INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW MAYOR

Ashford Mayor, Cllr Jessamy Blanford has dedicated her position towards issues concerning the environment within the borough. This coincides with the Year of the Environment taking place in 2019.

The new Ashford Mayor said; “I am passionate about the protection and conservation of the environment as I think it is incredibly important to enhance and preserve them for future generations.

“We are lucky to live in the Garden of England so it is important we retain its character in the face of increased housing.”

Cllr Blanford began her working career at Chapman & Hall who were originally publishers of Charles Dickens and later Evelyn Waugh. She then moved to a literary agent specialising in stage and TV work before taking time off to look after and raise her two children Nicholas and Simon.

She moved to Rolvenden in 1965 from London and since then has also lived in both Smarden and Pluckley.

In 1984 she returned to work at what was then called PPF, later Quest and now Givaudan, the perfumery and food flavour company based in Ashford. During the twenty two years she worked there she held various jobs and worked with the Eden Project in Cornwall. She was also involved in creating a biodiversity project along the banks of the Stour with the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership.

As part of this project she introduced an otter holt, Kingfisher posts as well bird and bat boxes and two ponds to encourage animals as well as wildflowers to thrive at the site.

Since 1974 she has been an active member of the Weald of Kent Protection Society taking on a variety of roles from Secretary to Chair. More recently she has become a member of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Ashford Branch, and, for many years, she was a member of the Kent Federation of Amenity Societies.

Cllr Blanford has also been the Portfolio Holder for both the Environment and Culture respectively during her time at the council.

Her chosen charities are Kent Wildlife Trust and The Paula Carr Diabetes Trust. She hopes that businesses and residents throughout Ashford see the importance of these charities and will support them wholeheartedly.