gwinear gwithian parish plan

8/6/2019 Gwinear Gwithian Parish Plan

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Gwinear-Gwithian

Parish Plan 2010

Gwinear-Gwithian

ParishPlan2015


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Written and designed by Ray Tovey [email protected] 850513

Photographs courtesy of Charles Winpenny, Cornwall Cam, except where shown

Ray Tovey


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Contents

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Welcome to the Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Plan

Summary of the Parish Plan

A prole of Gwinear-Gwithian Parish

The work of Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council

Why we need a Parish Plan

Our Vision for the Parish

Delivering the Vision: the Plan structure

Theme 1: Our natural environment

Theme 2: Housing and the built environment

Theme 3: Economic development

Theme 4: A stronger, safer community

Theme 5: Connected communities

Theme 6: Community health

Theme 7: Leisure and recreation

Theme 8: Technology and energy

Delivering the Parish Plan

Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council 2009/10

Contacts

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Welcome to the Gwinear-Gwithian

Parish Plan

This Parish Plan represents a big stepforward for our community, and for theParish Council elected members whorepresent the community.

In these pages we set out to make clearwhat it is the Parish Council actually doesin a typical year; what powers it can

exercise; and what it is we plan to doduring the next 5 or so years in additionto our regular duties and responsibilities.

We explain why it is important for anycommunity to plan its future and howa plan like this can make a signicantdifference; we set out what changes andimprovements we believe are necessaryand desirable in the Parish over the Planperiod, we suggest how these might take

place, and who should be making surethat it all happens.

We also make clear the changes inParish Council practice we are putting inplace, and the expected outcomes andbenets of those changes.

It is important to stress that a plan such asthis needs members of the community,elected or unelected, to take an activepart in helping to deliver the aspirations

contained in its pages. We hopetherefore that more and more membersof our community will take an activeinterest in our proceedings, and will wantto contribute in some way to our work.

On a personal level, I would like to paytribute to my predecessor Chairman,Kelvin Jenkin, for his enthusiasm in seeing

this Plan come to fruition.

Brian PocockChairman, February 2010

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Ray Tovey


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Summary of the Parish Plan

Themes and ObjectivesPages 18-41

Theme 1:Our environment

Environmental improvements

Community clean-up

Community Pride Ofcer

Parish trail

Towans Warden

Parking on the Towans

Theme 2:

Housing and the built

environment

Affordable housing

Village Design StatementsParish housing schemes

Financial contributions

Theme 3:

Economic development

Economic improvements

Parish directory

New tourism initiatives

Theme 4:

A stronger, safer community

Tackling anti-social behaviour

Housing development design

and anti-social behaviourEngaging with young people

Venue for young people

Theme 5:

Connected communities

Parish website

Community transport

Walking and cycling

Parish Council base

Community involvement in

Parish Council affairs

Promoting the Plan to partners

Village centresQuality Parish Council status

Theme 6:

Community health

Healthy eating

Community gardens and

allotments

Theme 7:

Leisure and recreation

Recreation and play spaces

Theme 8:

Technology, energy, andclimate change

Using new technologies

A Prole ofGwinear-GwithianParishPage 6

The work ofGwinear-Gwithian

Parish CouncilPages 8-11

Why we need aParish PlanPages 12, 13

Delivering theVision: thePlan structurePages 15-17

Our Vision forthe ParishPage 14 Delivering the

Parish Plan

Pages 42-44


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Carnhell Green Vintage Rally 2009: Ray Tovey Carnhell Green Vintage Rally 2009: Ray Tovey

Godrevy beach Gwinear Church

Footpath, Gwinear Godrevy lighthouse from Gwithian Towans


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The work of Gwinear-Gwithian

Parish Council

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Town and Parish Councils are the most localform of elected government, so have a vitalrole to play in deciding the future of theircommunity, and managing local affairswithin their powers.

So what do Parish Councils actually do?

The 1965 Royal Commission on Local Government(The Redcliffe-Maude Commission) recommendedthat local councils should be empowered to do whatthey pleased for the benet of their people, and aconsequence of this was the important 1972 LocalGovernment Act which removed many of the

restrictions on the activities of Parish Councils.

For example, before the 1972 Act, Parish Councilswere not able save money from one year to the nextin order to fund a major project. This is somethingall Councils have to do these days to avoid having amassive council tax for each year that anything newis attempted. Town and Parish Councils have a rangeof powers vested in them: they can

Provide allotments, and have a duty to do so ifdemand is unsatised.

Acquire and maintain burial grounds, cemeteries,

crematoria.Agree to maintain war memorials.Provide and maintain bus shelters.Make bye-laws in relation to pleasure ground, cycle

paths, open spaces, and burial grounds.Provide public clocks.Establish markets.Maintain closed churchyards.Provide public conveniences.Provide common pasture, and regulate and manage

commons and common pastures.Provide conference facilities.

Provide and equip buildings for clubs having social,athletic or educational objectives.Spend money on various crime prevention measures.Deal with ponds and ditches.Appoint school governors.Provide entertainment and support of the arts; this

includes maintaining bands or orchestras andproviding for dancing.

Accept gifts.Repair and maintain public footpaths and bridleways. Light roads and public places. Provide litter bins.Provide parking places for vehicles, motor-cycles and

bicycles.Provide roadside seats and shelters.Give consent for stopping up or diversion of highways,


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The way in which we work

Parish Councils are allowed to raise money througha compulsory precept which forms part of theCouncil Tax, collected on their behalf by District orUnitary Councils. Parishes can set their precept at thelevel of their choice. They can also obtain grants forspecic projects from District Councils, Government

departments, and charitable foundations.

The way in which Parish Councils work is verystrictly governed, and many of the procedures aredetermined by standing orders, codes of conduct,and legislation. Within that framework, we enjoygood levels of debate in order to reach conclusions,and welcome input from the public on ParishCouncil matters, or on any matter that you think wecan help with.

The Parish Council meets at least twice monthly, andpublishes in advance the business it plans to discuss,

in the form of an agenda posted on the ParishCouncil notice-boards. These are placed in CarnhellGreen outside the Parish ofce; in Connor Downsby the WI hall, by Reawla Stores, and in Gwithian atthe Church Hall. Members of the public are urged tolook at the forthcoming agenda for every meeting, sothat you know what is to be discussed and decided,so you may give your views. The Parish Council alsopublishes the minutes, ie the results of our meetings,on those notice-boards.

Public participation

How do you give your views? Our meetings areopen to the public, although normally the public canonly speak during the period of public participation,a period set aside the whereby members of the publiccan raise matters with the Council.

If the issue is on the agenda, we can discuss it thereand then and make decisions about it; if not, we takethe matter forward to the next meeting as an agendaitem. There are exceptions to this, when the Councilagrees to invite members of the public to speak on aspecic item, but not when Councillors are actuallymaking a decision: a resolution. We may also decideto exclude the public and the press in particularcircumstances.

or ending maintenance of a highway at public expense. Provide trafc signs and other notices.Plant trees, maintain roadside verges.Participate in investment schemes.Acquire land by agreement, appropriate land, dispose

of land, and accept gifts of land. Promote lotteries. Provide public buildings for ofces, public meetings and

assemblies.Acquire land for or to provide recreation grounds,pleasure grounds, open spaces.

Provide gymnasiums, playing elds, holiday camps, andboating pools.

Contribute to organisations that encourage tourism. Utilise wells, springs or streams to provide water.Provide small grants to local organisations and to

charities.We have a right to be notied of planning applications,

and comment on all the applications that come beforethem, providing local knowledge to the PlanningAuthority.

In addition to all this, in any situation not covered byone of the specic powers described above, a ParishCouncil can do anything that is for the generalbenet of the community, and provided that theexpenditure in any one year does not exceed 5.86per local government elector in that particular parishor community.

Most Parish Councils do not elect to take on all theseresponsibilities: some of them do not make bestsense in some parishes, others need a more modern

interpretation. We also have to remember thatParish Councillors are volunteers, often in full-timeemployment and with other commitments, and manyof the services listed above are currently provided byother agencies, such as Cornwall Council.

That situation changed in April 2009 with the adventof the new unitary authority, Cornwall Council, andthe introduction of plans for Community Networks,which provide a number of opportunities for ParishCouncils. For example, Parish Councils will be ableto opt to take on new services if they wish, possiblyin partnership with neighbouring parishes, so thisplan, and the consultations that support it, will helpus shape plans in this area.


