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Reaction: Councillors get their say

Thursday, 09 June 2011 12:43

Reaction: Councillors get their say

From the Cornishman Thursday, June 09, 2011

FIVE days after last Wednesday's public meeting, members of the emerging interim steering group made a presentation to Penzance town council outlining their ideas.

Regeneration consultant Tony Woodhams and Hadrian Piggott, from the Penzance Business Network, were the main speakers, once again explaining how a trust could work, how the town council would necessarily play a key role and the opportunities offered by the forthcoming Localism Bill.

The idea was welcomed by some councillors, including Fiona Thomas-Lambourn.

She said: "Anything that pushes this town forward and improves Penzance for residents and visitors is a good thing," she said.

And John Moreland said he supported the initiative "wholeheartedly", adding: "It is long overdue and will bring the community back together."

But Mike Lovegrove did not believe that the Penzance Business Network (PBN) was the organisation to carry the trust forward. "The PBN is seen as a political pressure group," he said. "We need to start afresh – there is still so much ill will left over from the harbour situation."

Mr Woodhams assured Mr Lovegrove that the trust was a completely new entity.

"There is no Plan A, no Plan Z and nothing in between," he said. "We already have consensus from nearly 30 different groups. There is a clean sheet of paper and it just needs some goodwill."

Mr Piggott said the next step for the steering group was to consult with seafront and harbourside businesses and then to hold further public meetings.

Also attending were Dick Cliffe and Steven Richford, from the town's Chamber of Commerce, Arnaud Ruetsch, from the Penzance & District Tourist Association, Simon Chapman (Penzance Harbour Users Association and Penzance Sailing Club, Wo King (Morna Ltd Online Community Management) and Paul Newport and Jane Howells from the Penzance Business Network.

Mr Cliffe, the Chamber's vice-chairman, said the Chamber had written to the Cornwall Community Foundation in support of the PBN's application for a £1,000 grant to help toward the cost of setting up a trust.

He said the idea of a trust to try to heal the rift of the Scillies ferry link project.

Introductory speech to the first exploratory Meeting for the Penzance Seafront development trust initiative.

Thursday, 02 June 2011 11:04

1^st June 2011

Hadrian Pigott

The word ‘seafront’ doesn’t really do justice to the variety of ways that Penzance meets the sea - The Harbour and its granite piers, the Battery Rocks and beach, the Jubilee Pool, and the Promenade. You can range around these places in your minds eye, and each is distinct and delightful in its own way, and each is connected with the other. And in the back row we have the Dry Dock, Trinity House, the Pz Gallery/Coinagehall/St Anthony’s Chapel site, and St Anthony’s Gardens.

Penzance is a wonderful town, and what makes it so special is its varied and dynamic ‘front with the sea’. The sea front is one of our greatest assets. But it is also one of the town’s greatest challenges and will continue to be so for many years, as it comes under increasing pressure from regeneration development, conservation requirements and from the need to enhance our sea defences in the face of global warming and sea level rise.

This is why we are here tonight, to begin the process of responding to those challenges in an open, imaginative and intelligent way. And more that this, we are here to explore the idea of enabling ourselves to respond collectively and cohesively, and wherever possible with one community voice.

It is clear that without a strong and reasoned collective voice, the views and ambitions of the community will not be heard. If the town continues to fight amongst itself, like a bunch of marooned pirates on a desert island fighting over treasure, it is clear that greater forces on the outside will decide our fate for us, and we can be sure that those decisions will frequently cause outrage and uproar, and lead ultimately to disappointment and a diminished town.

It doesn’t have to be like this however. Communities can and do work together to define an in-depth and far-sighted vision of what they want their town and environment to be.

The seafront community trust initiative is a step towards creating that vision.

