In the fourth of our in-depth series on the main battlegrounds for the 2026 Isle of Wight Council local elections, we turn to Nettlestone & Seaview.
The ward covers the coastal strip between Ryde and St Helens, taking in the villages of Nettlestone and Seaview. It is shaped by its seaside setting, with a mix of long-established residents, retirees and second-home ownership.
The area has traditionally leaned Conservative, but recent results suggest a more competitive picture. At the 2021 Isle of Wight Council election, independent councillor David Adams won with 577 votes, narrowly defeating the Conservative candidate on 506.
That result reflected a wider Island trend, with independents making gains and leaving the council under no overall control. It also demonstrated that a strong local candidate can overturn traditional voting patterns.
Independent candidate Jules Hayward is likely to be a significant factor in the race.
This is particularly true in a ward where voters have shown a willingness to back local figures over party labels.
A third-generation Islander, Jules was raised on Seaview High Street and now lives locally with her family, with her children attending Nettlestone Primary School. She currently serves on the parish council and brings over 20 years’ experience in leadership and organisational development.
Her career includes 12 years at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, working on international programmes focused on systems change and the circular economy. She now runs her own consultancy, supporting organisations to work more effectively and collaboratively.
Jules says she is standing as an independent to focus on local priorities without party politics, including coordination around road closures, flooding concerns, planning and community spaces such as Puckpool Park.
“I’m standing as an independent to bring people together and focus on practical action that genuinely improves everyday life in our community.”
She presents a practical, people-focused approach, combining strong local roots with experience of delivering change, and says she is committed to listening to residents and representing the community.
Conservative candidate Mouli Akundi draws on more than 2 decades of frontline healthcare experience.
A local GP who has lived on the Isle of Wight for over 20 years, he has worked extensively across Seaview, Nettlestone and Brading and continues to support local practices.
Mouli is positioning himself as a candidate grounded in community service, with a strong understanding of the pressures facing residents through his NHS work.
He identifies adult social care as a key issue, alongside concerns about sewage spills and the need to protect local primary schools. He has also highlighted the importance of ensuring vulnerable patients, particularly those with dementia, are not forced to seek care on the mainland.
Mouli said his professional background shapes his approach to decision-making:
“I am trained to listen and to make decisions.”
If elected, Mouli says he would focus on securing council finances while improving services that directly affect quality of life.
Green candidate Janet Mace is a retired IT professional who has lived on the Island for 5 years.
Janet volunteers with organisations including the Isle of Wight Foodbank and Friends of the Animals.
She highlights development, traffic and parking as key local concerns, alongside priorities such as affordable housing and improved support for children with special educational needs.
Janet says she would work closely with the parish council and local groups to ensure community voices are heard, while also raising wider issues such as ferry costs and reliability.
“Parents shouldn’t have to fight to get the support their children need.”
She identifies independent candidate Jules Hayward as her main rival and says she will “work hard for Nettlestone and Seaview and do my best to represent you”.
Reform UK candidate Jennifer Holmes brings a background in community work and international programme management.
Having moved to Seaview 4 years ago after a lifetime of visiting, she highlights a strong personal connection to the area.
Her experience includes working for an international humanitarian organisation managing and auditing large government-funded programmes, alongside earlier roles in village committees and parish-level organisations.
Now retired, she remains active locally and says regular contact with residents helps her understand local concerns.
Jennifer emphasises teamwork and delivery, arguing that working within a strong Reform group could help achieve results:
“The ethos of working within a strong team… is a powerful concept that could get things done for the benefit of this unique Island.”
Nettlestone & Seaview may lean Conservative on paper, but recent results tell a more nuanced story. In 2021, fewer than 50 votes separated the independent winner from the Conservative challenger – underlining how finely balanced the ward can be.
With 4 candidates standing this time, the dynamics are less straightforward than in previous elections. Independent, Conservative, Green and Reform candidates each bring different strengths, appealing to distinct segments of the electorate.
In a ward where local reputation has often mattered as much as party label, the presence of a strong independent candidate alongside established party contenders adds an extra layer of unpredictability. At the same time, wider political trends – including the emergence of Reform and growing Green visibility – suggest the vote may not fall along traditional lines.
Rather than a clear-cut race, this is shaping up as a genuinely competitive contest where small shifts in support could prove decisive.
It’s going to be a close shave.
Fingers crossed the right candidate wins.
It should be mandatory that everyone eligible casts their votes.
Even if you spoil your vote please vote.
BE COUNTED.
“Nettlestone & Seaview may lean Conservative on paper”
What tripe!
Reg Barry stood and won here for years!
Nobody here of that standing.