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As part of its commitment to seeking out the views of residents across the parish of St Ives, St Ives Town Council held an open meeting in Carbis Bay on Monday 7 February. The meeting had a good turnout and included members of the public, town councillors, PCSO Terry Webb and Cornwall Councillor Elizabeth Penhaligon.
The purpose of the meeting was to give local residents the chance to raise issues that mattered to them. The first issue was a concern shared by the majority present - the rate of housing growth in Carbis Bay and the need for future development to be shaped by a plan to make sure that there remains a good quality of life for residents and with least harm to the amenity of the area. Residents cited problems with the number of dwellings proposed on infill plots and the need to make sure that there were services, shops and school places for the additional people moving to Carbis Bay. It was felt that the planning system should take more notice of local circumstances, as well as planning policy.
Other matters raised included areas with litter problems and the need for footpaths linking key areas such as the Trewartha Estate, to be properly maintained. Access to GP and NHS dentistry services are difficult for Carbis Bay residents and so there were calls for these services to be available more locally, again in view of the sizeable and growing population.
An update was sought on the future of the St Ives Tourist Information Centre in view of the importance of the tourism trade on the local economy. Traffic and parking issues raised included worries that heavier ‘super-lorries’ may soon be on the UK roads but would not be welcome on the winding roads of Lelant, Carbis Bay and St Ives, also the need to better signpost the Porthrepta Road Car Park in Carbis Bay as it was greatly under-used.
A reminder was given that the Town Council has a Community Pride Officer who is able to help with ensuring that the streetscene is kept in good condition, including footpath maintenance, tackling problem litter areas, maintenance of benches etc, so if there is an area that could do with a visit from the Community Pride Officer, just contact the Town Council offices at the Guildhall.
Town Councillors were receptive to the calls for more localised plans for development in Carbis Bay and shared resident’s frustration at instances where planning policy had appeared out of accord with the wishes and needs of the local community. The fortuitous timing of this meeting means that the planning issues raised by Carbis Bay residents will help inform St Ives Town Council’s response to the consultation launched by Cornwall Council (the planning authority) on the documents that will shape planning policy in Cornwall until 2030. The Core Strategy document has been published and residents may comment on it individually and are also able to feed their views to their local town council to be taken into account when town councillors agree the local council’s response.
Similar meetings will be held throughout the year, with an open meeting in Lelant scheduled for Wednesday 1 June whilst dates for Halsetown and St Ives are yet to be set. These meetings are an addition to the scheduled meetings of the town council and its committees which are also open to the public, with a period for public speaking set aside at the start of each meeting. More details on meetings are available on this website or from the town council offices at the Guildhall in St Ives.
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