Candidates invited to share views ahead of Cornwall Council by-election

As the countdown continues to the Cornwall Council by-election on Thursday 23 April, Radio Newquay has been speaking with candidates standing in the Newquay Porth and Tretherras Division.

Those standing were invited to submit a written article or biography of up to 500 words, along with a photograph, for inclusion in the station’s coverage.

Polling stations will open at 07:00 on Thursday 23 April and close at 22:00. 

The seat became vacant following the death of Cornwall councillor Kevin Towill in February. He was 46.

The following candidates are standing in the election:

• Sandy Carter (Liberal Democrats)
• Topher Chard (Independent)
• Suzanne Featherstone (Labour and Co-operative Party)
• Lyndon Spencer Harrison (Reform UK)
• Abigail Jane Hubbucks (The Green Party)
• Oli Kimber (The Conservative Party)

Scroll down to find out more about each candidate, listed in alphabetical order.

SANDY CARTER - Liberal Democrats

I am proud to have born in Brixton; I’m a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace - and played for a local team starting as a Striker finishing up as a Sweeper. I spent my working life in the furniture trade progressing from junior salesman to human resource director picking up an OU degree in sociology along the way.

30 years ago, as a widower, I came to Cornwall to care for my Mother and Porth has been my home ever since. My Mother was so proud when I had the honour to serve as Newquay’s Mayor in 2013/14.

I first got involved in local politics when the Porth bus service was withdrawn. With the help of the Lib Dems, we got it back. Sadly only for a few years but I’ve not given up; I will continue to campaign for proper bus routes off the main roads from Porth to Bedowan Meadows and Trencreek.

I joined the Town Council in 2005, as a Liberal Democrat. Developing Mayfield Park with the Community was a first project. I was also pleased to set up the negotiations with the Duchy to establish the Tretherras allotments. But my main job, to which I have returned, is planning and development; trying to keep our Town moving in a positive direction as it inevitably expands. I serve as vice-chair of the town’s Planning & Licensing committee.

My years of tough negotiation in business stood me in good stead when taking over the public toilets from Cornwall Council, the start of our town getting back our assets. So no surprise when I intervened in the closure and sell-off the toilets at Chester Road. I’m delighted with that decision being reversed and one of the cubicles being opened from April 1st.

I believe I have proven that as a Town Councillor, I have made a real difference – and that if I am fortunate enough to be your choice as Cornwall Councillor, I can make a real difference for our community. I am excited to have this opportunity to serve you. I have always believed that residents and their concerns must come first. Just one of the reasons that I have already held councillor surgeries and which, as a Cornwall Councillor, I intend to hold at least once a month in convenient locations across the Division.

I will be a strong voice to represent our area and Newquay at Cornwall Council. I will be here to listen to you and help in any way I can and do all I can to make Newquay an even better place to live; for us all and particularly for the residents of Porth and Tretherras – not forgetting Nansledan.

Sandy Carter

TOPHER CHARD - Independent

My name’s Topher Chard, 32 I’m an independent candidate, I’m married, I’m a dad of two, and I run 2 local cafes. I’m not a politician I’m in the Town.

I’m standing because I believe we can do better. Not overnight, not with empty promises but with honesty, common sense, accountability and a willingness to actually listen.

I’m young enough to believe in change, but old enough to know it takes time.

Right now, too many decisions feel disconnected from real life. Families are stretched, small businesses are under pressure, and yet we still see money not being spent where it matters most. I want to help change that, by pushing for smarter spending, focused on the things we all rely on every day. Free winter parking, better bus route, and a town we can be proud of.

That means supporting local families. It means fighting for more genuinely affordable housing so our kids and yours can grow up and still afford to live here. It means fixing the basics: potholes that damage cars, drains in places like Porth that should have been sorted long ago, and infrastructure that actually keeps up with the town we’re becoming.

It also means taking our environment seriously. We all know how important our coastline is not just for tourism, but for who we are. South West Water must be held to account. That’s not optional. That’s essential.

And then there’s traffic.

In Nansledan, it’s good to see the speed limit reduced that’s progress. But let’s be honest, signs alone aren’t slowing cars down. People still don’t feel safe. We need proper traffic calming that actually works — because safety shouldn’t be a suggestion.

But more than anything, this campaign is about people.

I don’t want to sit in meetings guessing what matters to you. I want to hear it directly. I want conversations on doorsteps, in cafes, pubs, on the street real conversations about real issues, with real solutions.

Because while others might be busy fighting for the seat, Let me fight for you.

This isn’t about party lines or point scoring. It’s about representing our community properly with accountability, transparency, and a bit of backbone when it’s needed.

If you’re tired of politics as usual, if you want someone who understands what it’s like to raise a family here, to run a business here, to live here

Then I’m asking for your vote.

Let’s make a start together.

Topher x
 

SUZANNE FEATHERSTONE - Labour and Co-operative Party

My focus as the Labour and Cooperative candidate is on delivering practical positive change for Newquay, Porth and Tretherras residents. A case in point is the successful road safety campaign I’ve worked on Nansledan. In fact today, I will receive a neighbourhood award for it at County Hall. Watch this space!

