Your Team
Our councillors represent you on both Portishead Town Council and North Somerset Council.
Click here to check which ward you are in on PTC's website.
North Ward
David Gunnell
Tim Snaden
South Ward
Bob Cartwright
Maryam Afzal
East Ward
Alan George
Janet Davey
Mike Johnston
Paul Gardner
Roger Whitfield
Portishead Town Council
West Ward
Emma Blackmore
Jenie Eastman
John Davey
Martin Dowling
Mike Rees
North Ward
Tim Snaden
East Ward
Roger Whitfield
West Ward
Nicola Holland
North Somerset Council
Portishead Town Council
North Ward
David Gunnell
My family has lived in Portishead since 1994. Our two daughters went to High Down and Gordano. I am semi-retired as an emeritus professor at Bristol University having previously led a small research group and been involved in national and international policy making in the areas of mental health and wellbeing. I was a trustee for the Samaritans for 3 years and was recently a volunteer vaccinator during COVID.
Our family loves living in Portishead and contributing to activities such as the Open Air Pool, where I was one of the first trustees. I want to help our community flourish in challenging times and am passionate about preserving our green spaces, tackling climate change, improving mental health and reducing inequalities. I will work tirelessly for you.
Tim Snaden
I was born in Portishead more than 50 years ago. Five generations of my family have lived here and I love the great community spirit. I am a care worker at Norewood Lodge and regularly organise fun activity sessions for the residents there. I have been Town and District Councillor for North Ward since 2019.
As Town Councillor I have been really pleased to lead on bringing the Slade Road Woodland Play Area back to life after years of neglect. I hope everyone enjoys the new slide - the longest in the District apparently!
At District I am the Vice Chair of the Adult Services and Social Housing committee where I do all I can to ensure that local people get the support they need and deserve, and Chair of the Public Rights of Way sub-committee. My aim is simply to help people and continue to deliver community projects using the expertise that we have in our town.
South Ward
Bob Cartwright
I grew up in Newhaven and have been lucky to live in Portishead for well over a decarde. I love the great community spirit and traditions combined with being a modern town. I work at Avonmouth and am a keen amateur kite-boarder and photographer. You may have seen me around taking photos to help community groups publicise their activities. I help run the Portbury Hundred Clean Up group which clears up litter along the road.
I have been a councillor since 2019 and will continue the battle to get rid of council red tape and stuffiness and give everyone a voice by involving ordinary people in solving issues we have in the town like the lack of public transport and more improvements needed to the Lake Grounds. I am currently campaigning for improved bus services.
Maryam Afzal
I am a scientific author in breast cancer and rare diseases. I worked at the University of Bristol and am now part of a project management team at a clinical research organisation. Having grown up in Cardiff, I can always wave to mum and dad across the estuary!
We moved to Portishead 11 years ago and our family have built up close links with our neighbours, some of whom are now family friends. My two children went to St Peters school. One has started GCSEs at Gordano and the other is starting college in September. We have loved being part of the community with the Portishead Army Cadets, Portishead Chess Club and Portishead Taekwondo club, where I also gained my black belt in Taekwondo.
East Ward
Alan George
I have lived my whole life in North Somerset. I was born in Weston-Super-Mare and moved to Portishead in 1991. I am married with grown up children, two of which are in the Emergency services. I also have seven grand children. I worked for forty years as a uniformed Police Officer and upon retiring in 2014 I joined the NHS as a Response driver supporting the Emergency Doctor Service.
In 2022 I was voted in by the town's residents to represent them in the East ward and the rest of the Town. I have taken on the challenge whole heartedly, and in applying my lifetime of public service experience this has helped me to address some of the issues in the town such as anti-social/nuisance behaviour, criminal damage and thefts. In partnership with local agencies such as the Police and North Somerset Council Community Team I have been visiting shops in the town and making suggestions on measures to be taken to reduce and prevent the criminality and nuisance behaviour and examine its root causes. I have located owners of abandoned/untaxed/uninsured vehicles, located offenders for fly tipping. I have dealt with complaints in regards to licensed premises.
I have achieved quite a lot since I was elected but there is still a lot to do and I aim to continue my work of trying to enhance the life quality of the residents of this town.