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The work of Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council, continued

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A typical year for Gwinear-Gwithian Parish

Council

(This account of a typical year is taken from theChairmans Annual Report 2008-09).

We met 32 times, in ve different venues in theParish in order to make ourselves more accessible to

members of the community.

We have representatives on 11 different communitygroups, as follows:

Connor Downs Residents Association Hall for Gwinear Committee Gwithian Residents Association Towans Partnership Towans Partnership Transport and Parking Group Hayle Day Care Centre Trust Hayle Area Plan Partnership (HAPP) Penwith Access and Rights of Way ForumGwithian Green Advisory GroupRural Transport PartnershipHAPP Trafc and Transport Delivery Group

Members also attended:

Penwith Town and Parish ForumPolice Authority Liaison meetingsOne Cornwall seminarsTraining on achieving Quality Status

The Parish Council took the lead in our ongoing

commitment to a Community Pride Ofcer, inpartnership with Penwith District Council/CornwallCouncil. The seconded role is a new and uniquepost within Cornwall, and was conceived by theParish Council.

The CPOs duties include litter picking, reporting ytipping, broken signs, drainage problems and streetcleaning, he is responsible for maintenance of parksand open spaces, maintenance and cleaning of busshelters, litter/dog bins, benches and signs and grasscutting and planting within our Parish.

We have been working on the proposal to transformWall Hall, including applications for funding, andnegotiations on the lease of the property.

We obtained grant funding for a Parish Plan, and gotthat project under way, and sought grant fundingfor new ground surfacing at the Elizabeth SampsonPlaying Field, Connor Downs.

We provided dog bins at Carnhell Green, ConnorDowns and Gwithian; and undertook planting atReawla bus shelter.

The Parish Council supported other agencies andgroups in:

sand dredging concerns, Hayle Estuaryinvestigating the needs for provision of youth and

community facilities in Reawlaprioritising enforcement issues with the Penwith

District Council Enforcement Teamdisabled toilet facilities at Gwithian Church Hall re-instating the link between Camborne footpath 24 and

bridleway 58

The Parish Council remained vigilant on behalf of thecommunity and sought improvements regarding:

unauthorised developments planning conditions not being met missing or damaged street signs including

ngerposts car parking issues on the parish coastlineConnor Downs Doctor Surgery road/ build out

safety issuesConnor Downs pedestrian safety improvementsantisocial behaviour in Reawla, Pen Tye, at the

Elizabeth Sampson Playing Field, and at Reawlatelephone kioskspeeding issues across the Parish

We made nancial contributions to two localcommunity groups:

Gwinear Under 11s Football Team for teamtracksuits

Wall Music Festival Society to assist with theannual costs of the festival

We supported Connor Downs Residents Association inre-naming Connor Downs Playing Field after the lateCouncillor Mrs Elizabeth Sampson.


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The Parish Council responded to local concerns andtackled other agencies about:

debris deposited on roads and in hedges dog fouling and provision of dog waste bins increased growth of ragworty tipping throughout Parishmissing public footpath signs

rainwater drainage issuesproposed bus stop markings at Carnhell Green provision of Dog Wardens

The Parish Council responded to 21 consultations,from One Cornwall, BT, Penwith District Council,the Boundary Commission and others. We alsoreceived presentations from a number of externalorganisations, in order to assist our deliberations anddecisions.

We continue to manage the cemetery and 22allotment plots, (where we annually present Best

Allotment and runners-up awards); and we managepublic footpath trimming on behalf of CornwallCouncil. We secure funding for maintenance andimplement annual works at Gwithian Green, andmanage the Elizabeth Sampson Playing Fieldin partnership with Connor Downs ResidentsAssociation.

We also reviewed and updated:

Allotment Tenancy AgreementPlayground Management Plan

Register of Members InterestsStanding Orders & Financial Regulations Financial Risk Assessment

...we adopted:

Health & Safety Policy StatementFreedom of Information Act Model publication scheme Ofce Fire Safety Policy Model code of practice for handling complaints

... we nominated:

Health & Safety Representative Financial Auditing Councillor

...and we co-opted two new resident committeemembers to the Elizabeth Sampson Playing FieldCommittee.

All in all, Councillors spent around 800 hoursin meetings, excluding other attendances andcommitments concerning Parish Council business;and our Clerk worked in excess of 1500 hours in

carrying out Parish duties!


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Since we prepared our original Parish actionplan, the circumstances within which weoperate have changed signicantly,and theParish Council has also moved on, wishingto play a more strategic role in the long-term future of the Parish, and having thecapacity, commitment and expertise to doso.

So this Plan builds on the original, and isbased on the original community survey,brought up to date through our experienceover the last few years, and on ourambitions for the next ve years or so.

Why we need a Parish Plan

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Introduction

Many Parishes have a Parish or Community Plan.Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council has workedover the last ve years to an action plan, based ona community survey, that at that time describedthe actions that the community wished us to take,together with a number of aspirational projects led

by the Council. Much of what is described each yearin the Chairmans report captures action against thatearlier plan.

Parish Plans are based on consultation with thecommunity, and are designed to help ruralcommunities such as ours have a greater say in theirown affairs. Some plans are initiated by communitygroups, such as the Hayle Area Plan in which we area partner; but the majority, as here, are kickstartedby the Parish Council, which then sets up a workinggroup of Councillors to drive the process forward.

These plans articulate the vision which local peoplehave for the future of their village and can coveranything that is relevant to the people who live andwork there, from social housing to places for childrento play. They propose a range of actions, objectivesor projects that will enable that vision to be realisedover time, and who should take responsibility fordelivering those objectives.

It is also timely for Parish Councils to develop plansfor their work into the future, based on consultationwith the community, and it is hoped that it is helpful

to our elected representatives that they can makedecisions and take actions in our community basedon the consultations and this resulting Parish Plan.

Who will use the Parish Plan?

Obviously the Parish Council commits to drivingforward the Parish Plan, and many of the objectivesproposed within these pages will be for the Parish todeliver.

We know that the work of many agencies andorganisations impact on our lives, and we need tobe able to give them our agenda: clear messagesabout what we want to achieve in our community.Therefore we need to work in partnership with them,


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looking ahead, so they can respond to our proposalsand our aspirations. We need to be pro-active ratherthan reactive, and we can best achieve that by beingvery clear about where both the Parish Council andthe community want to be in the next 5-10 years,through the publication of this Parish Plan. Ourpartners, both now and in the future, will benetfrom that clarity of purpose, and see us as a key

partner in their work.

In addition to the Parish Council, therefore, wealso see Cornwall Council as one of the key usersof the Plan: referring to our intentions for housingdevelopment, for economic regeneration support,for improvements to infrastructure, and for the jointdevelopment of initiatives that will support thepeople of the Parish.

Consultations

In 2003/4 the Parish Council undertook a detailed

house-by-house survey, the results were analysedby a member of the Council, an interim action planwas produced, and embodied within the Hayle AreaPlan. This Parish Plan builds upon the results of thatsurvey, rened by our work over the last few years,and by presentations and talks to discuss issuessuch as housing, school travel plans, the Towansissues, and work undertaken by the Hayle Area PlanPartnership.

About Community Networks

In April 2009, the new Cornwall Council tookover the work of our previous County and DistrictCouncils. Key to the new Cornwall Council isthe Localism agenda. This development providesopportunities for Parish Councils and communitygroups to have greater control over issues that affectthem: and one of the key initiatives that will affect usall will be the introduction of Community Networks.The key outcomes for CommunityNetworks are seenas:

Empower local Councillors and have a localdecision making forum;

Involve local people and engage all parts of theCommunity;

Provide a local presence for Cornwall Council;

Provide an enhanced role for Town and ParishCouncils;

Recognise and support the changing role of thevoluntary and community sector;

Identify local needs and priorities;Provide a local focus for partnership working;Inuence local service delivery; andProvide a quality monitoring function for local

service delivery.

The Community Network will bring together theorganisations that deliver services into thecommunity, both public and voluntary, such as-but not exclusively- Police and other emergencyservices, healthcare providers, and Town and ParishCouncillors and Cornwall Councillors for thenetwork area.