As a committed environmentalist I have spent the majority of my career working and volunteering on national and international conservation projects including for WWF, both delivering projects on the ground and in policy work. I specialise in water management, in particular natural solutions, having first trained at Imperial College in 2004. As I worked in the NHS before that, I am well aware of the intersection between environmental and human health. ‘One Health’. This includes striving to actively reduce the number of dangerous and persistent chemicals used in managing our environment. As a water specialist, my work at WWF interfaced with the Toxics and Climate Teams. That work continues to this day.

With my background in effectively managing multi-million pound projects that really matter to our communities, I was asked to stand for this by-election - I have already been a parish councillor locally and a community leader on Nansledan.

So my manifesto delivers a greener cleaner Newquay via a practical approach. Extending our train service to include a Newquay to Falmouth late train, both to improve night-time safety and help our visitor economy, simultaneously boosting our creative and culture sectors too. Our young people need to access our outstanding University and colleges to the full, and with disability needs met we also meet the whole community’s needs.

On that note, I’m a strong proponent for inclusion - neurodiversity and biodiversity are close allies. One health, one community!

LYNDON HARRISON - Reform UK

I grew up here in Newquay, attending Newquay Junior School and then Tretherras School, where I played rugby alongside Cllr Kevin Towill’s brother, Andrew – the start of a lifelong friendship with the Towill family that has lasted nearly 50 years. Kevin himself served as our dedicated county councillor for Newquay Porth & Tretherras until his sudden passing recently. He was deeply loved across the division for his quiet, tireless care for our town and its people. I watched with real pride as my dear friend Kevin became Mayor of Newquay – a role he filled with such dignity and genuine love for the place. Now I’m standing to honour my friend’s memory and carry on his unwavering dedication to Newquay Porth & Tretherras – serving with the same heart, integrity and commitment that made Kevin so loved. I bring two terms’ experience as a Newquay Town Councillor and two years chairing the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and I am ready to represent you.

Lyndon's Priorities:

- Cut wasteful spending at the council and ensure your money is being spent wisely

- Halt the loss of free parking in Newquay – no more Cornwall Council charges turning our beaches, town centre and streets into a pay-to-visit trap

- End the pothole emergency and get our roads back into decent repair; no more excuses, just action for Newquay drivers and families

- Prioritise local housing for local people

- No more pollution ruining our beaches, harming wildlife, and wrecking tourism. Clean water, clean coast – it's time to hold them to account


ABIGAIL HUBBUCKS - Green Party

I'm Abigail Hubbucks, a woman in my late twenties who made this town my home. Like a lot of us in Newquay, I've had to manage the uncertainties which come with living in our glorious town over the years: Will I have enough hours at work this winter to pay my rent? Will I have somewhere to live at all, or will my flat be put on AirBnB? Will I ever be able to get a dentist? Can I go for a surf today or has sewage been discharging into our sea? Will the children and young people in my life have access to the things they need to experience a fulfilled youth? Will my local representative actually represent me?

I get it.

As a hard working Newquay Town Councillor (and a regular person who's not afraid to roll my sleeves up), I'm already making progress. Newquay Greens have secured the devolution of the Youth Centre to provide a diverse and exciting youth service for the next generation. We've got funding for a new play park and the young people of Newquay got to help design it. We're rolling out a programme of real engagement events to rebuild relationships between you and your councillors with an aim to restore faith in local authority. We're protecting a local football pitch for the future generations. We've formed a community group to proactively make changes we want to see on our streets. I'm a volunteer water tester for Clean Sea Newquay so we get the data needed to hold South West Water to account. I managed a successful high-street hospitality business in Newquay (I may well have poured you a pint or two) and I secured funding for local businesses to improve their shop fronts and supported them in utilising services available to them - making tangible differences to the lifeblood of our town.

As your Cornwall Councillor I would work tirelessly to get the basics right: improve housing security in our town; improve access to basic healthcare like dentists; sort out the potholes; strengthen relationships within our community. I will continue to be my authentic and approachable, hard-working and honest self to best serve the place and community I love.

OLIVER KIMBER - The Conservative Party

I’m a proud Cornishman, born and raised here and I went straight into work from school. For the past five years I’ve worked in our family window cleaning business, serving homes and businesses across Newquay. I’m married to Georgia and we’re raising our young daughter — like many local families, I understand the pressures we are all under.

That’s why I’m standing as the Conservative candidate for Newquay Porth, Tretherras & Nansledan.

I believe in hard work, strong communities and taking a practical approach to the challenges we face. My goal is to make Newquay work for the people who live and work here.

Too many local families, like my own, are being priced out of their own community. Housing has to work for local people — not just investors or second homes. That means building the right homes, in the right places, and making sure local voices are properly heard in planning decisions.

It also means being careful about building on green fields — Cornwall’s landscape and character matter, and development should respect that and genuinely benefit the local community.

At the same time, our local economy depends on tourism. So many jobs in Newquay rely on visitors — from hospitality to small businesses. The last thing we should be doing right now is making it more expensive for people to come here. I’ve been clear that I oppose a tourism tax, because it risks damaging local jobs and putting further pressure on businesses already under strain.

I’m really concerned about rising costs — including parking charges — because people feel like they’re being squeezed from all sides just to live their day-to-day lives.

I’m not interested in political point-scoring or blaming anyone. I’m focused on listening, working hard, and finding practical solutions that reflect what people actually want.

Newquay needs to work for local people — not just those who can afford it.