.

Parish Tram Issue 32

2011-02-06T10:09:00.000Z

Parish Tram Issue 27

2010-03-22T17:00:00.011Z

files.me.com/cjswatts/jo3r16

Parish Tram Issue 26

2010-03-22T16:58:00.000Z

files.me.com/cjswatts/7x4fxp

2009-04-20T16:24:00.001Z

Issue 25 April-June 2009

Click image to download

This months Parish Tram as a PDF

2008-10-21T11:01:00.005Z

Issue 23 Oct-Dec 2008

Click image to download

parish tram issue 22

2008-09-06T21:45:00.001Z

TV Star made an impression
Ty Pennington the Hollywood film and TV Star made quite an impression on the Portreath community in May. The end result of a manic week is a play park the village can be proud of.
The week started on the 12th May when the TV Company, TwoFour Productions rolled into the village in a huge Winnebago, which was parked up at the Portreath Arms. TwoFour worked from the vehicle and also based their HQ at St Mary’s Church Hall. Work proper started on the 13th with the arrival of Ty Pennington who made a grand entrance into Sunnyvale Road Playground and was immediately surrounded by the very excitable village kids. He finished the tour of the playground on top of the old climbing frame still surrounded by kids and promised that with the help of the community he would transform our well used but often flooded and very tired park into a much better area.
That evening work began and from that day until the 21st the park became a hive of industry. As well as local contractors, there were volunteers from the local community and Kerrier District Council officers beavering away day and night.
The project came to an end on the afternoon of the 21st with the unveiling of the park. Ty Pennington cut the ribbon accompanied by Captain Gordon Greenslade and Connie Trewella. The park was given its own name, chosen by public suggestions, of Greenslade Park. This is a very old local name and Gordon and Connie Trewella nee: Greenslade were both very touched by the tribute to their family.
At the cutting of the ribbon the Park was flooded by the local community, all equipment was well tested and the planting admired. Overall impressions were extremely positive.
Those of us involved in the project over the last 18 months are delighted that a project that was probably going to take years to complete has been accomplished in very short order, to a higher specification than we could have possibly thought possible.
There were so many people involved it really is impossible to name everybody. I think suffice to say, all involved, in whatever capacity, can be very proud of the achievement they contributed to.The TV Company and Ty were very impressed with the community spirit in Portreath.
A BIG ThankYou to all involved.
A list of contributors has been supplied by the TV Company; I hope all involved are mentioned. I will also publish the list on the Parish Tram web site, so if you wish to be mentioned please email me and I will add your name.
Chris Watts

Contractors and Contributors
auger& hammer, alterain fork li􀅌
Alan Mills - Cedar Shingles
B&Q - Slabs of Granite
Brandon Tool Hire - Large building equipment & tool hire
Bur-Mar Skips - Large builder skips + waste disposal
Burncoose Nurseries – Plants
Ben Cantellow – Shingle Roof Structure
Cardon Plant Hire - Generator &flood lights
Cob in Cornwall - Cob Wall build
Cornish Fixings - Wood, fixings, oil and many other items.
Cornish Timber - Supply of Green oak seats
Cornwall Wood Treatment Services Ltd - Treated Timber
Ellerslee Ltd. Mike Burke – Picnic Table
CWT - Timber edging for wet pour
DHL - Delivery of Turf
DMT - Labour
English Willow - Willow
Goovean Quarry - 9 tonnes of granite, 38 tonnes of 803,
5 tonnes 20mm to dust, 7 tonnes of aggregate and haulage
Gwel-an-Mor – Produc􀆟on crew accommoda􀆟on
HSS - Generator for Ginsters
Illogan Womens Ins􀆟tutue – Party Food
James Eddy - Local ar􀆟st - Grass steps, mounds and willow
Jewsons - Stand pipe& water bowser
Kerrier District Council – Staff 􀆟me and equipment
Keyline - Drainage equipment
Li􀆩le Green Paint Co - Paint for mural, swings & fencing
Lizard Tractors - Shroma 204S, mini tractor with stone burrier and front loader
Contractors and Contributors
Mackerel bus designers - Park sign
Mark Harrod Ltd - Goal posts etc
Microcomms - Equipment
Mid Cornwall Landscaping - Ball Stop fence installa􀆟on
MMC - Sharp sand
Na􀆟onal Lo􀆩ery - Funding
Neil Hart - Sub soil, sand and top soil
Nicolas Rowell Haulage - Delivery of Red Clay
North West Turf - Stadium Turf
Portreath Bakery - Pas􀆟es
Portreath Garden Machinery - Equipment
Portreath Parish Council - Funding
Portreath Improvements Commi􀆩ee – Funding
Portreath Surf Life Saving Club -
Premier Signs South West - The zone sign
Proludic – Play equipment
Promenade Café – Tea and coffee for the whole week.
QMS - Line markings
Selwood - Skip loading mini dumper
Steve Kendall – Gate construc􀆟on and installa􀆟on
Snow Timber - Wood for gate
Su􀆩cliffePlay – Play equipment
The Stone Yard - 320 x Granite se􀆩s
Travis Perkins - Sand, aggregate, chippings and cement
TraxGroundworks - Works for drainage of five-a-side pitch
Trevenson Moor Garden Centre - Plants
Trewithen Nursery - Plants
West Frogwell Farm - Straw bales
Petition to allow Cornwall to have its own Centre of excellence for cancer surgery.
In November 2007 Cornwall county council approved the transfer of some cancer services out of Cornwall removing the choice from cancer patients to get treatment close to their homes families and friends.
This means that;
A. Upper gastro-intestinal cancer surgery
B. Head and neck (including ear, nose and throat, oral
and facial) cancer surgery
C. Complex gynaecological cancer surgery
Can be withdrawn and moved to Exeter or Plymouth.
A cancer centre should be provided in Cornwall not only in Devon.
Government and N. I. C. E. (National Institute for clinical excellence) guidance will allow this.
It is difficult enough dealing with cancer, without the stress of travelling 100 miles away to receive treatment. Please sign to keep cancer care in Cornwall.
We want a first-rate service in our county.
This petition is organised by “The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly cancer patient and carer group”
c/o Rose Woodward, The Bungalow, West Cliff, Porthtowan, TR4 8AE
The petition is available to sign in the Post Office until Friday 18th July
Keep cancer care in Cornwall
Oil Burners Unite
Many properties in Portreath use oil for central heating and hot water. With the oil prices spiralling as they are it makes sense to buy in bulk. I am forming a collective group to do this and the savings are worthwhile.
Based on a collective of 20 customers with a delivery of 500 litres each the savings would be 3.5p per litre, a saving of £17.50. More members more savings.
The only disadvantage would
be co-ordinating the fuel deliveries. All collective members
would have to take delivery in
the same week, so good communication and tank monitoring

Felicidades’: Portreath top Spanish school
IT’S a huge “felicidades” – that’s congratulations in English – to Portreath School who have just been named Spanish School of the Year.
The school was visited by two representatives of the Spanish consulate on Thursday, after being shortlisted as one of five for the title. The visit proved highly successful, with the school declared the winners.
Head teacher John Whetter was thrilled. He said: “We’re all very excited and very proud of the achievement. It’s a fantastic accolade. The two ladies who visited were really impressed with what they saw.
“We introduced Spanish into the curriculum a couple of years ago.
“All schools have to teach a modern foreign language by 2010 and we decided to start it early. The children love it.
“This year we’ve had several staff go to Malaga for training. Several staff have been to Spain on Spanish learning courses.”
As a result of the achievement, two of Portreath teachers will travel to the Spanish consulate for the presentation

Letters to the Editor

2007-10-10T20:57:00.001Z

How stupid does Mr Haslam of Gwel an Mor, think the people of Portreath are! You can buy some of the people but not all of the people.

How dare he in a recent article say he knew of no opposition to his proposed development?

He knows full well of the growing anger a lot of local people are feeling who are decidedly against his plans.'

Why is he being given so much free publicity in local papers? Is this another form of brainwashing?

Does he think we care so little about our village that we will let him ruin it with a plague of out of character chalets reminiscent of Butlins?

A noisy tower block dominating the hillside, and even more noise and light pollution from the ski slope, which I believe to be a red herring.

As we all know if you want 500 chalets apply for something ridiculous like a ski slope,
when it's turned down you end up with consent for 500 chalets which you would not normally be allowed to build,
locals think they have triumphed & Mr Haslam continues to scatter chalets
all over the farm land he is busy buying up, more people noise and light pollution.

The jobs he offers are not real employment, some workers will be kept on through the year but the majority will be laid off after 5 months
at the end of the season as Gwel an Mor has no more to offer than many any other places who struggle through off season months.

It is quite clear Mr Haslam does not care for our village or its people; if he did he would not put this proposed blight on us.

We are just another investment opportunity which when finished will be sold for many millions leaving us as always the poorer.

If you feel as passionately as I do about this CALL KERRIER PLANNING NOW. It's no good moaning later!

Pamella Christ

Dear Editor

The active PR machinery for the developer of Gwel an Mor, has meant that he has received a large amount of free advertising and publicity in the local media. Unfortunately, the worries of those people who have doubts about the proposals for the development of Feadon Farm have not been given equal attention by the media. Reading the PR publicity gives the impression that all is on course, and that every one thinks the planning proposals are wonderful. However, there have been so many doubts, objectors, reports called for on 'grey' areas, etc, that discussion of the plans at a Planning Meeting has been delayed until at least November, although the application went in to Kerrier in April.

The proposed development is outside the village 'envelope' – a reason previously used many times by local planning authorities to reject immediately any domestic applications to build. Why should Mr Haslem's project be treated differently?

If the building of these holiday lodges is allowed to go ahead then a precedent will be created that could open the floodgates for further holiday developments on local green field farmland. Too much development of this kind will mean that the peaceful, unspoilt countryside and beautiful rugged charm of Cornwall will be lost, cancelling out the reasons that holiday makers come here. Does the village community really want Portreath to become an exploited place of second homes and holiday development, all at prices too high for local people to afford?

In his own publicity the developer has described the village of Portreath as uncommercialised, historical and peaceful- yet he proposes to commercialise Feadon Farm with an all year round holiday attraction, unsympathetically sited within an area that has just been given World Heritage status. The historic Tram route, the Incline, Feadon Woods and Illogan Woods, will all be swallowed up inside his development, which is criss-crossed by public footpaths and bridleways that are popular with local people. There have not, as yet, been adequate archaeological surveys on the area covered by the development.

The high density of the existing lodge development can already be seen from the road approaching Portreath along North Cliffs, from Green Lane, Lighthouse Hill, Forth Vean, Belerian Road, and Treleigh. If the development goes ahead the number of lodges will be doubled to 120. An 'observation tower' the height of a four-story building is planned to go on the proposed conference centre. The development will have a visual impact on the village which the aerial views of the plans does not make clear. (This was the case with the present development- the plans we all saw did not mention that some lodges would be built on top of platforms to give them a sea view – which means that they overlook homes and invade privacy)

The developer's publicity plays down the impact of the extra traffic that will be generated by his holiday guests and daily users of the golf course, fishing lakes, ski slope, conference centre and equestrian centre. The surrounding roads are narrow, and the connections with the A30 imperfect. A report on the Kerrier planning web-site shows that Highways & Transport Officers have reservations. Portreath Parish Council has asked that more consideration is given to the safety and visibility of the entrance shown on the present plans, which also serves 19 private residential homes. Even the existing signs make it appear that these privately owned properties are part of Gwel an Mor.

Another report on the web-site raises questions about flies. The public footpath goes past the 'runs' for the pet hotel. The planned stables will be very close to the other planned facilities and the existing lodges. There will be a lot of manure from thirty horses! The developer has said that he plans to use the Tram and the Country Park to give riding lessons. (The Plans show less than the recommended amount of grazing per horse) The horses may also use Portreath beach. At the moment dog-owners are fined if they do not clean up dog mess. There are no rules for clearing horse mess.

The proposed ski slope will have a huge environmental footprint. Natural land will be covered with plastic, which will have water continually pumped around it to keep it damp. This will affect the natural drainage flow. There will be a chair lift and floodlighting. The slope ends on the perimeter of Illogan Woods, which has many varieties of wildlife. The only consideration of local wildlife seems to be to exploit them as an added attraction with invasive video cameras relaying pictures from bat boxes and badger holes etc. to the lodges.

Most of the jobs promised at Gwel an Mor will be seasonal and/or part time. Camborne & Redruth will change out of all recognition over the next few years because of all the planned building of affordable homes, housing estates, and commercial opportunities. CPR Regeneration already has solid plans for hotels, leisure and sports centres and conference facilities that will bring a sustainable employment base into the community. All these extra people in the area will, no doubt, want to access the facilities of Portreath and its beach. The difference will be that, as local residents, they will be helping to pay for the infrastructure of the area through Council Tax and Water Rates etc.!

The expansion of Gwel an Mor is a huge commercial project. It will affect the whole village community of Portreath. Obviously, the quality of life will change most for those of us who live closest to it. We have already suffered more than three long years of the mess and noise from the development of 60 lodges. Fields surrounding our properties have been used to store building materials, and to site caravans for the immigrant workers. Constant movement of delivery lorries, trucks and 'plant' vehicles has meant that our access has been alternately a sea of mud and a dust bath. Promises made for weekly road cleaning and for car-wash vouchers have not been kept. The thought of another 4yrs of construction is not a happy one. If the plans go ahead we will find ourselves owning homes that are sited in the middle of a holiday attraction.

If this scheme is allowed to go ahead, the character and charm of Portreath will change for ever. It is not too late to write to Kerrier with your Planning objections.

Feadon Residents Group

c/o 3 Marina Court

Dear Editor

Mr Haslam from Gwel an Mor has promoted his development in the last edition of the Tram and has had numerous reports in the local papers and on the radio. Although there has been many letters sent to the papers, only twice has anything been printed against the development.

No-one denies that the builders and the interior designer have done a magnificent job, the impact and density of the lodges is the problem with the site at present. They can be seen from the road along North Cliff, Green Lane, Lighthouse Hill, Forth Vean, Belerion Road, Treleigh and the sea. Nothing can be done to change this but if there is more development in this part of the countryside it will be spoilt for ever.

The ski slope and some of the proposed buildings may not be seen but others will be visible. The height of the conference centre makes it visible for miles. The proposed buildings are outside the village 'envelope' – if these holiday lodges are allowed there will be no reason to stop anyone building holiday accommodation outside the 'envelope' – do we want Lighthouse Hill and Green Lane etc. spoilt in this way?