The value of Parish Plans

Each Community Network will develop a

Community Network Programme for 3 5 yearswhich sets out the needs and aspirations of thenetwork. One of the key tasks of each CommunityNetwork Manager (see page 46) will be to mapthe plans that already exist in each area, identifycommon objectives, agree network priorities, andmake links with existing local groups andpartnerships and identify how these can all bebrought together.

This programme will be informed by a CommunityNetwork Prole which sets out the key social,

economic and environmental information foreach area. The programme will include an AnnualDelivery Plan, which sets out how the Council andpartners will shape the delivery of their services ineach community network to meet local need.

The Hayle and St Ives Community Network

Gwinear-Gwithian Parish is in the Hayle and St IvesCommunity Network, part of the West Cornwallcommunity network area. Our partner Councils are:

Hayle Town CouncilSt. Erth Parish CouncilSt. Ives Town CouncilTowednack Parish Council


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Introduction

Describing the sort of community in which we allwant to live and work formed the basis for ourthinking behind this Plan; we were enthusiasticabout the future for Gwinear-Gwithian that cameout of our early talks, and we agreed a series ofstatements, aspirations, that describe where we want

to be in the future.

So this is our statement of intent- how we want ourParish to be. The statements are aspirational, but theyare also achievable. We believe our role is to take thelonger-term view about shaping the community weall want, and to ensure our day-to-day activities andduties build towards the achievement of our Vision.

In the Plan we set out a series of actions- ourObjectives- that cumulatively will help us achieveour Vision. The Objectives described in this Plantherefore are designed to achieve our Vision over

time, working in partnership with other agencies andorganisations.

Our Vision for Gwinear-Gwithian

A place where people take pride in whereand how they live.

A community with good quality housingfor all those wishing to live here, and witha local connection.

A community where we see a levelling-

out of built development to enable us toelevate areas historically over-developedand suffering social consequences.

Villages that develop to meet the needs ofa wide mix of people.

A Parish that has vibrant village centres,with thriving shops and post ofces, andis innovative in supporting new andexisting businesses.

A community that embraces tourism toour collective advantage.

A community that is safe: from anti-socialbehaviour, speeding trafc, and the fearof crime.

A community that engages and supportsits young people.

A connected community- physically; andmentally: addressing problems of spatialdistance and the very different nature ofour diverse community groups.

A place where the Parish Council is at theheart of the community, shaping anddriving change.

A community that has access to qualitylocal health care services.

A healthy-eating community, enjoyingopportunities to grow their own produce.

A community that has good local accessto a variety of quality sporting and leisurefacilities.

A community that responds positively tothe challenges of climate change.

Our Vision for the Parish

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We have organised the Plan into a number ofThemes, so we can group the actions we intend totake into logical, related groupings. Underneath eachvision statement, we list our Objectives; the practicalsteps we will take to deliver our Vision. Thesemay take the form of new initiatives for the ParishCouncil to undertake, actions we require of otherorganisations, or matters on which we will lobby that

are outside our immediate control.

Theme 1: Our environment

A place where people take pride in whereand how they live.

Objective 1:Environmental improvements: undertake acommunity consultation to establish priorities for the

Parish Council.

Objective 2:Introduce Community Clean-up Action Days inpartnership with statutory providers.

Objective 3:Secure for the long-term the role of Community PrideOfcer in the Parish.

Objective 4:Establish a Parish Trail in order to promote GwithianGreen and other community amenities.

Objective 5:Establish the post of Warden to safeguard andmanage the Towans environment and GwithianGreen for the community.

Objective 6:Resolve the longer-term impact of parking and accesson the Towans and surrounding areas.Objective 7:Protecting and preserving our heritage and our

community assets.

Theme 2: Housing and the built environment

A community with good quality housingfor all those wishing to live here, and with alocal connection.

A community where we see a levelling-outof built development to enable us to elevateareas historically over-developed andsuffering social consequences.

Villages that develop to meet the needs ofa wide mix of people.

Delivering the Vision: the Plan structure

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Objective 8:Establish a data-base of those requiring affordablehousing in the Parish, and then prepare an affordablehousing policy for the longer term.

Objective 9:Prepare Village Design Statements for the villageswithin the Parish.

Objective 10:Explore the potential for the Parish Council to engagein housing development schemes for affordablehomes.

Objective 11:For signicant new development, seek to ensure thatany nancial contributions arising from the planningprocess are either targeted for direct benet to thisParish or managed by the Parish Council.

Theme 3: Economic development

A Parish that has vibrant village centres,with thriving shops and post ofces, and isinnovative in supporting new and existingbusinesses.

Objective 12:Support wealth creation and improve the economicbase of the Parish.

Objective 13:Supporting local shops and local businesses: a ParishDirectory.

A community that embraces tourism to ourcollective advantage.

Objective 14:To develop initiatives that build upon the tourismindustry in the Parish in order to create benets for thewider community.

Theme 4: A stronger, safer community

A community that is safe: from anti-socialbehaviour, speeding trafc, and the fear ofcrime.

Objective 15:To work collaboratively with Devon and CornwallPolice and with other partners to address problemsof crime and anti-social behaviour in our community.

Objective 16:To work with housing developers, the planningauthority, the highways authority and Devon and

Cornwall Police to ensure new developmentscontribute positively to the drive to design-outopportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour.

A community that engages and supports itsyoung people.

Objective 17:Secure the long-term commitment of youth serviceagencies to help identify opportunities to engagewith our young people.

Objective 18:Meet our commitment to providing a venue foryoung people to meet together, and with othersectors of our community.

Theme 5: Connected communities

A connected community- physically; andmentally: addressing problems of spatialdistance and the very different nature of ourdiverse community groups.

Objective 19:Develop a Parish website.

Objective 20:Evaluate and respond to the need for communitytransport links not currently offered by bus serviceproviders.

Objective 21:Establish a network of safe places to walk and cyclethroughout the Parish.

A place where the Parish Council is at the

heart of the community, shaping and drivingchange.

Delivering the Vision: the Plan structure, continued

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Objective 22:Secure a long-term base for the Parish Council, withgood access for members of the community.

Objective 23:Understand the barriers to wider community interestand involvement in Parish Council affairs, and seekto remove those barriers.

Objective 24:Actively promote the Objectives within this Plan topartner organisations, and ensure that key partnersplay their role in delivering these Objectives.

Objective 25:Seek to establish and enhance village centresthrough improvements to the streetscape and trafcmanagement schemes.

Objective 26:Work towards achieving Quality Parish Council

status.

Theme 6: Community health

A community that has access to qualitylocal health care services.

Objective 27:Secure an improved health-care provision within theParish through partnership working with health-careproviders, and exploring opportunities for sharingphysical resources.

A healthy-eating community, enjoyingopportunities to grow their own produce.

Objective 28:Investigate opportunities to promote a healthy eatingculture through the provision of Parish allotments,garden-sharing and other initiatives.

Objective 29:Work with new housing developers to providecommunity gardens/allotments as part of any

development scheme.

Theme 7: Leisure and recreation

A community that has good local accessto a variety of quality sporting and leisurefacilities.

Objective 30:To expand our provision of recreational and play

space, and embrace sporting activities, particularlythose that can underpin our vision for a moreconnected community, and for engaging with ouryoung people.

Theme 8: Technology, energy, and climatechange

A community that responds positively to thechallenges of climate change.

Objective 31:

To support and encourage the use of newtechnologies and practical measures that will reduceour energy consumption, as a positive response tothe challenge of climate change.

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Photo courtesy of Trevaskis Farm


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Objective 2:Introduce Community Clean-upAction Days in partnership with statutoryproviders.

Our ambition is that people take pride in wherethey live: much of the thinking behind the postof Community Pride Ofcer was to promote that

ambition, and to say, publicly, that we care about ourenvironment.

This Objective proposes therefore that we identifythose parts of our environment that could reallybenet from concentrated action, to clearaccumulated mess from irresponsible dog owners,grafti, rubbish and litter in our streets, in parks andplaygrounds, y-tipping in ditches and verges; andthat we seek volunteers to join together with ourCommunity Pride Ofcer, supported by the statutoryauthority, in targeted Community Clean-up ActionDays.

Similar schemes operated elsewhere have sentout clear messages to those that contribute to theproblems we experience, and have done much toreduce the problem. The scheme can be extended toinclude, amongst other things, repainting andrenovation of run-down or neglected publicbuildings, signposts, benches, roadsigns and nger-posts.

