Green Party councillors in Newquay and the town’s Green Mayor have condemned Cornwall Council’s Conservative cabinet over its decision to cut frontline services, including vital child protection programs, warning that these cuts will harm vulnerable children and families in Newquay.
They are calling out the Cabinet’s misplaced priorities, which they say have seen millions wasted on failed projects such as the Spaceport, mismanaged car parks, and unnecessary estate agency fees for the airport.
“At a time when families are already struggling, these cuts are a devastating blow to essential services that keep children safe,” said Drew Creek, Mayor and Newquay Green Party spokesperson. “While the council pleads poverty, it has squandered public money on vanity projects and mismanagement. Now, they’re asking residents for more money through council tax hikes while delivering less. It’s unacceptable.”
“These cuts to child protection will have real consequences for children in Newquay,” said Steve Slade, Newquay Town Councillor. “The Greens are showing there’s a better way – one that prioritises people over waste and delivers real value for our communities.
“Here in Newquay, we’re proving that it’s possible to deliver more for communities without increasing council tax. Through careful financial management and a focus on people-first policies, we’ve been investing in frontline services, with more public toilets than ever before, in the town’s youth with the youth centre and new play park coming this year, and in protecting our environment through our work on installing solar, electric vehicles, tree planting and biodiversity protection. We only wish Cornwall Council would learn from this.”
Newquay Greens are urging residents to demand better from Cornwall Council’s current Conservative Cabinet and to support a fairer, greener approach to local governance at the elections in May.