Residents demand resignation of parish council as political crisis brews
Around 100 villagers have signed a letter sent to Cornwall Council chief executive
Last updated 6th Nov 2025
There appears to be a political crisis in one of Cornwall’s most visited tourism hubs. Residents of historic Tintagel are demanding the resignation of their parish council amid “serious questions” about the sudden closure of the village’s visitors centre in July and alleged “unexplained financial irregularities”.
Around 100 villagers have signed a letter sent to Cornwall Council chief executive Kate Kennally calling for “transparency, lawful process and respect for our community’s right to know what is happening in our own parish”.
David Hemmings, a member of Save Tintagel Visitor Centre group and resident of Tintagel, told us: “Since the parish council took the decision – without warning or consultation – to close Tintagel’s visitor centre, the villagers have been seeking answers from the local councillors on why this decision has been made. No satisfactory answer has been given to date.
“Further investigation has led to concerns surrounding actions of the parish council, including questions over parish finances. Our questions, including via Freedom of Information Act requests, have largely been ignored.
“This has resulted in the people of Tintagel losing trust in the existing parish council. We simply do not believe that they are acting in the best interests of the village. We ask that they formally resign to allow a proper investigation into these past actions – either by a newly elected parish council, or preferably, by Cornwall Council.”
Mr Hemmings added: “Our actions and interest are focused on what is in Tintagel’s best interests. Tintagel is a thriving hub of tourism in a magnificent setting on the North Cornwall coast. Visitors from all over the world come here in the summer months and through much of the year to take in the coastal scenery – over 300,000 visitors come to the village each year, to enjoy its sights, including Tintagel Castle.
“To support these visitors – and the many businesses and people in the village who rely on tourism – we need a visitor centre and we are committed to ensuring the Tintagel Visitor Centre reopens.”
There are currently only four sitting councillors, although a notice was published yesterday (Wednesday, November 5) to arrange by-elections to fill seven empty seats. The council is also currently operating without a single member of staff, including a parish clerk.
The council was due to have a meeting last night though no agenda was posted on the council website or notices pinned on parish council boards in the area. A member of the Save Tintagel Visitor Centre group said that members of the public would turn up at the designated meeting time of 7pm to “ensure that there is no unlawful activity taking place”.
We have rung and emailed the council as well as the four councillors listed on its website but have not had a response, bar one who answered the phone and said: “I’ll find out who’s the best person for you to speak to, my angel, and get back to you.” No one has.
A Tintagel resident, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted us to say: “The parish council is trying to sort out a terrible mess left by the previous parish council, but it’s a slow process.”
The full letter to Cornwall Council CEO Kate Kennally from 100 Tintagel residents
Dear Ms Kennally,
We, the undersigned residents of Tintagel, write to you out of deep concern and growing distress at the conduct of Tintagel Parish Council and the dismissive treatment our community has received from Cornwall Council’s governance office.
For months, residents have raised serious questions about:
The unexplained financial irregularities and lack of transparency surrounding the Tintagel Visitors Centre;
The reported plan for councillors to co-opt replacements before resigning, effectively bypassing the community’s lawful right to call a by-election; and
The continuing absence of clear, official communication to residents on the parish council’s status, vacancies, and decision-making.
In seeking clarity, many of us contacted Cornwall Council through the proper channels. The replies we received – identical form responses ending with “a further nine (letters from parishioners) will not change the response” – felt openly mocking. We were exercising our democratic right to request information, not pestering officials. That tone has left many residents humiliated, angry and disillusioned.
This situation has already fractured local trust. Long-standing volunteers, business owners and families now feel voiceless in their own parish. What should have been a matter of procedure has become a crisis of confidence.
We therefore call upon Cornwall Council’s leadership to:
Publicly acknowledge the breakdown of confidence between residents and Tintagel Parish Council.
Ensure that any resignations, vacancies or co-options are handled lawfully and transparently, allowing residents their full electoral rights.
Review the oversight arrangements that place both the monitoring officer and the standards committee under the same individual, as this structure undermines public perception of independence.
Engage directly with Tintagel residents to rebuild trust and demonstrate that Cornwall Council stands for openness, fairness and respect for all communities – rural as well as urban.
Tintagel’s people are proud, independent and community-minded. We do not seek conflict; we seek honesty, accountability and dignity in local governance.
We urge you to act swiftly to restore lawful process and public trust before this damage becomes irreversible.
With respect,
The Residents of Tintagel
We understand that the chief executive of Cornwall Council is aware of the situation. A spokesperson for the Cornwall Association of Local Councils has verified that there are currently only four sitting councillors on Tintagel Parish Council, which is not enough to run a credible council. A notice was published yesterday to request by-elections to fill the remaining seven seats.
There will also be an extraordinary meeting of the council to agree to recruit staff as the authority is currently operating without a single member of staff.