A development trust is a well-tested and successful model for community empowerment and regeneration. They are inclusive, independent, community owned and managed organisations. They must be ultimately self-financing and profitable, but profits are re-invested back into the community. They work using partnerships and alliances between the community and the voluntary, private and public sectors, and are specifically engaged in the economic, environmental and social regeneration of a defined geographical area. Development trusts create wealth in communities – and keep it there!

A Penzance Seafront development trust would be a local champion and caretaker for the seafront and would actively seek out and co-ordinate both public and private investment in the area.

Part of the trusts activity would be a community-led centre for planning and best practice in respect of future developments. Such a planning forum would provide a more cohesive community voice on planning and urban design issues in the complex but contained area of the seafront, with reference to the AECOM Area Framework Plan and beyond. This is not an automatic 'say no' initiative by any means. The aim is to explore options and educate ourselves, and to draw rational and reasoned conclusions which can be communicated to Cornwall Council and/or the private sector to facilitate change and regeneration.

However, as Peter Jones of Locality explains “Those groups that have setup a forum style organisation to undertake community planning and information have quite quickly fizzled out or become nothing more than a talking shop or a lobby group, and not a development trust.” A planning forum alone is not sustainable. “ Community led planning needs to dovetail with community enterprise and where this has been most successful this has been underpinned by the community ownership [and management] of assets ”

Most of the sites and structures that make up the seafront area are public assets held by Cornwall Council. “So, community ownership of what assets?” I hear you ask. This is a key question, but one to which there is no direct answer this evening. Finding the answer would be part of the work of the steering committee of the emerging trust, as it defined its vision of how it would work in and for the community. The answer is dependent on the ambitions of the trust, but also on the trust’s ability to bring the business and social community with it, and its ability to work alongside the Town Council and Cornwall Council to make it happen.

Here’s Peter Jones again: “The new Localism Bill will make it easier for communities to request the right to run services and take on assets if they think they can do it better. Locality can help you through […] our Asset Transfer Unit. If you are seriously interested in [an] asset in the area, and can develop an outline business case we would be willing to try and facilitate discussions with Cornwall Council as part of the Assets work that we are currently undertaking with them at the moment”

There are inspiring examples where this approach has worked for other communities, including the successful if modest Amble Harbour in Northumberland.

More recently there is the ambitious proposal from the Dover Peoples Port Trust, set up as a community sponsored charitable Industrial and Provident Society in response to the Prime Minister's Big Society challenge to local communities to take over and run public services, local assets and businesses.

Consistent with these Big Society objectives, the Trust has made a credible and competitive offer for the Port of Dover, such that Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has called a halt to the Dover Harbour Board’s plans to privatise the port and sell it to overseas investors.

‘The [Peoples Port] Trust recognises that the Port of Dover is an asset of national importance and fundamental to the trade and transport links of the United Kingdom. However, the Trust also intends to operate the Port in the interests of the stakeholders, namely the people and community of Dover, local authorities, local business, port users and port employees.’

Closer to home, our own Town Council is also exploring asset transfer as a possible means to safeguard the future of the town, and we will hear more about this shortly from Jan Ruhrmund. If this seafront trust initiative progresses, then very close cooperation with the Town Council will be essential. And in fact, the interim steering group that might come together out of this evening’s meeting is invited to present its early ideas to a full session of the Town Council on the 6^th June.

Imagine representatives from all the organisations in this room standing before the Town Council saying “We want change to be driven by the community and are prepared to work with you to make this happen!” Things are moving fast, and the community shouldn’t get left behind…

The aim of this exploratory meeting is to form an interim steering group to advance the Penzance Seafront trust initiative.

There are two challenges for that interim steering group:

1) The first is to bring together a formal steering committee to define the scope of what the Penzance Seafront community trust might achieve in the medium and long term, and begin the process of setting up the organisation to do it. This will involve defining the vision of the trust, drawing up a constitution and business plan for any assets and activities, securing funding and building membership etc.

