History of Ashton Parish Council
Prior to the establishing of Ashton Parish Council, an annual Parish Meeting was held, and there was a Parish Committee in place, but it took two attempts to secure the establishment of Ashton Parish Council.
On the first attempt, despite 70% of parishioners signing a petition to establish a Parish Council, many failed to vote in the formal ballot.
Pleasingly, the second attempt was successful and Ashton Parish Council was established under the Ashton Parish Council Order 1999, executed on the 17th November 1999, and the Council came into effect on the 23rd March 2000.
The first meeting was held on 18th May 2000 at the Creed Chapel, Ashton.

Ashton Parish Council Order 1999
Parish Councillors
Since it's inception, Ashton Parish Council has had fourteen Councillors and these are as follows:
Cllr Sidney Jackson 2000 - 2005
Cllr John Cooper 2000 - 2007 and 2015 - 2018
Cllr John Hadman 2000 -
Cllr Patrick Gittens 2000 - 2003
Cllr Ian Campbell 2000 - 2019
Cllr Jonty Shingles 2003 - 2016
Cllr John Barratt 2005 - 2011
Cllr Stephen King 2007 - 2013
Cllr Tim Mason 2011 - 2015
Cllr Sarah New 2013 -
Cllr Mark Richards 2015 -
Cllr Stephen Ellis 2016 -
Cllr Richard Dorman 2018 -
Cllr Louise Rice 2019 -
Special mention must be made of Cllr John Hadman, who remains the only original Councillor still on the Council, and after nearly 20 years of service, is still going strong!
Holders of Office and Clerk to Council Appointments
Holders of the Office of Chairman of the Council
Cllr Sidney Jackson 18/05/2000 - 25/05/2005
Cllr John Hadman 25/05/2005 - 11/12/2018
Cllr Mark Richards 11/12/2018 -
Holders of the Office of Vice-Chairman of the Council
Cllr Patrick Gittens 18/05/2000 - 29/04/2003
Cllr John Hadman 29/04/2003 - 25/05/2005
Cllr Jonty Shingles 25/05/2005 - 21/09/2016
Cllr Mark Richards 29/11/2016 - 11/12/2018
Cllr Stephen Ellis 11/12/2018 -
Holders of the Appointment of Clerk to Ashton Parish Council
Valerie Brooks 23/03/2000 - 30/11/2003
Diane Heath 01/12/2003 - 26/07/2005
Diana Watson 07/09/2005 - 31/01/2019
Jill Sardeson 08/04/2019 -