The Cornwall Council elections held last week saw the Conservatives come out on top and win a majority at County Hall.

And while the 87 councillors who retained or won their seats were all smiles, it was a different story for those who lost out.

With the number of councillors reduced from 123 to 87 this time around there were always going to be some high profile casualties with several seats seeing sitting councillors facing off against each other.

Here then are some of those who lost their seats at last week's elections.

Among the surprises was that some members of the last Cabinet found themselves unseated – in North Cornwall Rob Rotchell, formerly Cabinet member for adult social care, lost out to Barry Jordan in Camelford & Boscastle.

The Liberal Democrat councillor, who took a key role in Cornwall Council's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, had also been a key to securing the Camelford bypass which is now moving forward.

Geoff Brown (Lib Dem), former Cabinet member for transport, also lost out and was pushed into third place in the Newquay Central & Pentire ward behind victor Louis Gardner (Con) and Steve Slade (Green).

Mr Brown had played a leading role in launching the Spaceport Cornwall project as well as securing funding for the A30 dualling between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross and leading the Saints Trails project to create new multi-user trails in Cornwall.

Another high profile Liberal Democrat councillor to lose their seat was the group's leader Malcolm Brown who was comfortably beaten by Jordan Rowse (Con).

Mr Brown had been a councillor for a considerable number of years having served on the former Restormel Borough Council before being a councillor on Cornwall Council.

Another long-standing councillor in the St Austell area to lose out was Jackie Bull who was beaten by another sitting councillor Richard Pears (Con).

Mrs Bull had also been a member of Restormel Borough Council and was also previously a member of Cornwall County Council before taking a seat on the unitary council.

Other Lib Dem councillors to lost out included Steve Knightley (Wadebridge East & St Minver), Sam Tamlin (Saltash Trematon & Landrak), John Martin (Porthleven, Breage & Germoe), Jacquie Gammon (Padstow), Joanna Kenny (Newquay Porth & Tretherras), Jesse Foot (Liskeard South & Dobwalls), Chris Batters (Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence) and David Ekinsmyth (Illogan & Portreath).

Carolyn Rule, who had been leader of the Independent group in the last council, lost her seat in Mullion & St Keverne to Conservative Anthony Soady.

And Neil Burden (Ind), who had been a Cabinet member in a previous administration, also lost his seat with Adrian Parsons (LD) taking the Altarnun & Stoke Climsland ward.

Similarly Bert Biscoe, who has been a Truro councillor for many years and also previously served on the Cornwall Council Cabinet, lost his seat in Truro Moresk & Trehaverne.

And another former Independent Cabinet member – Mark Kaczmarek, was also defeated in Redruth Central, Carharrack & St Day. In addition former Chairman and vice chair of the council, Mary May, lost her seat in Penryn.

Other Independent councillors who failed to retain their seats included Sandra Heyward (St Austell Central & Gover), Derek Holley (Saltash Tamar), John Wood (Roche & Bugle), Ian Thomas (Redruth South), Michael Callan (Perranporth), Julian Rand (Helston South & Meneage) and Graham Coad (Hayle West).

And while the Conservatives won a lot of seats they also lost some sitting councillors with Jim Flashman (Calstock), David Atherfold (Camborne Trelowarren), Geoffrey Evans (Falmouth Arwenack), Mark Formosa (St Columb Minor & Colan), Sally-Anne Saunders (Penwithick & Boscoppa), Simon Elliott (Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor) and John Dyer (Threemilestone & Chacewater) – all defeated.

The Labour group gained an extra seat at County Hall but they also lost a councillor with Cornelius Olivier losing out in Penzance East.

In addition to those who lost their seats there were also a number of councillors who did not stand for re-election.

They included two former Cabinet members – Sally Hawken, who as Cabinet member for children and public health, had been leading the council's response to the Covid-19 pandemic over the last year; and Mike Eathorne-Gibbons, Cabinet member for customers and support services.

In addition Bob Egerton (Ind) who had been a Cabinet member for several years before resigning, also did not stand for re-election along with Sue James (LD) who had previously been a Cabinet member for environment.

John Pollard, a former Independent leader of the council, and Andrew Wallis, who was previously the independent member for Porthleven and had previously been a Cabinet member, also stood down ahead of the election.

Other councillors who stood down included Dave Biggs (Con), Richard Buscombe (LD), Jeff Collins (Con), Gary Davis (Con), Paula Dolphin (Ind), Joyce Duffin (LD), Martin Eddy, Jade Farrington (LD), Mario Fonk (LD), Tom French (Con), Fred Greenslade (Ind), Roger Harding (Con), Helen Hawkins, Robert Hendry, John Herd, Matthew McCarthy (LD), Gemma Massey (LD), Sue Nicholas (Con), David Parsons (LD), Richard Pugh and Colonel Richard Robinson (Con).

[H3] See the latest news on our Twitter and Facebook pages. [.H2]