Janet Davey
My name is Janet Davey, and I was extremely honoured to have been elected as a councillor in 2019. I sought to be a councillor for a further four years in 2023, as I could see that there was so much still to be done. I worked with Tim Snaden in the North Ward to address issues such as drains, and also as a ward committee member for the Lake Grounds, for which we have received an improvement grant from the Great Lakes Fund.
Since becoming a councillor I have been instrumental in setting up a Heritage Centre in the Folk Hall, which now houses artifacts and documents that preserve the history of our town, including a time line written by Sandy Tebbutt. I have also been instrumental in helping to start a Wellness Partnership. In 2022 we were awarded £53,000 of government funding and were able to set up a wellness hub, which offered help to many local residents, who were able to access help groups free of charge. We are now working to move this project onto a long term footing, including help with cost of living and the provision of warm spaces.
I wish to continue working on the Wellness Partnership and also to address provision for young people in our town, and to make sure our town centre stays attractive to businesses and visitors.
Mike Johnston
I moved to Portishead with my family in the 1960’s and until recently I ran a Portishead retail business - two of my siblings still own shops on the High Street. I chair the Gordano Civic Society, am a Sustrans Ranger for the local section of the National Cycle Network and a volunteer at Portbury Dock ‘Seafarers Centre’. I enjoy walking, cycling all things railways and more besides.
I will work to help Portishead becomes more self-sustainable and less of a dormitory town to Bristol and I will continue the good work done by Portishead Independents to support everyone in the town without the baggage of a political party.
Paul Gardner
My family and I have been lucky enough to live in Portishead since 2005. I am the part time chairman of an IT business and was previously an East Ward Town Councillor between 2019 and 2023.
I love the outdoors, helping out with Friends of Portbury Nature Reserve and am currently learning to be a bee-keeper. I am committed to listening to Portishead residents, and representing your needs and desires. I will always do my best to help you.
Roger Whitfield
I have lived in Portishead most of my life, attending High Down school and then Gordano, and my 2 children attended St Peters School and then Gordano. I have worked in Portishead for over 30 years and own the computer and printing shop in the High Street.
As an independent town councillor I have been working hard to help bring improvements to our facilities and infrastructure. I am proud of the achievements of this council which has in the last 4 years brought many improvements to Portishead, not least of all the new Skate Park at the Lake Grounds.
I will continue to fight for both improvements and new facilities. I intend to work with the to bring the Lake Grounds back under the control of PTC so that local people can have a real say in how this area is maintained and improved.
Over the years I have been involved in a number of local projects and campaigns including the Open Air Pool, which continues to bring joy to thousands of people each year. I am passionate about Portishead and in ensuring that our services and infrastructure are up to our expectations.
West Ward
Emma Blackmore
Along with my family, I settled in Portishead 20 years ago, I am a logistics specialist and run a small family business serving companies in the transport sector. In 2020, I worked with other sterling volunteers to help steer our Covid-19 community response which supported hundreds of Portishead residents. From that experience I learned what can be achieved by people coming together to support each other.
I am passionate about getting things done and will strive to support all of our community groups and businesses and contribute to the positive change which Portishead Independents has brought.
Jenie Eastman
I've lived with my family here in Portishead for 27 years.
My career focused on working with children in the public and voluntary sectors, in London & North Somerset, in both front-line delivery and senior management. It included Secondary School teaching, Youth & Play work, Early Years Education, Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), & Child Protection. I worked in a voluntary capacity as a Director with the local Credit Union, Somerset Savings and Loans for 10 years, and am currently a Trustee for Springboard Opportunity Group, a local charity for under 5s with additional needs & disabilities and their families.
I am passionate about maintaining a vibrant, friendly, prosperous, kind and inclusive community in Portishead. I am also a keen gardener and know how lucky I am to have Kilkenny Fields on my doorstep for walking the dogs.
John Davey
I have lived in the West Ward since my wife and I moved to Portishead from London in 1992. The town was recommended to us by friends already here, and we have never regretted our move. The town has such a strong sense of community. We have two children and three grandchildren, who all enjoy coming to the town. Most of my working life has been in finance in industry. My last role was as Director of Finance for Bristol Water. Since retiring in 2009 I have been treasurer for some years with Portishead in Bloom, a member of Portishead Twinning Association and for the last thirteen years I have supported Weston Hospicecare as a trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee.