Employment is needed in Cornwall but our young people need and want more than the tourist industry, they need skilled careers, manufacturing etc. Businesses do not have to be in big cities with the technology of today. Cornwall is becoming saturated with holiday sites which mean that the reasons visitors come to Cornwall are fast disappearing. Cornwall is rugged, beautiful, unspoilt countryside, beaches and peace – once this has gone it can never be replaced.

Some regular visitors who have seen the plans, the site and the various articles have said that Portreath will no longer attract them if the development goes ahead; the village in all publicity is described as uncommercialised, historical and peaceful. This will no longer be the case.

The ski slope will not provide alternate interest to holiday makers – if it rains people want to be inside. Also the ski slope will affect the natural habitat and water dispersion in the area; even though the surface is not solid it will still stop the water soaking into the ground so well therefore affecting the houses in Primrose Terrace.

So much development would change the wildlife activity in the area where they have been free to roam for years, you can't tell a badger, sloe worm, or fox not to worry – the buildings will be finished in a couple of years and then it will be peaceful again!

If the conference centre is used to the capacity required to make it viable, the increase in traffic all around the village will be tremendous, Cot Road, Penpraze, Tregea Hill, Beach Road and Penberthy Road are dangerous enough at present.

A mini bus to take the residents to the beach is fine in theory but if it rains and there are 30 people on the beach – all 30 want to be away – how would the remainder be looked after?

The first bar/restaurant is now open on the site – this will take business away from the village, grocery deliveries are from Tesco/Sainsbury again not helping the village. There are two golf courses within 6 miles of the site.

The plans have stabling for 30 horses – our bridle ways have not been laid out for this amount of horses – or their manure. The pet hotel - as the dogs will have to be outside some of the time the barking will echo around the valleys, this is not the same as the cows mooing, a couple of donkeys having a neigh or the cockerels crowing.

Please consider the future of Portreath and ask the Council not to allow these plans.

Yours sincerely

Some of the Residents Against Gwel an Mor

The Editor,

I would like to take the opportunity to use the tram to give Portreath an update on our plans at Gwel an Mor and to comment on a few of the wild rumours that appear to be circulating.

Firstly the rumours, the planned dry ski slope will not be swooping down into the village as someone complained to me recently, for anyone that saw our plans when we revealed them at the Consultation weekend you would have seen clearly that the slope is nestled into a small valley in one of the grazing fields of the farm, in fact we do not believe its possible to view the slope from any where in the village.

The second rumour I heard was that we planned "hundreds of holiday homes" on the site. Firstly this is not the case our plans are for sixty in total and I really can't see why commercially we would want more, we believe that with our planned activities that this number of lodges will still keep the peaceful and spacious feel our first customers have all approved of so much.

We have worked very hard with Kerrier planning on various research and consultancy reports dealing with everything from Bats, Badgers and Owls, Woodland and Nature through to Traffic and Highways all of which have come back in support of our plans and ideas. Yes there are objectors, maybe some of whom are starting these rumours, there are some that regard us as competition and of course some genuine people concerned quite rightly for their village, but we have also collected 700 signatures, letters and notices supporting our plans from the local community.

Please let me assure you all, we intend to build a business that Portreath will be proud of, the Conference centre, Golf, Equestrian Centre and other activities are necessary to build a business that will provide all year round income and in doing so would also provide all year round jobs, we have very few bookings for November, and January, a conference centre would change this dramatically.

As ever If any of you wish to discuss our plans or meet me personally I am happy to arrange this if you call Gwel an Mor on 01209 842354 our staff will arrange it.

Kind regards,

Bill Haslam

Gwel an Mor

PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTEFACTS EVOKE BYGONE AGE

2007-08-16T15:58:00.001Z

Memories were jogged as Portreath turned back the clock to mark its industrial heritage.Villagers searched their homes and dusted off hundreds of pictures and artefacts from a bygone age as part of a celebration of the mineral tramways dotted around former mining communities.
The memorabilia was displayed at Millennium Hall, Portreath, during a special three-day exhibition that ended on Sunday.
While several of the old photographs evoked an era when the harbour was packed with sailing ships, one conjured up memories of a familiar sight during the late mining years.
Taken in the 1950s, it captured the Isleman, the last Portreath boat to sail out of the harbour with stocks of tin and copper.
At the weekend, its former captain, Gordon Greenslade, now in his mid-90s, attended the exhibition to remember his time on the Bain-owned vessel.
Groups including King Edward Mine and the Trevithick Society lent various items to the parish council, which ran the display and a festival of other events.
The exhibition also featured 150-year-old canon balls that once formed part of the village's armoury against invaders at its former gun battery.
They were discovered by Robert Hamer after he bought Battery House, the turreted, hill-top property that overlooks Gull Rock out at sea.
Doug Coates, one of the festival's organisers, said one collection of old photographs had certainly got tongues wagging.
Mr Coates said: "Kate Shaw's father, John Martin, had collected pictures of the characters and people of Portreath - and they created a huge amount of interest. Former and present residents of the villages were fascinated."
The appeal for photographic slices of village history first went out 12 months ago, with the final two pictures donated on the opening day of the exhibition.
In the run-up to the event, Portreath staged a series of mining demonstrations and workshops, including two run by West Briton photographer Colin Higgs.
Mr Coates said he and his fellow organisers were delighted to have seen up to 400 visitors at the three-day exhibition. "The village has given us absolutely tremendous cooperation. We now have World Heritage status which is a boost for tourism. This was a fantastic way of getting the story over."

LIFE-SAVERS THROW WEIGHT BEHIND £28M EXPANSION

2007-08-16T15:46:00.001Z

09:00 - 16 August 2007

Portreath's biggest club is throwing its support behind £28 million plans to expand a holiday village.As planners prepare to determine the proposals for Gwel an Mor, surf life-savers said they believed the project would boost fortunes for the holiday village.
The planning application earmarks a dry ski slope, a major new conference facility, a nine-hole golf course, an equestrian centre and more holiday lodges.
Bill Haslam, who owns Gwel an Mor, joked that a few local opponents had described the proposed development as "hell and more" when the master plan was unveiled earlier this year.
Now Portreath Surf Life Saving Club has countered the concerns by formally writing to Kerrier Council in favour of the scheme, with chairman Rob Phillips collecting supporting signatures from the club's 300-plus members.
"We like to think we are as much at the heart of the Portreath community as anybody and we are absolutely convinced that the opponents are a very small number indeed," said Mr Phillips.
"I cannot recall speaking to anyone who is actually against it.
"We have studied this scheme very closely and have had extensive talks with Bill Haslam and we feel certain that it will be a major boost for the area in so many ways.
"The range and quality of the facilities proposed are way beyond whatever we are likely to have proposed for Portreath by anyone else, and I would say 95% of the village is right behind it.
"We are a fast developing club and we are very confident that we can continue to grow in tandem with Gwel an Mor."
Mr Phillips said residents of the holiday village would soon be able to log on to scenes of the beach as part of a web-cam initiative that aims to promote Portreath on the Internet.
Mr Haslam says his development would create up to 120 new jobs and provide a £3 million boost for the local economy.
The first phase of Gwel an Mor, including 28 holiday lodges and club house, opened last year. A further 32 lodges are being built.
In June, Portreath Parish Council supported the latest expansion proposals, subject to various conditions.
At its meeting, a handful of local residents said they believed the planned development would blight the appearance of the village.
Mr Haslam said: "I am hoping for early planning approval so that we can start work on the project by the end of the year and be up and running by 2010. It involves a range of all-year-round facilities that will offer something for everyone - with a tremendous boost to the local community and its economy."
The plans are expected to be considered by Kerrier Council next month.

The Retreat for sale!

2007-08-13T21:52:00.000Z

High levels of interest are expected in a cafe in a sought-after Cornish beachside village.The Retreat Cafe in Portreath occupies a detached property which has been subject to high level investments and improvements throughout the vendor's ownership.

From the front a customer entrance leads into a cafe area offering 34 covers with breathtaking sea views.

An archway leads to a further cafe area for 44 covers, toilet facilities and office space.

To the side of the cafÃ© is a doorway leading into a recently fitted commercial kitchen.

The cafe also offers a further 32 covers outside and provides a fish and chip take-away service.

Above the business is a two-bedroom flat which has an allocated parking space.

The vendors have owned and operated the business since 2004 and now wish to move back to Australia.

They have run it as a husband and wife team with the assistance of 25 casual part-time staff.

The business is seasonal, operating from March to November Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm and Saturday to Sundays 8.30am to 7pm, with increased opening hours during the summer peak season.

There is a premises license in place which entitles the owners to serve alcohol from noon to midnight, seven days a week.

The business is held on a 999-year lease providing a peppercorn rent to the freeholder. We are advised that the current net turnover is in order of £190,000 with a gross profit of 61 per cent.

The ground floor lock-up is being offered on a 999-year lease with a peppercorn rent for £425,000 or the freehold at £655,000.

Michael Fredriksson, head of retail department at Peninsula Commercial, said: "We expect high levels of interest, particularly from someone who is looking for a seasonal business in a stunning location."

For further details contact Peninsula Commercial on 01392 848484 or visit www.peninsulacommercial.co.uk

DISPLAYS CAPTURE FLORAL SPIRIT OF FAVOURITE HYMNS

2007-06-14T10:31:00.000Z

Eleven stunning floral displays captivated visitors to a flower festival at Bridge Chapel at the weekend.The displays were provided by churches, organisations and individuals from across the Redruth district based on the theme of favourite hymns.

The exhibits included For the Beauty of the Earth, by Treleigh Floral Art Club; Morning has Broken, by Four Lanes United Methodist Church; All Things Bright and Beautiful, by Paynter's Lane End Methodist Church; and the centrepiece of the festival, Think of a World Without any Flowers, by Bridge Chapel.

The opening ceremony on Friday morning included a musical performance by children from Portreath School who played instruments and sang.

The musical theme continued throughout the weekend with local organists playing sympathetic background music as visitors admired the displays.

The flowers provided a perfect backdrop for a concert on Saturday evening by Celtic Voices, followed on Sunday evening by a Songs of Praise.

The Rev Haley Moore, the superintendent minister, said that as intoxicating as the sights, smells and sounds of the festival had been, she hoped they had not diverted attention away from the true purpose of the weekend - to raise money for the Persecuted Church, those who pay a heavy price for their continued faithfulness to Christianity around the world.

She said: "When we gather together for worship and fellowship we take so much for granted, such as our freedom of speech and the ease with which we are able to talk about Jesus Christ in our families and communities.

"However, for many Christians such activities hold many risks and dangers and discipleship is extremely costly.

"For some this includes the threat of imprisonment, of torture and of threats to their families.

"Hopefully people came in and enjoyed all these beautiful flowers, but also left aware of the challenges that face Christians around the world."

The Rev Haley paid tribute to the Bridge congregation: "They are only a small church community, but they have a wonderful church family here.

"This festival was a big task for them, and they've excelled themselves."

Flood Action

2007-06-14T10:28:00.000Z

The Environment Agency has announced plans to carry out work in Portreath to reduce the risk of flooding.The agency will fit a screen to stop debris and monitor the flow upstream and downstream, linked to its centre in Bodmin, so staff can get an early warning when there is a problem.

CHEMICAL ALERT AT DEFENCE SITE

2007-06-07T21:40:00.000Z

EXCLUSIVE: ANDY GREENWOOD CHIEF REPORTER

11:00 - 29 May 2007
A chemical weapons scare was sparked at a former nerve agent factory when a digger driver accidentally unearthed equipment used to produce mustard gas.It has raised fears there could be potentially dangerous substances on other sites in the area, which might not appear on any maps, prompting calls for a full survey to identify potentially contaminated land and to restore public trust.

The discovery at the former Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke, near Redruth in Cornwall - revealed publicly for the first time today - happened last year as contractors investigated a shaft thought to lead to one of five known dump sites.

Tons of equipment and plant from the factory, which manufactured 20 tons of the deadly nerve agent sarin between 1954 and 1956, was buried after the facility was closed in 1977.

Its chemical weapons were either treated and disposed of on site or transported to Porton Down in Wiltshire.

But the material unearthed by accident - thought to be reaction vessels used in the production of chemical weapon agents - had not been mapped, so nobody was aware of its exact whereabouts.

Julia Goldsworthy, Liberal Democrat MP for Falmouth and Camborne, said she would be writing to the MoD to demand a full explanation of the incident to restore public trust. Ms Goldsworthy added: "This is a potentially serious breach of trust with the public as well as a serious breach of safety. It seems to indicate there could be potentially dangerous substances on the sites other than those identified in the decontamination programme.

"A complete and full survey of the site is the only thing to restore public confidence that the decontamination works are comprehensive and can be trusted. If this does not happen, members of the public will justifiably be very cynical about exactly what work has been done and the safety of the site overall."

The incident happened at Nancekuke, now known as RAF Portreath, last July but was not made public. It has now come to light after documents were released to the Western Morning News under the Freedom of Information Act.

An official report into what went wrong said there were "clear shortcomings with the implementation of procedures put in place". It also said that the finds "question the completeness of the 1980 Nancekuke closure report in defining where all of the former CDE Nancekuke wastes are buried" - a document which had previously been relied upon.

Dr Paul Johnston, from the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said he was concerned but not surprised by the unexpected find.

"We have seen this time and again at MoD sites that are being cleaned up," he said. "Generally speaking, some event has taken place that people want to draw a veil over, or was illegal, or was officially sanctioned but never recorded.

"Mustard has been found to remain hazardous in soil or water for a very, very long time. Unbreached weapons can be very, very dangerous. Considering the reactions they were carrying out and the chemistry they were performing and the huge volume of waste they created, I'm surprised the situation isn't far worse."

An official report into the incident said the equipment was "almost certainly" from Sutton Oak, a chemical warfare plant at St Helens, Merseyside, which was closed when Nancekuke was established in the early1950s.

The site was involved in the manufacture of Lewisite - a chemical warfare agent developed in 1918 but too late for use in the First World War. It is a powerful irritant which immediately damages the skin, eyes, and lungs.

Its laboratory equipment was decontaminated and transported to the Cornwall base where it was dumped.

When it was uncovered, the digger driver was ordered to remain in his cab and remain upwind. Specialists from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) were called in test for chemicals. None was found.

The report said: "The incident is obviously of serious concern to us and our own internal inquiry will result to changes in future practice."

The report, by Enviros Consulting, concluded there were "no immediate concerns" because there were no traces of chemicals found and it appeared correct disposal policies had been followed.

