain, with some hills and bends. Often traffic is slow-moving, particularly on weekdays on the short single carriageway stretches; and in summer with holiday traffic. Because of this, people have described
884-451: Is a major bottleneck, being a single carriageway with frequent bends. In October 2005 the "Preferred Route" to upgrade this 3 miles (4.8 km) section was announced. However, the scheme has since been suspended. After a junction with the A262 , the road returns to a dual carriageway standard along the 2-mile (3.2 km) Lamberhurst bypass where the A21 skirts to the east of the village on
936-657: Is based at Bexhill Town Hall on London Road in Bexhill, which was built in 1895 for the Bexhill Urban District Council, which became Bexhill Borough Council in 1902. The building continued to serve as the seat of local government following the reorganisation in 1974 which created Rother District. Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 38 councillors representing 21 wards , with each ward electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years. The lowest level of local government
988-456: Is reserved for buses only and terminates on the A259. Large portions of the A21, through Kent mostly, are dual carriageway with intervening stretches of single carriageway. There have long been plans are to upgrade some of the remaining stretches of single carriageway to alleviate congestion, safety and accessibility problems in the villages along the route. Safety is a particular concern because
1040-453: Is the civil parish ; there are 34 within Rother. The parish councils for the three parishes of Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea and Rye take the style "town council". The two parishes of Ashburnham and Penhurst share a grouped parish council. The parish of East Guldeford has a parish meeting rather than a parish council due to its small population. Rother District covers two areas of relief: to the south,
1092-617: The A26 from Maidstone ). As the road began to climb out of the valley it took a left fork; shortly after this the route of the modern A21 is rejoined. Where the new A21 begins, and also where the A224 joins from the north, the road is called the Sevenoaks Road ; at Knockholt ( Hewitts Roundabout ), the road enters Kent near its junction with a spur from the M25 motorway . The A21 actually multiplexes with
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#17328555855461144-584: The District Councils' Network , special interest group which sits within the Local Government Association . The network's purpose is to "act as an informed and representative advocate for districts to government and other national bodies, based on their unique position to deliver for local people." This is a list of two-tier non-metropolitan counties and their districts. All unitary authorities are also non-metropolitan districts, which, with
1196-521: The Hastings-Bexhill Link Road opened, more traffic has started to use the already congested road from the A2100 / A28 to the A21 at Baldslow Interchange, Hastings. Construction is underway to build a short link road to the A21 south of the interchange and bring more of the A21, from there up past to a new roundabout in an area north of the interchange, to dual carriageway standard. Another option
1248-531: The Local Government Act 1972 . It covered the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: The new district was named Rother after the River Rother which flows through the district. Rother District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by East Sussex County Council . The whole district is also covered by civil parishes , which form
1300-653: The Pembury Bypass as it reaches the North Farm interchange with the flyover for non-stop traffic. The next junction is with the A264 road to Tunbridge Wells and the A228 to Maidstone . The road later meets the original alignment at an at-grade junction (leaving a brief gap in the central reservation) not long before it meets a double roundabout at Kippings Cross where another section of single carriageway starts. The next section of A21
1352-507: The Weald . There are few major centres of habitation on the road and limited or no footpaths. There are many houses next to the route and the road has very frequent bends. The Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst section has a high accident rate and congestion occurs particularly at peak times. It is proposed that this section should be turned into a two-lane dual carriageway with footpaths and is proposed to be completely off-line, although mainly following
1404-408: The A21 as "a joke" and businesspeople have been reported to "hate coming down the A21". There have been many proposals to upgrade parts of the A21 in response to this. Parts of the A21 follow the historic turnpike roads : for example the section from Sevenoaks to Tunbridge Wells , opened in 1710; other sections of the road were similarly dealt with later in the century. It is also the location of
1456-399: The A21 follow the turnpike roads : one being the section from Sevenoaks to Tunbridge Wells , opened in 1710; other sections of the road were similarly dealt with later in the century. South of Johns Cross , the A21 originally followed the present day A2100 road passing Mountfield and heading through Battle and approaching Silverhill via Hollington . The A21 was later rerouted to
