About| Everything You Needed to Know About Chatham and Aylesford |
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The Chatham & Aylesford constituency was created in the 1997 Boundary Review. Originally predicted to be a marginal Conservative seat, it was won by Labour in their 1997 landslide, and has been held by Labour with diminishing majorities ever since.
The constituency was created taking excess voters from the neighbouring Tonbridge & Malling and Mid Kent constituencies. Approximately two thirds of the residents live in the Medway Unitary Authority and the remaining third in Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council area.
As the name would suggest, the main centre of population is the historic town of Chatham on the River Medway along with the neighbouring areas of Luton, Wayfield, Princes Park, Lordswood, Horsted, Weedswood and Walderslade. Also included within the constituency is a second self contained community, the town of Snodland. Finally, a number of more suburban / semi-rural villages and parishes (Larkfield, Ditton, Aylesford, Eccles, Burham, Wouldham and Blue Bell Hill) complete this constituency of contrasts.
At the 2005 General Election the Conservative Party came within a 2.7% swing of winning the constituency. The full result being:
The next General Election will be fought on slightly amended boundaries which are widely considered to be unhelpful to the Conservative Party as a number of Conservative-inclined polling districts are being moved to neighbouring Rochester & Strood. However, the overall impact of these changes varies depending on which statistician you believe. Despite these changes, however, the 2007 local elections placed the Conservative Party significantly ahead of the opposition, both in terms of "seats won" and "votes cast"
The swing achieved by the Conservatives across the constituency would be sufficient to win the Parliamentary seat even after the boundary changes.
Victory in Chatham: Conservative Councillors David Wildey, Alan Jarrett, Pat Gulvin, Matt Bright and David Brake celebrate victory at 4am.
Victory in Aylesford: newly elected Councillors John Balcombe (left) and Dave Smith (right) with Tracey Crouch at the count. The Chatham & Aylesford Conservative Association is based in Gillingham, where it shares office and administrative facilities with the two other Medway constituencies of Rochester & Strood and Gillingham & Rainham. It is led by a Management Committee and an Executive Council both of which are elected by the wider membership at the Annual General Meeting. The Association is widely respected within the Conservative Party for its radical and modern approach to campaigning, in particular the use of technology to target messages to key voters. In a recent report, a senior national official described the Association as "one of the most effective campaigning organisations in the South of England." In 2006 the Association selected Tracey Crouch as Parliamentary Spokesman. Tracey is a former Chief of Staff to Shadow Home Secretary, Rt Hon David Davis MP, and now works as Political Advisor to Aviva plc (the parent company that owns Norwich Union Insurance). Tracey immediately moved into the constituency and has campaigned on a wide variety of issues, including opposition to the closure of A&E facilities at Maidstone Hospital, to save Capstone Valley from house building, in support of local youth facilities in Walderslade and much more besides. Tracey's "Crime & Grime Action Team" have made a major impact on the local environment as she and her team has "rolled up their sleeves" and physically cleaned up some of the major litter and graffiti trouble spots (much to the delight and gratitude of local residents).
Chatham & Aylesford Conservatives are a friendly team who welcome new members and supporters. If you wish to see a change of government and can help with our work please get in touch. The following are a few ways you might consider helping:
If you have any comments, or would like further information on how you can help elect a Conservative Member of Parliament, please get in touch. Please write to: Chatham & Aylesford Conservatives, FREEPOST SEA 9015, Gillingham, ME7 5BR Tel: 01634 853322 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Alternatively, you can download and print off a membership application form HERE (which, once complete, you should return to the freepost address above) Thank you.
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Chatham: Naval Memorial
Aylesford: Old Bridge and Village
Snodland: Clock Tower 
Tracey Crouch with Baroness Thatcher