ADA SPELLS OUT HER 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

2007-06-07T21:33:00.000Z

It was a birthday party that spelled a celebration for Scrabble enthusiast Ada Gregory.The resident of Harbour House in Portreath marked her century with a special get-together for her family and friends.

Ada, born in Leicestershire and one of eight children, moved to Cornwall in the 1960s and settled into her home at Bridge Moor.

Over the next few decades she threw herself into village life, becoming an active member of St Mary's Church and a keen member of the choir. She moved into Harbour House two years ago.

She has two surviving sons, eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

"Her interests include reading and she loves a good game of Scrabble," said her granddaughter Sandra Hogan.

QUALIFIED WELCOME FOR HOLIDAY ATTRACTION

2007-06-07T21:23:00.000Z

A controversial plan for a major holiday attraction at Portreath has been given a cautious welcome by the parish council.Landfish Consultants Ltd has applied to redevelop land at Feadon Farm at the top of Tregea Hill.

It wants to build 60 new holiday lodges as part of the proposal, which the company claims could create up to 120 new jobs.

The £25 million plan also include a dry ski slope, a nine-hole golf course and an equestrian centre.

A handful of members of the Feadon Residents Association expressed their concerns about the attraction project at Monday's meeting of the parish council.

Their spokesman, Marj Rowland, said the proposal would have an adverse effect on people living close by and would change the character of Portreath.

She highlighted fears of light and noise pollution, and the movements of extra cars, horse boxes and service lorries, at what was already a dangerous junction.

She said: "We are concerned about the noise from the development.

"For example, the restaurant and bar may be open until the early hours of the morning; dogs may be barking in the pet hotel; and the planned equestrian centre is a large one, so we may have horses going past several times a day."

Mrs Rowland said residents had already endured three years of construction work on the site, with mud, dust and noise, and "the nuisance of foreign workers housed in mobile homes on an adjacent field."

She added: "We feel that the tranquil character of Feadon will be changed by this development, and that the true impact it will have on Portreath has not been realised.

"The whole identity of the village will change."

She stressed that if the proposal was to go ahead, a separate access should be built.

Developer Bill Haslem told the council that his company had held a public consultation event and had tried very hard to engage the public in its proposals.

Some changes had been made as a result of residents' comments.

It had received 200 letters of support for its plans, including 75 from the residents of Portreath.

The company agreed that a new entrance to the site was needed as part of the proposal, but County Highways had disagreed.

Cllr Chris Watts said that in principle he did not have a problem with the plan but added: "There is a problem that it's not in the village envelope; there are a number of areas that could do with more shielding to protect residents; and I think the issue of the entrance really needs addressing.

"Potentially, it would be a huge development and a big feather in our cap."

Cllr Doris Butler, who lives close to the site, feared the noise from hundreds of holiday makers using the ski slope, the parks facilities, and riding horses.

"It will disrupt and spoil the peace and tranquillity of Portreath," she said.

Council members voted to support the principle of development but will ask Kerrier to impose conditions that will protect the amenity of neighbouring residents and that will require the company to make improvements to the entrance to the site.

WAVE HUB 'WILL NOT SPOIL SURF IN NEWQUAY'

2007-05-21T17:56:00.000Z

Newquay's famous surf will not be spoiled by the proposed 'Wave Hub' at Hayle, it was claimed this week.Concerns had been raised that the device - which generates electricity from wave power - would damage the quality of surf along the whole of the north coast.

But the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) said Newquay would not be affected even if other beaches further down the coast saw a drop in swell.

A new report - commissioned by the SWRDA and the British Surfing Association and published by oceanographer Dr Kerry Black - into the potential impact of the hub on Cornish surfing states that in a worst case scenario, some north coast beaches could see up to a 30% reduction in wave height.

But this week Nick Harrington, who commissioned the report, said that Newquay would not be affected because it is too far along the coast. "The expectation is that there will be no impact at all in Newquay," he said.

"The headline figure was 30%, but we are confident in saying in Newquay it's as near to zero as possible."

Mr Harrington said that beaches at St Agnes, Perranporth and Portreath are most likely to be affected. But even at these beaches, the reduction in swell would probably never exceed 13%, he said.

"The headline figure of 30% would only apply if 100% of the wave was absorbed by the Wave Hub," he said. "In order for that to happen, you would need something the size of Lundy Island out there.

"In practice the maximum reduction we would ever expect to see is around 13%. And more likely, it would be around 6%, which is the figure cited in Dr Black's report."

The report, Review of Wave Hub Technical Studies: Impacts on Inshore Surfing Beaches, was welcomed by campaign group Surfers Against Sewage.

Campaigns officer Andy Cummins said: "Dr Kerry Black's review is good news for surfers, for the Wave Hub and for the global fight against climate change."

If it receives planning permission, the Wave Hub would be the first device of its type in the world, providing up to 20MW of electricity to the national grid.

PUPILS TO LEARN BASICS OF SPORT

2007-05-10T19:19:00.000Z

Seventy primary school children will descend on Pool Business and Enterprise College today (May 10) for a multi-skills sports festival.The activities will be led by Danielle Greenaway, Martina Trethowan, Nathan Williams and Tyrone Daniel who are year 10 students from Pool School.

They are taking part in TOP Link, which allows young people, aged 14 to 16, to develop their leadership skills by planning and organising sports festivals for their local primary schools.

The Pool students are currently completing the Sports Leader Award, which is tutored by sports coach Julian Hosking.

Today's festival, which includes pupils from Portreath, Illogan, Pencoys, Treloweth and Roskear primary schools, will have a multi-skills theme.

This focuses on the ABCs of sport (agility, balance, co-ordination) which are known as fundamental movement skills.

It will also include generic sports skills such as throwing, catching, accuracy, balance and reactions.

Mr Hosking said: "These are key skills in the children's development and participation in sports activity.

"It should be another fun-packed afternoon for them and huge credit should go to all sports leaders involved for their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the course."

Parish Tram Issue 16

2007-05-02T16:40:00.000Z

BEAT-LINES

I apologise for the absence of my article in the last edition – I did write it but due to a breakdown in modern communication methods it failed to get to the publishers on time!!

I have recently received a copy of the proposals from the County Council regarding the development of the Square area. The plans look very exciting and offer the opportunity for major changes to the village layout, this I believe, can only be beneficial for residents and visitors alike. I am aware however that not everyone likes change and may become apprehensive about it. You may think that village improvements such as those planned for Portreath really have nothing to do with the police. The truth is, that whilst we are not a lead agency on such projects it is necessary for us to have an input. We have police officers (known as Architectural Liaison Officers or ALO’s) who are experts on ‘designing out’ crime. The ALO will make observations and recommendations at the planning stages of new developments to try and minimise problems of crime and anti social behaviour that may occur due to the design of a development. An example of designing out crime on a housing estate would be to ensure that there are no concealed or blind alleyways particularly at the rear of houses.

In addition to the recommendations of the ALO all agencies have a duty to consider what impact their actions have on crime and anti-social behaviour. As an example, in Portreath, I believe that it is particularly important to carefully consider the location of new seating etc. to ensure that they remain as a facility for people to enjoy as opposed to becoming the preferred venue for alcohol fuelled anti-social groups to meet. Obviously if this became the case particularly near residential properties, then people will justifiably have cause to complain. If you have any such concerns about the new proposals I will be happy to discuss these with you and pass on any relevant observations to the appropriate authority.

It is with regret that I have to inform you that PCSO Vikki White, whom many of you will have seen and met over the last six months has moved on to pastures new and no longer covers this area. I have made strong representations to ‘the powers that be’ that she is replaced as soon as possible. I am pleased to be able to report that I have been given the name of her replacement although we will have to wait for him to complete his initial training prior to seeing him out and about on patrol.

Finally I would like to advise you of a new way to have any concerns that you may have about your community heard and dealt with. I have the task of setting up a Partners and Communities Together (P.A.C.T) panel within area. The panel will comprise of representatives from a number of different agencies and groups with the objective of resolving the top three most important issues identified by the community. Whilst this is a very brief summary of what the PACT process is all about you can see that it will be driven by the what the community wants – so it is up to you to attend the meeting and tell the panel what concerns you the most!! (It is worth noting that this is not a forum just to air your concerns about policing – it is your opportunity to raise issues about anything in your community even if it has nothing at all to do with the police!!) - The details of the first meeting have still to be finalised but will be published – I look forward to seeing you there!!

PORTREATH PARISH COUNCIL

Greenfield Gardens

As you will be aware from other reports in this issue, the seats and litter bins purchased by the Parish Council have now been installed in Greenfield Gardens and the bulk of the improvements have been completed.

Sunnyvale Road

Following representations to the County Council work has now been carried out to stabilise the
Highway at the southern end of Sunnyvale Road where slippage had occurred. A fence has also been erected along this repaired area.

Beach Road

Preliminary plans have been prepared by the County Council for a new kerb line along Beach Road which will slightly narrow the width of this road but delineated parking areas will be retained.
It is also proposed that an additional ‘bus shelter be provided around the area of The Square and that the existing shelter be upgraded. Members have requested that these shelters should be of the ‘up and over’ clear sided type and that no seating should be provided in an effort to prevent the shelters being utilised as gathering places for vandals.

Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish meeting of this Council will be held in The Institute commencing at 7:00 p.m. on
Monday, 30th April when all Parish organisations will be invited to attend and present a report .
This will be the last meeting of the existing council as elections will be held on 3rd May.

Greenfield Gardens

As you will be aware from other reports in this issue, the seats and litter bins purchased by the Parish Council have now been installed in Greenfield Gardens and the bulk of the improvements have been completed.

Sunnyvale Road

Following representations to the County Council work has now been carried out to stabilise the
Highway at the southern end of Sunnyvale Road where slippage had occurred. A fence has also been erected along this repaired area.

Beach Road

Preliminary plans have been prepared by the County Council for a new kerb line along Beach Road which will slightly narrow the width of this road but delineated parking areas will be retained.
It is also proposed that an additional ‘bus shelter be provided around the area of The Square and that the existing shelter be upgraded. Members have requested that these shelters should be of the ‘up and over’ clear sided type and that no seating should be provided in an effort to prevent the shelters being utilised as gathering places for vandals.

Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish meeting of this Council will be held in The Institute commencing at 7:00 p.m. on
Monday, 30th April when all Parish organisations will be invited to attend and present a report .
This will be the last meeting of the existing council as elections will be held on 3rd May.

Seating in Greenfield Gardens

With the ordering and delivery of three stainless steel benches and two stainless steel litter bins, the Parish Council have now finished their part in the regeneration of Greenfield gardens. The council is delighted with the end result and are pleased to see the increased use already apparent in the gardens. The spring bulbs that were planted by the primary school children are now coming through and looking good, as are the many other plants that have been kindly donated by local residents.

Our only disappointment was the necessary installation of Western Power’s transformer station, in which neither the Parish Council or the PIC had any say. Its not as bad as it could have been - at least its green and Western Power have paid for some composting bins and we are hopeful they will fund a couple of specimen trees.

Portreath Improvements Committee are now in control of the gardens and through the efforts of their sub-committee, are improving the gardens even further.

Many thanks to all those involved in the project, it has been a real team effort from members of the parish council, members of the PIC, local residents and of course the cooperation of Kerrier District Council.

Chris Watts

Greenfield Garden update

Spring has arrived at the gardens , the daffodils look great and I
really hope all the children at Portreath school have been to see the
fruits of their labours. The seats have arrived and are waiting to be
installed, I have been told this will be happening mid-march, so
fingers crossed. The new signs are up and look good. I am hoping to
put up another notice board which will tell you what is happening in
the park, when the gardener will be working, when the grand opening
will be, and thanking people for their help. A big thank you to Dee
Beauchamp for three lovely plants for the park, they have fitted in
very well.

Please don’t forget this is a community garden for the village and
your ideas and help are important to make this park succeed. Apart
from the gardener nobody gets paid to be involved in this garden and
should you see any damage being caused please act on it. Remember
this is our park and we must all try to keep it as we would like it
to be.

Sarah Clasper

£

Councillor White Retires

Councillor Ashton White will not be standing for the parish council election on May 3 this year. Mr. White has been a member of Portreath Parish Council since its inception on the 15 of April 1985.
He has been a very active member of the Council and been involved in many projects , organising as chairman in 1986 and 87 the clearance of the harbour precinct by way of local donations, turning the area from waste tip to the usable area we know today
He was heavily involved in the clear up after the flooding of the Portreath river during the early Nineties and the subsequent enquiry into the causes, and highlighted the division of responsibilities between Kerrier District Council and the Environment Agency at the root of the problem. This led to re- designation of the water course as a main river for which the Environment Agency became solely responsible. Further serious flooding has since been avoided.
He fostered good relations with RAF Portreath over many years taking a particular interest in the wildlife surveys of the RAF conservation group. These findings became particularly valuable at a later date when they were able to show the same healthy levels of flora and fauna after the closure of the chemical warfare units as there had been at the outset. Mr White was subsequently presented with a commemorative plaque by the commanding officer for services to the liaison work between the RAF and the community
He negotiated a local agreement with the developers of Harbour Court to allow the resiting of the granite horse trough memorial to Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, to a safer spot away from the busy forecourt of the shops in the square.
He has been chairman of the Council on four occasions , the most recent being 2003, which was the year of our public consultation regarding the village centre regeneration programme, which hopefully will see the start of work this year, for completion in 2008. Mr. White has also served as Chairman of the Regeneration Committee (a sub committee of the Parish Council) but it was a period he subsequently described as the most frustrating of his Parish Council service.
During the interview for this story Mr. White was at pains to pay tribute to Jean Oates the Parish Clerk , for the help and support she has given him throughout his years of service.
Councillor White will be greatly missed by the Parish Council , his local knowledge, leadership , sense of humour , sensible and pragmatic views on planning decisions and overall steadying influence will leave a gap hard to fill.

PORTREATH MILLENNIUM COMMUNITY HALL

Due to the retirement of both the Treasurer and Bookings Secretary, the Management Team of the Millennium Community Hall would like to hear from people who would be interested in helping to run / manage the Hall.

It has operated as a successful village Hall for a number of years, but the management team would like to see more people being involved, coming in with fresh ideas and perhaps taking it in a different direction. There are lots of opportunities for enthusiastic people to make a difference and to be involved in an important community project, and which will give those involved with the Hall many opportunities to meet people.

For more information you can contact me on 01209 843873 and I will be happy to have an informal chat, provide you with further information and put you in touch with other committee members.