Actions and considerations

Involve the community and community groups inidentifying problem areas in the Parish.

Recruit volunteers to target specic areas atspecic times.

Gain support from Cornwall Council for thescheme: to provide dedicated teams, to addresshealth and safety issues for volunteers, and toprovide transport to remove collected waste/rubbish material.

Ask farmers and landowners to support thescheme by collecting and removing plastic materialfrom gateways, tree- branches and ditches.

Encourage members of the public to reportunacceptable activities such as y tipping and dogmess, and those who may be responsible.

Theme 1:

Our environment

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Objective 1:Environmental improvements: undertakea community consultation to establishpriorities for the Parish Council.

A longer-term ambition than that described byCommunity Clean-up Action Days (Objective 2),this Objective is concerned with consulting with

the community and taking a good hard look at ouroverall environment, its tness for purpose, andmake recommendations for improvements thatwould benet the quality of life for our residentsover an extended period of time.

As we look long-term at our plans for new housingdevelopment, we also need to consider the rest of thespaces around us- how we use them, how well theyfunction, and if our needs are being met.


This is a wide-ranging topic, as it should include acritical look at all aspects of our lives: how easilywe can drive, cycle and walk to where we want tobe: therefore feedback about the provision of goodquality highways, pavements, new cycle-paths,and new and better- maintained existing footpathswill benet work under Objectives 20 and 21(pages 32, 33).

We will need to look at the quality of our bus-shelters and decide if they are of the standard wewould all aspire to, and what improvements couldbe made, funded from what source. It may be

appropriate, in order to better meet the needs ofour elderly population, to provide seats in ourbus-shelters, (if we can manage out the potentialfor anti-social gatherings in the shelters).

The provision of recreation space falls within theremit of the Parish Council. We inevitably applythis to the provision of playing space for youngpeople, and we now need to consult about theprovision of green spaces for other members ofour community, possibly as a Parish garden,orchard, or parkland. Relates to Objectives 28 and29 (pages 38, 39).

Our remit should extend to include upgradingroad-signs, possibly investigating the cost ofEnglish/Cornish signs; and the installation ofWelcome to the Parish of Gwinear-Gwithian signs atstrategic points.


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Theme 1: Our environment, continued

Objective 4:Establish a Parish Trail in order to promoteGwithian Green and other communityamenities.

The Parish has a substantial number of visitors everyyear, particularly to the beaches; and we have alarge number of camp sites within our boundaries.

We have much to offer visitors that often goesunnoticed, apart from the beaches. Gwithian Greenis an excellent example of this, but we also have agood provision of footpaths and bridleways, villagesand churches of historic interest, and places to eatand drink. We should promote these by creatinga Parish Trail, that also brings the potential forincreased business to local stores, public houses andrestaurants.


In developing one or more Parish Trails, we needto consider the issue of users arriving by car, andthe need to provide car parking space without anynegative impact on the immediate environment.

We will need to establish different categories oftrail for different users, from the short stroll to thelonger trail for experienced walkers.

Where possible, we should connect these trails toplaces where walkers and cyclists can stop forrefreshment.

We have sources of expertise in the communitythat could be of assistance: the Gwinear andDistrict Footpaths and Bridleways Association,

PAROW, (Penwith Access and Rights of WayForum), and members of the Ramblers Association.

Historical sources should be consulted to provideinformation for walkers alongside information onplants, wildlife, and local interest, and presentedas a free leaet dispensed at camp sites, publichouses and restaurants, shops, and other locations.

The leaets should be supported by interpretationboards, that also reinforce the suitability of thewalks for different types of user, particularly thosewith disabilities, and parents with prams or push-chairs.

Collaboration with PAROW may enable us to openup any sections of path necessary to createimproved and more interesting trails.

Gwithian Church

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Objective 5:Establish the post of Warden to safeguardand manage the Towans environment andGwithian Green for the community.

The Parish Council recognises the unique benetsthat Gwithian Towans brings to both residentsand visitors. Although we do not own any of the

Towans, nor have any direct responsibility for them,we are clear that the volume of visitors impactsnegatively on the Towans themselves, in terms ofhabitat; on residents at Gwithian Towans in terms ofvisitor numbers and volume of cars, and on all of usin terms of public health matters and dog waste.

We are also concerned to properly maintain andsafeguard the unique environment of GwithianGreen, the nature reserve in the care of Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council. We currently benet fromthe work of volunteer members of the community

to advise the Council when there are problemssuch as y-parking on the site, but the site needsmaintenance and development.

Therefore it is our intention to press CornwallCouncil to invest in the appointment of a Warden.We will work through the established TowansPartnership, which offers us an opportunity toextend the role to include Upton Towans and HayleTowans, in partnership with those landowners andwith Hayle Town Council.


Funding the position of Warden. There are anumber of lines of enquiry: funding throughrevenue from the car parks; by secondmentfrom Cornwall Council; by direct employment inpartnership with Hayle Town Council. (Also seeObjective 6, page 22).

Consider any employment issues for the ParishCouncil if that is the preferred route.

Ensuring the Warden has appropriate knowledgeand skills to manage and advise on habitat issues,and is also able to multi-task where appropriate,

to support others such as the Community PrideOfcer, or seasonal car park staff.

The Towans Partnership should be a key partnerin this Objective.

Gwithian Towans

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Theme 1: Our environment, continued

22

Objective 6:Resolve the longer-term impact of parkingand access on the Towans and surroundingareas.The Towans Partnership is an advisory groupof Cornwall Council that is concerned with themanagement and sustainability of the Towans,

from Godrevy to Hayle. Whilst the Partnershiphas no statutory powers, it brings togetherprivate landowners, the National Trust, NaturalEngland, this Parish Council, Hayle Town Council,Cornwall Council ofcers, local residents groupsrepresentatives, and other interested parties to tackleissues of concern, and to make recommendations toCornwall Council and partner agencies.

One signicant concern raised over two years ago isthe substantial increase in cars wanting access to thebeaches, particularly at Godrevy, which is ownedby the National Trust, and at Gwithian, where thecar park, although owned by the Hocking Trust, ismanaged by Cornwall Council. The reality is thatthe Towans cannot sustain the negative impact ofso much trafc, and the local road infrastructurecannot cope with the volume of cars. Fly-parkingon approach roads and in other spaces such asGwithian Green has reached unacceptable levels.Residents at Gwithian Towans are unable togain easy access to their homes, and emergencyvehicles have real problems getting to residents andholidaymakers alike.

It is also of concern to the Parish Council that therevenue from Gwithian car park is absorbed byCornwall Council and spent outside the Parish,and it is our view that the Parish Council shouldreceive that revenue to manage in the best interestsof local residents and to ensure the welfare andsustainability of the Towans.


Work with the Towans Partnership to developthe report by the Transport and Access sub-group

into a set of viable proposals, and lobby CornwallCouncil for action for a longer-term solution tothe management of parking on Gwithian Towans.

Pursue the management of Gwithian car park bythe Parish Council, for the benet of the Parish.

Objective 7:Protecting and preserving our heritage andour community assets.

The Parish Council is concerned to be proactive inpreserving those assets and aspects of our Parishthat help dene our heritage, and the quality of ourenvironment. As a community we enjoy the benets

of living alongside a number of specially designatedenvironments; and we have a number of listedstructures and dening settings that need to bepreserved for the benet of future generations.

We need to ensure regular dialogue with thosegroups and organisations with responsibility forparticular assets within our community, such asSt Gothians Nature Reserve, understand theirlonger term plans and objectives, and commit tosupporting in the most appropriate manner. Weshould also seek to inuence future plans were wehave concerns or ideas for improvement, and useour powers as a Parish Council wherever necessaryto meet our objective.


Compile an accurate listing of all of the following:-Sites of Special Scientic Interest (SSSI)-Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)-Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)-commons-listed buildings and structures-conservation areas and orders

-archaeological remains such as St GothiansChurch, and the Hundred Pound in Gwithian.

Indentify the organisations, groups, associationsand individual contacts concerned with all theabove, and communicate our interest in theirwork.


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Objective 8:Establish a data-base of those requiringaffordable housing in the Parish and thenprepare an affordable housing policy for thelonger term.

The Parish Council is not content to remain as apassive consultee in the planning process. We accept

that there is a demand for social rented housing andaffordable housing within our Parish, so that we mayaccommodate those members of our community whowish to continue to live here, or those that move hereto work.

