Meeting - November 2010

Notes of the meeting of 10 November 2010. Any corrections or amendments to the chairman please.

Accommodation Strategy for Tremough and Wood Lane Students
Lucy Black, Campus Services Director of Tremough and Rupert Wyard of Campus Development Management, joined the meeting to explain the general strategy for future student accommodation in support of Tremough and wood Lane students.

It is very difficult to estimate the likely accommodation needs, especially given the recently announced changes in government policy, however estimates had to be made and the current prediction was that the number of students requiring housing would increase from around 4600 to around 5300 in 2015/16. Tremough already had 1637 units available and there were another 500 or so in the pipeline. This allowed them to predict that:

• There should be no further call on the private rented sector
• There was a shortfall, over the period of around 300 units but, with developers keen to invest, they were confident that the additional capacity would be available with the five year period

Additional units would ideally be:

• Within walking distance of the town centres
• Of greater than 50 unit capacity
• Fully serviced/managed
• Provided by the private sector with support from Tremough

It was agreed that there remained a problem at the ‘bottom end’ of the rented sector with some landlords providing a less-than adequate quality of accommodation which brought student housing in general into disrepute.

The strategic approach was welcomed by the Forum. The uncertainties made things difficult and this was a topic on which the Forum would like to be kept up to date. The proposals are now being taken to the Falmouth and Penryn Regeneration Group, and the two Town Councils.

Strategic Investment Framework (and Convergence)

A meeting was planned for 18 November when Cornwall Development Company would be reporting on its recent re-assessment of all the bids. Rumour had it that Falmouth projects were in line to receive a significant share of the money.

Port of Falmouth Masterplan

Negotiations are taking place between the various partners in the Docks. These are believed to be positive and it is hoped that the final document will be published before the end of the year.

A further request for some dredging had been made and an answer is expected shortly.

Abolition of SWRDA and creation of the Cornwall and IoS Local Economic Partnership (LEP)

Cornwall and IoS had been granted a LEP. This is being led by the Economic Forum who have appointed Peter Hardaker as interim chairman charged with creating the organisation. The LEP will be eligible to apply to the Regional Growth Fund for money to support projects.

The position over SWRDA’s assets after its abolition in 2012 is not yet clear. There are a number within Falmouth and it is important that these remain available in future.

Connecting Cornwall 2030 – Local Transport Plan consultation

The Forum had submitted a response to this strategy document, making a number of practical points eg about the unlikelihood of cycling and walking being practical alternatives to cars in future and the poor quality and lack of availability of public transport. The Town Council had endorsed the submission. 

The next step will be a consultation on the 3 year implementation plan which is due to start shortly. The Forum would contribute thoughts on this.

Church Street Car Park

The Transport Department had been carrying out a public research study. Preliminary indications were that, if Church Street Car Park were to be closed, a high proportion of people would move to other car parks or find off-street parking. A minority would switch to public transport, cycling and/or walking and shopping in another town. The full results were expected soon. 

The car park is contaminated. Cornwall Council is doing a study on options and costs for its repair. It might turn out to be a good thing for the community if the space is unsuitable for building work as the natural alternative was public open space.

The bollard

The Transport Department were also keen to extend use of the bollard to 24 hours as the Traffic Order was due to run out shortly. The Forum felt strongly that anything that reduced traffic flows in the main street was a good thing, however a proper consultation exercise with local traders was needed before any change of regime, especially pertaining to the bollard, and that adequate arrangements should be in place for signage and management of rat-running through Church Street Car Park in advance of any change.

Falmouth Oyster/Mussel Card

The pilot scheme for the Falmouth Oyster Card had produced interesting and useful results, showing that there was merit in the scheme which had the potential to enhance usage of public transport. The card was of particular appeal to visitors to the area. A fuller scheme is planned for the future, entitled the Mussel card (which offered scope for plenty of puns). 

Future of the Falmouth Tourist Information Centre (TIC)

Discussion is still continuing on other solutions for the TIC and a meeting was being held by the Town Council on 29 November. There was a general reluctance by the private sector to pay for the TIC through a levy and questions were raised about the viability and nature of the service which appeared old-fashioned in style.