The AGM will be held in May/June, when everyone is welcome to attend – public Notices will be put up on the Notice Boards in the village to advertise the date nearer the time.

Secretary

A HUGE THANK YOU to Douglas McClure, who provided the village with an amazing opportunity to enjoy an evening of classical guitar music, which was held at the Millennium Community Hall last November. With over a hundred tickets being sold, we had a wonderful evening, with Douglas providing a full programme of music.

Douglas had put in a tremendous amount of effort and practice and the excellent feedback received demonstrated his hard work was worth it.

Many people commented on how much they enjoyed the evening, the generous buffet and the wine, and that it was a great way to meet up with friends and family and have the opportunity to experience something very different in our own village.

Thank you !

Harbour News

A draft copy of the feasibility study has been received by the parish council and the harbour steering committee. It comprises of a sixty page report of fairly technical reading so I hope a brief summary of my view of the report will give an overall picture. The full report will be available soon.
The council was encouraged to see the feasibility study agree in principle that regenerating Portreath harbour is consistent with other similar programmes within Cornwall, and if successful would strengthen the local economy, diversify business and provide employment opportunities.
The proposals however would depend on the long term structural stability of the harbour itself and here the feasibility study has put forward some searching considerations. The engineers have concluded that significant repairs are needed to all parts of the harbour, but in particular to the finger pier, and the cost estimates are therefore much higher than initially perceived.
The study estimates the capital costs to be in the range £11.3m - £14.4m - this is three to four times higher than estimates put forward in the lottery grant bid.
Funding it seems could also be a problem, the Heritage lottery fund would possibly make a contribution to the structures in a historical context but would not fund capital costs for lock gates or new buildings. The new convergence fund which is set to take over from objective one funding needs to see proof of significant economic benefit, so even if the marina and planned heritage centre were to go ahead, the employment of five or six people would probably not be enough to qualify.
The report lists a number of risks, top of the list comes technical and engineering issues and costs, including extensive repairs that are required to the finger pier and the harbour walls in the middle and inner harbour.
Technically, all these risks can be overcome at high cost but funding may not be available.

The report goes on to warn that any organisation or group that takes on such a financial risk could depend on individuals excepting personal liability and therefore this is another risk that no organisation or group could or would take responsibility for the scheme.
In conclusion the report asks whether ownership needs to be transferred from Kerrier District Council. A local group working closely with Kerrier to progress individual key projects within the harbour would be perhaps the way forward. This would of course depend on Kerrier agreeing to this approach.
This is a brief description of the draft feasibility study and there are many and varied interpretations that can be drawn from it, but overall the parish council believe that the proposed project cannot be taken into community ownership at this stage.
There are many meetings ahead with Kerrier District Council to find a way forward with our harbour. If nothing else this study has shown that the harbour needs urgent attention to its structure and ongoing maintenance.
This is not the end of the project but perhaps the beginning of a new direction.
Chris Watts

Gwel-An-Mor

2007-02-28T13:02:00.000Z

A holiday village at Portreath is looking to create 120 jobs as part of a £25 million expansion plan that features a dry ski slope and a nine-hole golf course.Gwel an Mor announced this week that it was also aiming to build an equestrian centre and regenerate 50 acres of agricultural land.

This would pave for the way for organic farm produce to be grown for two new restaurants and a farm shop that are planned for the village at Tregea Hill.

Leaders of the scheme say the proposed development would inject more than £3 million a year into the local economy, according to research by tourism chiefs.

The ambitious plans, which also include a conference centre, fishing lakes and a spa, follow a deal struck with Duchy College for the sale of the adjacent Feadon Farm to Gwel an Mor, adding 140 acres to the site.

The holiday village says it aims to continue the college's animal care facilities, making them and all the planned leisure pursuits available to the community "at preferential rates wherever possible".

The proposed equestrian centre would have stabling for 30 horses while the state-of-the-art conference facility would have seating for more than 200 people.

The £5 million first phase of Gwel an Mor opened last year on the former Sunlands site with 28 luxury holiday lodges, a gym, swimming pool and spa pool plus a children's adventure playground, croquet lawn and putting green.

A further 32 lodges are being built at the holiday village.

Damian Hall, its general manager, stressed that in order to compete with other holiday destinations in Europe and around the world, Cornwall "must offer much more".

He said: "Our plans will deliver such a wide-ranging mix of activities and high standard of accommodation.

"Allied to the natural beauty of the area and the traditional friendliness of the Cornish, holiday-makers will have a real decision to make - whether they need to travel abroad."

A consultation on the scheme ended at the weekend with an open day for the public and a meeting of local business people.

Nigel Tipple, chief executive of CPR Regeneration and a guest at the event, said: "This is an exciting development, which complements the activity promoted within the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area. These proposals demonstrate the confidence of the private sector to invest in the area, create employment and strengthen the overall leisure offer."

Barbara Ellenbroek, of the Federation of Small Businesses and CPR Regeneration board, said: "I am very impressed with this development, which will enhance the whole Camborne, Pool and Redruth area. The combination of good quality accommodation and all-year-round leisure facilities is just what we need."

Gwel an Mor said a planning application would be submitted shortly.

HOLIDAY VILLAGE'S EXPANSION PLANS COULD CREATE 120 JOBS

2007-02-28T12:53:00.001Z

BURGLARIES TAKE SHINE OFF CRIME STATISTICS

2007-02-28T12:43:00.001Z

clipped from www.westbriton.co.uk

A spate of burglaries took the gloss off the crime statistics for Portreath in December and January.Of the 16 incidents recorded, eight were burglaries, of which five were to dwellings.

In his report to the parish council on Monday evening, PC Tim Roberts said burglary was an unusual crime in the village.

He added: "If it wasn't for this spate of burglaries, the crime statistics would be quite low."

He asked residents to take extra care with their security, particularly to lock doors and close windows. Anyone leaving their home for a long period should make arrangements to hide tell-tale signs like piles of mail and newspapers on the floor inside the front door.

He appealed for vigilance and asked anyone who saw or had seen anything suspicious to contact the police without delay.

2007-02-28T12:38:00.001Z

AWARDS FOR COASTGUARD 'BACKBONE'

2007-01-18T18:00:00.000Z

Stalwart members of the Portreath coastguard team were handed special
awards to mark their long and loyal service.Graham May, aged 56, and
Mike Prowton, 62, were feted at a presentation ceremony at the
Portreath Arms Hotel.

Their boss, Mark Roberts, said both men had dedicated many years of their
lives to rescuing those who found themselves in danger along the
coastline.

"These two have been the backbone of the team," said
Mr Roberts, who heads the Portreath coastguard volunteers. "It's the
likes of them who turn out day and night in all weathers."

Mr May, who received a 20-year long-service award, said he had relished
the challenges he had faced over the past two decades. "Because I was
involved in surf lifesaving, this was another avenue of rescue and I
was delighted to have been asked to become a member of the team," he
said.

Mr May, who lives in the village, said he and his
colleagues had been inspired by the leadership skills of Mark Roberts
and his father, Alan, who was awarded the MBE for his coastguard role.

He
added: "We've always found a way of getting round any problem that we
might encounter in a rescue - and getting round it safely.

"Everything we do, we do as a team. We train as a team and we work as a team."

Mr Prowton, who earlier stepped down from the cliff rescue team, was given
a special award to recognise his 23 years of service to the coastguards.

He signed up as a volunteer while running a fish and chip shop in his home village of Portreath.

"We all get on very well and it is the camaraderie between the team that has probably been the highlight for me," he said.

"I had previously been awarded my 20-year service award and I wasn't expecting this at all.

"When I received the award, it was a mixture of shock, surprise and pleasure."

Mr
May and Mr Prowton paid tribute to the close working relationship the
Portreath coastguard team had forged with agencies including police,
the fire and ambulance services and 771 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose,
Helston.

#793 --Story Comments - START-- for displaying the Comment Feature on specifed days and hours and if Comment Feature is enabled-->

PORTREATH SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB'S ANNUAL SWIM

2006-12-30T14:48:00.000Z

Dozens of people took part in Portreath Surf Life Saving Club's annual
swim on Boxing Day morning.When 11am arrived the brave swimmers dashed
into the sea, dipped themselves momentarily beneath the icy water,
before rushing back to the sanctuary of the club house.

After
drying and replacing swimsuits with more traditional winter wear, they
restored the circulation to their fingers and toes with glasses of
mulled wine.

How does your garden grow.

2006-11-07T13:51:00.000Z

Children from Portreath School planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs to
mark the completion of improvements to Greenfield Gardens.Work on the
£48,000 project began in February and was carried out by R H Olds
Amenity Landscapers of Camborne.

What had been a largely grassed area was transformed with new pathways, disabled access, raised beds and a sunken amphitheatre.

Portreath
Improvements Committee, which provided £10,000 towards the project,
took charge of the planting programme, which followed.

This included low maintenance ground cover, shrubs, and grass, culminating in the planting of the daffodil bulbs.

Chris
Watts, chairman of the parish council, said: "This project has been a
village team effort with the parish council, regeneration team and
Portreath Improvements Committee working together.

"The
improvements committee will be taking ownership by way of a 999-year
lease. This will secure the gardens and ensure the maintenance of the
property."

The balance of the funding for Greenfield Gardens
came from a grant of £28,000 from the Rural Key Fund. A further £10,000
came from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Liveability Fund.

Mr Watts added: "This is yet another community project for Portreath that has turned out to be a great success.

"It's
now open for use and I hope the community will enjoy it. I know the
Brownies already already planning to use the amphitheatre for plays.

"The
official hand over of the gardens from Kerrier to the PIC will take
place in the spring when all these bulbs are in flower."

Google Mail - CrunchGear

SUPPORT GROUP FOR BREAST FEEDING MUMS

2006-11-03T21:41:00.000Z

09:00 - 02 November 2006
A new support group for breast feeding mums has been launched in Portreath.Little Engines is the brainchild of mum-of-two Katie Fulcher, who raised almost £3,000 to get the group off the ground.

She said: "While breast feeding my son at SureStart Trevu, I decided to become a breast feeding peer supporter - that's a volunteer who gives breast feeding advice to other mums.

"After about eight months I thought it would be a good idea to offer the same sort of support to mums living in my own village - Portreath."

Katie began fund raising and received £250 from Portreath Improvements Committee, £400 from Awards for All and £2,500 from Network Funding.

The group meets every Monday - during term-time - from 9.30am-11am in St Mary's Church Hall. The inaugural meeting was opened by Lady Terrye Teverson, who is the patron of Breast Friends in Camborne.

"Little Engines is not just a breast feeding group," said Katie, "It's also a baby group. We offer a baby weighing facility, breast feeding support, advice from qualified health professionals, and a monthly visit from a health visitor."

Treloweth Children's Centre has also donated a year's supply of refreshments. Although only a handful of mums attended the first meeting, Katie is confident the group will grow.

She said: "It's going to snowball. We've just had four deliveries in the village and there are another three on the way that I know of. Plus we will get some mums from other villages like Porthtowan and Illogan."

Parish Tram Issue 14

2006-10-15T08:59:00.000Z

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Designated Public Place Order

In the last issue of the parish tram I gave a brief progress report on the anti social behaviour order that the parish council had applied for, I'm very pleased to be able to now report that the designated public place order (DPPO) is now permanently in place in Portreath.

In layman terms the act provides local authorities with the power to make an Order to restrict antisocial drinking in designated public places and it provides the police with the power to enforce the restriction. We applied for the order earlier this year after the great success of the dispersal order of 2005. Dispersal orders are a temporary measure, the DPPO is a permanent order similar to the old bylaws.

The application for the DPPO was a real community effort, the parish council had the support of the Portreath Improvements Committee, which not only wrote letters of support for our efforts but also financed the signage and administration costs. The Harbour Association were involved and also most of the businesses within Portreath, all of whom supported the application with letters of support and historical evidence of antisocial behaviour. We also had overwhelming support from the residents of Portreath.

Neighbourhood beat manager Tim Roberts has given tireless support to our application, he of course has seen the problems of anti social behaviour in Portreath first hand and spent many hours patrolling the area dealing with the consequences of such behaviour.

Thank you to all who contributed time and effort to the parish councils application, working together we can continue to make Portreath a safer place to live , work and visit.

Chris Watts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THANK YOU TO THE UNSEEN GARDENERS

I am rather old to believe in fairies, but as a child I was assured by my long suffering parents that they really did exist. In answer to many questions of why, how, when did something happen I was usually stalled with the answer, "Oh it must be the fairies at the bottom of the garden"

During the summer, walking through the village, I began to notice the flower beds were beginning to change and bloom. It was not long before they were looking quite colourful and a real pleasure to look at. They were so different from the usual short back and sides the shrubs have been accustomed to in previous seasons

I would just like to say a big thank you to the unseen gardeners who have worked so hard and made our village a much pleasanter place to walk through

Mrs T. Hamer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All welcome to Portreath TABLE TENNIS Club

Wednesdays at 7pm in St Marys Church Hall

Children under 18 should be accompanied by an adult

Geoff on 01209 843181 or Malcolm on 01209 842695
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch

Will be held in the Portreath Institute on Saturday 10th of February 2007

12:30 for 1:00pm

Last year's lunch was a great success as usual and this year we would like to increase our numbers. All Senior Citizens that receive State Pension are eligible for our four course lunch and afternoon entertainment.

For further information.

Please call Madeline on 219960 or June on 843019
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION REMEMBRANCE SERVICE PARADE

SUNDAY 5TH NOVEMBER, 2006

The Parade will assemble at 2.15 p.m. in the Portreath sea front car park, and will march to St. Mary's Church to lay the wreaths at 2.30 p.m. This will be followed by a Service in the Church and then parade back to the sea front car park.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regeneration Update

Parish councillors had the chance to view a first draft of the proposed changes to Beach Road due to take place this winter in line with the Mineral Tramways schedule. The main work that is to be carried out is a narrowing of Beach road with build outs on the junctions similar to the construction at Greenfield Terrace. There will also be a pavement on the Southern side of Beach Road.

The village Square is also due to be altered to slow traffic and make it more "pedestrian friendly" The Minerals Tramway team have asked for suggestions for an "iconic" centrepiece that represents the village. Some early suggestions are an anchor, an ore tram, village clock, tide predictor, bronze surfboard! Any suggestions to the Tram care of the Post Office please.

