Cornish MPs to meet Health Minister

A delegation of Cornish MPs are meeting with Health Minister Lord Warner tonight to discuss Cornwall’s NHS crisis.

English regeneration agency to end Cornish dreams of viable employment

The fight is on to save a vital aspect of Cornish culture and a hope of real economic regeneration from an English development agency.

The South West Regional Development Authority (RDA) is to compulsorily purchase South Crofty tin mine.

The last working tin mine in Europe was closed in 1998 and bought in 2001 by mining firm Baseresult Holdings.

But promises of restarting the mine have not materialised and the RDA now wants to redevelop the site. Baseresult said it would fight the decision.

When South Crofty closed it ended a 3,000-year-old tin mining tradition in Cornwall.

Baseresult said after it bought South Crofty that it would be mining tin within two years, working towards a workforce of 200 people.

But from the start there was official scepticism and the RDA and other regeneration agencies doubted Baseresult could succeed.

There were 340 tin mines in Cornwall at the industry's peak
Even the Camborne, Pool and Redruth Urban Regeneration Company suggested tin mining was not the sort of industry a modern county needed.

But early talk of compulsory purchase aroused some local anger and the agencies backed off.

Finally their patience has run out and it is being announced on Friday that the RDA will lead compulsory purchase of 147 acres at Pool, including the mine.

Nick Buckland, deputy chairman of the RDA, said the land would be redeveloped with a mixture of leisure and industrial use as well as housing.

He said: "The decision is a very positive step for the whole area.

"We will be delivering up to 2,000 new jobs and 600 new homes.

"This land is essential for regeneration."

The mine workings would be protected so that tin mining could resume if it became economically viable.

When the mine closed, it was producing a relatively small 2,100 tonnes of tin per year.

Mark Kazcmarek, a former South Crofty tin miner and a councillor, said: "We have listened to Baseresult's promises and we supported them.

"But we are eight years down and now the time has come for change.

"We have to grasp this opportunity to move this area forward."

Baseresult said the company would be fighting the decision, but declined to comment any further.

CORNWALL SEEKS TO BENEFIT FROM 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

Business and sports leaders in Cornwall have joined together in an exciting initiative aimed at getting lasting benefits for the county from the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

CORNWALL'S PARKING STRATEGY REVIEWS FREE SUPERMARKET PARKING

Soon we'll have to pay to park in supermarket car parks

Cornwall Council's Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee has become concerned about the impact of free car parking provided at the majority of supermarkets within the county and has written to the head offices of the supermarkets with stores in Cornwall requesting their support. The Committee would like to see car park charging extended to cover all the supermarket sites within Cornwall.

Celebrate World Heritage Status with Free Entry to Cornish Attractions

The newly formed Cornish Mining Attractions Marketing Association (CMAMA) has announced Celebration Days on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October to share Cornwall’s wealth of historical mining attractions with the public.

A GREAT DEAL FOR CORNWALL SAY CORNISH LIB DEMS

Is it too late to stop the dreaded incinerator?

The Integrated Waste Management contract between Cornwall Council and SITA has been signed. This is the culmination of four years' work which began with a Government inspector's approval of the Council's approach in 2002 following a public inquiry. A new company, SITA Cornwall, has been created to deliver the contract.

Illegal cockle gang caught red handed

On Monday 9th October following a tip-off from a member of the public

NCDC's Environmental Health Officers discovered a gang of five Illegal

cockle pickers operating on the Camel Estuary near Padstow.

£1m CHANCE TO BOOST CORNISH MARINE SKILLS

After two decades of near standstill, the training sector of Cornwall’s marine industry is being transformed with a package of new opportunities and a £1 million funding boost, a seminar in Falmouth was told.

SURVEY REVEALS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES

An assessment of accommodation need across Cornwall for the Gypsy and Traveller community for the next ten years has just been published.

FIND THAT POEM!

To celebrate this year's National Poetry Day on Thursday 5th October staff at the Cornwall Reference Library in Truro are once again offering to find any poem from its huge poetry collection and databases.

Cornwall's Primary Care - Strategic Review Announced

The new Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust (PCT) came into existence at midnight on 1 October and the new Chief Executive, Ann James, today (Monday) announced details of a major strategic review of healthcare in Cornwall.

An education first for Cornwall

The country's first beach based university degree course starts in Cornwall at Lusty Glaze beach.

STRATEGIC REVIEW INTO CORNWALL’S HEALTHCARE PROVISION AGREED

An independent person will chair a strategic review to be carried out by the new Cornwall Primary Care Trust into all aspects of healthcare provision in Cornwall. Cornwall’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee have given the Primary Care Trust two months to carry out the review. If members are not satisfied with the results they could then request a separate independent inquiry to be carried out.

Carrick: Heritage Lottery Grant for St Agnes

The village of St Agnes on the North Cornish coast has received a huge boost for its future development with the news that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is to give a grant of £150,000 towards the ambitious plans for creating a community, learning and heritage hub within an important listed building in the centre of the village.

Beatles in Cornish

Matthew Clarke and Dave Miller, a.k.a 'Skwardya' have recorded two Beatles songs in Cornish.

LIKE A CHALLENGE? BE A DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Local elections may not be until next May, but people in South East Cornwall are being asked to start thinking about becoming a district councillor now.

Caradon: GREEN LIGHT FOR EAST TAPHOUSE AFFORDABLE HOMES PLAN

Plans for 21 affordable homes and 10 open market houses at East Taphouse have received the go ahead after Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly overturned a decision by one of her planning inspectors.

Netting their litter!

A team of volunteers cleaned Longrock Beach (near Penzance) on 16 September, as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Beachwatch 2006, the UK’s biggest national beach litter survey and clean-up.

CUSTOMERS URGED TO ASK FOR “TOP UP” IF THEY THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHORT MEASURES

Consumers are being urged to ask for a ‘top up’ if they believe the pint they’ve bought is not a pint.

A MARKET OPEN TO ALL … EXCEPT LOCAL PEOPLE

Report of a survey of Estate Agents in West Cornwall

“DOING NOTHING, NO LONGER AN OPTION” – GEORGE

“65% SOLD TO SECOND HOME BUYERS, 0% TO FIRST TIME BUYERS” SAYS ONE ESTATE AGENT

A Cornish MP will (Thursday 14th September) reveal startling evidence that the housing market in his West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Constituency is almost completely out of the reach of thousands of local first time buyers as second home purchases have continued to rocket.