350th Anniversary of the Falmouth Charter

Robin Dunseath of Falmouth Rotary is coordinating work on a programme to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Falmouth Charter. The Forum endorsed this activity as a good thing and worthy of support. Ideas included:

• A Charter Celebration lunch organised by Falmouth Rotary Club
• An exhibition/talk about “Falmouths around the World”
• A presentation of a Falmouth Sword of Honour
• An “unsung hero” award
• A competition to bake the official birthday cake
• A presentation of town memories and history in general
• A “Big Sing” night
• A photographic competition
• A Fringe Luncheon
• And any ideas you could contirbute to robindunseath@hotmail.com

Community Plan (Lite)
The easy-to-read version of the Community Plan is at design stage and should be available before Christmas.

Cornwall Council and CCTV
Cornwall Council is seeking to harmonise the CCTV provision around the county. This had an impact on the contribution being sought from Falmouth Town Council and could lead to a reduction in levels of service.

Cornwall Council budget
Cornwall Council is facing a severe budget reduction. Cuts would need to be made immediately and over the next four years. Some £90m had already been saved by efficiencies although a further 7-800 staff redundancies were anticipated.

BID update
The BID is really getting into its stride. Highlights include:

• The new website at http://www.falmouth.co.uk/
• The Falmouth BID Twitter page at http://twitter.com/FalmouthBID
• The appointment of Excess Energy to manage press cobverage, which they are doing rather well
• Painting of the 60m hoarding at Ponsharden
• Visuals installed in third vacant unit: the former Threshers site
• Fal Week – BID support realised a visitor and business event survey, new family activities on The Moor, the commissioning of a Fal Week video, new late night Moor activities
• Support for events and festivals such as Love Parks week (Kimberley Park in August); Oyster Festival (Discovery Quay in October); Cornwall Film Festival (Phoenix in November)

Key next steps:

• Promotion of the website and social media sites using SEO and public relations
• Commissioning of new photography using Matt Jessop
• Creation of new Shopper Bag which shoudl be delivered before Christmas
• Work on a signage and interpretation project
• Public seating competition: schools are being given a brief for a competition starting in January to design new seating for the main street. Installation expected within this financial year
• Major Christmas campaign working with Town Manager
• Commissioning new promotional literature that will incorporate: 10 street banners, advertising on bus shelters, A4 posters for trade promotion, A5 flyersand e-guide to Falmouth Christmas for website
• Support for a new Spring Gardens Festival in conjunction with Event Cornwall. A working group has been established for a festival 25 March – 3 April 2011

Forum funds
The Forum had some £3k in its bank account which was not doing anything useful as meeting costs were nil. Suggestions were invited as to how this money, much of which was originally collected for signage in the town, might be spent. Current suggestions included a piece of equipment, support for an event, a sculpture or something to mark the Charter anniversary.

Local Development Framework (Late entry)
The Local Development Framework is a statutory requirement. It identifies areas for potential expansion of the towns against a range of factors. Cornwall Council is currently carrying out the study work for this and is in discussion with the Falmouth and Penryn Mayors’ Regeneration Group. The results of the work would be available for consultation in the new year.

Those attending the meeting:
Lucy Black - Tremough
Rupert Wyard - Campus Development Management
Mike Reynolds - A& P Docks
Sally Stiles - Age Concern
Dick Stiles - Civic Society
Mike Varney - Cornwall Council
Paul Wickes - Cornwall Marine Network
David Pollard - Falmouth Ambassadors
Nigel Carpenter - Falmouth BID
Richard Wilcox - Falmouth BID
Jeremy Edwards - Falmouth Chamber of Commerce
Pam Faulkner – Falmouth and District Hotels Association
John Langan - Falmouth Harbour Commissioners
David Stedman - Falmouth Marine School
Oliver Cramp – Falmouth Town Council
Mark Williams - Falmouth Town Council
Neil Tinson - Falmouth and Penryn Churches Together
Jonathan Griffin – National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Christopher Smith - RIBA
Nigel Druce - Rotary
Lorely Lloyd - Transition Falmouth
John Bottomley - Transport Working Group
Jilly Easterby – UCF