Newquay Trenance

The candidates who are standing for election to Cornwall Council in the Newquay Trenance division on Thursday 1st May 2025 are:

Gemma Brinkley - Labour

Geoff Brown - Liberal Democrat

Drew Creek - Green Party

David Ellis - Reform UK

Nick Morris - Conservative

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• Gemma Brinkley - Labour 

  Awaiting response from Labour Party.

  **

   

• Geoff Brown - Liberal Democrat

  

  Geoff is a family man, Newquay born and bred and has lived in the area all his
  life. He comes from generations of Newquay seafarers and followed in the
  family tradition serving 28 years with the RNLI. He led the local Coastguard
  team for 25 years during which time they performed over 1,000 rescues and
  was twice awarded the Chief Coastguard’s Commendation. He is committed to
  helping others whether that is “Saving Lives at Sea”, supporting residents,
  leading the Fire Service or major charity projects including the Kosovo appeal,
  the for-runner of Shelter Box. Geoff will always strive to do his very best for
  those in need.

  
  A primary headteacher for 30 years and currently chair of a local academy
  trust, he seeks to provide the best opportunities for our young people. He and
  his wife spent many months touring inner city schools, as part of Newquay
  Safe, advising on alcohol awareness and sea safety

  
  Geoff was a Cornwall councillor for 14 years and brings a wealth of experience
  to support the people of Newquay.

  
  He has a track record of listening to residents and always putting people
  before politics. Geoff will always listen and represent you honestly and fairly.

  Geoff says, “I am honoured to stand for election as the Cornwall Councillor for
  Newquay Trenance, an area in which I have lived for 50 years. If elected I
  promise to work tirelessly to improve NHS services and ensure that the Council
  deliver truly affordable homes for our local young families to rent or buy.

  I will bring a commonsense approach to decision making, seek to reverse the
  ludicrous sell off of our car parks, establish a new re-surfacing programme for
  our local streets and re-instate the Saints Trail cycleway. The aim being to
  improve the health and well-being of our community and provide support for
  local businesses.

  This must be achieved by listening to and representing residents’ views and
  opinions. Thereby ensuring that their voice is heard in all decision making.

  With your support we can achieve benefits for everyone and I promise to
  PUT PEOPLE FIRST in everything I do”.

  Best wishes, .

  Geoff Brown

  **

• Drew Creek - Green Party

  

  Drew is a husband and father of three, with leading roles in healthcare as Chief Operating Officer at Community Pharmacy Cornwall and owner of a healthcare recruitment business locally, as well as a Governor at Trenance primary school. 

  He has lived in Newquay for over 15 years and can be found spending time out in the ocean around Newquay, kayaking, swimming or bodyboarding. He joined the Town Council in 2021 as a volunteer councillor and became Mayor in 2024 having been Deputy Mayor for the previous year.

  Drew said ‘as a father I see that we in Newquay have so much to offer, but we need to focus more on our youth by creating jobs and affordable housing to enable them to choose to live fulfilling lives here in Newquay rather than be forced to leave. We also need to ensure tourism here is sustainable to protect what we have for future generations.

  Drew priorities in the coming term are to tackle the housing crisis locally by going further Ron second home ownership, dealing with the Airbnb issue through legislation and licensing, ensuring developers build affordable housing before general sale so they cannot later get this removed from planning permissions and repurposing unused flat and homes rather than leaving them empty. 

  Drew intends to call for full review of the quango’s setup by previous administrations at Cornwall Council such as Cormac, Corserv and Treveath who are costing the taxpayers significant sums of money, they cost more to run these organisations that having them in house. 

  Drew said ‘Cornwall Council needs to forget vanity projects and focus on the core work of delivering statutory public services we all expect them to deliver. We need to ensure neighbourhoods are kept tidy, residents that need support are supported, it is that simple. It is going to take many years to get the council out of the financial mess it is in and that work needs to start now,’

• David Ellis - Reform UK

  

  I was raised in Mousehole and i have a tie to Newquay, as I played football for Newquay AFC. And worked in the town many years ago.

  A proud Cornishman, I was educated in Heamoor and Camborne and worked at Michelin plc as a truck van and car specialist for Cornwall. 

  I’m committed to Newquay’s future and running for County Council to champion Newquay and Cornwall’s voices makes sense to me. 

  I have no preconceived ideas or loyalty to anyone in the current council, i want to be the voice for the constituents and not myself, I’ll bring fresh dedication to amplify your voice. 

  Vote David Ellis for a passionate advocate for Newquay and Cornwall!

• Nick Morris - Conservative

  

  Hello Residents of Newquay Trenance,

  I am Nick Morris, your dedicated Conservative Party candidate for our division, and I would like to introduce myself to those in our community who may not yet be familiar with me. As a lifelong resident of Newquay and an alumnus of Newquay Tretherras, I have a deep understanding of our area's unique qualities and challenges. There’s no one more invested in our community than a local boy like me.

  For the past four years, I have had the privilege of serving on the Town Council, and I am thrilled to have been re-elected for a second term. My commitment to public service also extends to my work on the St Merryn Parish Council from 2017 to 2021, where I gained valuable insights into local governance and its impact on everyday life. Having worked in our town for over three decades, I have built strong relationships that help me understand the needs of our residents.

  One of my key achievements has been improving connectivity in St Merryn through the installation of a new phone mast. This project not only enhanced our communication infrastructure but also allowed for the realization of an Amenities and Sports Pavilion (ASP)—a dream I helped bring to fruition during my time on the council. These initiatives demonstrate my commitment to driving meaningful change and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

  I am deeply concerned about the financial responsibilities we carry. In the past two years, I have consistently voted against budget increases at the town council, including a staggering 26.96% hike for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and a hidden 9% increase proposed for 2024-2025. I believe our residents deserve more value for their contributions, and I will continue to advocate for fiscal accountability and transparency in our budgeting. Your hard-earned money deserves to be spent wisely, and I am committed to ensuring you receive the highest value in return.

  During my time on the Planning Committee, I have developed the ability to navigate and debate contentious issues affecting our community. I understand that development is essential for progress, but it must balance the needs and sentiments of our residents. I am always ready to defend our division and address the concerns that matter most to you. Listening to your issues and working tirelessly to find solutions is my passion.

  As we approach the election on May 1st, I kindly ask for your support. Together, we can ensure that your voices are heard loud and clear. In a time when many feel overlooked, I stand ready to be your advocate—the voice of the voiceless—for those concerns that often go unaddressed.

  Vote for your voice to be heard. Vote for the voice of the voiceless. Vote Nick Morris on May 1st. Together, we can shape a brighter future for Newquay Trenance. Thank you for considering my candidacy, and I look forward to serving you.