2) The second challenge is to create a focused working group to immediately set up an effective Penzance Seafront Planning Forum as outlined above. It would become a key part of community trust once constituted. This part of the project should run parallel with the set-up of the trust, but it needs to be fast-tracked, because there are planning proposals and decisions being made right now that will permanently affect the town and its physical, social and economic environment. At the moment, the community is unprepared for what is coming.

In a sense the emerging development trust will have to run before it can walk. But if it has the formal support and participation of the majority of organisations in this room, and of the wider community, it will have weight and power even before it is finally constituted, and its voice will be heard.

The hoped-for outcome of this meeting is that enough people will come forward to contribute time, skills, imagination and resources to form an interim steering group for the development trust. There will be a lot to do, but it’s not all drudgery; it’s an opportunity to learn about ourselves, about our history, an opportunity to understand our collective and complex present and to help create a bright and resilient future for Penzance.

Hadrian Pigott.

Devon and Cornwall Police 'give up' on one in three crimes

Tuesday, 31 May 2011 19:59

Devon and Cornwall Police failed to investigate more than 30,000 crimes last year – more than one in three of all offences – after ruling that there was little chance of catching those responsible.

Crimes disregarded by the force included more than 10,000 incidents of criminal damage, more than 3,000 thefts from vehicles, more than 1,000 assaults, and hundreds of sexual offences.

It meant that of 87,095 crimes recorded last year, 30,511 – or 35 per cent – were marked "not for further investigation" after an initial assessment.

One Westcountry MP said it was a concern that such an "exceedingly large number of crimes are consigned to oblivion at a stage where no investigation has been conducted at all".

Figures released by the force under the Freedom of Information Act showed that the number of offences "screened out" had risen by 12 per cent since 2008. Police were least likely to investigate "vehicle interference", where 282 offences (63.9 per cent) were committed but not investigated.

That was followed by "theft from vehicle" with 3,244 offences (60.2 per cent), "other theft" with 7,868 (57.3 per cent) and criminal damage with 10,791 (56.4 per cent).

But the table also showed that 1,685 drug offences (32.7 per cent) went without inquiry as did 362 sexual offences (21.4 per cent) and 1,824 (28.6 per cent) incidents of shoplifting.

Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox conceded that there were times when trying to investigate certain crimes would be a "wild goose chase". But he said there was "a victim behind every figure", and raised particular concerns over the rate of the sex offences that had been ignored.

"It is a clearly common complaint from time to time from constituents that the police tell them there is no practical point in any investigation," the Conservative MP said.

"It always leaves people with a sense of helplessness and frustration, and doesn't do the reputation of the police or the criminal justice system as a whole any good.

"I hope the police are scrutinising these cases to ensure that they are being properly categorised, because there is nothing more frustrating for a member of the public to be told that the police aren't even bothering to investigate their complaint."

Mr Cox said there had to be "very rigorous criteria and sufficient quality control" to ensure that crimes were not being wrongly dismissed.

"It does beg the question whether in borderline cases, particularly at a time of financial constraint, the police are devoting the necessary time and effort to assess whether there could be a favourable outcome," he said.

A force spokesman said an improvement in "recording and processes" explained the 12 per cent rise in offences being disregarded between 2008 and 2010. He said the figure was expected to rise again in 2011 as further improvements were made.

In its Freedom of Information Act response, the force said "investigation of a reported crime starts immediately within our call handling centre.

"Those crimes, where there is viable potential for a positive outcome will be allocated for further investigation.

"Where there is little potential for such an outcome, victims will be informed at the earliest opportunity and offered crime prevention advice and the services of Victim Support.

"However, this is not to indicate that there will be no subsequent investigation if further information comes available. Similarly, as part of our crime pattern analysis we include all crimes to identify crime patterns and series. This research can lead to identification of offenders.

"Assessments of crimes for further investigation are conducted by a trained member of staff who looks at each crime to ensure that all investigative opportunities have been explored and whether further investigation is required."

The force said it continually reviewed its investigation processes to ensure that it met the needs of the public.

