Each month, I present a written report to both St Dennis Parish Council and St Enoder Parish Council. The report for July and August 2025 is as follows
1. Council and other meetings
Physical Cornwall Council meetings over the last six weeks have included Full Council and a members panel relating to the employment of a new Director of Regulatory and Waste Services.
There have also been numerous meetings via video-conferencing. These include the Cornish National Minority Working Group, the Asset Management Group about the transfer of play areas to St Dennis and St Enoder Parish Councils, an update on the Community Levelling-Up Funding programme, a meeting between group leaders and senior directors on the unitary authority, a briefing on the “English Devolution Bill” presently going through the Westminster Parliament, and a training session on chairing skills.
I have attended meetings of both St Dennis Parish Council and St Enoder Parish Council. Other meetings included the Cornish Lithium Liaison Group, a Cornish Lithium consultation event at Indian Queens Victory Hall, Fraddon Village Hall Committee and the Indian Queens Band Committee.
2. Full Council
The last Full Council meeting was held on 22nd July. At this meeting, I moved a cross-party motion, which called for a “devolution settlement to properly reflect Cornwall’s national identity and the national minority status of the Cornish.” Following discussion between elected members – including the new leader of the Council, Cllr Leigh Frost – it had been drafted to include a challenge to central government to follow through on the national minority status of the Cornish and “formally recognise Cornwall as one of the five nations of the United Kingdom.”
It was seconded by Liberal Democrat councillor Rory Gow, with named supporters coming from six of the seven political groups on the Council.
The motion was passed by 53 votes to 22. It was supported by all councillors from the Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Mebyon Kernow groups, and all independent councillors – bar one! Two Reform councillors voted in favour, two abstained, and the remaining 21 present at the meeting voted against.
Cornwall Council will now be working with MPs to lobby central government as it moves forward with consideration of its “English Devolution Bill,” which ignores Cornwall and Cornish territorial integrity.
3. Cornish National Minority Working Group
The first meeting of the Cornish National Minority Working Group took place on 12th August and I am pleased to report that I was elected Chairman. It has been renamed as the Cornwall Fifth Nation Working Group to reflect the motion passed at Full Council on 22nd July.
4. Planning matters
In my last report, I noted how I had written to Cornwall Council’s ruling Cabinet requesting that a “Local Plan Committee” be set up so that elected members can be fully involved with producing the next set of planning policies for Cornwall. I am still awaiting a response.
5. Highway matters
I am following up on a range of highway matters. I had a meeting with the Cormac manager on 28th August. More detailed comment relating to this is included within the parish-specific sections of this report.
6. “Report it”
I continue to report a number of local issues of concern to residents. If you spot any problems, you can also report it yourself through Cornwall Council’s website at: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/report-something/
ST DENNIS PARISH
7. Cornish Lithium
Cornish Lithium’s non-statutory consultation has ended. In addition to the two consultation sessions at The Pitch in St Dennis on 7th and 17th July, I attended one at Indian Queens Victory Hall on 23rd July.
I also attended the first post-consultation Trelavour Liaison Group meeting, at which they updated us on feedback to their consultation. I am presuming that this information will be released to the wider public in the near-future.
I have also been present at two public meetings in the St Dennis Working Mens Club at which local residents have raised concerns about the project. As the local Cornwall Councillor, I have a given a commitment to continue raising those concerns expressed to me with the applicants, Cornwall Council, the Planning Inspectorate, etc.
8. Highway matters
At the meeting with the local Cormac manager on 28th August, I again raised concerns about those ongoing traffic issues included in my last monthly report.
Following representations from me, there has been some repainting of white lines on the junction with St Dennis Primary School, on the road junction on the eastern side of Whitemoor and in a few other places. Speed monitoring has been carried out at the top of Hendra Road, near the new pinch-point, where local residents are raising concerns about how the new feature isn’t working as proposed. This is being reviewed by council staff and I have requested to see the speed readings.
Council staff are in Wellington Road, where they have been working with South West Water to repair a hollow, at least in part caused by a water leak and related problems.
9. Signage project
I have submitted a report to Cornwall Council for “welcome” signs for St Dennis Parish and nameplates for Enniscaven, Gothers and Trerice Terrace. The report seeks confirmation of the proposed location of the nameplate and the costings for the overall project.
10. Night-time switch-off of streetlights
I have previously reported about the number of representations I have had around the decision to switch off streetlights in St Enoder Parish [between midnight and 5.00] and the lack of consultation with the local community. My concerns have not been acted upon and it has just been confirmed that streetlights in St Dennis will also be switched during night-time hours from the week commencing 1st September.
11. Hall Road play area
The transfer of the Hall Road play area from Cornwall Council to St Dennis Parish Council is ongoing. The last relevant meeting at the unitary authority in relation to this was the Asset Management Group, which confirmed support for the transfer. I attended the meeting.
12. ClayTAWC Summer Fayre
August has been busy for me, but as the Chairman of ClayTAWC, it was good to attend our Summer Fayre. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us.