We are also conscious that the Planning Authorityholds data on those registered with them for housing,and that developers, through advertising, establishtheir own levels of demand for affordable homes inthe Parish. We are aware that the Planning Authoritywill accept the validity of a properly organised parish

housing needs survey, and have offered to provide atemplate for our use.

The Parish Council therefore is resolved to establishour own data-base, based on regular consultationswith our community, and in partnership withproviders of social rented accommodation throughlocal authority housing organisations. We will usethis information to prepare a longer-term plan for theprovision of affordable homes within the Parish.Actions and considerations

Review the success of the August 2009 publicconsultation concerning affordable housing inConnor Downs.

Develop the process to include Carnhell Green, Reawla, Gwinear and Gwithian.Establish links on a regular basis with the

Affordable Housing Team for West Cornwall atCornwall Council.

Establish links with registered social landlords.Work collaboratively with neighbouring parishes

through the Community Network for Hayle andSt Ives.

Identify sites within the Parish where we wouldsupport the development of affordable homes,linked to criteria set out in our Village DesignStatement (Objective 9).

Also relates to Objective 10 on page 24.

Objective 9:Prepare Village Design Statements for thevillages within the Parish.

As we experience further demands on ourcommunity in terms of new affordable housingdevelopments, we need to take steps to ensure thatwe preserve the best aspects of our villages, and at

the same time set out clear standards and ourexpectations for those wishing to develop propertywithin the Parish. A Village Design Statement givesus that control: the following is an extract from theNatural England website:

Many people feel that they have no say over whatdevelopment takes place in their community; but VillageDesign Statements (VDSs) offer a constructive solution tothis dilemma.

Local communities have a unique appreciation and under-standing of their own place, and a VDS is based on thisknowledge. It describes the qualities that residents value intheir village and in their surroundings.

A Village Design Statement sets out clear and simpleguidance for the design of all development in a village,based on its character. It is an advisory documentproduced by the village community, not by the planningauthority. It will not stop change from happening, but itcan help effect how any new building ts in to thevillage. VDSs are intended to inuence the operation ofthe statutory planning system, so that new development isin harmony with its setting and makes a positive

contribution to the immediate environment.

What does a VDS cover?

It describes the distinctive character of a villageand its surrounding countryside.

It shows how character can be identied at threelevels:

- the landscape setting of the village,- the shape of the settlement,- the nature of the buildings themselves. A VDS sets down design principles based on the

distinctive local character. Production of a VDS fosters working in partner-ship with the local authority, understanding ofcurrent planning policies, and offers the chance toinuence future policies.

Theme 2:

Housing and the built environment

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Objective 9 (continued):

Village Design Statements are of value to residents,planners, designers and developers. There should be broadinvolvement of local interests so that the nished designstatement is a representative document, and one thatpresents ideas for stimulating and sustaining communityinvolvement in planning issues. It is important that the

parish council, plus planning authority councillors andofcers are drawn in to the VDS process.

Preparing a Village Design Statement doesnt demanddesign or planning knowledge - the only requirement is aninterest in the future well-being of your village. A VillageDesign Statement gives planning advice directly applicableto the statutory planning system and is entirely communitybased. An effective Village Design Statement:

is developed, researched, written and edited bylocal people;

reects the representative views of a community;

involves a wide cross-section of residents in itsproduction;

describes the visual character of the village; demonstrates how local character and identity can

be protected and enhanced in a new development; is compatible with the statutory planning system

and its local application; should be accepted as supplementary planning

guidance (and thereby inuence developers anddecisions on individual planning applications);

is relevant to all forms and scale of development,and is about managing change in the village, not

preventing it.


Build on the August 2009 community consultationin Connor Downs by setting up a group to preparea VDS for the village.

Establish a working group of Parish Councillorsand residents to drive the project forward. Internetresearch gives many examples of VDSs to drawupon.

Extend the scheme throughout the Parish.

Objective 10:Explore the potential for the Parish Councilto engage in housing developmentschemes for affordable homes.

The reality of increasingly prohibitive costs of housepurchase, an economic recession, and populationexpansion, is that those members of our community

that may want to live independently in their ownhome, are less likely to be able to do so. We havetherefore seen, in the Parish, a substantial increasein the development of affordable and intermediateaffordable homes, along with social housingschemes. Yet rather than take a proactive role, weallow ourselves to be at the mercy of developers,and planning ofcers, when it comes to what sort ofdevelopments are proposed, the location (generallyon exception green eld sites), and the design ofthose developments. However, there is an alternative.

The Parish Council has a number of powers thatwould enable it to consider developing a portfolioof housing stock for the benet of residents of theParish, possibly in partnership with members of thecommunity, through a variety of innovative schemespracticed elsewhere.


Conduct a full housing needs survey, which willidentify any need for affordable housing in theParish (Objective 8, page 23).

From the survey, and using local knowledge,

determine what sort and scale of development ismost appropriate- ie a multi-property scheme orsmall inll sites; ats or live/work units- andwithin our capacity to deliver.

Identify suitable sites (Objective 8).Consider the benets of a partnership arrangement

with funders, developers, and housingassociations.

Explore the potential offered by a CommunityLand Trust for the Parish Council to engage inproviding housing for the community.

Look for examples of community and self-

build projects for good practice, such as the modeldeveloped by Cawthorne Parish Council in SouthYorkshire.

Theme 2: Housing and the built environment, continued

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Theme 3:

Economic development

Objective 12:Support wealth creation and improve theeconomic base of the Parish.

The Parish Council wishes to support, and whereverpossible implement, initiatives that contribute towealth creation in the Parish, and that improvethe economic base for the residents. The Parish

Council as a stand-alone organisation needs towork with partners to undertake this responsibility.As a member of the Hayle and St Ives CommunityNetwork, however, it is well positioned to bringto that Network the challenge of economicimprovement, and to use the Network as a sourceof information about and signposting to CornwallCouncil and regional initiatives that can benet ourcommunity.

Working in partnership in this way, with Hayleparticularly as a key partner in the Network as ourimmediate urban neighbour, we will also be ableto ensure that plans for the economic developmentof Hayle are undertaken in consultation with ourParish.

We will also be in a position to actively support thecreation of new employment opportunities withinthe Parish, and we should work collaboratively withbusinesses that seek to expand and innovate.


The starting point is to understand the socio-

economic prole of the Parish. This data isavailable via Cornwall Council, and can becommissioned via our Community NetworkManager. We should view that data in the contextof data for Hayle, and then for the wider area.

The Community Network can then help to deliverthis objective in a number of ways:-Present to members any plans for economicregeneration that have an impact on this area, andexplore ways in which we can advise and workwith members of our community so that suchplans have a real presence in our Parish.

-Provide members with an opportunity to feedbackon such plans, giving a local perspective.-Explore opportunities to adapt and develop

Cornwall-wide or regional-wide initiatives to bestt a community such as ours.

-Develop new schemes through the CommunityNetwork using the resources provided byCornwall Council through the CommunityNetwork mechanism and the Localism agenda.

The Parish Council can then also support the localeconomy through its approach to the developmentof our built environment:

-Support wherever possible applications forinnovative and environmentally sympatheticdevelopment that will help improve the economicbase of the Parish;-Work with local businesses to identify suitablesites for business development;

-Identify sites for business starter units andconsider options for the Parish to act as developer;-Support planning applications for starter units,live-work units and home ofce extensions;

-Link to Objective 9, Village Design Statements(pages 23, 24).

Ensure the Objectives described in this Plan areincluded in the objectives and forward planning ofthe Hayle and St Ives Community Network.

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Objective 13:Supporting local shops and localbusinesses: a Parish Directory.

The Parish Council is keen to support our local shopsand businesses in a pro-active and practical way.We recognize that local shops are at the social heartof our villages, and that their long-term survival is

fragile. We also want to see local people spendingmoney locally, on local goods and services, in orderto support our businesses.


We propose to organise and publish a ParishDirectory that lists all local businesses andservices, in order to help ensure their longer-termviability and to invest, as a community, in our localeconomy.

The Parish Directory would provide listings of allthe shops, services, tradespersons, and businessesin the Parish, to increase awareness, improveaccess, and help to ensure their success.

The Directory would offer the facility for localservices such as the shop and post ofce toprovide detailed information about goods andservices available, opening times, and contactdetails.