"Effective crime assessment is essential as it allows us to prioritise our resources to ensure we deliver the best possible service to the victims of crime," it said.

Cornwall will be one of the top five "most connected" places in the world

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 22:26

Both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are to see their broadband connections transformed as a result of a new BT initiative and will be amongst the top five most connected places in the world.

This work, is to be completed by 2014, but the first customers are expected to be connected as early as next year (2011). It will be a big boost for Cornwall and the Penzance area in particular.
PZBN welcomes this development, supported by European funding, and encourages local businesses to start to reflect on how they could take advantage of this dramatically improved service.

Some of the claims for job creation and protection do seem ambitious. Clams have been made that the £132m project will create 4,000 new jobs, and safeguard another 2,000 and PZBN would like to see the evidence for those claims. Nevertheless PZBN expects this development to have a very positive impact on local employment and business opportunities.

PZBN member Martin Nixon, managing director of a brand and web development agency based in Hayle welcomed the move and said that as well as improving download and upload speeds the project would create a "buzz" in the county

Although the speeds available will be limited by distance from the exchange it is likely that half of the internet users in Cornwall and the IOS will have access to the highest speed of 100Mbps (megabits per second). However, the fibres will not reach the most remote areas in Cornwall and they will have to rely on a mix of alternative technologies such as "advanced copper", wireless and satellite broadband to achieve higher speeds.

Ian Livingston, Chief Executive of BT, has been quoted as saying: “This is a very significant project that once again positions Cornwall as a broadband leader. It will make the county one of the best connected areas in the world." BT is funding £78.5m and there will be up to £53.5m from the European Regional Development Fund.

Leader of Cornwall Council, Alec Robertson, has claimed it as a "landmark" moment: "The introduction of next generation super-fast broadband has the potential to transform the local economy over the next 20 years," he has been quoted as saying.

Robertson said access to "world-class communications" would increase the competitiveness of firms already in Cornwall and attract new ones.

According to the communications regulator Ofcom, the average residential download speed in the UK was 5.2Mbps in May 2010 – although speeds tend to be even lower in rural areas.

BT and the council say the network will be available on an open wholesale basis to all communications providers. So you will not need to be a BT customer to benefit.

Newlyn’s Fishermen’s mission set to close

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 22:04

Newlyn Fishermen’s mission is set to close in the next few years in a cost cutting move and in response to a changing pattern of use and demand.

The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen is a UK nationwide Christian charity that has provided comfort and support for those who go to sea and their families. ”

Over the last 10 years the size of the UK fishing fleet has reduced significantly and this and other factors have made an impact on the usage of the Fishermen’s Mission centres in the major ports.

The missions provided shore accommodation and subsidised catering provision as well as pastoral care, all of which is now less in demand. In addition there had been a sharp downturn in income and donations.

The fishing industry is one of the most dangerous in the UK and the charity has said it will continue to provide a comprehensive support service following accidents, for the bereaved and injured, and delivering comprehensive welfare assistance where needed.

“We’re no. 2 so we’re trying harder”, says Penzance.

Monday, 26 July 2010 20:54

Latest measurements show that Penzance is Cornwall’s number 2 shopping destination. “Yes we’re smaller than Truro, but we’re bigger than all other Cornish towns. So we’re working harder to give our shoppers a great experience,” says Penzance Business Network chairman Paul Newport.

“We’ve got a higher proportion of independent specialist shops than Truro and brilliant cafes and restaurants. Some businesses have traded in Penzance for 100 years, many others are new and energised by the opportunities here. Apart from some of the usual high street names you’ll find plenty of owner managed specialist shops, such as great books shops, butchers, greengrocers, hardware stores, specialist coffee suppliers, lampshade makers, craft suppliers, a variety of furniture stores, carpet retailers, office supplies, camping and hiking, antique and collectible stores, music suppliers, printing services, ice cream varieties, locksmith, period clothing, ladies and gents clothing plus so many more. “