Strategic Investment Frameworks!

On Monday, through my position as Chairman of Restormel's Policy & Scrutiny 4 Committee, I had the pleasure of launching, with Annette Egerton the leader of the Borough Council, economic strategies for the China Clay Area and St Austell/St Blazey.

As well as focussing on how the economy of the area can be strengthened over the next twenty years with the creation of more and better-paid jobs, the documents will double up as a Strategic Investment Framework (SIF) and determine how the area can make the best use of the new European funds potentially available from now until 2015.

These economic strategies are vitally important documents and should underpin much of the investment in the China Clay area and St Austell / St Blazey over the next ten to twenty years.

I do sincerely hope that local people to take part in the consultation to help us deliver for local people and these wonderful communities in Mid Cornwall.

Mr Brown in Cornwall

It is no wonder that people are so disillusioned with the political process.

The Prime Minister was in Cornwall, last Friday. He didn’t come to meet with local people to discuss their concerns and their problems face-to-face or even to meet with representatives of the local district council to consider regeneration issues.

Instead, he came and visited the Eden Project for a photo opportunity.

Reading the papers this week, I am more than a little annoyed. In the Cornish Guardian, Mr Brown claimed that, concerning the eco-town proposal, “we are listening to local people and what they have to say on the plans.” Do you believe him – I do not!

Labour ignored Cornwall when 50,000 people demanded a Cornish Assembly. It has imposed a unitary authority when 80% of people made it clear that they were opposed. And now it has short-listed the IMERYS eco-town proposal without even talking to the local Council, undermining some of the local regeneration policies that the Council was developing.

Mr Brown, I would invite you to come back to Cornwall and visit real working people in our local communities and learn about what Cornwall really needs.

The Celtic Connection

Robin Field is a local film maker who has made a number of quite short documentaries, which he has uploaded onto the web. He did an interview with me in my home and if you would like to see the end result, titled ‘The Celtic Connection,’ you can view it at:

http://current.com/items/88929867_the_celtic_connection

Outed as a 'Panda'

I recently did an interview for the St Austell Voice which appeared in this week’s edition of the newspaper.

When my photograph was being taken, comment was made about the dark bags under my eyes and the fact that I looked really tired. Obviously I explained this was due to the hectic nature of my life, but I then made the mistake of letting them know that some people at work call me ‘Panda’ because of my ‘black eyes.’

The paper has now made this revelation public and I am looking forward to much 'humour' from colleagues in the coming days.

Radio St Austell Bay

Today, I was invited onto Radio St Austell Bay to discuss local issues and choose some music.

RSAB is a new community radio station run on a not-for-profit basis by a voluntary management committee with extensive experience of local radio and community development.

Many volunteers are involved and they are from a range of age groups and all sorts of backgrounds. All types of music are catered for and, as well as presenting programmes, volunteers are involved in producing, researching and administration.

I thought the whole set-up was tremendous and the enthusiasm of the volunteers was really impressive.

I normally go on about politics too much, so for those who might be interested - the music I selected was Crocodile Rock by Elton John (happy memories of college), Devil in Disguise by Elvis (growing up), What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (political music), City of New Orleans by Willie Nelson (just great music) and a track from Cornwall’s very own Dalla.

For those who are interested, RSAB broadcast on 105.6FM and more information can be found at www.rsab.org.