Time period: 30th June – 25th July 2021
1.0 Council and other meetings
During the last four weeks, at Cornwall Council, I have attended physical meetings of Full Council and the Customers Overview & Scrutiny Committee.
I also attended a briefing about the Council’s emerging Climate Emergency Development Plan Document, as well as an informal Constitution & Governance Committee (relating to the parliamentary boundary review), plus meetings of China Clay Area Cornwall Councillors, the China Clay Area Community Support Group, and Group Leaders – all via Teams video-conferencing. I have also had a number of meetings via Teams or Zoom about a range of local issues. Some of these are referenced in this report.
In addition, I have attended one virtual meeting of St Dennis Parish Council and one physical meetings of St Enoder Parish Council, as well as one meeting of the St Austell Bay Economic Forum.
2.0 China Clay Area Community Network
As the chairman of the Community Network, I had a meeting with our Community Link Officer on 8th July about our ongoing work to promote a Strategy for the China Clay Area, that we have been working on.
3.0 Parliamentary Boundary Review
I have been taking a lead in raising objections to the Boundary Commission for England’s initial proposals for new parliamentary constituencies, which would split the China Clay Area between two different seats.
As previously reported, the proposal places three of the four Clay Country divisions within a modified St Austell & Newquay Constituency – namely Penwithick & Boscoppa (comprising the whole of Treverbyn Parish, except Bugle), St Dennis & St Enoder (comprising two whole parishes), and St Stephen (comprising the whole of St Stephen-in-Brannel Parish, except Whitemoor). But the fourth division – Roche & Bugle (comprising the whole of Roche Parish plus Bugle from Treverbyn Parish and Whitemoor from St Stephen-in-Brannel Parish) – would be within a modified South East Cornwall Constituency.
Not only would Clay Country be split but, as pointed out above, two local parishes would also be divided between parliamentary seats.
As well as drafting a collective response on behalf of the four councillors for the Clay Area, I have made representations within Cornwall Council and I raised the issue at a meeting of the St Austell Bay Economic Forum, which decided to object to the splitting up of Clay Country.
4.0 Full Council
At Full Council on 14th July, I was one of the named supporters of a motion to declare a housing emergency. I helped with the drafting of the document, which was referred to the ruling Cabinet for further consideration.
5.0 South and East Cornwall ‘Leader’ and ‘Community-Led Local Development’ Local Action Groups
On behalf of Cornwall Council, I have been appointed to the South and East Cornwall ‘Leader’ and ‘Community-Led Local Development’ LAGs. The CLLD LAG is responsible for the allocation of certain remaining EU funds to local businesses and groups. This is important to our area, as priority areas for financial support include St Dennis, Bugle, Foxhole, Penwithick, Treviscoe and Victoria.
6.0 Community Chest
As a Cornwall Councillor, I have been allocated £3,000 which I can distribute to local community organisations. Grants should be above £100 and the maximum grant is usually £1,000. If you are interested in applying, please get in contact with me.
7.0 Charity cricket match
It has not all been hard work. Following Full Council on 14th July, I took part in a cricket match, between councillors and officers, for the charity of the newly-elected Chairman. In terms of the result, the elected members were resoundingly beaten by the staff.
ST DENNIS PARISH ISSUES
8.0 Local surgeries
When I was elected to represent the new and larger division of St Dennis & St Enoder, I pledged to hold some surgeries in St Dennis so that local residents could bring issues to the attention of their new councillor.
I can confirm that I will be at ClayTAWC at the following dates and times. No appointments are necessary and I will meet with people as and when they arrive.
Friday 6th August: 10.00-12.00 and 2.00-5.00
Monday 9th August : 2.00-7.00
9.0 Waiting restrictions near Wesley Place
As part of Cornwall Council’s Community Network highway schemes, it has been proposed that some double yellow lines could be introduced in the vicinity of the new development at Wesley Place on Carne Hill to better manage traffic flows, etc. I understand that the proposed scheme is presently being designed and that there should be a 21-day consultation starting in August.
10.0 Play Area in Hall Road
I am starting to chase up a number of issues, in liaison with St Dennis Parish Council. This includes the condition of the children’s play area in Hall Road and I am making inquiries about options for the better maintenance and potential enhancement of this community space.
11.0 Solar farm in western part of St Dennis Parish
I have had a couple of conversations with representatives of Statkraft UK, the company which undertook a pre-application consultation for a solar farm on land in St Dennis Parish. I have been told that they are still assessing the feedback from their consultation and will be in contact with the various respondents.