The Greenfield Gardens project has now been passed over to the PIC, bringing to an end a very successful project for the Parish Council. Our final task was to spend the remaining funding on stainless steel benches, these are now in the procurement process and will be in place for the proposed spring grand opening. A big thank you to Jean Oates for keeping track of the funding to Nigel Mathews for overseeing the project and Sara Clasper for her constant work and attention to detail.

The harbour moves on despite the lack of Lottery funding. The new harbour steering committee is chaired by the very capable Doug Coates and a first stage feasibility study is in the process of commission. In the next edition of the Tram I hope to publish the results.

Chris Watts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Primary School

School Harvest Festival at St Mary's Church at 2pm on Wednesday 4
October 2006.

Breakfast club is starting after half term 30 October 2006 from 8am -
8.40am every day - offers of help welcomed or ideas for activities or
just come along for breakfast!

We are also in the process of making a school garden. Any hints or
help from gardeners in the village would be much appreciated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Harbour Fun day. Sunday 20th Aug 2006

The day dawned grey as we worked away,
all feeling unsure , what would happen today.
Not long to go now , we look to the sky,
its looking much better I hope it stays dry.
Well all we can do has now been done,
with minutes to go," HERE COMES THE SUN".

Grey clouds draw back the blue curtain appears,
just in time to allay way all our fears .
We planned all year with nothing overlooked,
the I's had been dotted & checked all was booked.

OH, what a great day full of action and fun,
the team worked so hard to raise a good sum.
Now tired hands to the job, lets pack away,
it will all happen again, another year another day.

Thanks are not enough for what everybody has done,
The rewards we have gained are friends working as one.

This is dedicated to Richard who without his support I could not have
done it,
The committee =Fiona, Shirley, Beverly, Duncan, Callum, Roselyne, John &
Doris .
Friends =
Alex, Radar, Elise, James, Mat, Sue, Di, Colin, Shane, Ben, Scott, Kate, Sarah
Lisa, The Tonkins, The Williams, The Ruddocks, Richard our celebrity,
Paul & Cilla.
Doug & the harbour assoc ,for all their co operation & boat trips. The
Last note Singers.
The Retreat for scrummy cakes, David Nicholas for trailer & use of
field, Thai Quando club
Portreath Surf life Saving Club ,Our D.J Mark Stephens who brought
the event together .
Our Sponsors =
Cornish Fixings, Cornish coffee co, Philip Whear, Gwel an mor,
Skinners, Kehelland garden centre.
& everyone who helped make this day a great success .
My Sincere thanks Pamela Christ ( Chairman )
P.S it's not too soon to enrol for next year
P.P.S We are still waiting for final payments to be made but we
expect our profit to be in excess
of £1,000 which will be allocated to Local organisations and Clubs.

A,G,M Meeting, 1st November ,The Portreath
Institute 7.30 p.m. All Welcome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Artist

Catherine Dennis

Is Exhibiting at Helston Museum

A Selection of

Painting

Drawing

Printmaking

Sat 14th Oct – Fri 27th Oct

14th – 20th : 10am – 1pm

21st – 27th : 10am – 4pm

Closed Sunday 01326 564027

Free Entry to Kerrier Residents

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parish Council Report

Footpaths

All the footpaths within the Parish have now been trimmed and cleaned including the removal of fallen trees at the entrance to Footpath No. 7 at Bridge.

Greenfield Gardens

The newly provided grassed areas in Greenfield Gardens have now received the first cut and the temporary fencing should be removed by the time this article goes to press. These areas will continue to be cut by Kerrier District Council Staff but responsibility for the Gardens will shortly be taken over by the Portreath Improvements Committee.

Most of the planting has been carried out but, later in the season, several hundred daffodil bulbs will be planted which should make a wonderful display in the Spring when it is hoped that an Official Re-opening Ceremony will be carried out.

Orders have been placed for the supply of seats and litter bins which will be installed during the

Autumn/Winter period.

Highway Matters

The strengthening of Sunnyvale Road at the rear of Rose Villa Farm has been carried out by the County Council and a short length of fencing erected along this length.

Designated Public Place Order

The Designated Public Place (Portreath) Order 2006 came into effect on 31st August and covers the following areas:-

The Harbour; Kingsley Terrace; The Pier; The Novelty Golf Course

and adjacent area of sand; the Seafront Car Park and Promenade;

Car Park in front of the Waterfront Inn; the area adjacent to and

Surrounding the Rescue Post, The Surf Life Saving Club and Speranza;

Beach Road between Tregea Hill and the junction with Chynance

Firework Display

Members of the Council resolved to fund the attendance of the St. Johns Ambulance personnel at the Bonfire and Firework Display to be held on Sunday 5th November.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Millennium Community Hall

presents

An evening of Classical Guitar Music

An evening of wine, cheese and classical guitar music will be held at the Portreath Millennium Community Hall on Friday 10th November 2006.

The music will be provided by Douglas McClure who will be playing a selection of romantic pieces for classical guitar. Douglas, an American who has lived in Portreath since 1999, studied classical guitar under the world famous Japanese guitarist Masakazu Ito. Douglas has chosen a programme for the evening which includes works by Llobet, Pio Barrios, Villa Lobos, Bach and Giulani.

The Millennium Hall Committee hope this special evening will be the first in a series of live musical events at the Hall.

The tickets cost £5.00, which will include two glasses of wine and cheese. Other refreshments will also be available. The doors open at 7.30 p.m.

We very much hope you will come and enjoy the music over a glass of wine with friends as a way of supporting your Community Hall.

Tickets will be available from:

The Post Office, Cost Cutters, the Square, Portreath

Jeremy Benjamin, Camberly, Penberthy Road, Portreath

Or by ringing Mrs. Jan Sowden on 01209 842960

Tickets will also be available on the door
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HELP REQUIRED WITH THE PORTREATH BROWNIES

If anyone would like to act as a Helper with the Brownies, I would be very pleased to hear from you. We meet for 1.5 hours on Mondays at 5.00 p.m. and your involvement would mean being there to help run games, assist the children with any badge work or projects (for example they are currently planning to put on a pantomime around Christmas time) and generally help keep watch over the children's various activities. Whether you would like to help every week, or every now and then, we can cater for all circumstances. This is a really enjoyable time and working with girls between the age of 7 and 11 certainly brings perspective to life !

Please ring Shena Watts, Guider for the Unit on 01209 843873

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HARBOUR LODGE

Living alone when life becomes something of a struggle can be a stressful business for the best of us, particularly as we grow older, and we begin to wonder if the time is coming when we might need to give up our home. Sometimes the options available don't seem to be exactly right for us. We don't feel ready for a care home, but living alone has become a daily struggle.

Local people now have an additional solution. Harbour House Care Home is opening a 'supported living' (sometimes called 'independent' living) bungalow, similar to the shared homes operated by charities such as 'Abbeyfield', but on a smaller scale. Just imagine not having to be worried by maintenance, gardening and utilities.

Harbour Lodge, situated in the grounds of the care home and opening this autumn, will be what the government calls an extra-care housing facility. It will become home for four individuals who by reason of age or frail health are finding it harder and harder to cope alone – or perhaps for those who just want more freedom from worry and chores. It has four lockable en-suite bed-sitting rooms, and shared use of the large lounge, kitchen-diner, gardens and laundry room.

An inclusive charge covers all rent, light and heating costs, council tax, water rates, maintenance, cleaning of the shared areas, and a daily main meal along with some basic provisions to help promote independence for breakfast and light snacks. Emergency call is available 24 hours a day, and a part-time housekeeper visits daily. A range of other support services, tailored to meet individual needs, can be arranged. It is even possible to participate in organised trips, activities or entertainment offered within the care home.

Should you eventually need care, we offer help in arranging this (if you wish it) and this care can be provided to you within the bungalow in the same way as if you were in your own home. We don't set out to take over, but to 'enable'.

Within this supportive environment residents are free to pursue their own independent lives and interests as they choose, from behind their own front door. This is not a care home but a private housing solution specifically set up to meet the needs of four independently minded people. You can be as independent as you like, or buy further support from a 'menu' of services available from the neighbouring care home such as hairdressing or help with a bath, or housekeeping assistance which might include laundry or cleaning of your own room, or additional pre-prepared snacks.

Enquiries should be directed, in the first instance, to Mrs Sarah Eustice, Manager at Harbour House, who will be happy to show you around and to discuss your personal situation in confidence. Please telephone Sarah on 01209 843276 for an informal discussion or to arrange an appointment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greenfield Gardens

September....the new gardener has got to grips with the weeds, bark
chippings have arrived from Kehelland and Peter is mulching around
all the plants .Hopefully by now two new stainless steel seats and
one litter bin have been ordered and will be in place by early
spring.

We are planning to have an official opening around March/
April. The bowls club have kindly donated 100 bulbs for the park, I
have approached the school and together with classes 4/5 we will
plant them in October. Hopefully the grass has been cut by the time
this is printed, Kerrier have agreed to maintain the grass and litter
bin.

New signs for the park are on their way, we have decided to stick
with the old style of sign of which there are two signing the park
still [ green and white ].

Since writing this article for the last Parish Tram I have had generous

offers of help to keep the park looking nice, a few people have chosen

special areas they helped plant and regularly go and weed.

A popular idea for one of the round areas is to plant a specimen tree

in the centre and have seats around the tree, it could provide shade

in the summer .....hopefully this will go ahead as soon as we can agree

on what type of tree!

I do hope that everyone has visited the new park , the fences are
down and the paths are waiting to be walked on. The P.I.C. would be
pleased to hear any more ideas you have for the park, it is for us
all to enjoy and I think it looks great, my little boy especially
likes running along the sunken seating. I believe the garden will
grow over the years and become a real asset to our village.

Sara Clasper member PIC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did Portreath Harbour win the Lottery?

Don't we all dream of 'Lady Luck' bringing us home a cool Lotto million? By a stroke of good fortune Portreath was plunged into a massive 25 million pound bid by the County Council for money from the Big Lottery Fund in their Living Landmarks programme.

Cornwall Enterprise put together the plans for the regeneration of five Cornish harbours. We lined up alongside Falmouth, Newquay, Newlyn and Looe in an impressive appeal for half the cost of the countywide programme. From thousands of applicants throughout the UK we made it through the first selection and the Lottery panel of experts came here on a two-day review. We showed them Portreath and shared with them our vision to bring the harbour back to life and regenerate it as a living and working asset for the local community.

Our hopes were high even though the lottery lady boss told us they don't hand out 25 million quid lightly. Alas her words were a prophetic caution and - just like the lottery – that day our numbers didn't come up; though Cornwall did have success with two other bids. The Heartland Project for a regeneration programme in Pool has been selected to go through to compete in the next stage of their Living Landmarks Lottery funding bid and Eden's bid for 50 million is also through to the second selection, so congratulations to both of them.

Well Portreath didn't win the lottery and that certainly is not good news but I don't believe it should be seen as an end but rather the beginning. Now we have the panacea out of the way we can look at the assets available and come up with a revised, and probably better solution.

Being part of that bid was in its self an asset. The experience of working alongside the other multi-million pound harbour development programmes helped us refine our objectives. It gave us a platform. We were able to show the whole county our historic inheritance, this much overlooked port that had once been the trade lifeline to the copper and tin industry that in bygone years had raised Redruth & Camborne to be among the richest towns – not just in Britain but in the whole world – Portreath is now back in the spotlight.

Our community programme to own what must be our greatest asset and to make it better for all is firmly placed on the agenda before Kerrier District Council & the County. Now with World Heritage Site status time is right to take action on all of the suggestions put to us by the village at the open day earlier this year.

With a very modest budget the Parish Council's Regeneration committee have commissioned a feasibility study to examine the sustainable viability of the harbour development plan. Consultants will report on the business potential for more leisure boats in the harbour & evaluate the advantages of a larger and better-serviced fishing fleet. Planners will assess the effect a more vibrant village will have on all of us and our visitors. Environmental experts will consider global warming and flood risk issues and look at ways to deal with the pollution problems.

Still a lot to do and finding another five million certainly will not be as easy as winning the lottery but our little village has a rugged history of fighting and winning, and we will win this one.

Doug Coates, Chairman Harbour Steering Committee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portreath Improvements Committee

Christmas Lights 2006

Orders now being taken

The PIC are pleased to continue our Christmas Lights project.

There are 6 wall brackets in stock for new users but we can get more if needed and as usual newcomers to the scheme also get a set of lights and a tree for no charge. Indoor window lights are available as an alternative (one set per household)

For previous users the trees will be at cost price.

To apply for your Christmas tree and lights please phone Elaine or Nigel Sillence on 843515 before Friday 1st December.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carers Group

We are a group of carers from Portreath who meet regularly for fun and relaxation. We have been running for almost two years and are always looking for new members.

We have just finalised our program for the next six months;

October 3rd- Pitch and Putt, Hayle

November 29th- "That'll Be The Day" Hall for Cornwall

December 12th- Carnon Downs Café and Garden Centre

January 18th- Tate Gallery St Ives, Tour and Lunch (to be confirmed)

February 10th- Ten Pin Bowling, Truro

March 22nd- Penventon Hotel. Swim, Sauna and lunch

If you are a carer and would be interested in any of the above please contact;

Cath 842797 or Janet 842658 for more details.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Bonfire and Firework Display

Will be held on Sunday 5th November

Bonfire 6:30

Fireworks 7:15

Please encourage visiting family and friends to use the FREE Park and Ride scheme to and from The Treasure Park (Gold Centre) New Portreath Road. Running from 5:30 to 8:30

Beach Café open The Shore Shop open

Please give realistic donations to this unique seafront event. Insurance premiums rise every year and monies collected on the night have to cover all costs. The more the donations, the better the next years display.

Please bring light sticks rather than sparklers.

Offers of timber and combustibles are NOT required this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VILLAGE CAROL SERVICE

WEDNESDAY 20TH DECEMBER, 2006

PORTREATH ARMS CAR PARK

7.00 P.M.

The Illogan Sparnon Silver Band will be playing both traditional and modern carols for the festive season and everyone is invited to attend.

Children from the MishMash Club and the Brownies are making lanterns especially for the event and the lantern procession will leave St. Mary's Church Hall at 6.50 p.m., walking down Sunnyvale Road to the Portreath Arms car park.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be provided to help keep us warm and in good voice !

We look forward to seeing you there.

NERVE GAS IS FOUND AT FORMER WEAPONS SITE

2006-08-24T16:38:00.000Z

11:00 - 24 August 2006
Traces of a deadly nerve gas have been found by specialists clearing dump sites at a former chemical weapons factory on the Westcountry coast. The secret Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke, near Redruth, manufactured about 20 tons of the nerve agent Sarin between 1954 and 1956 before the Government abandoned its offensive chemical capability. Now known as RAF Portreath, the facility was decommissioned and closed in 1977.

