Our Chairman

On Thursday 23 May, County Councillor Tim Ashton was appointed as the new chairman for 2024-25.

This year, Cllr Ashton will have achieved 48 cumulative years in local government, with two decades under his belt on the county council and 28 years as a Fylde Borough Councillor.

Cllr Ashton is a Conservative county councillor for Lytham and Ansdell, an honorary Alderman on Fylde and a former Fylde Borough councillor for St. John's Ward, Lytham, as well as a former chairman of Lancashire County Developments Ltd (LCDL). He has accepted the role of Chairman of the county council for 2024-25 after serving as Vice Chairman for 2023-24.

He takes over from his predecessor, outgoing chairman County Councillor Alan Cullens BEM, who took on the mantle of Chairman following the sad passing of the late County Councillor and then-chairman Keith Iddon last June.

Cllr Ashton will be supported in his role as Chairman this year by the new Vice Chairman, County Councillor Alf Clempson, a Conservative councillor for Poulton-le-Fylde.

One of nine siblings, Cllr Ashton was educated at Preston Catholic College and served in the Merchant Navy as an engineering cadet before going to Leeds University to study mechanical engineering, subsequently working in the family garden centre and landscaping business for 22 years.

Putting his expertise and experience in the maritime and engineering sector to good use, Cllr Ashton is now a senior lecturer at Fleetwood Nautical College.

He has been married to Sarah since 1986 and the couple have three children, Adam, Jacob and Chloe, as well as three grandchildren.

Over his time in office at Lancashire County Council, Cllr Ashton has been cabinet member for Highways and Transport, championing safe speed limits in residential areas.

Accepting the role of new chairman at the county council's full meeting, Cllr Ashton paid tribute to the late County Councillor Keith Iddon, and the dedication of the outgoing Chairman Cllr Cullens BEM.