Typical local services listings could include:

Shops and shop services, and opening timesPost ofces and their range of servicesPublic houses and restaurants

Tourist and holiday attractionsCamping and caravanning sitesBuilders, plumbers plasterers, carpenters, decoratorsand electriciansLicensed child-minding servicesSchools and nurseriesCleaning servicesGarage servicesFarmers suppliesHandyman servicesGarden maintenance/tree surgeonsHome delivery: milkmen, grocers, butchers

Ofce services such as photocopyingTaxisResidential and nursing homes

In addition to listing businesses and services,the Parish Directory could include:

Cornwall Council One-Stop Shop detailsEmergency contact numbersHealth service details- doctors, dentists,hospitalsSocial ServicesClubs and associationsResidents associationsCommunity hall contactsCharities at work in the ParishChurches and places of worshipMobile library detailsRecycling detailsVolunteer services, e.g. hospital carParish Council meeting dates and venuesParish Councillor contactsCornwall Councillor contactsDial-a-ride service

Advertising space can be offered to offset printing

and distribution costs, however the projectwould require volunteers to gather and collatethe information, and organise printing andcirculation.

The Parish Council also intends to develop aParish website, (Objective 19, page 32), which inaddition to publishing the immediate business ofthe Council, will include an electronic version ofthe Directory, and links to local businesses andattractions.


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Objective 15:To work collaboratively with Devon andCornwall Police and with other partners toaddress problems of crime and anti-socialbehaviour in our community.

The Parish Council receives monthly reports oncrime statistics from our local Police team, and are

able to raise questions and comment on the statistics,details of crimes and incidents, and related matters.This does not however serve as a substitute forcollaborative working, and we should take theopportunity presented to us by the new CommunityNetwork for Hayle and St Ives, whereby the Policewill be part of the Network, to more systematicallyaddress matters of concern.

Despite Police efforts, we are still faced with anti-social behaviour, illegal drinking, vandalism andlittering, and dangerous driving, in addition to thenormal portfolio of crime that any rural area mightreceive. It is also realistic to comment that despiteongoing Police presence in targeted areas such asReawla, no real change has been perceived over thelast few years. Therefore we need to consider how wemight play a more vital role in the process.


The main focus should be on multi-agencypartnership working, including Police, thehighways authority, youth services, electedrepresentatives, residents associations, and others

to look for long-term, sustainable solutions.We need to re-establish PACT (Partners and

Community Together) meetings on a more regularbasis, working with the Police to regularly reviewprogress against targets.

We should also put pressure on the Policeauthority, through the vehicle of the CommunityNetwork, to provide greater resources in key areas,and to engage more proactively with otheragencies such as the planning authority and thehighways authority to eliminate opportunities forcrime and anti-social behaviour in the longer-term.

Theme 4:

A stronger, safer community

Objective 16:To work with housing developers, theplanning authority, the highways authorityand Devon and Cornwall Police to ensurenew developments contribute positively tothe drive to design-out opportunities forcrime and anti-social behaviour.

The Parish Council is a statutory consultee onplanning applications in the Parish. We are ableto comment on, but not decide upon, thoseapplications. In many instances the Council, likemany others, relies upon the planning authority forexpert input on such specics as highways matters.We also previously relied somewhat upon the factthat signicant applications would generally cometo the attention of local District Council members tobring to Planning Committee.

However, with the advent of Cornwall Council, and,

hopefully, a new attitude towards the involvementof Parish Councils in the planning process, and thesignicance of Parish Plans to planning ofcers,the Parish Council needs to take a more pro-activerole. We wish to ensure that any new housingdevelopments build not only houses, but stronger,safer communities.


To actively consider the potential to reduce oreliminate opportunities for crime and anti-socialbehaviour in new housing developments by theway in which such developments are designed.

To work collaboratively with the developer,the planning and highways authorities and thePolice, before signicant applications areconsidered, to ensure that opportunities to reducecrime and anti-social behaviour are keyconsiderations for any proposed development.

This means that the planning authority shouldbe expected to work more closely with the ParishCouncil, by giving update briengs on anysignicant planning applications that are comingto the authority.


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Objective 17:Secure the long-term commitment ofyouth service agencies to help identifyopportunities to engage with our youngpeople.

Whilst it is important to work collaboratively withthe Police to address issues of anti-social behaviour,

it is also important to set out to engage with ourcommunity to understand the issues behind anti-social behaviour, and to nd ways to offer support.There are a number of relevant agencies that theParish Council can contact, listed below.

The intention would be to develop a longer-termplan of action between Police, parents, schools, youthagencies, and the Parish Council in order to break thecycle of anti-social behaviour, to raise standards ofbehaviour, and to help our young people gain a morepositive attitude about where and how they live.

We will also need to undertake a body of work withmembers of the community who for understandablereasons have a negative attitude towards many of theyoung people, usually because of direct experience ofanti-social behaviour in one form or another.


We need to start by identifying a specic area inwhich to work, where there is greatest need: andensure that any good practice can roll out toinclude other parts of the Parish.

Establish a multi-agency meeting in the rstinstance to present the issues we face, to agreewhich agencies are the most appropriate to ask tosupport our objective, and to consider waysforward (as per Objective 15, page 29).

In order to make any progress, we must alsoget some of our young people on board. Workhas already started with the return of the PenwithCommunity Development Trust CommunitiesDepartment Youth Workers and their mobilecentre, but their presence has been inconsistent.If we raise aspirations, we must be consistent in

our efforts.We need to gain the support of some of the parents

in the vicinity, to make the connection in the mindsof young people between those coming into the

community and residents.We need to elect a member of the Parish Council to

champion this work, and report back to the ParishCouncil on progress.

We should also consider enlisting the help of oneor more residents who are critical of the behaviourof young people, and who may have had negativeexperiences, to help us monitor progress and

manage the programme.We should adopt a positive approach throughout,be willing to tackle issues such as boredomthrough practical solutions, and accept that theParish Council has made numerous unfullledcommitments to young people in the past.

In order to support the work, we will need accessto venues that welcome or are designed for youngpeople, and this is an on-going issue for the ParishCouncil, (see Objective 18).

These are some of the agencies and organisationsthat can be contacted:

-YMCA-Trelya Youth Project-Penwith Community Development Trust-Just Youth-Cornwall Council Children, Schools and FamiliesDirectorate / youth services-Cornwall Youth Service-Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service-Cornwall Children and Young Peoples Partnership /Youth Cornwall-Cornwall Youth Work Partnership

Theme 4: A stronger, safer community, continued


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Objective 18:Meet our commitment to providing a venuefor young people to meet together, and withother sectors of our community.

The Parish Council has yet to resolve this issue. For anumber of years we have been engaged in negotiatinga lease for Wall Hall, which would offer the facility

to create a dedicated Youth Cafe in addition to othercommunity facilities, and would provide an idealvenue for young people and other residents to meettogether in a social and unintimidating environment.It would also provide a focal point for the youth workidentied in Objective 17.

However at the point of publication of this Plan,there remain a number of unresolved issues about theacquisition of the lease for Wall Hall, and a degree ofuncertainty about the availability of grants to developthe building if the lease were taken. We have alreadymade two grant applications, one for the Youth Cafeand the other for major works to the Hall, neitherof which were successful. Such grant aid would beessential to support various repair and restorationworks, and for any dedicated equipment and facilitiesfor youth provision, particularly a Youth Cafe.

We have also assumed in the past that young peoplewould welcome a Youth Cafe, and this may be anassumption on our part. We need to undertake someform of survey through the current youth work goingon in the village to conrm that a meeting place is themain requirement for young people; and we need to

be clear about the age ranges that would use such afacility.


Resolve the matter of aquiring Wall Hall as amatter of urgency. The main issue is the potential toattract funding for substantial renovation work.One solution is to work with our Cornwall CouncilRegeneration Ofcer to see if any funds may beavailable, in order to help the debate.

An alternative is to consider whether the Hall can

be used for such provision without substantialrenovation, in its current state of repair, or toidentify the costs of minimum repair and essentialhealth and safety works.

Any arrangement would have to consider theneed for supervision, and the impact onneighbours of any gatherings, parking, music, etc.

Consider alternative arrangements for the youngpeople of the Parish.