Seven years ago the Ministry of Defence (MoD) began investigating five sites - labelled A, B, C, D and E - which were used as dumping grounds during the break-up of the plant. They are known to contain asbestos, decontaminated plant, and small quantities of chemicals.

Remediation work started in May this year and the MoD has now revealed that traces of Sarin have been found in two of the pits after laboratory analysis.

It said a few parts per million had been found of methyl phosphonic acid (MPA) and isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA) - which were no more toxic than many household insecticides.

Dr Richard Soilleux, of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), said: "A similar minute quantity of MPA was found within a glass flask during investigations at dumpsite C in 2003.

"At that time, it was explained that MPA is a relatively harmless chemical and was a breakdown product from the decontamination processes that took place on all equipment before it was buried in the dumpsites.

"On this occasion the two chemicals found were also extremely diluted, and while MPA could be a skin and eye irritant for staff working within the vapour containment system, if they were not wearing appropriate protection. It is no more toxic than many insecticides approved for home use.

"IMPA is five times less toxic than MPA and is not even an irritant."

The laboratory's analysis of samples from the first six trial pits at dumpsite B, which has been fitted with a vapour containment system, has shown these samples are clear of chemical warfare agents.

At dumpsite C, work to temporarily relocate the heather covering this site is well under way and a water management system has been installed for irrigation.

By September, Defence Estates expects to have excavated about 100 cubic metres of waste and completed studies at four other sites.

Project manager Garth Weaver said: "The assessment study involves trial pits being dug at regular intervals across the sites to allow the team to collect soil and water samples.

"This has already started at dumpsite B and will enable us to obtain the best possible data to better inform the Environment Agency and other statutory regulators about what has been buried.

"The information collected will also enable the appropriate remediation work to be undertaken in agreement with the Environment Agency, in line with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

"It is highly unlikely that any chemical warfare agents were dumped when Nancekuke was decommissioned, but we are adopting a safety-first approach with trial pit digging work at dumpsites A, B and C. This is why people using the North Cornwall coastal path may have seen a large tent-like structure, which was erected in May over dumpsite B. All work takes place within this structure, which is the vapour containment system."

Work has also started at the former mine workings in the Kerriack Valley, with a local mining contractor carrying out works before the physical inspection of the mine later this year. It will provide information about the nature and extent of the waste in dumpsites D and E which are both mine shafts.

PORTREATH 'TOMBSTONERS' LEAPING 200FT INTO THE SEA

2006-08-24T16:34:00.000Z

09:00 - 24 August 2006
Police and lifeguards warned this week that children are risking life and limb by hurling themselves into the sea from a 200ft-high cliff at Portreath. They said it was "only a matter of time" before a youngster suffered a serious injury, or was killed.

The craze of jumping into the harbour entrance, which is known as tombstoning, has been popular at the seaside resort for years.

But police warned that children were putting themselves in serious jeopardy by leaping from greater heights this summer.

Acting Sgt Tim Roberts, the neighbourhood beat manager for Portreath, said: "Officers from the Redruth neighbourhood police team have had occasion to speak to children following complaints from the public.

"Basically, the individuals have shrugged off the officers' advice and just laughed. I would appeal to parents whose children are going to Portreath to check with them what they are doing there.

"With the heights involved, common sense says it is only a matter of time before someone is injured, or worse."

On Sunday afternoon, the West Briton pictured a 15-year-old boy jumping into the harbour entrance from an 80ft-high cliff ledge. After his father gave him permission to talk to our reporter, Tom Wilkins said: "I've been doing it for a month.

"It's a feeling of fear, but when you've done it, you can't believe it."

Asked if he thought he was putting himself at risk, Tom said: "I only do it when it's safe. "The weather needs to be clear and the sea quite calm."

Coastguards said they had received a number of 999 calls this summer from eyewitnesses worried about the safety of children leaping into the sea at Portreath. "The really keen ones are jumping 200ft into the mouth of the harbour," said Mark Roberts, the coastguard station officer in the village.

"They are running the risk of death or serious injury. We're only here to preserve life and safe life. It is a dangerous pursuit and we strongly advise them not to do it, but they won't listen to you."

The 200ft stretch of cliff that has become a popular jumping spot is known locally as "pepper pot", while the 80ft drop is labelled "high cliffs".

Cllr Ken Bowden, a member of Portreath Council and a former chairman of Kerrier Council, said: "They call it tombstoning. I think it's dangerous but they only do it when there's no surf. I don't know what the answer is - you cannot patrol the cliffs all the time."

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WAVES AT OUR SHORE

2006-08-23T15:22:00.000Z

11:00 - 19 August 2006
Utting out as it does into the Western Approaches and Atlantic swells, South West England is blessed with one of the best wave and tidal resources in the world. You only have to walk along any stretch of our 700-mile coastline to appreciate the awesome power of nature pounding the rocks below. But what if we could somehow harness that energy to power our homes and businesses - an endless supply that did not depend on burning fossil fuels and polluting the very environment on which so many of our livelihoods depend?

That was a question we were seeking to answer when we first commissioned a study called the Seapower SW Review back in 2003. It looked at the power of the waves and tides along our coast, how they might be used to generate electricity and what obstacles would need to be overcome.

It concluded that there was potential to "capture" wave energy from the Isles of Scilly to Ilfracombe in North Devon, while the Bristol Channel and parts of the south coast had strong tidal streams.

Combine this with fewer storms than Scotland and a strong electricity grid network near the coast and South West England was in pole position to harness the power of the sea.

Fast-forward three years and we have made great strides. In June, the South West RDA applied to the Government to build a revolutionary wave farm ten miles off the coast of Hayle, and on Thursday the Department of Trade and Industry announced that it would make up to £4.5 million available towards the £20 million total cost of the project, subject to the granting of relevant building consents.

The RDA is planning to match the level of Government funding, and will be making an application to European structural funds to cover the remainder of the costs. The project is now waiting for the outcome of the consents process - which is expected by the end of the year.

An economic impact study published by the South West RDA last year showed that the project could create 700 jobs and be worth £27 million a year to the economy by 2020.

Called the Wave Hub, it would resemble a large electric socket on the seabed, connected to the National Grid via an underwater cable. Wave energy devices, of which there are several emerging around the world, would be attached to the Wave Hub.

What makes this project unique is that the developers would have, for the first time, an area of sea with full planning permission, a grid connection and the opportunity to test their devices on a scale that has not been tried anywhere else in the world. Although only a demonstrator project, the Wave Hub could generate enough electricity to power 7,500 homes, which is three per cent of Cornwall's domestic electricity needs. More importantly, it would position South West England as a world leader in the development of wave energy technology, potentially creating hundreds of jobs in the future.

The Wave Hub would employ about 140 people during its development and construction, but developers would need to manufacture, deploy, operate and maintain their wave energy devices, and it is anticipated that much of this work would be carried out in Cornwall and the wider region.

We are also talking to ING, the developers of Hayle Harbour, to ensure that there would be workspace provided as part of its redevelopment plans to accommodate this activity.

As part of our planning application, we have had to carry out very detailed environmental impact studies, looking at everything from wave heights to the effects of electro-magnetic fields on sharks and dolphins.

Since those studies were published two months ago, there has been much debate about one issue in particular - the impact of the devices using the Wave Hub on the quality of surf on Cornwall's north coast.

It's true to say that wave energy devices, by their nature, absorb power from the waves and convert it into electricity. But what many people have seized upon is the worst case scenario from our studies, rather than what we believe will actually happen.

What our studies have shown is that in the most likely case, the height of waves coming ashore along a narrow stretch of coast between Portreath and Penhale could be five per cent lower as a result of the Wave Hub. This is less than two inches in a 3ft wave.

We also looked at a worst case scenario because we have to demonstrate to the Government that we have considered a wide range of options. This assumed that a certain type of wave device was connected to the Wave Hub. In this case, the impact could be a maximum 11 per cent reduction in wave height but there are in fact no plans for that particular device to be installed.

In promoting the Wave Hub project, we have consulted both the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and the British Surfing Association (BSA) for more than a year.

SAS has been unequivocal in its support and has published a policy statement saying that it does not believe surfers will notice a five per cent reduction in wave height and that even the worst case scenario "should not result in a substantial reduction in surf quality".

The BSA has also signalled its support in principle but does continue to have some concern about the impact on wave height and we will continue to work with the surfing community to address these issues.

The Wave Hub is a demonstrator project that still needs planning permission and further funding before it becomes a reality.

If, as we hope, it becomes operational in the spring or summer of 2008, we will need to monitor closely how it performs before any future wave farms are even considered. And none of those would happen without consulting with all interested parties.

The Government's recent Energy Review called for a five-fold increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable resources because of the pressing need to tackle global warming and climate change.

We believe that the Wave Hub would play a vital role towards achieving that goal.

ARMED FORCES TO TAKE PART IN HELICOPTER EXERCISES

2006-08-23T15:21:00.000Z

11:00 - 23 August 2006
Hundreds of members of the Armed Forces will be taking part in a massive helicopter exercise over Cornwall and Devon next month. The airborne phases of the exercise, codenamed Grey Cormorant, will form part of a wider amphibious deployment. The training has been designed to ensure members of all three Armed Forces are ready for any action around the world.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This training will help military personnel of all ranks to improve their skills in ship-to-ship and ship-to-land movements. We have to make sure they are ready for every eventuality before they are deployed anywhere around the world."

The exercise is due to run from Monday, September 4 until Friday, September 22. Aircraft involved will include Chinooks, Sea Kings, Merlins and Lynx.

Most of the flying will take place over the sea but there will also be some activity inland. Areas where activities are likely include Culdrose, Portreath and Predannack in Cornwall and in Devon at Barnstaple, Chivenor, Fremington Burrows and Braunton Burrows.

The whole exercise will be monitored by representatives from the MoD.

PROJECTS MISS OUT ON £50M LOTTERY GRANT

2006-08-11T09:41:00.000Z

11:00 - 10 August 2006
Some of the region's leading projects were yesterday dusting themselves down after experiencing the disappointment of failing to reach the shortlist for a possible £50 million Lottery grant. Hundreds had submitted plans for a share of the Living Landmarks coffers but only three projects have made it through to the next stage of the competition: The Eden Project, Somerset's Waterlinks and Kerrier in Cornwall.

Those left disappointed far outweigh the success stories. In Plymouth, the campaign to create an Olympic-standard sports facility, despite being rejected by Living Landmarks, continues.

Cornwall fishing ports have been set back, too, after a harbours regeneration plan was thrown out. And in East Devon and Dorset, there was a major setback after the World Heritage site, the Jurassic Coast, was unexpectedly turned down.

The plans were to create a series of visitor centres along the coast. In Exmouth, there were hopes for a high-tech interpretation centre featuring displays on the Jurassic Coast and the Exe Estuary wildlife. In Seaton, there would have been a centre looking at the local geology, wildlife and landscapes.

East Devon District Council's corporate director for the environment, Karime Hassan, said: "We now need to take stock and consider how we go forward in progressing these two centres, to celebrate East Devon's Jurassic Coast and help regenerate important coastal towns such as Seaton and Exmouth."

At Lyme Regis, West Dorset, a cultural quarter project would have addressed the natural and cultural heritage of the area. Those behind the project, collectively known as Evolution, have vowed to continue in their bid to bring it to fruition.

Dorset County Council's cabinet member for the environment, Hilary Cox, said: "This is not the end of the road for Evolution and all projects will continue to develop and look for alternative sources of funding."

Elsewhere in Cornwall, there have been mixed emotions to the Living Landmarks announcement. While the Eden Project and a scheme to create a park and visitors' centre in Pool have made it to the next round, The Harbours Project was omitted. The five harbours were Newlyn, Falmouth, Looe, Newquay and Portreath.

The plans included in the Cornish Harbours bid were: a new multi-use fish market building at Newlyn; the refurbishment of an Edwardian pier and the provision of a new marine college at Falmouth; a new promenade for the seafront at East Looe; an events area and seafront pathway at Newquay, and the development of a community marina at Portreath.

Newquay Fishermen's Association chairman Bill Trebilcock said: "The harbours that were included in the bid all need investment. People come to Cornwall to see quaint little harbours. If they are left to continue crumbling as they currently are then people won't want to come back."

The Heartlands Project aims to create world-class facilities involving leisure, health and community uses in Pool but the minds behind the scheme were left disappointed when they too failed to make it through to stage two.

The hope is to create a replacement for Carn Brea Leisure Centre with new health facilities, spa and active adventure centre on publicly-owned land next to the Tesco Extra at Dudnance Lane, Pool.

Spyrys was not the only leisure facility project to be left disappointed. In Plymouth yesterday, council bosses vowed to continue their fight to create the £54 million Life Centre.

Having received the backing of thousands of city residents and Sports England, the council has said it will continue to press ahead with the plans to create the leisure complex in Central Park.

Managers were yesterday looking at alternative funding for the scheme which would include a 50-metre swimming pool, as well as top quality facilities for health, music and drama.

Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund head of region for the South West, said: "We made it clear to applicants only a handful of projects would eventually be awarded a grant. Each long-listed application was considered in great detail."

Portreath Arts Club

2006-08-04T16:22:00.000Z

Show by its 28 members who work in various media including watercolour, acrylic, pastel and oils. Founder member Beth Berriman, aged 86, is a renowned watercolour artist.

The club's annual show is at the institute, from 10am to 7pm daily from Monday, August 7 to Saturday 12.

Members are of various ages and abilities and experience varies widely. Entry to the show is free and all visitors are welcome.

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACK OPENS AT PORTREATH

2006-08-01T11:21:00.000Z

One of the biggest mountain bike and dirt cross centres was offically opened recently.

For the first time, Cornwall has its own nationally recognised permanent five acre site for slalom, dirt and mountain bike riding at the track at Portreath.

Thousands of people enjoyed the opening the glorious conditions, it was a fitting climax to all the hard work put in by Steve Tonkin and his crew, and yet this is now just the beginning of a adventurous business venture for Cornwall.

The degree of professionalism by this group of young people was astounding, not only were all safety procedures in place, marshals, ambulance pa etc but the whole event ran off in a really enjoyable atmosphere.

It the only facility of its kind in the UK and after two years of hard work it is a project for one and all to believe in.

The vision is to give everyone an off road experience at an offical centre and stage national events.