ST ENODER PARISH
13. Planning matters
13.1 – St Enoder Neighbourhood Plan
I have previously reported that the decision of the UK Government to impose a higher housing target on Cornwall. As a consequence, council officers have decided that we longer have a “five-year supply” and that therefore (i) housing policies in the Cornwall Local Plan can no longer be given weight in the deliberation of planning applications and that (ii) housing policies in most NDPs – including that of St Enoder Parish – are out-of-date. I am continuing to challenge the view of council officers.
13.2 – Heather Meadow [PA25/03870]
A number of planning applications have been submitted for open-market housing, where previously any development would have had to be affordable housing led “exception” sites.
The first of these is a proposed development of four dwellings on land near Heather Meadow in Fraddon. Officers have informed me that they are recommending it for approval as they can no longer give weight to the St Enoder Neighbourhood Plan.
As I am challenging this perspective, I have referred the application to a meeting of the Central Planning Committee, which will take place on 22nd September.
13.3 – Other applications and the St Enoder NDP
I will report more on other recent planning applications, which would not be policy compliant with the St Enoder NDP, following the meeting of the Central Planning Committee on 22nd July.
13.4 – Proposed storage containers near Summercourt School [PA24/04609]
An application for the continued stationing of two containers and proposed stationing of eighteen containers for self-storage purposes on land to the immediate east of Summercourt School was refused by Cornwall Council on 6th September 2024.
The applicant appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate, who have just dismissed the appeal. The ruling included the following comments:
“The scale of the proposal would not be appropriate for its location, as it would exceed local need, so would encourage wide-ranging trips by private vehicle. Furthermore, there is no overriding locational or business need for the use to be located in the countryside. Consequently, the proposal would be contrary to Policies 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the Local Plan, Employment Policy 4 of the Neighbourhood Plan, and Policies AG1 and T1 of the CEDPD.”
“I conclude that the development would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area. The proposal would, therefore, be contrary to Policies 2 and 23 of the Local Plan; Employment Policy 4 and Landscape Policies 1 and 2 of the Neighbourhood Plan; and Policy C1 of the CEPD. Taken together, these policies seek, amongst other things, to ensure that development respects the character of the landscape and the setting of the locality.”
14. Highway matters
14.1 – Penhale to St Columb Road feasibility study
As previously reported, a feasibility study was carried out at my request on the road between Penhale and the Halloon Roundabout. Two local interventions have been worked up and I can confirm that there will be 21-day consultations on the proposals during September.
These are:
- A safety build-out and associated parking bay at Ridgewell Terrace, Fraddon.
- Modifications to the roundabout and the alignment of approach roads at the bottom of Fraddon Hill.
14.3 – Crossroads at St Columb Road
As reported last month, Cornwall Council is exploring some potential improvements on the St Columb Road crossroads and the approach to St Columb Road railway station. This is linked to the Mid Cornwall Metro project, but I have had no further feedback since a meeting on 17th July.
14.4 – Other matters
In the most recent meeting with the local Cormac manager, I again raised a number of ongoing concerns. These included concerns with speeding and the poor quality of sections of local roads and the need to repaint various sections of lining. It was confirmed that a number of bus parking bays in the more congested parts of the Parish will soon be refreshed.
Some requested works have already been done. This includes the repainting of the KEEP CLEAR markings at the junction of the A3058 with Carnego Lane in Summercourt and some pot hole repairs.
15.0- Streetlighting
I have previously reported about the number of representations I have had around the decision to switch off streetlights across St Enoder Parish [between midnight and 5.00]. My concerns to the previous administration were not acted upon and I have since discussed the matter with the new portfolio-holder for transport, Cllr Dan Rogerson.
As of now, there has been no change as to how the project goes forward. I am continuing to seek that representations are addressed.
16. Small play areas and green spaces
The transfer of the play areas from Cornwall Council to St Enoder Parish Council is ongoing. The last relevant meeting at the unitary authority in relation to this was the Asset Management Group, which confirmed support for the transfer. I attended the meeting.
I can also confirm that the Parish Clerk and I have secured a grant of over £6,000 to cover the Parish Council’s legal costs during this process.
17. Community activities
I continue to attend meetings of the Fraddon Village Hall Committee on behalf of the Parish Council and recently joined with the other committee members to repaint the Green Room. I am also assisting Indian Queens Band with plans for 2026, when the Band will celebrate its 170th anniversary.
It was also good to see so many people attending the annual Johnny Cowling concert at Indian Queens Pit, where I am vice-chairman.
18. VJ Day: 80 years on
August marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It is good that many communities have marked this anniversary and I was pleased help with an event at the Indian Queens Victory Hall on Sunday 17th August. The committee put on a Cornish tea and I did an illustrated talk about the 17 local servicemen and the one local woman who lost their lives in the conflict.
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
19. Advice
In addition, I have assisted numerous households and individuals with guidance and advice on a range of topics.