News Archive

Missing Coast Path link restored

After a four year hiatus, last week saw the re-opening of the Charlestown to Duporth footpath.
The route closed in 2007 when coastal cliff erosion made it too dangerous for ramblers and visitors to use.
The route between has now reopened, courtesy of funding from Cornwall Council, the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and the South West Coast Path Association.
Steve Church, from the South West Coast Path Association, said: “This donation of £20,000 is the largest that we have made and reflects the importance that our many members place on having a great coast path, close to the sea, that everyone can enjoy. Our donation was a vital factor in attracting the European funding through the RDPE.”
John Oxenham, Cornwall Council member for St Austell Bay, added: “The loss of this small length of coast path meant a great many people were denied access to this beautiful section of our coastline, and once the newly diverted section settles in this path will be a delight to use.
“I must also thank both Dr Bill Leach and Julie Larter, St Austell Bay Parish Chairman and Clerk respectively, for their tireless efforts in keeping this issue very much to the fore over the past (almost) four years, and for the co-operation of the householders whose land has been affected by the new line of the path.”

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Crowds surge for stargazing

BBC 2’s flagship Astronomy show Stargazing Live, fronted by Professor Brian Cox and Irish funnyman Dara O’Briain, hooked up with the Eden Project last week as the domed wonderland became Cornwall’s largest free observatory for the night.
The project expected 800 visitors — that limit was blown before 6pm. In fact, gates were closed after more than 3,000 turned up, leaving hundreds more disappointed that they couldn’t get into the free celestial showpiece. With traffic queues forming the host venue was unable to cope with the influx as it reached its peak.
However, the ones that weren’t lucky enough to get in didn’t really miss too much on the sky front. The freezing conditions that had prevailed over the weekend relented, giving way to a warm muggy night that unfortunately brought with it a blanket of low cloud cover, much to the chagrin of top local astronomer Brian Sheen, who co-ordinated the event.
The occasional parting of the clouds allowed the odd tantalising glimpse of stars here and there, but for the majority it was time to head inside and see the spectacular array of state of the art visual displays and even a mobile planetarium inside the domes.
A great event that, despite having less than ideal conditions, still provided entertainment on a cosmic scale.

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Decision day on council offices

St Austell’s Council Offices look set for a future as a retail development as Cornwall Council’s Cabinet consider the outcome of feasibility work for the sale of the Penwinnick Offices today.
In March 2011 the possible sale of the offices first came to light when it was revealed that developer Broadley Park Properties had made an offer for part of the site. The news spurred Cornwall Council into considering the future of the site in their wider office vision.
In September 2011 the council appointed Terrace Hill Properties Limited as the preferred bidder for the site, after they proposed a retail development on the site of the main offices, and the developers were given three months to provide a more detailed proposal.
At today’s meeting the Cabinet will consider the recommendations that have been put forward including that part of the site is declared surplus to requirements and the land is disposed to Terrace Hill Properties Limited.
New offices for all of the staff currently situated at the Penwinnick offices — and at the Sedgemoor site — are also proposed on the site to replace those taken up in the development, with money from the sale used to finance the new build.
The recommendations include the need for Terrace Hill to gain planning consent for the site within 18 months and Cornwall Council gaining planning consent for the office development also on the site within 18 months.

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Council debate plan review

It has been recommended that a document which provides a planning policy for St Austell, St Blazey and the China Clay Area should not be used in the decision making process following the threat of a judicial review.
The St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay Area Regeneration plan was adopted by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet in July 2011 but goes back to the Cabinet today after a pre-action protocol letter, indicating an intention to challenge the plan in the High Court, was received.
The challenge alleged that the plan sought to provide policy in support of development only in the China Clay area ahead of the core strategy. It also alleges that the Council’s Strategic Environmental Assessment/Sustainability Assessment (SEA/SA) is inadequate.
The Council have denied both accusations and said they would defend the claim if it were pursued.
The Council did, however, decide to review the plan, particularly in light of the subsequrnt publication of the Government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework.

