1.0 Lockdown
My last physical meeting prior to the lockdown was the local VE Day Committee, which had to cancel the events planned for 8th and 10th May 2020, and one of the last events I was involved with was the visit of two classes from Indian Queens School to New County Hall on 11th March.
Lockdown commenced on 23rd March and from that point, like so many people, I have worked from home, with lots and lots of meetings held via Microsoft Teams or Zoom video-conferencing.
2.0 Covid-19 response / volunteer activities
It has been remarkable how many people have stepped forward to help support their families, friends and members of the wider community throughout this last difficult year
In late March, the Clerk of St Enoder Parish Council (Amanda Kendall) and I were registered as the local parish hub with Volunteer Cornwall. I worked with the St Columb Road Surgery to organise a team of volunteers to deliver prescriptions to people who were shielding or deemed vulnerable. This took place between April and July. More recently, I was pleased to help out a little with marshalling of people coming to get their vaccinations at the St Columb Surgery.
In addition, I have attended the Covid-19 Local Outbreak Engagement Board (for briefings about the response to the pandemic) and also the lockdown support group for the China Clay Area.
3.0 Planning matters
There has also been a large number of planning applications for our area, where I have done my best to represent the views of local people. A few examples are as follows:
3.1 Indian Queens Industrial Estate (PA19/05975)
The proposal to create a new access from Moorland Road into Unit 2 of the Indian Queens Industrial Estate for an area of additional car parking was strongly opposed by local residents. The original planning consent for the estate stated that vehicular access should be through the central Lodge Way road. I referred the application to the Central Sub-Area Planning Committee and it was rejected by councillors. The vote was unanimous.
3.2 St Columb Road (PA20/02929)
An application for fifty houses was submitted for the land to the rear of the development presently being built opposite the Doctors’ Surgery. Again, there was significant opposition to the scheme via formal objections plus comments on social media. The proposal was refused by planning officers under delegated powers, but the applicant has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate based in Bristol. On behalf of the Parish Council, I have prepared a detailed representation against the scheme.
3.3 Little Meadows, Toldish (PA20/03553)
In 2017, a planning application (PA17/03198) for six traveller pitches was refused by Cornwall Council, but it was then granted on appeal by a government planning inspector in 2018. A fresh application to increase the size of the site to 12 pitches was refused by planning officers under delegated powers, but I have just found out that the applicant has also appealed to the Planning Inspectorate based in Bristol.
3.4 Derelict pig farm at Higher Fraddon (PA20/08679 & PA20/09375)
I have been involved with discussions around the potential redevelopment of the derelict pig farm site, which initially focused around two applications; one for conversion of farm building into five dwellings and another for 16 holiday units, which raised strong objections and I did not support..
3.5 Ouistreham, Indian Queens (PA20/00184)
An outline application was submitted for a bungalow in the back garden of Ouistreham, opposite Queens Garage. Concerns were raised about the cramped nature of the development and I referred it to a meeting of the Central Sub-Area Planning Committee. The application was refused by eight votes to four.
3.6 Solar farm
A consultation on a proposal for a solar farm between St Columb Road and Whitecross has just been launched. More information will be made available on the promoter’s website on 29th March. The website can be found at:
https://www.statkraft.co.uk/about-statkraft-uk/where-we-operate/Locations/white-cross-solar-energy-farm/
4.0 Planning White Paper
During 2020, the UK Government has just published a White Paper setting out proposals to completely change the planning system, which would undermine the ability of local communities to object to inappropriate developments. The changes would have massively increased the rate of development across Cornwall.
I was one of two councillors on the unitary authority, who tabled a motion opposing the changes, which was backed by the majority of councillors.
5.0 Highway improvements
Throughout the last 12 months, I have been promoting a range of improvements in our local area. The pandemic has caused delays, but we have made some significant progress in recent weeks.
5.1 New footway from Harvenna Heights estate
The legal documentation to transfer part of the field between Harvenna Heights estate and Indian Queens School, from Cornwall Council to St Enoder Parish Council, has been drafted. It is presently with solicitors. The transfer will be accompanied by a financial sum for the construction of a new pathway across the field. It is hoped that these works will be undertaken this summer.
5.2 Chapel Road and St Francis Road, Indian Queens
I have been lobbying extremely hard to get Cornwall Council to deliver improvements suggested within the Travel Plan, associated with the new classrooms that were constructed a few years ago. Following a feasibility study, it has been agreed that there should be zebra crossings on Chapel Road and St Francis Road (at either end of the Drang). The consultation on the proposal is presently live on the Cornwall Council website, and will close on 31st March. It can be found at:
https://www.engagespace.co.uk/cornwall/
5.3 A3058
I have been liaising with officers at Cornwall Council on a regular basis about improvements in Summercourt, as part of a wider scheme of enhancements along the A3058. The scheme will include the extension of the 30mph speed limit on Beacon Road and a permanent vehicle activated sign at the northern entrance into the village, plus pedestrian crossings linked to the traffic lights on the crossroads. There will also be an additional vehicle activated sign to face traffic entering Summercourt along St Austell Street. The consultation on the scheme is expected to take place in May, with the works to be carried out in the autumn.
5.4 Summercourt School
There continues to be a commitment to deliver improvements outside Summercourt School. The first indicative layout of improvement works outside the school have been forwarded to me, and I will be seeking views as the Council finalise the design for consultation, which will hopefully consulted on in May, as well.
6.0 Traffic matters
There have been a number of accidents in the built-up parts of the Parish in locations including the bottom of Fraddon Hill, Ridgewell Terrace, Fraddon,
Seaview Terrace on the road to St Stephen and on Beacon Road, Summercourt. I have made a range of representations and I can report that Seaview Terrace has been included on a list of about thirty locations, which are to be investigated through a “Local Safety Scheme.” I have also been involved with council officers investigating parking problems along New Road at Fraddon, near the Kingsley Village complex.
7.0 St Enoder Parish Council
Over the last twelve months, I have been pleased to work with the Parish Council on a range of projects.
7.1 Indian Queens Cemetery
Along with other parish councillors, I was involved with the work in the extension to the cemetery, which included the construction of the new roadway and an associated path.
7.2 Mobile vehicle activated sign
The Parish Council has purchased a mobile vehicle activated sign and I am pleased to be one of the councillors who has helped to move it to a range of locations around the Parish. Recent restrictions have meant that we have not moved it as often as we would have liked, but that will change going forward.
7.3 Grant funding for a toilet in Indian Queens Recreation Ground
The Parish Council has been working up a project to provide a public toilet for users of the Indian Queens Recreation Ground. I was able to secure a grant of £10,000 for the project from the National Lottery’s Award for All funding programme. The works will be carried out later this year.
8.0 Strategy for the China Clay Area
I was also very pleased to take a lead in the production of a “Towards a Strategy for the China Clay Area” document, which we are using to lobby Cornwall Council for greater investment in the five parishes of Clay Country.
9.0 Community Governance Review
I have been spending a considerable amount of time on the work of the Electoral Review Panel and, in particular, on the review of parish boundaries and arrangements for parish councils. This involved transferring land adjacent to Mitchell from St Enoder Parish to St Newlyn East Parish.
10.0 Grants
As a Cornwall Councillor, I have a community chest from which I am able to give grants to local groups. In 2020-2021, I made funds available to St Enoder Parish Council for materials to deal with the response to the pandemic, St Enoder Youth Club, Indian Queens Under-5s, the Wesley Pre-School and for supplies to the new Community Larder for Indian Queens and District.
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