The company had stated that they had hoped to submit a formal planning application in June, but that is now likely to happen in September. At this point, I do not know to what extent Statkraft UK will make changes to their original proposal following feedback from the local community.
ST ENODER PARISH ISSUES
12.0 Highway matters
12.1 Proposed new footway between Harvenna Heights estate and Indian Queens School
I am pleased to be able to report that the legal paperwork for the transfer of part of the field to the west of Indian Queens School, from Cornwall Council to St Enoder Parish Council, has been signed. The Parish Council will now be able to proceed with the works for the footway between Harvenna Heights and the School.
12.2 Proposed zebra crossings on Chapel Road and St Francis Road, Indian Queens
I have been briefed on the feedback on the consultation which took place in March. The schemes were supported and highway officers are only looking to make a couple of slight tweaks, and I will be speaking to those residents who had specific localised concerns in the next few days.
I do not have a timetable for the construction works, though I understand that they will be completed in this financial year.
12.3 Proposed works on A3058 through Summercourt
In my last update, I reported that consultation on the A3058 improvements would be happening in July/August. I have been reassured that highway officers are nearly there and the 21-day consultation will commence in August.
12.4 Summercourt School
I have been reassured that the 21-day consultation on the proposed improvements outside the School will also commence in August.
12.5 Sea View Terrace
I have spoken to Cornwall Council officers about their work looking at road safety problems at Sea View Terrace, on the road between Fraddon and St Stephens. In a few weeks, they will be feeding their findings back to senior management about what they feel might be appropriate for the area.
12.6 Road through Fraddon and St Columb Road
Further to my update in my last report, that Cornwall Council will doing a full review of road safety issues on the stretch of road from Penhale and through Fraddon and St Columb Road, I can confirm that highway officers are finalising the brief for the study. I have just been supplied with a copy of the draft brief, so that I can make comment on what is being suggested.
13.0 St Enoder Parish Neighbourhood Plan
The Neighbourhood Plan for St Enoder Parish went to referendum on Thursday 15th July and the electors of the Parish voted in favour of the document being used in the planning process.
The turnout was 15.4% and the result was:
YES 529 votes (91.2%)
NO 51 votes (8.8%)
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote.
14.0 Planning matters
14.1 Solar farm applications
As reported above in relation to the proposed solar farm on land in St Dennis Parish, representatives of Statkraft UK are likely to submit a formal planning application for a solar farm between St Columb Road and Whitecross in September. Again, I do not know to what extent Statkraft UK will make changes to their original proposal following feedback from the local community.
In addition, I can report that a proposal for a further solar farm has been announced for Tregonning Farm. This is immediately outside of St Enoder Parish, in St Newlyn East Parish, though the cabling is anticipated to run to the Indian Queens Power Station.
Further information can be viewed at:
An application has also been submitted for increased capacity at the Fraddon sub-station (PA21/03911) to serve an, as yet unidentified, solar farm. I can confirm that it does not relate to any of the three solar farm proposals mentioned above.
14.2 Construction of 20 residential units at Lindsay Fields, Fraddon (PA20/01508)
This planning application went through the consultation period many months ago, but the consent has only just been granted because of discussions around conditions and the Section 106 legal agreement.
14.3 Planning in principle for five dwellings, Highgate Hill, Indian Queens (PA20/08024)
On 20th November 2020, this planning application for housing units at the top of Highgate Hill was refused. The applicant has just appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and all representations on the appeal have to be submitted by 23rd August.
14.4 Four commercial units and new access onto Moorland Road, Indian Queens (PA21/01683)
An application for a new access into the Indian Queens Estate from Moorland Road and the provision of 15 parking spaces was refused in November 2020 at a meeting of the Central Sub-Area Planning Committee. A new application has been submitted in the same general area, which still includes a new access and is in the position of trees, that were planted to screen the development but have been ripped out.
I have again referred this to the Central Sub-Area Planning Committee on 2nd August, when I will again be speaking against the proposal.
15.0 Scrambling on the edge of the Goss Moor
In recent months, I have received many complaints about (i) scrambling which is taking place on the closed railway track / Goss Moor near to St Dennis Junction to the east of Indian Queens, and (ii) associated disturbance at St Dennis Junction, where many of the riders congregate. The area where the scrambling is taking place is owned by Network Rail, while Natural England have also been making representatives about the adverse impact on this area which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
On Monday 19th July, I was invited to attend a site meeting with Network Rail and Natural England, and I made them fully aware of the concerns raised to me by residents.