I am particularly concerned about the erosion of the Bristol green belt, the slow deterioration of our High Street, and the inadequate development of infrastructure, especially road and rail links that have failed to keep pace with our population growth. I want to build upon the sterling work already done by Portishead Independents, preserving the character of our town and preventing it from becoming just another suburb of Bristol.
Martin Dowling
My links with Portishead span some forty years, where I was lucky enough to be a recipient of the cultural and community benefits of this vibrant town. Many of my friends still live here, together with some of my former students. I am currently involved with the local dog rescue charity, both as supporter and collection driver, dog walks along the coastal path and the grounds around the lake being an added benefit.
I have worked in North Somerset for over forty years, as front line ambulance crew, then as lecturer at the College of Art, committee member and also as a lecturer for the Carers Association. As a carer myself, I am keen to facilitate care for the elderly and the isolated of the community. Having to deal with people in stressful and unfortunate situations, together with the pastoral care that comes with teaching, brings with it a wealth of practical skills, plus compassion and understanding, for the benefit of the residents within the community.
I can offer the experience of a lifetime working with people at all levels and I am passionate about supporting individuals and groups within the whole community, building on the work already carried out in the town and initiatives such as enhancing the arts and sculpture trail as an attraction. I am proud to be a voice for the residents of this unique town, independent of party politics.
Mike Rees
I have lived in Portishead since 1999, currently residing on Nore Road. I have always been committed to helping the people of North Somerset. Until my recent retirement, I worked as a senior manager in the North Somerset Youth Offending Team, supporting children, young people, their families, and the victims of crime. I understand first hand the importance of effective cooperation between councillors, local organisations, staff and volunteers to effect positive change.
I enjoy playing tennis, golf and bar billiards - being a member of Portishead Tennis Club, The Bristol Golf Club and a regular at a local pub.
I will use my knowledge, skills and energy to help constituents with issues of concern to them, and I will work hard to keep making Portishead an even better place to live!
North Somerset Council
West Ward
Nicola Holland
I moved to Portishead in 2017 from Bristol with my family and my two children, now both studying at Gordano school. I work as a supply teacher and am always interested in working with children. I have been a District and Town Councillor for the last four years and I am a trustee of Portishead Youth Centre. I am also the Chair of the Committee that runs the Portishead Arts festival, ArtPort.
One of my passions is to ensure we conserve our green, open spaces, where our children can play and wildlife can flourish, and I am pleased to have played a small part in ensuring that the old Golf Course is now protected as a Community space after being awarded Town and Village Green status. I lobbied hard to ensure that Slade Road Playing field can be maintained as a community asset rather than being developed. I also want to help make Brackenwood woodland, which was recently purchased by the Town Council, an area to be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike. I will continue to champion women’s rights and be a voice for women in Portishead and across North Somerset and I will continue to make child safeguarding an issue that is front and centre of Council Policy.
North Ward
Tim Snaden
I was born in Portishead 55 years ago. Five generations of my family have lived here and I love the great community spirit. I am a care worker at Norewood Lodge and regularly organise fun activity sessions for the residents there. I have been Town and District Councillor for North Ward for 4 years.
As Town Councillor I have been really pleased to lead on bringing the Slade Road Woodland Play Area back to life after years of neglect. I hope everyone enjoys the new slide - the longest in the District apparently!
At District I am the Vice Chair of the Adult Services and Social Housing committee where I do all I can to ensure that local people get the support they need and deserve, and Chair of the Public Rights of Way sub-committee. My aim is simply to help people and continue to deliver community projects using the expertise that we have in our town.
East Ward
Roger Whitfield
I have lived in Portishead most of my life, attending High Down school and then Gordano, and my 2 children attended St Peters School and then Gordano. I have worked in Portishead for over 30 years and own the computer and printing shop in the High Street.
As an independent town councillor I have been working hard to help bring improvements to our facilities and infrastructure. I am proud of the achievements of this council which has in the last 4 years brought many improvements to Portishead, not least of all the new Skate Park at the Lake Grounds.
I will continue to fight for both improvements and new facilities. I intend to work with the to bring the Lake Grounds back under the control of PTC so that local people can have a real say in how this area is maintained and improved.
Over the years I have been involved in a number of local projects and campaigns including the Open Air Pool, which continues to bring joy to thousands of people each year. I am passionate about Portishead and in ensuring that our services and infrastructure are up to our expectations.