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One man's mission to honour Bethel war heroes

One man's lifelong quest to seek local recognition for young servicemen killed during the Second World War is nearing its end.
Ken Sweet, 78, a former Restormel Borough Council Housing Officer, also doubles as a steward at Bethel Methodist Chapel. As a schoolboy he used to watch hundreds of bombers passing over the village as they circled around St Austell Bay before assembling for the infamous 1,000 plane raids over Germany.
With 14 local servicemen losing their lives in conflicts across the globe, Bethel, like chapels across the country, honoured their loved ones with a memorial stone. Bethel Chapel was no exception — except that their memorial only listed those who perished in the First World War.
The death of the youngest, Evan Tucker, aged just 19, who perished over the Norwegian Sea as part of a Halifax bomber crew M2342 which ditched in 1945, touched the local church community.
So much so that, out of respect for his parents, who never came to terms with the loss of their son, the chapel's stewards decided not to erect a memorial as long as Evan's parents remained alive.

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Red Cross examine Blazey floods

The British Red Cross have announced plans to use St Blazey as one of six communities in a research project into the needs and resilience of communities affected by flooding.
Residents of St Blazey have been invited to share their experiences of flooding with the Red Cross so that they can carry out a detailed study in to what people require before, during and after a deluge occurs.
Project supervisor Dr Alison McNulty said: “We are asking flood victims in St Blazey for their help in ensuring that our study is focusing on the most important aspects of flood recovery and to help us to ask the right questions.
“The aim of our project is to understand how people are affected by floods and how best to support them during and afterwards.
“Specifically, the study aims to identify the needs of those affected by floods and the range of services that need to be in place before, during, and after flooding occurs to help communities to cope in the aftermath of a deluge.
“The results from this project, including findings from national focus groups, questionnaires and interviews, will help the Red Cross and the voluntary and statutory sectors to more widely anticipate the needs of those affected by flooding and help to plan flood recovery work.”

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Boyz dance at Brannel

Channel 4 dance darlings the BalletBoyz popped into Brannel school last week following their triumphant tour that had opened the night before in the Hall for Cornwall.
They are regarded as one of the most cheekily original and innovative forces in modern dance.
Led by former Royal Ballet lead dancers Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, the company thrills audiences and critics the world over with their distinctive style, blending spectacular dance both energetic and graceful, with stunning music and film.
Two of the principals, Ed and Adam, put the dance students through their paces as they developed routines that mirror their own unique moves — which if Twitter is to be believed had hordes of young girls shrieking in the aisles at the Truro show.

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Flat blaze PC hailed as hero

The heroic actions of a quick thinking Policeman have been praised by residents after a Boxing Day fire in a sheltered housing block in St Austell.
St Austell Beat Manager Gareth Hawken (pictured) was in Sylvan Close, Tregonissey, on a routine inquiry when he noticed thick smoke issuing from an adjoining property. After trying the door of number 32, which PC Hawken knew to be occupied, he forced his way in to be greeted by thick smoke and flames. The officer immediately withdrew and requested assistance from the Fires and Rescue Service.
Believing that vulnerable and elderly people might become trapped, the brave officer re-entered the burning flat on his hands and knees, scouring for trapped occupants. After satisfying himself that it was empty, he focussed on evacuating the complex amid concerns that the blaze would take hold and endanger other lives.
While PC Hawken maintains he was simply doing his duty, residents have called for him to be recognized for his bravery.

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Skate park plan for St Dennis

A TWO YEAR campaign for a state-of-the-art skate park in St Dennis now lies in the hands of Cornwall Council after a planning application for the £80,000 scheme was finally submitted last week.
Proposals for the construction of a concrete skate park with appropriate signage were validated last week and if approved could see a mixture of bowl and plaza features situated on 0.05 hectares at the recreation ground in the village.
St Dennis Parish Council clerk, Ken Holden, has been championing the project and successfully applied for funding from the the Clay Country Local Action Group (CCLAG)in October.
The project scooped more than £32,000 towards the £86,000 scheme.

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Work begins on flood risk homes

The new year brings with it the start of a programme of flood defence protection measures for homes affected by flooding inNovember 2010.
Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency have appointed Capita Symonds to carry out property flood surveys and, more recently, UK Flood Barriers to carry out the work to reduce flood risk to properties in communities which include Mevagissey, St Blazey, Tregrehan and Lostwithiel.
Home owners have been asked for permission to undertake the work, which will see airbrick covers, non-return valves and flood resistant doors installed in around 130 homes.
The individual property protection (IPP) measures are being carried out as a result of a successful bid by Cornwall Council for funding from the Environment Agency.
It is expected that the planned works, which will begin this week, will be completed by the end of March.

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