Your Councillors

I am an artist, designer and ran a gardening business locally for 20 years. Recently I retired from the gardening to run a café in Mount Hawke which has become an ideal hub for people to meet, exchange views and find out what is happening in the village and the parish as a whole. I am involved with the Village Community Association and the Millennium Green Trust, the Trust manages the public green space at the heart of the village. This space is used daily by all generations and makes an excellent venue for various community events.

I believe that community involvement in all local issues is really important and communication with as many people as possible gives us a rounded view of general opinion. Hopefully we, on the Parish Council, can then make informed decisions about the future of our lovely area.

Wishing to protect our fantastic Parish I take a strong interest in Planning and I am on the Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group. I am a member of the Parish Council’s Planning and HR Committees, and Chair of the Property and Devolution Committee which is working hard to keep our Library and all three of our Public Toilets open. I am a keen walker and cyclist.

Volunteering to assist in the creation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan led to an interest in serving on the Parish Council and I was elected to fill a vacancy 2016.

Life has been somewhat busy ever since though I have continued to reserve time to walk the local footpaths and appreciate the wonderful environment in which we live. I have gained experience of working on all of the Parish Council’s committees, chairing the Environment Committee from 2017 to 2020 and being privileged to be elected Chairman of the Council from 2019 to 2021. I currently chair the Planning Committee, of which I have been a member since 2016.

Whether meeting in committees or working groups, collecting car park monies or litter picking, an enjoyable aspect of Parish Council work is that it can be very varied. While many routine responsibilities are dealt with, such as managing allotments, cemeteries and finances, monitoring the cutting of footpaths or performing the monthly judgment of planning applications based on local and national policies, there has also always been ambition to make improvements in the Parish. To mention just a few; the library was kept open through devolution and its opening hours extended, maintenance staff have been appointed which enable us to keep our facilities such as toilets in a much better state, reacting quickly when any faults occur. The team have also made great progress in improving our street furniture and some green areas. Speed sensors have been purchased to use at key locations, and we made use of a grant from Cornwall Council to improve various sections of footpath. We took on the management of the Beaconsfield play area and agreed a system of support for all the other main play areas in the Parish. The change to ‘Pay and Display’ in Trelawney Road car park will, we hope, achieve our aim of freeing up spaces more frequently and we look forward to the installation of water refill stations at Porthowan and Trevaunance Cove.

I am an artist, designer and ran a gardening business locally for 20 years. Recently I retired from the gardening to run a café in Mount Hawke which has become an ideal hub for people to meet, exchange views and find out what is happening in the village and the parish as a whole. I am involved with the Village Community Association and the Millennium Green Trust, the Trust manages the public green space at the heart of the village. This space is used daily by all generations and makes an excellent venue for various community events.

I believe that community involvement in all local issues is really important and communication with as many people as possible gives us a rounded view of general opinion. Hopefully we, on the Parish Council, can then make informed decisions about the future of our lovely area.

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While on St. Agnes PC I first represented Mount Hawke ward and more recently the Blackwater ward. During my 8 years on the Parish Council, I have been Vice-Chairman for 3 years and Chairman for 4 years. I have been Chairman of the Human Resources Committee since its inception and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee this past year.

My main interest is protecting our lovely countryside and yet still be able to offer affordable houses to local people. Bringing forward the network of footpaths and cycleways is of high importance as it will help to reduce the traffic in our village centres. As a Governor at Blackwater School, I have an interest in promoting the use by all children across the Parish, of our great asset – the Library. Also, where possible, I would like to encourage all children to walk or cycle to school.

Our Parish Council has grown in stature over the last four years and if I can help in anyway for this to continue, then I will do my best to work with our Officers, those on Cornwall Council and outside Officers to affect this.