serve and protect

One of my roles as a Cornwall Councillor is to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. The police and social services do there best to protect people, but I also keep my eyes open to ensuring local peoples safety were possible. 


Keeping crime low is very important to me and I also sit on Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel to ensure our area get its fair share of police resources.


The police and social services should be contacted if you have any concerns but If you need my help just let me know.

Heather is so kind

I have to blush sometimes in election campaigns. This is one such occasion. Here are the kind words Heather Jordan had to say about me:

“We are supporting Paula because we know how hard she works for this area. We want a councillor who we hear from all year around, not just at elections and that’s Paula.” - Heather Jordan

Hard days campaigning

After a hard day of delivering leaflets and knocking on doors its always nice to pop into your local, have a drink and wind down.

Me having a hard earned drink at the Tree Inn in Stratton with Bob and Emma

On a serious note, we must support local business and friendly pubs are often at the heart of a community.

My independent mind

I am often told how independent minded I am. Well this definitely comes from my father who studied at Oxford & is now a scientist. He works in botany improving crops without genetic modification. He taught me to challenge everything and take nothing for granted. I hope this mindset has made me the person I am today

Looking back

Every now and again I like to look back at some of the thing I have achieved as a Councillor (it keeps me sane). I thought it might be nice to show you the range of things I get up to. I wont talk about any personal casework I get (and I get lots) because when people ask for my help I like to keep it private.

Here are just some of the things I have achieved recently:

• Together with local residents, won back weekend health clinics in Stratton
• Supported much needed local community groups
• Worked with you to improve road safety
• As a school governor, helped to ensure local education is delivered to the highest standards
• Consistently voted for services to stay in our local area

what always strikes me is the wide range of things a Councillor can do, if they work hard and try their best. Well the job doesn't stop so I better get on.. 

All the best

If you want a chat

Every now and again I like to put my main contact details out there so that you or anyone you know has them. I represent one of the biggest and most rural wards in Cornwall, so although you will see me out and about regularly, I like to know you can contact me if you want to...


My home number: 01288 353469
My Mobile: 07973 951996
I am often busy as being a Councillor can be a 24/7 job, so if you don't get thought the first time, please leave a message and I'll call you back.

If you would prefer to send me an email the address is: Pauladolphin@hotmail.com

If you are just interested in what I'm upto I post to twitter as @BudeDolphin

Or you can subsribe to my log here at paulalibdem.blogspot.co.uk

Snow stops play

We are somewhat lucky that it rarely snows badly in the Bude area itself, however the areas on the way out of Bude do get very icy and sometimes snow will settle too. I can't quite get my head around way our country grinds to a holt in cold weather. I would expect it of Jamaica or Tonga, but the UK is not really hot any time of the year.

I understand that we don't get snow all the time like places like Canada and that's one reason we don't cope very well, but we do get it roughly once a year. Surely our great nation can cope with a logistics problem like this once a year?



Just for your information the picture above his been doing the rounds... Those eagle eyed among you will have noticed that the cars in the "Canada" side are driving on the wrong side for it to be Canada. After some research I can tell you that this picture in fact shows Japan.. Now I bet your glad you read the whole post! :-)

Food glorious food

I am curious...with regards to Food. whta are your thoughts on the following questions: 

1) are we becoming more intolerant to different foods as a society? e.g can't have lactose, gluten, sea food ect
2) have we always been intolerant to these foods but its only now we are finding it out?
3) are we eating so much junk food that we are becoming intolerant?

Are our bodies telling us enough is enough?

Merry Xmas

Ho ho ho, its that special day! I'd like to wish everyone a very happy Xmas and a wonderful new year. Looking forward to speaking with you all in 2013

Big thank you

To our nurses, doctors, police, fire brigade, ambulance, midwifes, coast guard, emergency phone operators, breakdown services and many many more people who work over the Christmas period to keep us safe, THANK YOU!

Your work is sometimes overlooked but you are in our hearts over the festive season, its nice to know you are there!

