Ashford - James Ransley

I am 37 and the third generation of my family to be born and raised in Ashford. My family traces back further in Kent and was in the 1800's notorious for smuggling tobacco and spirits across the Channel and over Romney Marsh.

I grew up surrounded small family businesses and as a child could often be found helping in one or the other - whether that be unloading lorries of pottery, making sausages at the butchery or more rarely moving hay.

At school I was particularly interested in the sciences, business and maths.

In my spare time I like to go running, read and occasionally go fishing.

Work-

I went to university and gained a degree in International Securities, Investment and Banking but my leaving university coincided with the banking crisis.

I decided to start my own business making bespoke furniture in 2009. Whilst helping my father with his business making oak framed buildings.

The focus of my business is on sourcing unusual piece of wood for live edge tables and coffee tables.

The business is successful with around a two thirds of sales in the UK and a third being exports overseas.

Community

I was asked to join Kingsnorth Parish Council (PC) immediately after the 2019 elections, as they had some vacancies. The Chair at the time wanted me to join to help with planning issues, as Ashford Borough Council have allocated around 2000 homes for Kingsnorth in the Local Plan.

Initially, being new, I tried to learn how the Council functioned and stuck to my role of Chairing the Planning committee, drafting comments for the PC.

During that first year some councillors became frustrated with the way the PC was operating and asked that I put myself forward as Chairman. I became Chair in 2020 during COVID.

I am now in my 4th year as Chairman at Kingsnorth and we have a diverse mix of political persuasions, no single group having a majority.