Meet the Team – Alison Stammers

I have lived in Chislehurst for over 30 years, worked at Bullers Wood School for over 9 years (as the Operations and Human Resources Director) after a 20 year career with the Barclays Bank Group, and brought up my family here.

I’m absolutely passionate about Chislehurst and our community and determined it should get the voice it deserves.

I have actively volunteered in Chislehurst since 1994 in a wide variety of capacities. I started by joining the Mead Road Infant School PTA when my daughter started school there, before becoming chair of the Governing Body for about 8 years. I have since gone on to found new organisations like

Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Grounds (FOCRG, jointly with Barbara Arora),
the Chislehurst Town Team
Visit Chislehurst

I was an Executive member of The Chislehurst Society for over 11 years and Secretary of the Chislehurst Safer Neighbourhood Team Panel, a body I still attend as Ward Councillor. I have been chairing the Chislehurst Partnership Patients Participation Group since July 2021.

In May 2022, I was hugely honoured to be elected to serve as a Ward Councillor for Chislehurst. This is a role I relish as I try to help residents with all manner of issues. No two days are ever the same and I am certainly kept very busy!

I am out and about around Chislehurst most days. You will often see me taking photos to put on FixMyStreet to report problems. I check out the progress of the numerous utilities works we have in Chislehurst and try to speed them along where I can! I run the Chislehurst Matters Facebook and X accounts to keep residents up to date with local matters and respond to all emails to our group email address: info@chislehurstmatters.com, as well, of course, to those emails that come directly to me. I regularly liaise with the police on local crime and anti-social behaviour issues. Twice a month, we hold ward surgeries but I regularly see residents outside these surgeries to discuss their particular concerns.

As far as my Council responsibilities are concerned, I sit on the Environment and Community Policy & Scrutiny Committee; Renewal, Recreation & Housing Committee and Health Scrutiny Committee. I also attend Planning sub-committees on occasion when residents’ applications are being considered.

Some of the things I achieved as a volunteer before becoming a councillor:-

Creating the Visit Chislehurst brand and social media to promote local businesses and improve local communication
Improvements to the High Street, including the new Chislehurst sign, removal of extraneous street furniture, new bins, new noticeboards, new street trees, hanging baskets, etc
Following a spate of break ins, I led a long and ultimately successful campaign for cctv cameras on the High Street
At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, I set up the hugely successful Chislehurst Community Support Group (with the backing of The Chislehurst Society) to deliver prescriptions, food shopping and keep in contact with those isolating.
Coming up with the idea of and managing the installation of The Chislehurst Bear Trail project (generously funded by The Chislehurst Society)
Numerous improvements in Chislehurst and Walden Recreation Grounds with my FOCRG colleagues, including a new playground, new benches, wood carvings, working with FC Elmstead on the pavilion build
I successfully ensured many years ago that Walden Woods secured Local Green Space status.
I was a co-instigator of Chislehurst Rocks and helped to organize it for many years
Setting up an alert system with LBB to give local residents advanced notice of utility works affecting roads.

I have been honoured with several awards for my volunteering, including Mayor of Bromley Award 2012; Champion of the High Street 2013 awarded by The Telegraph/Mary Portas; Mayor of London “Hidden Credits” 2019; Chislehurst Rotary Club 2019 Community Service Award for “services to the community of Chislehurst”.

I’m incredibly proud of the improvements and changes we have made as your Ward Councillors but there is still lots more to do! Having a voice within the Council gives us the opportunity to drive through more changes and to further help Chislehurst residents.