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 eighteen serving Councillors and these are as follows:

Cllr Sidney Jackson 2000 - 2005

Cllr John Cooper 2000 - 2007, and 2015 - 2018

Cllr John Hadman 2000 - 2021

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 - 2021, and 2022 - Present

Cllr Mark Richards 2015 - 2021, and 2022 - Present

Cllr Stephen Ellis 2016 - 2021

Cllr Richard Dorman 2018 - 2021

Cllr Louise Rice 2019 - 2021

Cllr Sarah Rodger - 2022 - Present

Cllr Chris Cowdery - 2022 - Present

Cllr Paul Goodhew - 2022 - Present

Cllr David Wilson - 2022 - Present

Special mention must be made of Cllr John Hadman, who is Ashton Parish Council's longest serving Councillor. Cllr Hadman did not seek re-election in May 2021 having served on the Council since it's inception in 2000, and serving for a total of 21 years.

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 - 10/05/2021, and 22/02/2022 - Present

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 - 10/05/2021

Cllr Sarah Rodger 22/02/2022 - Present

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 - 28/07/2021

Sue Henson 02/05/2022 - Present