I present regular written reports to both St Dennis Parish Council and St Enoder Parish Council. The report for December 2025 and January 2026 is as follows:
1.0 Council and other meetings
Physical Cornwall Council meetings during the last two months included Full Council (two); Cabinet; Cornwall Growth Board; Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee (two); Corporate, Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee, associated task and finish “Customer Philosophy: Face to Face Customer Services” workshops (three) and a workshop on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategies and reporting; Constitution and Governance Committee and associated pre-agenda meetings and briefings (three); Fifth Nation Working Group and associated pre-agenda session; Local Plan Members’ Working Group; Local Plan consultation event; Peer Review meetings (two); planning training on appeals; and the China Clay Area and Luxulyan Community Area Partnership.
Other physical meetings included St Dennis Parish Council (two); St Enoder Parish Council (three); St Dennis and Nanpean Community Trust (incinerator fund) (two); Cornish Lithium’s Trelavour Liaison Group (two); Indian Queens Band (three) and Fraddon Village Hall (three).
Meetings via video-conferencing meanwhile included an informal meeting of the Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Group Leaders meetings (two); briefings on the Council’s budget for 2026-2027 (two); and meetings of Cornwall Councillors from the Clay Area CAP (two).
2.0 Impact of recent weather
The recent weather has been very difficult with a number of named storms and extremely high rainfall levels. Many trees have come down and there has been a lot of flooding, which has caused considerable damage to various sections of roads. I have been liaising closely with the local Cormac manager about a range of issues that I and others have identified.
One example is a large tree within the churchyard in St Enoder, which has pushed out the granite wall. The tree is being assessed by Cormac and the road is presently closed. And at Killiworgie, the road has been flooded on a number of occasions because a neighbouring landowner has placed features within the nearby watercourse.
3.0 Budget
I have attended a number of sessions relating to Cornwall Council’s budget for 2026-2027. The settlement from central government is worse than anticipated and budget-setting is proving to be very difficult.
The budget will be agreed by Full Council on 24th February, and I will report in more detail in my next monthly report.
4.0 Cornwall Local Plan
Cornwall Council will soon be starting work on a new Local Plan for Cornwall. Following representations from me, a new working group, to advise the ruling Cabinet, has been set up. I am pleased to be a member of this new panel and I intend to use the opportunity to continue to make detailed representations on behalf of the communities of the China Clay Area.
Consultation events have been taking place across Cornwall and I attended a recent one at Brannel School in St Stephen Parish on 21st January.
5.0 Cornish language and devolution
As an active member of Mebyon Kernow and the chair of Cornwall Council’s Fifth Nation Working Group, I continue to be involved in numerous campaigns for Cornwall.
I am pleased to report that protection for the Cornish language has been increased, with Cornish now covered by Part III of the Charter for Regional or Minority languages and the UK Government has also stepped back from the imposition of a Devonwall Mayoral Strategic Authority.
It remains to be seen to what extent the UK Government will allow people in Cornwall to take more decisions for Cornwall.
6.0 “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
7.0 Trerice Solar Farm
The planning application for a 32MW solar farm in the Trerice part of St Dennis Parish was refused by councillors at a meeting of the unitary authority’s Planning Committee on 10th July. Local residents may recall that the Parish Council and I raised concerns at that meeting about the increased industrialisation of St Dennis Parish.
The reason for refusal was:
“The proposed development, by reason of installing this renewable energy scheme onto these undeveloped fields in a countryside location alongside other existing industrial development, such as the nearby waste to energy plant and mining operations, would result in significant harm to the distinctive character of the site and the wider surrounding area. The application is, therefore, contrary to the aims and intensions of policies 2, 12 and 23 of the Cornwall Local Plan Strategic Policies 2010-2030; Policy RE1 of the Cornwall Council Climate Emergency Development Plan Document; and paragraph 187 of the National Planning Policy Framework.”
I can confirm that the applicants have lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. The applicants have submitted over one hundred documents, and other parties (including the general public) have until 12th February to submit evidence to the Inspectorate.
A hearing is due to be held on 24th March. I will soon be liaising with the Parish Council about making further representations on this planning proposal.
8.0 Wellington Road car park – no change!
Cornwall Council has been consulting on a proposal to start charging for parking in some car parks that have previously been free. I was surprised to see the car park off Wellington Road listed in the consultation. I had not been informed about this and I immediately made representations to the Strategic Planning Manager.
It turns out that the car park was placed on a “long list” to be considered for the introduction of charges, but it was not taken forward as the site was considered inappropriate for this. Unfortunately, the car park was accidently left on the list shown in the consultation.
I can reassure everyone that I have had it confirmed from senior officers and councillors on the authority that there are no plans to introduce charges for parking in St Dennis.
9.0 Sign project
I am still working up the project to commission “Welcome to St Dennis Parish” signs and nameplates for the settlements of Enniscaven, Gothers and Trerice. I had a meeting with Cormac about this and I am awaiting a quote for the works, which can be used as the basis of a grant application to the St Dennis and Nanpean Community Trust (incinerator fund).
10.0 Hall Road Play Area
I am pleased that the transfer of the ownership of the Hall Road play areas from Cornwall Council to St Dennis Parish Council has been completed. I am looking forward to working with the Parish Council to make improvements to the area.
11.0 Cornish Lithium
I continue to attend the Trelavour Community Liaison Group meetings organised by Cornish Lithium, but I am getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of meaningful engagement at these meetings. I seem to leave each gathering having learnt nothing new and yet the next consultation will be taking place within a matter of weeks.
I am also speaking to people at Cornwall Council and elsewhere about what I can do to ensure that people’s views about the proposal are properly taken account of.
ST ENODER PARISH
12.0 Tregonning solar farm
I have just received an email from a representative of European Energy UK, which has stated that they will be developing the consented solar farm at Tregonning Farm. They have confirmed that the “project is due to begin in early spring, although construction dates are not yet confirmed.”
The actual solar farm is in Newlyn East Parish, but the cabling will extend to the Indian Queens Power Station. This will be partly along roads through Fraddon and Indian Queens.
I will update further when I have more information.
13.0 The Kelliers
I am pleased that St Enoder Parish Council is working up plans to enhance the area known as The Kelliers, to the rear of the old Indian Queens School. Cllrs Charlotte Cowburn, Emily Johns and I visited the site on 12th January, and we are working up a series of recommendations.
14.0 Transfer of play areas / green spaces to St Enoder Parish Council
The transfer of the play areas / green spaces [Hanover Parc, Kingsley Court, Lindsay Fields, Penhale Gardens and St James View] from Cornwall Council to St Enoder Parish Council is ongoing. Cormac have been undertaking some tidy-up works and I am optimistic that the transfer will take place in the near future.
15.0 Indian Queens Band
I have also been helping Indian Queens Band with the preparation of a grant application to support the Band’s 170th anniversary celebrations, which is planned to include a large “banding” event at Queens Pit on 17th May.
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
16.0 Advice
In addition, I have assisted numerous households and individuals with guidance and advice on a range of topics.