Who is Helston's new councillor Guy Foreman and what he stands for

Guy Foreman was elected to the new Helston South & Meneage seat as one of just two Cornwall councillors for Helston, from the previous three, following a government boundary review reducing the number of councillors from 123 to 87.

The division has taken the place of Porthleven and Helston West, and Helston South, as well as the old St Keverne & Meneage division that has been split – St Keverne now joining with Mullion.

Both Liberal Democrat John Martin, who was Helston South councillor, and Independent Julian Rand, who served for the last four years in the old St Keverne & Meneage division, have lost their seats.

Conservative candidate Mr Foreman polled 676 votes (39% of the total) to Mr Rand's 489 (28%), while Mr Martin stood in the the new Porthleven, Breage & Germoe division, losing out to John Keeling.

Mr Foreman has lived in the area since 1983, first in Helston when he came to RNAS Culdrose with the Royal Navy, and now in Cury working as a self-employed electrician.

One of the issues he ran the election on was recycling and he said he hoped to look at ways of making it easier for people to recycle – including looking into the possibility of bringing back recycling banks to car parks.

He told the Packet: "Everyone is fed up that they have moved the recycling banks away. I also want better recycling at home for people. I feel these [sorting] bags are going backwards, when we should be going forwards."

Mr Foreman was previously in the Royal Navy based at RNAS Culdrose

Another ambition is to tackle crime by making it easier for people to report. "When I came down here in 1983 you would see a policeman and he wasn't needed," he said.

"Unfortunately the big town culture has come down where. And it's not just the town - I cover a rural area, where you have got farmers, and the impat on them losing their equipment is massive.

"I need to try and find some way of better reporting, similar to a neighbourhood watch scheme maybe, and where people aren't afraid to report it."

Speed and the regeneration of both Helston and rural villages are also on his list, and he said now he would begin conversations with officers and other councillors to find out what was possible.

He said although he was elected as a Conservative, he wanted to work with councillors "across the board," as well as with parish councils, saying: "I'm their voice and their go-between."

Mr Foreman said: "I want to thank everyone that voted for me, but I also want people who didn't to know that I am still their voice – and will hopefully win them across in four years' time!"

Coming up behind him in the vote was Peter Webb, Labour, 219 (13%), Samuel Ramsden, Green Party, 201 (12%) and Nigel Clifford Walker, Liberal Democrat, 136 (8%).

He joins Independent councillor Mike Thomas who was re-elected to Helston North division, after winning just 51 more votes than second placed candidate Katharine Lewis, for the Green Party.

Mike Thomas was re-elected to Helston North division

Mr Thomas took 694 votes (35%) to Mrs Lewis's 643 votes (32%).

Coming in third was Conservative Emma Spittlehouse with 574 votes (29%) while Liberal Democrat Frank Blewett took 93 votes (5%).

Mr Thomas told the Packet: "I would like to thank those who voted for me to be their representative at Lys Kernow – County Hall, Truro. It is a great privilege to be re-elected to such a role.

"I am very happy that I, and the candidate who came second, were both Helston residents. I am now looking forward to serving all residents of Helston North over the next four years."

"As we emerge from a pandemic that has reminded us of the fundamental importance of family, friends, and community, I am optimistic that there is a better future ahead. I intend to work with all our community groups to help manage the economic and social issues ahead of us."