independent Cornish news and comment

ST PIRAN'S DAY CAMPAIGN GOES ON

Newspapers in Cornwall have now widely reported on the League's campaign to encourage all town councils in Cornwall to give their employees an annual public holiday for St Piran's Day on the 5th March.


However, to date only two town councils (St Blazey and Penzance) and Truro City Council have replied to the League, with only St Blazey responding by saying that the council actually debated the issue.

A few years ago, following a campaign by the Kernow Branch of the Celtic League to encourage all councils in Cornwall to either petition for or support bilingual road signs in their areas, the then Kernow Branch Convenor was told by a Camborne Councillor that if a member of the public or group wanted any issue discussed by the council, a copy of the correspondence should be sent to a trustworthy town councillor, in addition to the Town Clerk. The reason for this he said was that if the Town Clerk does not like the contents of the letter, he will throw it straight in the bin, without mentioning it to anyone.

The League has written to all Town Councils in Cornwall and Truro City Council asking for the issue of a St Piran's public holiday for their staff to be discussed, but we have not copied our correspondence to 'trustworthy' Councillors and logistically this would probably be too difficult to achieve. This is why it is important for such campaigns to be made as public as possible through media outlets, so that any sympathetic town councillor can raise the issue themselves in meetings or with the City/Town Clerk.

The three Cornish Councils mentioned above who have responded to the League have been the exception to this rule so far. St Blazey Town Council have now further stated that they would be prepared to offer their employee an annual holiday on St Piran's Day as of next year, provided enough councils do the same. This certainly seems like it could develop into a catch 22 situation!

Currently throughout Cornwall only Bodmin Town Council give their employees a day off in celebration of St Piran, so this is one campaign that the Kernow Branch of the League - and any sympathetic town councillors - should perhaps now take up as one of the first steps to get St Piran's Day recognised as Cornwall`s only Cornish public holiday.

(Article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary)

Related items on Celtic News at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2559
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2508
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/1667
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/1405

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

17/04/08