Meeting - March 2014

Fal Cycling Campaign 
Tim Bunhill had recently set up the Fal Cycling Campaign with three broad objectives:

• To promote cycling in Falmouth and Penryn
• To speak up for people who want to cycle
• To persuade local government to do more

The Campaign had started because there is no single stakeholder and no clearing house for ideas and problem solving. Every mile cycled is a saving in public sector and environmental cost while every mile driven is a real cost. The group numbers about 250 people and includes people who would like to use a bike as well as those that do.

There are many reasons for not cycling ranging from safety to storage. Although there are some cycle lanes around the towns there are rather piecemeal and all disappear at junctions (a typical UK habit). A lack of road sweeping and potholes also made cycling dangerous.

There is more at www.falcc.org

The Connecting Cornwall Strategy had propose turning the two towns into cycling demonstration towns. The Forum and its friends had done a considerable amount of work on the ideas but there had been silence in return. Some revised proposals were expected at the end of March. The Forum would make common cause with the Campaign on a response to any proposals.

Winter storm damage
Cornwall Council seems keen to get engaged in helping to facilitate repair of storm damage and it was hoped that they would take a pragmatic view on the necessary planning permissions.

The Castle Beach Cafe had been the most hard-hit in Falmouth. Work is starting shortly and it could be back within three months but it would be helpful if Cornwall Council repaired the sea front itself on the same timescale.

It is understood that money is available to help people reduce the chance of flooding but no one had yet tracked down how to access this. The Federation of Small Businesses has a helpline which may be useful.

The Local Plan
The 'Core Strategy' for the county is going out to consultation very shortly. It will propose a target of 47,000 new houses in the planning period; anything lower would not be credible. The Local Development Framework had been relegated to a 'supporting document' within this Plan.

CC had recently agreed in principle that Falmouth could apply for an Article 4 direction limiting the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) within defined areas of the town. Despite reporting in some newspapers, this proposal was not anti-student, but was aimed at achieving a sustainable and integrated mix of communities in the town. There would also be a cost to both Cornwall Council and Falmouth Town Council.

This would require a Neighbourhood Plan and extensive consultation before it could be introduced. The Plan would be based on the work of the Community Plan for Falmouth and Penryn which was still being held up as a good example to others. Every house in the Article 4 area would need to be consulted and there would be a referendum in perhaps a year's time.

Penryn is also looking at the possibility of a Neighbourhood Plan.

Falmouth Town Council budget: the greatly increased precept had been agreed by FTC and had not raised any major protests from rate-payers. It was believed that rate-payers understood the link between the increase and the provision of additional services.

There were still worries about future years. The Minister (Eric Pickles) had backed off capping the precept this year but was likely to do so in the future. If so, then this would have implications for a variety of pipeline projects. In particular, FTC would like to see all public services - One Stop Shop, Library and Town Management - delivered from the Moor area.

Falmouth Bay Nature Conservation
A consultation on restrictions within the bay to protect important bird breeding areas was under way (Black-throated divers, Great Northern divers and Slavonian Grebes). This is due to end in April.

FTC had discussed the issue and would be resisting anything that impacts the dredging of the port, the oyster fishing or the leisure use of the bay and the estuary. The Harbour Commissions had been in discussion with Natural England and have agreed a protocol on the way forward.

Natural England will be holding a public drop-in session at The Poly on Wednesday 19 March between 11am and 7pm. all were invited.

Shorts 
The recently launched bus service had been stopped as the figures simply did not add up; there were too many Seniors who paid a reduced rate. The shuttle bus is going to extend its route to try and provide a service although there were potential problems with some buses being too full at peak periods.

The town would be painted yellow on Thursday 13th as part of the Spring Festival.

A successful BID AGM had been held with plaudits for the team on the successful re-ballot. The outline plans for the coming period had been outlined.

Falmouth University had had agreement from RIBA that they could run an architectural course although RIBA was a little concerned at the distance from the proposed site in the High Street to the main campus at Penryn or Wood Lane.

Sainsbury's: the expansion plans are believed to be going ahead but were about two years off. Delays with the S106 Agreement and the early arrival of the Penzance store had put it back in their programme.

Tall Ships 2014: 41 ships had now booked in which is more than in the past. The ships would be moored on County and Duchy wharves which would be more accessible for the public, would be easier to use and would provide more opportunities for associated activities.

Pendennis Cup: this would take place on 26 - 28 May, complete with Red Arrows display.

Fal Energy Partnership would be holding their AGM at Penryn Town Hall at 19:00 on 24 April. The guests speaker would talk about the planning process: issues and opportunities.

Tres Hombres: an unusual wind-powered brigantine cargo ship would be in the Docks from 15 to 21 April. Several events would be happening at the Watersports Centre on the 16th, run by Fairtrade Falmouth and celebrating ethical and environmental trade and transport.  

Cornwall infrastructure: the FSB was doing a study on the connectedness of Cornwall wide infrastructure. This would include use of superfast broadband by businesses, availability of wifi at airports, ports and on buses.

Penryn Campus: the universities will shortly be announcing some new development projects and new figures on the economic impact of the campus.

Penryn and Falmouth Foodbank: this needs both volunteers and donations. The managers would be invited to do a presentation to a future meeting.

Membership

• Mike West was welcomed as representative of The Poly
• Neil Tinson was standing down as representative of Churches Together and would be replaced by Jennie Morgan. he was thanked for his contributions and invited to continue attending as a member of the public 

Attending the meeting which was held on the 12th were:
Tim Bunhill - guest speaker
Andy Coote (chairman) - Falmouth Business Club
Steve Gray - Vice Chairman
Candy Atherton - Cornwall Council
Caroline Robinson - Federation of Small Businesses
Chris Smith - Falmouth and Penryn Community Plan
David Yelland - Falmouth Bay Residents Association
Jeremy Edwards - Chamber of Commerce
Jilly Easterby - Falmouth Exeter Plus
Jonathan Griffin - National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Lorely Lloyd - Fal Energy Partnership and Transition Falmouth
Mark Williams - Falmouth Town Council
Mike Jenks - Civic Society
Mike Reynolds - A&P Docks
Mike West - The Poly
Neil Tinson - Churches Together
Sally Stiles - Age Concern Befrienders
Shaun Davie - Falmouth Hotels Association