The event was given further support as Bike Chain -Ricci enjoyed theit 21st birthday celebrations. They managed to get Cannondale,Trek,Norco, Marin, Cove, Maverick and Kona to attend with their huge demo truks hundreds of people enjoyed their free test rides further increasing the popularity of the track.

The presence of these leading manufacturers meant the cycle industry is fully aware of the quality of this Cornish facility.It will feature in several new events and top mountain bike magazines.

YOUNG LIFESAVERS MAKING WAVES

2006-08-01T11:09:00.000Z

11:00 - 01 August 2006
The stamina and fitness of hundreds of young lifesavers was put to the test in challenging conditions as part of a national competition held in the Westcountry. Teams from Devon and Cornwall dominated the National Nippers Surf Life Saving Championships by garnering the top three spots.

More than 550 youngsters, aged from seven to 13, took part in the event, held at Portreath on Cornwall's north coast.

They competed in a range of challenges on the water and the beach to test their fitness and skills. These included open-water swims, beach sprints, and wading events.

The competition went ahead despite rain, strong winds, and a strong Atlantic swell, which saw huge waves crashing on to the beach.

John Martin, director of sports with the Surf Life Saving Association, which organised the event, said: "This was the best event we have ever had and we enjoyed the highest number of participants.

"We only had to cancel two events, despite the adverse conditions, which just goes to show how able and experienced these young lifesavers are."

The team from Woolacombe in North Devon finished top, while the hosts Portreath came in second overall, and Saunton Sands, also in North Devon, came third.

Last year's winners, from The Mumbles near Swansea, could only manage fourth this year.

Mr Martin said: "It was a very strong showing from Devon and Cornwall this year in tough conditions.

"I would like to thank the 80 volunteers who helped out with event safety to make sure it could all go ahead."

COMMUNITIES 'INVITED' TO STORE NUCLEAR WASTE

2006-08-01T11:07:00.000Z

COMMUNITIES 'INVITED' TO STORE NUCLEAR WASTE

11:00 - 01 August 2006
Communities across the Westcountry could be invited to provide a home for a massive new radioactive waste dump under proposals put forward yesterday for dealing with the legacy of Britain's nuclear industry. In its final report on dealing with the tens of thousands of tonnes of waste generated by the civil and military nuclear programmes the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management said an underground dump remained the best option - despite the difficulty of identifying a site.

The committee, which was set up to advise the Government two and a half years ago, said action was needed immediately to begin the process of identifying potential sites for the £10 billion facility.

Past attempts to identify sites for dumping nuclear waste have provoked massive hostility from communities across the country. But the committee said evidence from countries like Finland suggested it was possible to convince communities that hosting a waste repository could bring benefits, such as jobs and investment.

It said that around a third of the UK was geologically suitable for hosting a deep repository, including large areas of the Westcountry.

Committee chairman Professor Gordon MacKerron urged ministers to appoint a new body to work with communities on bringing forward suitable sites. He said any attempt to impose a dump would be doomed to failure.

He added: "It is vital that the Government no longer tries to impose radioactive waste management facilities on communities because we have about 30 years of experience of that and we know it never works; it always runs into the sand. Instead, we are proposing there should be an approach in which communities are invited to be 'willing to participate'."

Even if willing communities are found it is likely to take at least 35 years to develop the dump needed to house Britain's huge quantities of intermediate level nuclear waste. The committee said that new above-ground storage facilities should be developed to house it in the meantime. Previous attempts to find a home for an underground waste dump have ended in failure.

Last year, it emerged that more than a dozen locations across the Westcountry had been considered as potential sites in the 1980s. Although none made the final shortlist several survived a long way through the selection process, including Chivenor in North Devon, Hinkley Point in Somerset, and St Mawgan, Tregantle, Portreath and Davidstow in Cornwall.

All these sites could be considered, although most observers believe that, if the dump is built, it is likely to be at an existing nuclear facility.

The long lead-in time means that the nuclear reactors from submarines decommissioned at Devonport are likely to be stored above ground for many years to come. Devonport is home to four defuelled submarines and another two awaiting decommissioning.

The submarines' 600-tonne reactors will eventually need to be dumped in the new waste repository, although they are likely to be cut up and stored elsewhere in the meantime. Devonport has already made it clear that it has no plans store the reactors above ground in the long term.

Greenpeace described the plan for a deep underground dump as an "environmental time bomb".

Parish Tram Issue 13

2006-07-10T17:07:00.000Z

PORTREATH IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE

BEACH CAR PARK

The recent increase in car parking charges has caused an uproar amongst some villagers and visitors to our village, others have expressed some concern at the increase, there are those who are indifferent and a few who actually agree with it. Not surprisingly this varied reaction is also reflected amongst the members of the committee. It is in fact the sort of reaction one will find in any society or group of people. That is not to say that those who object to the event, in this case the increase of charges, should be ignored. Ideally the community should have received notification and an explanation of the increases before they came into operation. I apologise for this omission and hopefully such a thing will not happen again. At the last committee meeting it was decided that the PIC activities and involvement in the village should be reported in the Parish Tram. This should help residents of Portreath to understand why some things seem to happen without any apparent reason. It may also encourage residents to put themselves up for election to the committee at the AGM each January and so help our community.

Before I deal with the increase in charges a little background may be helpful. The present situation goes back to 1963 when the PIC was reconstructed. The PIC owns the car park and a number of other properties in the village. As a charitable trust the PIC is not allowed to operate commercially. A company was formed to operate the car park on behalf of the PIC. The company, Portreath Association Ltd does not make a profit. It pays the balance of income less the relatively few expenses, to the PIC as rent for the car park. This income is used by the PIC in accordance with its constitution. In summary these objects are: -

(i) to provide and maintain a village hall and playing fields with relevant equipment

(ii) to protect and maintain the sea coast in and around the village

(iii) to provide and maintain public seats, paths and shelters

(iv) to preserve and enhance the beauty of the village and surrounding countryside

(v) it may also give financial assistance to other organisations and village organisations if such assistance is to be used for charitable purposes

Now while one could look at the above objects and feel that they have not all been attended to,

it is worth pointing out that there is a village hall, playing field with equipment for the children of the village, a bus shelter, a number of small gardens about the village, a number of benches in the village and surrounding countryside. All this has to be maintained and at times repaired or replaced because of damage by villagers or visitors to the village. Last year we paid part of the cost of removing silt from the harbour, we made a number of donations to village organisations for specific purposes (some requests were turned down as requests are not automatically granted). It seems that people do not think twice about dropping litter on village streets, we pay for this to be picked up. Greenfield gardens have been rebuilt and will soon become the responsibility of the PIC. The maintenance of this will increase our outgoings in the future. Indeed any additional facility provided increases our annual costs.

Now back to the parking charges. The decision to increase, and the scale of the increase, was not made by the PIC, it was made by the directors of PAL the company that manages the car park. Three of the five directors of PAL are appointed by the PIC. At board meetings these three directors have to consider the commercial needs of the company as well as the position and needs of the PIC. There are times when these may seem in conflict and judgements have to be made. The reason why a decision on charges had to be made was that as a result of increased use of the car park the turnover of PAL had reached the level at which the company was legally required to register for VAT. The effect of this was a 17.5% tax on the car park income which would flow through as a reduction, by the same amount, in the PIC income. VAT is a sales tax and is passed on to consumers. The increase was more than the 17.5% lost to VAT but it was thought that the additional amount should give the PIC a little more revenue to carry out its obligations. It was felt that the car park was still an attractive proposition for beach users. Those who feel that this is not justified because Portreath has nothing to offer, or it is detrimental to local business, should remember that the car park is adjacent to the beach which is very convenient for beach users. It is a beach car park and if people are on the beach they are likely to use the local shops and, importantly, the income from the car park is for the benefit of the village. For village inhabitants who want to use the car park the answer could be to buy a season ticket which allows parking all year for as long or short a period as you want.

Robert H Hamer

Treasurer

Portreath Improvements Committee

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting was held on 15th May and was attended by representatives of many of the Village organisations together with County and District Councillors and the Neighbourhood Beat Manager, P.C. Roberts. Several members of the public were also present

All the representatives were able to give very favourable positive reports on the many Village organisations. Both the County and District Council Reports were also very positive, intimating a very progressive future for the Parish.

The Chairman, Councillor C.J. Watts, reported on the success of the Dispersal Order during the last summer and referred to the possible implementation
of a Designated Public Place Order for the coming holiday season which would give the Police powers to prevent the consumption of alcohol in designated areas within the Village.

The Chairman also confirmed that funding of £360,000 has been awarded under the Mineral Tramways Project, towards improvements to be made in The Square, along Beach Road and the sea front car park - this part of the works has already commenced in the provision of new railings.

Annual meeting

At the annual Meeting of the Parish Council also held on 15th May Councillor Watts was re-appointed as Chairman for the coming year and Councillor Mrs. Butler was appointed as Vice Chairman.

Greenfield Gardens

Work on the upgrading of Greenfield Gardens has now been completed and a very successful 'Planting Day' was held on 22nd April when plants purchased from The Kehelland Garden Center were planted out by volunteers under the supervision of Councillor N Mathews; Ms. S. Clasper, Mrs. R. Varranneman-Eyre and Mrs. P. Krist. The seeding of the grassed areas has been carried out by the Contractors, R.H. Olds of Roseworthy, and, with the recent rain, it is hoped that the grassed areas will soon be ready for the first cut. It is anticipated that an Official Opening Ceremony will be arranged later in the season.

The Harbour

A presentation was made to the Members of the Lottery Funding Board on 21st May by the Councillor Watts, Chairman of the Council; Mr. D. Coates, the Chairman of the Harbour Association; Officials of Kerrier District Council and Cornwall Enterprise Ltd. Other Harbours involved in the Funding Application were also visited by the Lottery Board Members but the Portreath application is the only 'community based' proposal included in the application for funding.

Audit of Accounts

The audit of the Councils Accounts for the financial year ended 31st March 2006 has been successfully completed

Footpaths

An order has been issued for the trimming of the footpaths within the Parish and this work will commence shortly.

L Oates

Clerk to the Council
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beach Clean at Portreath

On Saturday April 1st Cornwall Wildlife Trust's junior members and their friends cleaned the beach at Portreath to find out what rubbish had been brought in on the previous day's high tide. 34 children and 32 adults worked from the strandline up to the top of the beach and found a variety of objects, ranging from small pieces of plastic to a huge entanglement of rope and fishing net (see photo). In total, 8 bags of rubbish were collected.

The families recorded the debris found on a special chart provided by the Marine Conservation Society as the results were to be sent to the MCS for inclusion in their national beach litter survey (see attached report). This beach has been cleaned by CWT for the last 3 years and after the event last year a letter was sent to the café owners, detailing the amount of plastic spoons found on the beach. Possibly as a result of this there was a noticeable drop in the amount of café-based debris this year.

After the beach clean the children and their friends were led on a Rockpool Ramble by Treve Opie from Cornwall College, and they were able to see sponges and anemones not usually visible but made accessible by the extreme low tide of the day.

These families came from as far away as Tintagel, Newquay and Porthleven; and for some it was the first time they had been to Portreath, although many said they would visit again in the future. Even some local kids who had come to surf joined in, and a good time was had by visitors and locals alike.

Alison Forward, Education Officer, Cornwall Wildlife Trust

WELL DONE PORTREATH BROWNIES !

Following the Brownies success in winning through to the final of the Halford Trophy, I am really pleased to report that following a fantastic competition, which all the Brownies really enjoyed, we came second – by 1.5 points !

The Final took place on Saturday 24th May at Penrice School, St. Austell, and we all travelled there together on a mini coach due to the kindness of the Portreath Improvements Committee paying for our coach. This certainly helped team spirit as they sang songs most of the way there and most of the way back !

We had a picnic lunch together once we got to Penrice and the competition started at 2.00. They had six challenges, which were all based on a water theme. All the children who attended were winners in their own right anyway having got as far as they did in this three yearly competition, so the final results were naturally close – the difference between the winning and losing Units was only 8 points !

Both the PIC and the Guiding Association offered to treat the Unit to a fish and chip supper on the way home, and although it wasn't possible to stop on Saturday evening, everyone can be assured the Brownies will be getting a very tasty treat for having done so well.

Thank you to everyone who supported us in this memorable event and well done to all the girls who were such good competitors.

Shena Watts

Unit Guider for the 1st Portreath Brownies

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTREATH MILLENNIUM
COMMUNITY HALL

This venue is available to everyone, and the Hall can be used for a wide range of activities. Any individuals or groups interested in booking the Hall should contact the Bookings Secretary Mrs. Jan Sowden on 01209 842960. Hire costs are £25.00 a session (3 hours) for the large Hall and the smaller meetings room can be booked for £8.00 per session and these fees include the use of the fully equipped kitchen.

If you wish to run an event and would like to publicise the information in the next Parish Tram, please send your copy to the Editor.

chris@parishtram.co.uk

or leave at the post office

BEAT – LINES

I am pleased to be able to report that since the last edition of ‘the Tram’ the policing of Portreath and Illogan has been boosted by the allocation of an extra resource. Police Community Support Officer Vikki WHITE has now joined me and will become a familiar sight in the village. Up until earlier this year funding arrangements meant that Police Community Support Officers (or PCSO’s) were not able to work in the area. Fortunately due to a change in the way that they are funded this has now changed.

Vikki’s presence within the local area represents another positive step in our efforts to improve the overall policing service that is provided to the village. She is very keen to meet with as many Portreath residents as possible and to work with the council, school and other groups to help improve the quality of life for all.

A message that I would like to convey is if you see Vikki or myself out on patrol - don’t be shy! We will always be pleased to speak with you - whether it is because you have an issue that you would like us to try and resolve or you just feel like having a chat - we will be delighted to meet you !
-

I would like to say a big thank you to those members of the community that helped with setting up and decorating the police office. It has certainly made it far more user friendly.

I have now held two surgeries within the new office – the response for the last one was a little disappointing – although I can’t blame anyone for choosing to go down to the beach as it was an exceptionally hot day !

The next surgery at the office will be held by Vikki on Saturday 22nd July 2006 from 2.00pm until 3.30pm.
-

TOWN CENTRES TO BECOME 'NO-GO AREAS' FOR ALCOHOL?

2006-06-28T21:02:00.001Z

09:30 - 18 May 2006
Virtually all the town centres of Camborne, Redruth and Helston could become "no go" areas for anti-social drinking and behaviour.

At its meeting last night, Kerrier Council considered a report on the making of "Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs)" under the Criminal Justice and Police Act.

