Meet the Councillors
Chris Harris - Chairman
Responsibility for The Fen & The Green
Email: [email protected]
Chris Harris became the chair of APC in March 2021, having previously served as a councillor and vice-chair. He has lived in Amport since 2009, and is a retired litigation solicitor. He is active in the community, being a trustee of the Sheppard Trusts, and is a keen supporter of local environmental projects. He is responsible for the Fen and the Green and plays a major role in their maintenance.
Chris views the PC as an important representative of the views of all residents in the parish, and he is always keen to hear from residents who raise matters for public discussion. As chair, he is responsible for leading the members of the PC in all matters including evaluating planning proposals, and addressing initiatives promoted by the Council, such as traffic issues and water quality.
Councillor Stephen Coke -Vice Chair
Responsibility for finance and principle and process
Stephen moved to Weyhill in 2010 and lives on Amesbury Road. He provides representation for the northern part of the parish.
He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1986 and runs a chartered accountancy practice in Thatcham, Berks. Stephen’s experience in professional accountancy and charity governance provides some perspective for the parish council.
He joined the Parish Council in 2016 and took over the role of Vice Chair in March 2021. He feels strongly that the parish council always ensures it represents the whole parish and recognises this in all parish council decisions.
If not working in the garden, Stephen is often on footpaths in and around the parish walking 2 dachshunds.
Councillor Clare Hemmings
Clare will be instrumental in representing the Weyhill Community part of our parish and has already raised the issue of poo bins and the decayed notice board.
Clare trained as Veterinary nurse specialising in oncology, soft tissue surgery and neurology. She has since developed an interest in nutrition and won Pet Counsellor of the Year award and now works for Royal Canin. Her job involves speaking, coaching and making scientific content more palatable for pet owners
Clare comes from Hampshire and has lived in Weyhill for 8 years and has a vested interest in the area. Clare believes we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. She is also a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering committee.
Sally Baker
Responsibility for Communications & Community Engagement, School Liaison & Resilience
Sally Joined the council in January 2021 having moved to the village from Buckinghamshire. She has taken on the role of Communications with the role of increasing community engagement and also has the role of School Liaison. She is very interested in promoting the role of the parish council within the wider community. She also sits on the subcommittee for the proposed new hotel in Amport, on the site of Amport House.
Sally held senior roles in multi-national organisations and is currently still a business consultant within both the public sector and private sector, specialising in Human Resources, Unconscious Bias and discrimination in the workplace.
Sally feels it is very important to consult and work with the Parish both to resolve issues, but also to take on pro-active activities within the whole parish.
Councillor Diana Stephenson
Responsibility for Neighbourhood Parish Plan
Diana has lived in Amport for almost 30 years and as a councillor leads on the Neighbourhood Development Plan which will allow everyone in the parish to have their say on any development in the future. Amport has so much going for it and she is looking forward to helping it realise that potential.
She has always been passionate about serving the community She chaired the South London Branch of the CEPD (Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities), then sat on the Strategic Advisory Board of Mencap.
She is a trustee of a military charity - The Officers Association and a trustee of the Sheppards Almshouse Trust in Amport.
Her background is in Financial and Crisis Communications having run her own company for over 30 years She currently runs a specialist interview training service for graduate and senior executives to coach them on media and interview techniques.
Councillor Tess Hawkins-Byass
Responsibility for Projects
Email: [email protected]
Tessa has lived in the village for nearly 7 years
Originally from South Africa Tessa has lived in the UK for 23 years. She runs a successful travel marketing business from home, is also a director of her husband’s garden landscaping business and helps run Amport Trout Fishery. She also enjoys travelling, gardening and working on Parish Council issues.
Tess is responsible for Parish Council projects and is currently working on a speed awareness in the parish with Oliver who is responsible for Highways. Please email Tessa with any ideas for new projects in the parish.
Councillor Dr Peter Harvey
Responsibility for Projects
Email: [email protected]
Peter has lived in Amport since 2008 and has served as a councillor for Amport Parish since 2021. Both his children attended the local Primary School for which he was also a parent governor, and an active member of the curriculum and standards committee.
Since joining the parish council, Peter has taken on joint responsibility for projects, focusing recently on improvements to the Green and Fen. He is keen to increase engagement with all parishioners and led efforts to organise the 2022 ‘ideas competition’ in conjunction with the village fete which generated a number of excellent suggestions and feedback. He hopes to continue supporting the council in implementing improvements more widely as well as conducting its important day to day business.
He currently works in a senior scientific role within government and is a keen cyclist.
Councillor Alan Montagu
Responsibility for Solar Farm project
Email: [email protected]
Alan is now retired following a forty-year career in banking and finance in the city, specialising in project finance with a particular recent focus on green energy projects.
He is leading the discussions with the developers of the proposed new Lains Farm solar installation, on behalf of Quarley and Thruxton Parish Councils as well as Amport, which is currently subject to a planning application with TVBC
Alan moved to Amport from Surrey in 2013 and lives in Haydown Lane, Fox.
Councillor Peter Waller
Responsibility for resilience
My wife, Angela, and I moved from North London to The Limes in Amport in early 2012. I have had a long career in technology companies in a variety of senior positions. In 2016 I reduced my business activities and had time to be more active in the local community. Since that time, I have been involved with an advocacy group helping vulnerable people in the Andover area. As I have a degree of free time, when offered the opportunity to join the Parish Council I was keen to get involved and use some of the skills and experience I have gathered through my life in order to give something back to the community I am now part of. I am particularly interested to work to give everyone in Amport Parish a greater say in prioritising services and actions that will improve the quality of life for all.