1508-535: The B2079 junction (Lady Oak Lane) on the short section of existing dual carriageway north of Flimwell and terminate at the roundabout at the northern end of the Robertsbridge Bypass. Although part of the road will be brought up to a dual carriageway standard, parts will become a "wide single carriageway". This scheme has been postponed until 2015 at the earliest and currently route protection is being lifted. Since
1560-690: The M25 and descends the North Downs Scarp here. The M25 then has to use a slip road in the left lane and the A21 takes priority although is still technically a motorway until the junction with the A25 to Sevenoaks and the M26 . The oddness of Junction 5 is due to the M26 once being part of the M25. Before the M25 was built, the A21 was the modern A224 near Polhill and then became the dual carriageway Sevenoaks bypass . This section of
1612-473: The Rivers Dudwell, Tillingham and Brede . The district reaches the coast in the vicinity of Bexhill, and on the shores of Rye Bay. Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is " Cfb " (Marine West Coast Climate/ Oceanic climate ). Rother has one of the oldest populations (with
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1664-490: The Tonbridge bypass and the Pembury bypass were separated by a 1.7 miles (2.7 km) section of 7.3m wide single carriageway with no footways or verges. Severe congestion was frequent as this stretch carried an average of 35,000 vehicles each day, significantly higher than its original capacity, and the number of accidents occurring on this road was above the national average. There were proposals to upgrade this section of A21 to
1716-449: The areas for Wales and England had been enacted separately and there were no Welsh metropolitan areas, the term 'non-metropolitan district' does not apply to Wales. A similar system existed in Scotland , which in 1975 was divided into regions and districts, this was also abolished in 1996 and replaced with a fully unitary system . In England most of the district councils are represented by
1768-427: The carriageway a number of buildings were demolished, including a Grade 2 listed 18th century barn. Completion of the scheme was delayed in late 2016 after the discovery of asbestos contamination. The improved road opened in September 2017. The A21 begins in Lewisham , about 5.9 miles (9 km) southeast of the centre of London. Passing through Catford , Bromley and Farnborough , twenty miles (32 km) from
1820-404: The council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: The leaders of the council since 2001 have been: Following the 2023 election , the composition of the council was: The next election is due in 2027. The council
1872-518: The current route near the second A26 junction. Between Leigh and Haysden the road crosses the River Medway by means of a two-span viaduct. Around this point, the road enters the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The A21 then meets the two junctions with the A26 , providing access to Tonbridge and Southborough . After the end of the Tonbridge bypass, the A21 climbs Castle Hill as
1924-507: The east along what was formerly the B2091, A229 and A28 . Sections of the A21 were upgraded to a dual carriageway standard in stages in the 20th century. The Sevenoaks Bypass opened in 1966. It wasfollowed by the Tonbridge bypass and associated Medway Valley viaduct in July 1971. The Pembury bypass opened in 1988, followed by the Robertsbridge bypass in 1989. The Lamberhurst Bypass
1976-487: The exception of those of Berkshire , are coterminous with non-metropolitan counties. For a full list of districts of all types including unitary authorities, metropolitan districts and London boroughs , see Districts of England . This is a list of former two-tier districts in England which have been abolished, by local government reorganisations such as the 2009 structural changes to local government in England . It does not include districts that still exist after becoming
2028-576: The existing route, and have improvements to the A262 roundabout. The Bypass is said to cost £40 million. This scheme has since been suspended following the 2010 spending review. Plans have been published for a new road between the southern end of the Flimwell bypass and the beginning of the Robertsbridge bypass. The 5.5-mile (8.9 km) improvement will bypass the villages of Flimwell, Hurst Green and Silver Hill. The improvement will commence at
2080-644: The first large-scale open space negotiated; briefly, just before Farnborough, the road becomes Hastings Road . The original A21 went through the suburb, the High Street is now the B2158. Until now the road has been in a south-easterly direction, but after Green Street Green it turns eastwards towards the valley of the River Darent , and it is at this point that the road pattern makes a complete change from its original route. The A21 originally entered Kent here and climbed to
2132-550: The first wildlife overbridge in the United Kingdom, near Lamberhurst. The road between the M25 and Hastings is designated a trunk road , and is maintained and managed by National Highways . The A21 is used for the 55 miles (89 km) Maydayrun to Hastings in which motorcyclists ride from south London to the Hastings seafront. It claims to be the largest non-organised event in the UK, attracting over 20,000 bikers. Parts of