One solution might be to tap into other youthvenues and activities by organising free transportto under-16s and those without access to any

form of transport (Objective 20, page 32).Further opportunities might be explored throughagreements with property development schemeswithin the Parish.


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Objective 19:Develop a Parish website.

To properly meet our vision of a community thatis connected mentally as well as physically, weneed to use technology to maximum advantage.The development of a Parish website will connectresidents and visitors alike, not only to each other,

but to the work of the Parish Council, to the services,businesses, amenities and attractions available, andto the events taking place in the wider community.

References are made in Objective 26, Work towardsachieving Quality Parish Council status, concerningthe requirement for a website in order to meet thestandards; and in Objective 13: Supporting local shopsand local businesses: a Parish Directory,we refer to thebenets of a website, but the value overall will be farmore signicant. Listed below are just some of thepossible uses:

Pages for Parish Council business, minutes ofmeetings, agendas, and reports.

Community consultation and interaction betweenthe Council and the community.

Planning matters.Pages for young people, and for all sectors of our

community, with links to residents associations.Parish Directory.Tourism facilities and links.Community events such as Gwinear Show,

Carnhell Green Vintage Rally.Sporting events and xtures.

Business links.Where to eat.Campsites guide and links.Good beach guide.Walks and cycle routes.School links.


Establish a budget, and identify any sources ofgrant funding that may be available.

Appoint an experiencedwebsite designer.Establish a working group to oversee the design

and development of the site.Work with partners to agree links.Ensure the continued maintenance of the site.

Objective 20:Evaluate and respond to the need forcommunity transport links not currentlyoffered by bus service providers.

As part of the drive to create a stronger, moreconnected community, the Parish Council is awarethat public transport services do not successfully link

our settlements, nor do they provide a service thatis sufciently exible to support work, leisure, andsocial needs, and good access to services.

Therefore our key aim would be to improveaccessibility to jobs, services and facilities for ruralresidents, particularly those groups within ourcommunity least able to help themselves: the elderlyand inrm; young people; those seeking to work inhard-to-reach locations and without access to privatetransport.

For this to be achieved, an assessment of local needwill be required, based on robust evidence, fromwhich appropriate solutions can be identied.Opportunities to use smaller vehicles, demand-responsive services or the input of voluntaryorganisations will be vital elements in providingcost-effective responses to the often dispersedtransport need that is characteristic of rural areas.Another important element of providing transport bythis means is by demonstrating the value for moneyi.e. the cost of a community based transport solutionproviding access to healthcare against the cost of thehospital providing private transport.

The phrase community based solutions is usedto emphasise that these are schemes that are oftenidentied and supported by the community but donot solely refer to community transport (i.e. servicesowned and operated by community groups).


Undertake an assessment of local need, and acomprehensive mapping of existing publictransport routes and timetables.

Relate this provision to the places we know peoplewant to accesss: the beaches, village halls andsocial/club gatherings, restaurants, shoppingcentres, health care providers, youth clubs, local

Theme 5:

Connected communities


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leisure centres and places of work are possibleexamples.

The principal types of solution open to us are:-Strengthening local bus services

-Community bus services-Taxi-bus and taxi-sharing services-Dial-a-ride services-Group hire of minibuses

-Voluntary car schemes-Shopmobility schemes-Wheels to Work schemes

-Community car-sharing schemes.Undertake research to identify other rural

communities that have successfully introduced acommunity bus scheme. We can access thisinformation via links from Cornwall Councilwebsite. We would need to know:

-costs of purchase or hire where applicable, or ofrunning the scheme-maintenance costs-insurance issues including public liability

-qualications needed for named drivers-sources of grant aid to fund the project.If there are suitably qualied potential volunteers

in the community- eg those employed as coach orbus drivers.

Work with the Rural Transport Partnership,whichworks with communities to develop waysof improving local peoples access to employment,services and facilities.

Work with our Cornwall Council regenerationadvisor to investigate sources of funding, and ifappropriate to offer support in the preparation of

grant applications.

Objective 21:Establish a network of safe places to walkand cycle throughout the Parish.

Walking and cycling are the most sustainable andactive forms of transport. Many of our daily tripsare short and can be walked or cycled. In addition, awalkable environment is very important to support

good public transport, as all public transport usersare pedestrians at the beginning and end of theirtrips. Parishes that are easy and safe to walk in canincrease the potential catchment of public transportservices. Both pedestrians and cyclists need a legibleand direct network of paths, off or on-road, and,ideally, other facilities (such as bicycle parking) atmain destinations. Both modes of transport requireattention to urban and trafc design details, suchas footpaths or shared paths, kerb ramps, signage,lighting, as well as other design features thatimprove safety, convenience and attractiveness.


In order to provide an accessible and integratednetwork of walking and cycling routes for safe andconvenient travel to local destinations, we need to:

Plan and construct legible, connected walking andcycling routes leading to local destinations andfocal points such as shops, schools, parks, beaches,Gwithian Green, and public transport stops.Routes should be continuous and direct.

Provide information to assist with safe route

planning, such as route maps.Create stimulating and attractive routes in order to

encourage repeated use, with careful considerationof details such directness, lighting, shade,opportunities to stop and rest, landscaping withappropriate species choice, pavement and edgetreatments and directional signage.

For on-road cycle routes, allocate sufcient spacefor cyclists and use signage and road marking toreduce ambiguity about where the route is.

Provide safe places to cross streets close to thedirect line of travel for pedestrians and cyclists.

Connect local walking and cycling networks toregional routes linking centres and facilities.

Ensure new developments make suitable provisionfor / connect with walking and cycling routes.


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Objective 22:Secure a long-term base for the ParishCouncil, with good access for members ofthe community.

For many years the Parish Council ofce has beenbased in Carnhell Green, but the premises do notmeet current health and safety requirements, and

therefore can no longer function as a base for theParish Clerk, nor as a place for the Parish Councilto hold their meetings. Current use of this facility isreserved for the storage of les, as a postal address,and as a base for communication by telephone.

In recent years, the Parish Council therefore hasaccepted that the Parish Clerk works from home, andhas hired local facilities to hold meetings, rotatingbetween the villages within the Parish.

However, the climate within which the ParishCouncil operates has changed in recent years, andthe Parish Council are also resolved that they playa more strategic role in determining the future ofthe area. This means that the Parish Council wantsto engage more people in the process of localgovernment: make ourselves more available, ourwork of more immediate interest to the community,and our resolutions of greater signicance to keypartners such as Cornwall Council.

With this approach, and with the encapsulationof this attitude in this Plan, the work of the ParishCouncil requires greater input from Councillors,

Clerk, and the wider community. Therefore apermanent base is needed.


To urgently resolve the potential lease of WallHall, and, if viable, to secure grant funding for theregeneration of the hall, to include a permanentParish Council base.

To urgently explore alternative venues forthe Council, possibly through engagement withdevelopers and property owners in the Parish.

To build into our forward nancial planning, at thepoint where we have a viable solution to our futurelocation, an appropriate element for the costs ofmaintaining a permanent ofce base.

Objective 23:Understand the barriers to wider communityinterest and involvement in Parish Councilaffairs, and seek to remove those barriers.

Public interest in Parish Council business is minimal,usually only connected with planning applicationsin the immediate vicinity of those attending, or to do

with matters of anti-social behaviour. This situationis not unique to Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council,being true for the majority of parishes. Howeverthis Parish Council is concerned to involve far moremembers of the community in our work, and thisPlan is part of that process, by showing how we canmake a difference and shape the future of our Parish,and by wishing to draw in members of the public tohelp us deliver many aspects of this Plan.

If we are to engage with more members of thecommunity, we need to look at our practices, andundertake a real assessment of how we conduct ourbusiness in the context of making it more interesting,and more relevant to the wider community.Actions and considerations

To consider how we might review all aspects ofParish Council business to make it moreinteresting, and to feel more relevant, to membersof the community. This may include the following:

How, when and where we make the public awareof what we plan to discuss, and the results of ourdiscussions. We are not limited to the use of Parish

Council notice-boards, nor to reporting in minute-form only.

The benets of a Parish newsletter, distributeddoor to door.

The benets of a web-site, (Objective 19), and achat room for members of the public to conversewith Parish Councillors about issues of interest andconcern.

The layout and ambience of venues for meetings,including lighting, heating, table and seatingarrangements, and the availability of large-scalevisual aids for members of the public.

