A Plymouth City Councillor who has been a powerful advocate for her community for two decades is stepping down from the role in May.
Cllr Sally Haydon, who only intended to stay one term when she was elected in 2006 but “got the bug”, has announced that she is retiring.
She has been a full time councillor for St Budeaux throughout those 20 years and in her own words has been fighting the cause for people whose voices are not heard.
Her work in winning Purple Flag status for Plymouth six years ago and retaining it since then signifying it as a safe and well-managed evening and night-time economy; tackling violence against women and girls; getting a new crematorium for the city and bringing libraries into the 21st century with a chip and pin service are among her career highlights.
A cabinet member for community safety, libraries and cemeteries and crematoria since 2023, Cllr Haydon has also chaired the children’s scrutiny panel and taxi licensing meetings, been chief party whip and deputy Lord Mayor and is the first female chair of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel where she holds the police and crime commissioner to account.
She became a councillor after her young son was involved in an accident on his first day at junior school and vowed to get a crossing to make it safer. That she did and the crossing near Plaistow School in St Budeaux will always be known by her six grandchildren as “granny’s crossing”.
She said she had taken every opportunity open to her in local government and had worked her way up from a backbencher to a member of the cabinet.
She has fought to get the best education for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) after her son was diagnosed with autism and was a key part of the massive evacuation and community effort after a WW2 unexploded bomb was found in a Keyham garden in 2024, even acting as the spokesperson despite being terrified of the media at the time.
Seven years ago she married fellow councillor Dave Haydon after love blossomed at the taxi licensing meetings and she will now join him in his retirement with trips away in the motorhome uninterrupted by “council business”.
She admits she has found it hard to switch off from the day job and once gave up her Christmas to help a resident in need.
She said: “This person had not got their benefits and had a young family. Me and my husband spent Christmas Eve rushing around the shops buying presents. There was no way I could sit there and enjoy Christmas while they had nothing.
“I have taken casework calls on holiday in France and really struggle to shut down. When I am really passionate about something it’s full steam ahead. I’ve given 100 per cent but it’s time now to start a new chapter and I want to spend more time with the family.”
Councillor Haydon said she was “gobsmacked” when she first got elected and considered it “a luxury and privilege” to be a councillor for 20 years.
She said she had learnt so much, built a rapport with officers and enjoyed working both as part of the administration and in opposition.
“As a politician you have to take the rough with the smooth – nothing stays the same in politics and in Plymouth we have seen power shift between Labour and the Conservatives. It is just the way it goes. I have never worried about losing my seat. If I did I would have gone a long time ago.”
She admitted it was a volatile time in politics nationally but she hoped there would be no unrest in Plymouth and it remained a welcoming and safe city.
Cllr Haydon intends to keep “banging the drum” for the people and will work in the community to “get things done”. She will also continue as a proud member of the Plymouth Labour Party.
“The hardest thing is leaving the Labour group of councillors behind because we are a fabulous family of councillors,” she said.
“But I will be watching as the city grows and will always champion the city and my Labour friends. I think 20 years is enough, it’s time for some young blood.”
Cllr Haydon’s St Budeaux seat will be up for grabs in the Plymouth City Council elections on May 7, one of 19 that will be contested.
Labour currently hold ten of the 19 seats and have such a majority that they will still be the largest party even if they lose them all.