1000+

Id like to thank those people who are reading my blog, I have just gone over one thousand views! That might not be much to full on blogging fanatics, but I want to connect with local people in what ever way they find easiest / most useful to them. This shows me that people are interested in local politics enough to have a look at my blog, so I will keep going. If you have any questions or comments please just say, its what i'm here for ;-)

I'd like to know

 What sort of content you would like to see on my blog? I've only been blogging for a few months now so I need your help to shape my blog. I want to do my best to give you a glimpse at what I do as a Councillor, who I am as a person and what I'm fighting for, but what would you like to know?

Icy roads

We are all extra busy at this time of year, but it is more important than ever that everyone takes their time on our roads. Its cold outside and exposed rural areas like ours suffer from Ice, more so because of having untreated back roads and lanes.

Keep an eye out for your neighbours

The festive season can be a magical time of year, but it can also be a very lonely time for some people. Please take an hour or two out of your Christmas to make contact with neighbors who might not have their families to spend time with. Elderly people are often lonely at Christmas, but anyone, no matter what their age, can miss their love-ones at this time of year. A little effort on our part will make a massive difference to someone who is feeling a bit down. I know it sounds cheesy but making someone else smile is sometimes the best gift you can give and its free!

Looking forward to hitting the doors

There is lots to do as a Councillor, but nothing is as important as getting out in your patch and asking if anyone has any issue they would like my help with. I have just had some new cards printed with my contact details on, so if you get one through your door in coming weeks its cause I called. I know we are fast heading toward Christmas and if you are too busy to talk just say so, I will not mind. On the other hand if you have a mince pie and a cup of tea going spare don't be afraid to invite me in ;-)

The Leadership Crisis

I came across a very funny Youtube video the other day and I thought I would share it with you all.. It is very much for those of you who closely follow the inside workings at County Hall (so not many, but those of you who do will love it). My guess is that it is written by someone very close to the front line in Cornish Politics cause although it is funny it is very close to the bone with a lot of the points it makes! Enjoy...
Click to view "Leadership Crisis" by BunkerCC

Don't forget local shops

With Christmas just around the corner (sorry, but its true) our thoughts turn to buying gifts for our love ones and friends, among other things. In this day and age it is very easy to get on-line and look for all the things you need, but I would urge you to take a trip to your local shops. Keeping local shops open is vital to keeping a beating heart in our community and if we don't use them they will die and not be replaced. No matter how big or small your purchase local shop keepers will be glad to see you and I'm sure the service you will get will be great.

Postal voters, take your chance

Over the last few days postal votes for the Cornwall and Devon Police and Crime Commissioner have been delivered. This is a very important role and if the wrong person gets in things could get scary quickly. I am supporting Brian Blake who is a former policeman and is standing for the Liberal Democrats  If you are a postal vote, please use your vote!

The ballot for this position is happening on the 15th

Guy Fawkes Night

As you know tomorrow is Guy Fawkes night. It is quite amusing that at a time when Parliament is so unpopular so many people celibate the thwarting of an attempt to blow it up.

Fireworks are great fun for most people and I hope that everyone chooses to go to proper organised events rather then trying to do it at home. There are a number of reasons this is the best way to join in. First it is safer and that is very important. Second as a pet owner, I feel it is better for pets to not have fireworks going off for hours on end over many days.

Enjoy your night tomorrow!

Why I voted for Jim Curry

After they kicked their own leader out the Conservatives and Independents went into a frenzy to see who would replace him!

It was quite worrying and disorganised with lots of back biting (even after the vote to get rid of Cllr Robertson) as there were many people being put forward and it took them hours to come up with the final choices from each group (Ind and Con - I am going to have to blog about the INDEPENDENT GROUP soon).

In the end it came down to Jim Curry (con) and Neil Burden (ind) from the administration parties.
They both came before the Liberal Democrats asking for our support, but for me the vote came down to one thing! Who would pledge to stop the undemocratic and unpopular privatization plans that were being pushed through. The answer came back that only Jim Curry out of the two candidate was against this plan and so on that basis only he got my vote.

Jim Curry won the election by 3 votes and I will be working hard to hold him to account not only on privatisation but across the board.