Councillor Andy Smith 

Ward: Ashtead Lanes & Common 

Independent Member

Andy Smith has lived in Ashtead since 1995, having grown up in Leatherhead and attended Therfield School before moving (briefly) to London in his twenties. He is a journalist by profession, with experience ranging from reporting and sub-editing for newspapers and magazines to senior communications roles in government agencies. He is currently self-employed as a writer and editor. He was elected as Independent Councillor for Ashtead Lanes and Common, the ward in which he lives, in May 2024.

An experienced campaigner for the countryside, Andy has had a longstanding involvement with conservation charities, both as a volunteer and as consultant/adviser, including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the London Green Belt Council and the Wildlife Aid Foundation. He is committed to preserving the rural character of Ashtead and protecting the green spaces so vital for people’s health and wellbeing, as well as for nature and wildlife – and where he is often to be seen walking with his dog and grandchildren!

A Trustee of several charities, Andy is a Life Fellow (and Past-President) of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Freeman of the City of London.