Rother District - Misplaced Pages Continue
2184-638: The original route before meeting the A2100 at a roundabout in the hamlet of Johns Cross . After Johns Cross roundabout, the A21 takes a relatively straight, though undulating, journey, through Whatlington and passes Sedlescombe before climbing a four-mile (6.4 km) long hill to enter Hastings where the first junction reached is the Baldslow Interchange where currently the A28, A2100 and B2093 roads all terminate. The A21 then heads through northern Hastings where
2236-519: The road enters East Sussex and meets the A268 , taking traffic to/from Rye . The A21 then travels through numerous conjoined villages including Hurst Green where it meets the A265 from Heathfield . After a hill descent, the road reaches a roundabout where the Robertsbridge bypass begins, taking traffic away from the main street in the village. This is built to a single carriageway standard. The road then regains
2288-543: The road is a grade separated dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction (aside from a three lane section northbound climbing Hubbards Hill). The road passes to the west of the town, running through a nearby valley until it meets the A225 and B245 at Morley's Interchange near Sevenoaks Weald . The next section bypasses the original route of the A21 along the B245 through Hildenborough , Tonbridge High Street, and Pembury Road to join
2340-597: The road is known as Sedlescombe road North with access to sub-urban streets until eventually it meets the A2101 which heads for the Town Centre. The A21 then enters Silverhill where it gets to a junction which is sometimes a major bottleneck. Afterwards the A2102 heads for St Leonards and the A21 becomes the high street of Bohemia where the road is narrow. The route then heads down with access to various emergency services and then enters
2392-515: The scarp of the North Downs at Polhill, and then descended through Dunton Green and up the valley of the River Darent to Sevenoaks ; through the town centre and then down into the Medway valley via Hildenborough to Tonbridge. The London Road at the north of the town is now the B245; it continued through the long High Street, over the many bridges of the river (during which time it was also part of
2444-454: The start of the journey, it reaches the Kent border and the open countryside. Shortly afterwards the M25 is reached, with which it multiplexes for about 5 miles (8.0 km). At this point, the road becomes a trunk road , a distinction it has held since April 1977. The continuation through Kent heads south east for around 26 miles (42 km). This section is mostly a dual carriageway; but there are
2496-719: The three railway lines in the District; The Kent and East Sussex Railway tourist line terminates at Bodiam. Long-distance footpaths include the Sussex Border Path ; and the Saxon Shore Way , which links with the 1066 Country Walk . Major landmarks include Bodiam and Camber Castles ; and Battle Abbey . 50°50′59.24″N 0°28′13.81″E / 50.8497889°N 0.4705028°E / 50.8497889; 0.4705028 Non-metropolitan district Non-metropolitan districts , or colloquially " shire districts ", are
2548-478: The town centre. From here the original A21 cut through the town centre to meet the A259 at a roundabout near Pelham Crescent however since the town centre has been pedestrianised the A21 heads down on the sub-urban streets to the east. The next section of the A21 heads around partly on a one-way system near the railway station and the Priory Quarter business development. From here, the southbound stretch of A21
2600-526: The two-tier structure, but reforms in the 1990s and 2009 reduced their number to 192. A further 55 non-metropolitan districts are now unitary authorities, which combine the functions of county and borough/district councils. In Wales , an almost identical two-tier system of local government existed between 1974 and 1996 (see Districts of Wales ). In 1996, this was abolished and replaced with an entirely unitary system of local government, with one level of local government responsible for all local services. Since
2652-611: Was abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and the Local Government Act 1972 . Non-metropolitan districts were created by this act in 1974 when England outside Greater London was divided into metropolitan counties and non-metropolitan counties. Metropolitan counties were sub-divided into metropolitan districts and the non-metropolitan counties were sub-divided into non-metropolitan districts. The metropolitan districts had more powers than their non-metropolitan counterparts. Initially, there were 296 non-metropolitan districts in
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#17328555855462704-452: Was opened on 23 March 2005 to a cost of £18 million. The A21 used to have steep inclines into the village and the valley of the River Bewl . Included in the scheme is Britain's first land bridge at Scotney Castle which facilitates safe migration of wild animals over the road. The scheme was constructed by May Gurney who planted 50,000 trees on the new road. Between 1988 and 2017,
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