Vanessa is our Downs North Ward representative, and Co-Chair of Ashford Green Party. An environment and sustainability professional, Vanessa joined the Green Party around 15 years ago, and got active once it became clear that the major thing missing from tackling the climate crisis was political will.

tHE FUTURE IS LOCAL

Vanessa is passionate about her local area, and believes that local connection and amenities are important for resilient and happy communities.

Recently Vanessa oversaw an online and in-person petition to save our local, rural, on-call fire stations at Wye and Chilham. Kent Fire and Rescue finally listened to local voices and scrapped their plans for closure. Vanessa has developed a huge admiration for local firefighters, and knows that as climate change makes extreme weather more common, firefighters and other emergency responders will become even more important than they already are

Vanessa has lived in Old Wives Lees since 2014 and loves the walks around the village as well as the friendly people and community champions who make it a great place to live.

Vanessa is part of the Friends of the Kentish Stour group, and is working with various groups on a Charter for the Great Stour. She is also secretary of her local Village Hall committee, and a governor at the local school in Chilham.