The design of the agenda, and better opportunityfor informal sessions to engage with public debate.

Improving access by the public to Councillors andto the Parish Clerk.

Theme 5: Connected communities, continued


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Objective 24:Actively promote the Objectives within thisPlan to partner organisations, and ensurethat key partners play their role in deliveringthese Objectives.

Key to the success of this Plan will be the recognitionof the validity and importance of the Objectives by

partner organisations, so that they refer to the Planwhen making decisions about any aspect of theirfunction or service within our Parish, or that impacton our Parish.

Cornwall Council is the most signicant of ourpartners, and inuential in the delivery of servicesand policy development affecting our Parish. One ofthe most effective routes to dialogue with CornwallCouncil will be through the Hayle and St IvesCommunity Network. That Network is also ideallyplaced to engage with the Police, with healthcare

providers, with Cornwall Highways, and of coursewith neighbouring parishes.

We have also said elsewhere in this Plan thatcommunity involvement is essential, so we need toconsider promoting the Plan to residents associations,and other community groups.


To consider the way in which the Parish Planis promoted to our partners: to consider thepossibility of a launch event for partner

organisations. Refer to page 42, Delivering theParish Plan: Stakeholder and partner consultationand engagement.

To consider producing a summary leaet fordistribution to partners, and for door-to-doordistribution throughout the Parish, to advisepartners and members of the public about theexistence of the Plan, and to invite theirinvolvement.

In addition to determining the distribution listfor printed copies of the Parish Plan, we will makeavailable a CD copy or an electronic copy to a

wider audience of partner organisations,inuencers, and consultees; place an electroniccopy on our proposed web-site; and provide apaper copy at cost to any member of the publicwho requests a paper copy.

Objective 25:Seek to establish and enhance villagecentres through improvements to thestreetscape and trafc managementschemes.

A difcult objective to quantify, this must stand as along-term aspiration of the Parish Council: to return

priority to pedestrians rather than vehicles in keyparts of our villages, in order to establish or reinforcea sense of community, of village centres, where theseare desirable, such as Reawla, Carnhell Green, andConnor Downs. In each case, these are linear villages:no village green, no existing centre, but developmenteither side of a busy roadway that effectively dividesa village and creates the sense that vehicles havepriority.

A range of initiatives can help create a sense ofcentre for a village, normally around a village shop

or village community centre, from seemingly simplemeasures to substantially calm trafc and distinguishareas of roadway designated as pedestrian priority, todetailed trafc management schemes, with changesto the street architecture.

The benets to the community would be morethan just visual: restoring a place to prioritisepeople rather than prioritising motor vehicles willstrengthen a community, and in so doing may helpaddress a number of anti-social behaviour traitswe are experiencing. Creating a village centre thatcan be enjoyed and valued by all members of the

community, that welcomes people in, will add to thelonger-term sustainability not only of the community,but the shops that help us have a focus to ourvillages.


The starting point will be to identify in whichvillage location to undertake the pilot project.

The Parish Council should approach CornwallCouncil to gain expert help from experiencedhighways engineers, planners and designers, in

terms of practicalities in proposing improvements,and guiding the Parish Council through theprocesses involved, in order to provide a visualand physical focal point for target villages in theParish.


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Theme 5: Connected communities, continued

Objective 25 (continued):

Detailed plans would need to be drawn up andpresented to the community at an open meeting, inorder to elicit support, and views, from those itwill most affect.

The use of alternatives to tarmac for areas thatmust continue to allow the ow of trafc should be

considered: different surfaces can clearly identifyto motorists that an area is pedestrian priority.Siting of public seating in these areas, relocating

bus-stops, and making changes to pavements andkerbs all add to the sense of pedestrian priority.

Careful consideration should be given to the mixof materials and components in order to reectand complement local character.

Lighting schemes can add to the overall sense ofcreating a village centre.

The impact of planting schemes should be also beconsidered.

Objective 26:Work towards achieving Quality ParishCouncil status.

The Parish Council is an effective and well-organisedgroup of elected representatives supported ablyby a very capable Parish Clerk. We believe we canachieve Quality Parish Council status, reecting the

quality of our work, our systems and administration,and our capacity. In addition to the recognition thatthis status would bring us, there are also benetsto the Council that will support our work, and ourinuence on other organisations. The followingextract from The Quality Town and Parish CouncilScheme published in 2003 by the Ofce of the DeputyPrime Minister describes the characteristics of aQuality Parish Council, and makes clear the benetsto the community, and to our partners.

A Quality Parish Council:is representative of, and actively engages, all parts of

its community, providing vision, identity and a sense ofbelonging;

is effectively and properly managed;articulates the needs and wishes of its community;upholds high standards of conduct;is committed to work in partnership with principal local

authorities and other public service agencies;in proportion to its size and skills, delivers local services

on behalf of principal local authorities when thisrepresents the best deal for the local community;

works closely with voluntary groups in its community;provides leadership to the community through its work

on Parish plans; andworking with its partners, acts as an information point

for local services.

In order to qualify for Quality Parish Council status,the following must be in place: (this is an indicativelist- full details are on the National Association of LocalCouncils website).

The electoral mandate: at least two-thirds of theCouncillors must be elected.

Clerks qualications must be either a Certicate

in Local Policy or a Certicate in Local CouncilAdministration (CiLCA).Evidence of meetings held in the 12 months prior to

application.


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The need for a web-site and e-mail address, and anewsletter published at least four times per yeardelivered to all households.

An annual report published by 30 June each year andavailable for inspection by the public.

Accounts prepared to statutory requirements.A Code of Conduct.A Community Engagement Strategy.

Training strategy and budget.

The Council has formally resolved that it wishes towork towards Quality Parish Council status.

The Council has also established a Working Groupto guide the Parish Council through the process.


Look at the body of evidence required in order toachieve Quality Parish Council status, and:

Consider carefully and budget for the costsassociated with meeting and maintaining the

standards required and recommend a budget tothe Council.

Set up a timetable to review existing practicesagainst the evidence requirements, and implementchange where it is needed.

Identify those changes that would benet theParish Council most, and are achievable in theshort to mid-term, and determine which aspectsare to be addressed in the longer term.

Work with the Parish Clerk to identify theadministrative, clerical, and nancial supportneeded in order to work towards and ultimately

achieve the CiLCA qualication.


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Objective 27:Secure an improved health-care provisionwithin the Parish through partnership workingwith health-care providers, and exploringopportunities for sharing physical resources.

Whilst Connor Downs benets from a part-time GPsurgery, the other villages within our community,

particularly in the area of Carnhell Green, Wall,and Reawla, have no such provision, and accessto a doctor requires a trip to Hayle, Camborne orPraze. At one point there was a visiting part-timepractice based in Wall Hall, but the facilities therewere not appropriate, and the facility was removedby the Praze practice that had provided it. As ourcommunity expands, we need to work to ensure thatthe local provision of health care can meet the needsof the community.


Connor Downs is targeted for new housingdevelopment: at the time of writing this Planthere are three applications for planningpermission awaiting a decision, totalling 60 morehomes, with a further 25 or so to come on stream.In this instance, The Parish Council needs to workwith the surgery at Connor Downs to identifyif there are plans to meet this expansion in ournumbers, for example by longer opening hours.

If there is capacity at Connor Downs, anyprovision of community transport addressed inObjective 20 could be used to provide a transport

facility to this practice. We should also work withpublic transport providers to conrm that publictransport routes offer good access to health-careproviders from all parts of our community.

It has been the Parish Councils intention to seekto deliver a part-time health facility at Wall Hall,and the commitment to provide a part-timesurgery in the area of Reawla, Wall, or CarnhellGreen, is ongoing.

Further discussions with local surgeries should beheld, to see if the climate for part-time provisionhas changed since discussions were held with

Bodriggy and Veor surgeries to no avail.The Community Network provides us with

another avenue of dialogue with senior health-careproviders.

Objective 28:Investigate opportunities to promote ahealthy eating culture through the provisionof Parish allotments, garden-sharing andother initiatives.

Successive generations are becoming increasinglyaware about the importance of a healthy diet, yet as

our villages expand to accommodate more numbers,and the economic climate requres the developmentof more and more affordable homes, garden spacesare at a premium for the next generation of ourcommunity.

The Parish Council already fulls its obligation toprovide allotments, and this Objective conrms ourintention to expand that

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