SERVING St Austell – my journey as your councillor. Since my election on May 2, I’ve had the honour of serving the people of Poltair and Mount Charles, while also engaging with wider St Austell issues. Recently, I was elected as the Reform UK Cornwall Council group leader, a role I’m determined to use to drive meaningful change across Cornwall.

Over the past five months, it’s been a privilege to help residents where I can, though it’s heartbreaking when budget constraints or policy restrictions limit my ability to assist, especially for families waiting for education, health and care plans for their children with special needs. Despite these challenges, I’ve celebrated successes like resolving a noisy manhole cover that kept residents awake and working with South West Water to fix a burst mains pipe causing flooding, with repairs completed in just three hours.

On average, I receive two concerns daily – from quick fixes to trickier issues like road safety, speed limits, street lighting, anti-social behaviour and hedgerow maintenance, which often require confirming land ownership before action. I love walking around our division, chatting with you and hearing what matters most. The quick wins, resolved in days, are rewarding, but I’m equally committed to tackling longer-term challenges.

I’m in awe of our public services, charities and volunteers – the true heroes keeping vital support available for so many in St Austell.

As group leader, I’ll work tirelessly to lead Reform UK forward, addressing tough economic times and pushing for the changes you’ve told us you want. If you have concerns or ideas about our area, please reach out – I’m here to listen and act.

Together, we can make St Austell even better.