Protecting land and property from the risk of flooding in the county takes high priority for Cllr Tom Ashton.
Growing up on a farm has given Cllr Tom Ashton a passion for agriculture and an understanding of its importance to Lincolnshire.
And learning from experience with a family farm in Wrangle, the county councillor for Tattershall Castle has done much to help protect the county’s residents living near rivers and watercourses.
“You can’t grow up on a farm without becoming a part of it,” he said. “It becomes a way of life and it’s important to me that my county council work also supports those who work in this industry.
Tom Ashton attended Wrangle Primary School before he went on to the William Lovell Academy in Stickney. He rounded off his formal education at the University of Lincoln, where he studied history.
“For me, it all started when I was elected to the Parish Council in 2007 as a means of giving back to society. That was a real learning curve and it gave me a great insight into how things work and the steps that need to be taken to get things done. But to really make a difference with the bigger issues like planning or with highways improvements, then you need to be involved at a district or county level. And that is why I stood for both district and county council elections.”
Since being elected in 2017, Cllr Ashton has taken pride in being able to address issues raised in his community, including securing new speed restrictions, rebuilding numerous roads and footpaths, and securing agreement for a new pedestrian crossing in Tattershall.
His experience as chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee has also helped him to work with the Environment Agency on the reconstruction of damaged river banks in the aftermath of Storm Babet.
“I am very proud that both the speed restrictions and the repairs to the river banks were put in place relatively quickly,” said Cllr Ashton. “I am pleased to see the River Bain at Coningsby has been properly repaired, but there is still work to do if people and businesses here are to be protected.
“Tackling these important issues for the local community and being able to see them through is what makes the job as a councillor worthwhile.”
If there is time to spare on the family farm, a collection of vintage farm machinery provides a diversion. “My father and uncle kept hold of the machinery they used in the 1960s. It was an innocent idea to just preserve an old tractor, but it grew into quite a collection and now it brings a lot of joy for all of us,” he added.
Cllr Ashton is the Conservative councillor for Tattershall Castle. He is chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee and also sits on the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee and the Planning and Regulations Committee.