Congratulations were due to everyone who made the 350th anniversary celebration of the Charter such a success. Thanks to the team which drafted the New Charter; a way would be found to get this into all the schools in the town. Special thanks go to Robin Dunseath who had inspired the event.
Marine Conservation Reference Zone and Dredging
A new Reference Zone had been proposed, quite unexpectedly and to almost universal horror, for part of Carrick Roads. Any normal activity would be banned in, near or around the zone and it would effectively destroy the commercial business of the Docks and the Carrick Roads in general. Representations were being made everywhere and, although it was fairly certain that the proposal would be withdrawn, the proposal was wasting a great deal of potentially productive time and building distrust between local interests and conservation bodies.
Letters should be addressed to the minister, Richard Benyon with a copy to Sarah Newton MP.
As far as dredging was concerned
- The Falmouth Harbour Commissioners had agreed with the Marine Management Organisation that they would carry out a £150k, 12 month study on a sample area. FHC would be seeking permission for this from Cornwall Council
- FHC was pleased to report that the fishermen who had originally been against any dredging had been reassured now that they understood that it would not involve wholesale dumping of spoil at sea
- The Docks company would not be taking up the option to develop the 290 berth marina until the future of the dredging project had been resolved
- Oliver Cramp was convening a meeting of interested parties to try to unlock the impasse over permission for the dredging.
The BID-led proposal for £75k from the joint Cornwall Council and central government fund had not been successful. This was a great disappointment as an enormous amount of effort had been put into the bid and significant match funding had been committed, including from the Forum. The winners and losers, many of which sounded remarkably similar to the bid’s proposals, had been:
Winners: Par (beach nature reserve and the bike hub); Bude (sea pool development); Looe (seafront enhancement and walking route signage, podcast and leaflets); Hayle (improved visitor experience); Newquay (harbour regeneration); Perranporth (destination for people with disabilities); St Agnes (bolstering St Agnes).
Losers: Falmouth and Penryn (visitor hospitality and workforce development); Looe (low water landing stage and events kit); Newquay (street environment); Padstow (lobster festival); Perranporth (Perran trail); St Ives (Guildhall regeneration).
Church Street Car Park
Oliver Cramp had obtained support from Falmouth Town Council for his proposal to give up a few parking spaces and install seating on the edge of the car park. He felt strongly that some change was better than nothing in the car park. The task would now be to raise the necessary £100k. A possible source was the Sainsbury money.
Mike Varney reported that the contamination study on the car park was now available on the Cornwall Council website [Google cannot find it]
Planning issues
MV reported that the proposal, with the Section 106 proposals, would be going to the November Planning meeting. If agreed, this would release money which could be spent in Falmouth. Penryn could not benefit as its shopping area was not sufficiently developed to be hit by the appearance of the new store. A key project would obviously be a contribution to the walkway along the waterfront which could be on a larger scale than envisaged in OC’s scheme.
The nitrate zone around the Docks was being reduced and, as a result, the planning blight on the area was going to be listed, allowing developments such as the Lord Nelson site to go ahead.
Localism
There had been little progress since the presentation by Ray Tovey of Cornwall Council. Officers were elusive. There were opportunities for the local community to take control over services within the town. The Forum believed that it would be preferable for an arm’s length body, or bodies, to take these on rather than the Town Council whose priority appeared to be to take on little more than responsibility for the Town Hall. Alternative management solutions ranged from the Town Manager, to BIDs to newly created Community Interest Companies (CICs).
There appeared to be no appetite for a single comprehensive solution for Falmouth, it was therefore believed better to go ahead with smaller initiatives rather than wait for a single major devolution of activities. The Tourist Information Centre had already been devolved and King Harry Ferries were keen to take on the whole of Prince of Wales pier. There was an immediate imperative as building work was being done in the area and the builders had offered to help out with environmental improvements. There was talk of the possible devolution of responsibilities for car parks in the longer term.
Falmouth Energy Partnership
The Partnership was going ahead well. They would be launching their draft report at a meeting at the Poly at 19:30 on 17 November. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the creation of an integrated renewable energy plan for local wealth and resilience. The Partnership welcomed engagement and information.
Cycling feasibility study
A surprising discovery had been the proposal by Cornwall Council to let a £30k consultancy study on the feasibility of Penryn as a cycling destination. This had already been commented on in the Forum’s response to the Transport Strategy and a new cycling route had already been opened linking Tremough, Penryn College and Penryn town centre.
Falmouth Enterprise Zone
At the meeting with the Chris Pomfret of the Local Enterprise Partnership, it had been suggested that Falmouth might develop a proposal for a Local Enterprise Zone of its own, following the Newquay model. The LEP was committed to help if it thought the idea had legs. There was a real need for development and grow-on space on the industrial estates to house the successful companies coming out of the new buildings on the Tremough campus such as AIR and TIC. Andy Coote would gather some like minds to discuss the idea and work up a proposal.
Falmouth by Design
Mike Jenks and others wished to update the work done by the Falmouth by Design group as a way of providing a better quality living and working environment in the town. There were now many electronic tools which could be used to engage a wider circle of consultees and to visualise the results. This was very relevant given the re-drafting of the Planning Policy Framework that was taking place. It also tied in with the proposals for Neighbourhood plans, falling below the core Strategy and Local Development Framework, and he would be discussing this with Sarah Newton MP. It was believed that the Town Council had similar aspirations.
Town and gown committee
A committee had been set up, chaired by Kevin Ayres, to discuss common issues. This brought together representatives of the educational establishments, town councillors from both town and student representatives. Current discussions included the need to raise standards in Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). The committee met once a term.
Penryn River Study
A project was under way to look at the usage and development of the remainder of the Penryn river as a follow-on from the Port of Falmouth Masterplan. Led by CDC, the aim was to provide guidance on the usage of space both on and off the water.
Other updates:
- Local Development Framework: a public consultation on the expansion options for the two towns was expected during November
- Anyone who had travelled on the Maritime Line and suffered from over-crowding should write to Julian Crow at First Great Western as he was in the process of putting in a bid for more rolling stock
- The Olympic torch would be visiting Falmouth on 19 May 2012
- The BID team, with Richard Gates, had met Mary Portas at Westminster recently, as part of their campaign to improve high streets throughout the country
- The Christmas edition of Fathom was now out with the programme for activities up to Christmas. Copies could be obtained from Richard Gates
- Mike Varney is now Planning Champion as well as Chair of Strategic Planning, on Cornwall Council
Age Concern - Sally Stiles
Churches Together - Neil Tinson
Civic Society - Dick Stiles
Cornwall Council - Mike Varney
Falmouth Business Club - Andy Coote
Falmouth and District Hotels Association - Shaun Davie
Falmouth Harbour Commissioners - John Langan
Falmouth Rotary - Nigel Druce
Falmouth Watersports Association - Jackie George
Falmouth Town Council - Oliver Cramp
Fal River Links - Tim Light
National Maritime Museum Cornwall - Jonathan Griffin (chair)
RIBA - Chris Smith
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society - Mike Jenks
Transition Falmouth - Lorely Lloyd
Tremough Campus Services - Jilly Easterby
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