If approved, these will give police power to stop people drinking anything which they think may be alcoholic, or surrender any container which they believe may contain alcohol.

The local authority - in this case Kerrier - has power to make a designation order when it is satisfied that nuisance to the public has been associated with the drinking of alcohol in any given location.

It will not, however, be an offence to drink alcohol in those specific places until a police officer requests a person to stop drinking, at which point it becomes an arrestable offence.

The council was told that the order "is a measure to help control anti-social drinking and related behaviour by adults".

The discussion is particularly timely as police were concerned about the amount of drinking in public places throughout the day at Helston Flora nearly a fortnight ago.

With 11 arrests and numerous reported incidents of violence and drink-related crime, police are now looking at preventing drinking in specific public places in and around the town in future years.

Two areas of the district already have DPPOs imposed - Illogan and Porthleven. Kerrier now wants to replace existing Alcohol Zone bye-laws with these DPPOs.

This will have to be done before the end of August since that is the date when the current bye-laws expire.

Police have already been consulted by Kerrier, and have identified areas which an order should cover; they must be places which are associated with trouble and any new powers should not be used "disproportionately or in an arbitrary fashion which could be the case if one isolated incident led to a designation order".

"Clearly," said Kerrier, "there should be evidence of an existing problem with an assessment as to the likelihood that the problem will continue unless those powers are adopted.

"Against this background, it is possible that a single, serious incident might be sufficient to justify adoption of the powers."

The designated areas, if approved, will be: Camborne - Recreation Ground, College Street from junction with Weeth Lane to Wellington Road, Rectory Road from junction with Manor Road to Church Street, Church Street, Wellington Road, Commercial Street, Commercial Square, Basset Road from junction with Basset Street to Church Street, Trevithick Road, Church Lane, Victoria Street, Union Street, Trelowarren Street, Gas Street, Chapel Street, Gurneys Lane, Gurneys Mews, Rosewarne Road and Car Park, Vyvyan Row, Vyvyan Street, North Road, The Cross, New Connexion Street, Fore Street, Cross Street, Hoopers Lane, The Spinney, Camborne Churchyard and Cemetery.

Redruth - Harmony Close, West End from junction with Coach Lane to Fore Street, Coach Lane, Chapel Street, Little Vauxhall, Plain-an-Gwarry, Close Hill, Tolgus Hill from junction with Little Vauxhall, North Street, Green Lane, Fore Street, Higher Fore Street, East End from Higher Fore Street to junction with School Lane, School Lane, Victoria Park, Alma Place, Back Lane West, Cross Street, Station Hill, Station Road, Falmouth Road, Church Lane, Treruffe Hill, Bond Street, Penryn Street, Gas Lane, Lemins Court, Clinton Passage.

Portreath - The Harbour, Kingsley Terrace, The Pier, The Novelty Golf Course and adjacent area of sand, Seafront Car Park and Promenade

Car Park in front of the Waterfront Inn, area adjacent to and surrounding the Rescue Post, the surf life saving club and Speranza, Beach Road between Tregea Hill and the junction with Chynance.

CROWDS FLOCK TO FESTIVAL OF SPEED

2006-06-28T20:47:00.000Z

09:00 - 22 June 2006
It was a chance for thrill-seekers to open the throttle and push their machines to the limit - with not a single traffic police officer in sight. Some 200 motorcycle and car enthusiasts descended on RAF Portreath over the weekend to roar down its runway during the traditional Run What You Brung festival of speed.

Watched by big crowds, many of the adrenaline junkies topped 150mph while one dragster nudged 200mph, the fastest time at the event.

"It was fantastic - the exhilaration, the smells, the speeds - it was just like being a kid again," said the Rev Mike Firbank, a curate at Illogan, Portreath and Pool who enjoyed the racing with his wife, Kathryn, and their family.

Sitting astride a 1,450cc Suzuki dragster, Keith Bowden, formerly of Helston and now living at Plymouth, clocked 154mph during a series of runs on Sunday.

"It's like riding an exocet missile with a feeling of, please let me get to the end," he said. "I starting drag racing in the 1960s when we used to go to Santa Pod. It's fantastic to have this opportunity to do the same thing at RAF Portreath."

His brother, Phil, who reached 148mph on his Suzuki GSX R1000cc, agreed. "The buzz is the speed and the great atmosphere that is always generated here," he said.

Dominic Gallagher, also from Helston, summed up the appeal of the event after tearing down the runway at 160mph on his Honda CBR 600cc: "It's a complete feeling of freedom and adrenaline."

The two-day spectacular, organised by the Celtic Marauders motorcycle club, attracted drivers and riders from all over Cornwall and further afield, including a 10-strong group of bikers from Surrey.

Club spokeswoman Glynis Barrington-Smith said the twice-yearly event continued to grow in popularity and added: "There's nowhere else in Cornwall where bikers can go and make these runs in such a safe environment."

She thanked all those who had helped the event run smoothly, including personnel from RAF Portreath.

Adam Smith, the base's liaison officer who took charge of his ninth Run What You Brung, said: "This is a unique occasion which has exceeded a lot of expectations. People who come here want to have a good time and that makes a real difference. The grins on their faces make it all worthwhile."

Theft at Bridge

2006-06-17T17:53:00.000Z

Police were this week searching for burglars who broke into the Bridge pumping station, near Portreath, and stole tools.

The intruders also stole a set of keys from the compound to gain entry to a secure storage container.

The break-in happened between 3.30pm on May 26 and 7.30am on May 30.

Elsewhere, police were seeking a man who kicked a green Ford Focus, damaging the car, before he fled the scene of the attack at Barripper, near Camborne. The incident happened between 9pm and 9.30pm on May 24.

Parish Tram Issue 12

2006-04-22T08:37:00.000Z

Greenfield Gardens

The Parish Council's Regeneration Team has recently had considerable success with securing funding for Greenfield Gardens. Members submitted plans for a make over of the property and applied for funding from various sources resulting in £48,000 for a complete re modelling.

Ground work started in early February and is scheduled for completion in late March. The work is being carried out by R.H. Olds Amenity Landscapers of Roseworthy Camborne.

Planting of low maintenance ground cover and shrubs is being organised by Portreath Improvements Committee to be carried out on the 22nd April. Grass seeding will take place by the contractors as soon as the weather is suitable. The gardens should be ready for re- opening in late July.

Portreath Improvements Committee will be taking ownership by way of a 999 year lease. This will secure the Gardens for the village and ensure the maintenance of the property.

This project has been a village team effort, with the Parish Council, Regeneration Team and the Portreath Improvements Committee working together.

Funding for the project came from the Portreath Improvements Committee, Portreath Parish Council, Kerrier District Council and Objective One Rural Key Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEAT LINES

In my last article I referred to a project that I was working on and promised to give an update on it in this edition. By the time that you read this the project will have been featured in the local press so forgive me for any repetition. For an initial six month trial period I have arranged (with the considerable assistance of Rev Mike Kippax) to have the use of a police office within the village. The office is located at the entrance to St Mary's Church in Penberthy Road. It is my intention to use the office as a place to hold regular surgeries where I hope to meet local people and discuss any concerns that they may have. It will also be useful to use when necessary as a 'drop in' base when I am conducting enquiries or patrolling in the area.

I will only be able to use the office on an adhoc basis. I will therefore produce a notice which I intend to update regularly giving a definite time and date when I will next be in the office and available. I hope to be able to display the notice within the information board at the front of the church.

I would ask you to be mindful that it is NOT A POLICE STATION. It is not fitted with a computer and whilst there I will not have access to any of the other resources normally found within a station. If you are the unfortunate victim of a crime do not delay reporting it. Please use the reporting procedures that are already in place. The contact number to use to report a crime is 08452 777 444.

I hope that the office will prove to be a benefit to the community and will make the police more accessible. I guess that a measure of its success will be how often it is used. I'll try to be there on a regular basis so please keep an eye on the information board and come in for a chat!

A good example of what you might want to come and tell me about is the misuse of motorcycles. I am advised that there is a current problem within the village with what are now are commonly known as 'mini motos'. Apart from the size and the fact that a mini motos are often sold as a toys there really is no difference between a them and a normal motorcycle.

A mini moto must be used on private ground with the necessary permission of the landowner. If it is used on a road or other public place it must be registered, insured and taxed and the rider must hold the relevant licence.

The police have powers under certain circumstances to seize vehicles that are being used to cause annoyance. If mini motos continue to be used inappropriately within the village I will seek to seize them under these powers. If you have concerns about the way that these machines are being used please let me know. I will take action against those responsible.

On the other hand if you are the owner or rider of a mini moto please ensure that you use it in accordance with the law and with respect for those that live around you. I really would prefer not to have to seize your machine!!

PC TIM ROBERTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PORTREATH VILLAGE CENTRE ENHANCEMENT

An Officer of Cornwall County Council, Nigel Sumpter, has been appointed to take forward to completion the enhancement proposals for the Beach Front Car Park, Beach Road and The Square. This will be done as part of the overall Mineral Tramways Project and will (literally) be building on the local ideas and consultation results for this area.

The Car Park will be the first location for enhancement works mostly over the Autumn and Winter period starting later this year with works in Beach Road and The Square planned for the following Autumn/Winter. This will avoid all works taking place together. Ownership access and highway consultation and agreements are also less involved for the Car Park.

The appearance of the Car Park will be greatly improved as a modern high quality sea front location. Tenders have already been received for new stainless steel railings and the successful fabricator is local form P.R. Laffin Fabrications Limited of Pool.

The proposals for Beach Road and The Square will be progressed over the coming year and those potentially affected will be consulted with during the development of detailed proposals. The proposals will also be displayed locally later on this year for further final comment to help with finalising the designs.

The preferred route for the Portreath Branchline Trail is along the length of the Incline and continuing on the tramway to Illogan. Preparatory work to treat the knotweed at the bottom of the main structure and vegetation clearance within the lower section has already started as the legal process to confirm the route a public bridleway gets underway beginning with an application to the Secretary of State to post site notices publishing the Trail proposals. All the necessary consents have been obtained to treat the Listed section following confirmation of the public right of way, safe guarding public access to this locally important heritage structure

All involved are committed to ensuring that the proposals respond to local wishes and will retain and enhance the character of Portreath.

Nigel Sumpter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incline Project

The Church/Community Incline Project meet approximately every 6-8 weeks. Very soon leaflets and flyers will be around the village promoting the work of Incline so do look out for them.

Incline continues to support the Wednesday Table Tennis Club in the Church Hall on Wednesdays 7.00-9.30, very soon we hope to have secured a second table for this growing group. The Bellydance Group meet alternate Thursdays in the same hall but starting at 7.30 until 9.00.

Once the dancing stops, on a monthly basis the group meet for a Book Club and have so far enjoyed Junk by Melvin Burgess (highly recommended), with Snow Falling On Cedars by David Guterson being the current read. The Bellydance and the Book Club are currently full but if you do want to know more, and also to help us to assess demand, do phone Terry on 01209 843181.

Mish Mash for the children has stopped after running for 18 months, but after Easter it is hoped, subject to funding, to start Mish Mash Family Mornings...time for parents, carers to join the Mish Mash children for exciting and creative activities.

In addition, CHIC continues in the Church Hall on Wednesday mornings 10-12.00, with the Veg Box scheme, books to loan and with the friendly faces of Yvonne, Avril and helpers to welcome you.

We also support the Carers Group who have recently enjoyed a stay in a Devon Hotel and an evening of bowling. Do phone Janet on 842658 or Cath on 842797 if you are a local carer and want to know more.

There is lots more to say and much on the horizon so do please look out for the information leaflets soon to be in the post office, church and school. The leaflets will contain contact numbers but until then, phone Mike on 01209 842233, Chris on 843873 or Terry on 843181 if you want to know when we next meet, if you have a community idea or want to know more.

Terry Reynard 843181

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Illegal immigrants

Two illegal immigrants and a "poisonous" gang have set up home in a Cornish college. But immigration services and the police will not be getting involved - they are two exotic lizards who found their way here hidden in transported goods, and a group of poison arrow frogs which are part of a breeding programme.

Duchy College's animal care unit at Feadon Farm, near Portreath, has welcomed the frogs, brown Anoles lizard and Peloponnese wall lizard, which will be used to help train students on its animal care courses.

Though the frogs, scientific names dendrobates tinctorus and dendrobates ventrimaculatus, sound dangerous, staff at the college have reassured people they are not.

Animal care technician, Gary Zammit, said: "These frogs will be only mildly poisonous as they lose their toxicity when bred in captivity; frogs in the wild get their poison from their food."

The brown Anoles, whose natural habitat is the Caribbean and southern USA, was found last year in a supermarket delivery of bananas and brought to Duchy College by the RSPCA. The female lizard has already mated with a lizard already at the college, resulting in two eggs which have successfully hatched.

The Peloponnese wall lizard was also brought in by the RSPCA, after being found in the clothing section of a local garden centre. It is a fully grown adult male, which is usually found in southern Greece, and is the first the College has had.

West Briton
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
boat.jpg with this

HARBOUR NEWS

It will soon be time for the boats to go back in the water. This year there will be more licensed working boats than for some time, representing a large personal investment by our Portreath fishermen, all of whom will welcome the chance to supply fresh fish, and shellfish, privately, or to businesses. All you have to do is ask. There are also some boats for sale if you fancy the D.I.Y. approach.

Although the harbour activity all but stops for boat owners during the winter, it becomes very popular for anglers of all ages, some more serious and better equipped, but all seem to enjoy and come back for more.

Nigel Sillence
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harbour Consultation Report

On Saturday 28th January the residents of Portreath turned out in force to support the Parish Council's efforts to enable the community to possibly own and run the harbour.

The turn out for the event was very good with 250 plus attending. This is at least 25% of the village population and better than the last general election.

The information was presented by a set of 12 display boards depicting the history of Portreath and some ideas of what the future could bring, a collection of black and white photographs of the harbour in it's working days, a PowerPoint presentation of proposed layout and leisure facilities and a centre table display for the public to put their ideas forward. Survey forms and attendance records were also used.

The general feeling of those who attended was to see the harbour improve and be better used, with an increase in facilities for both the fishing industry and leisure craft. There was a great deal of support to install lock gates and extend the pier and also to open the pier to the public.

There was concern about the nature of development around the harbour in the past and a suggestion that future development be in a more architecturally sensitive style.

A great deal of information was collected with the overwhelming majority in support of taking the project to the next stage which is to commission the feasibility study.

The day was a very good team effort. Organisation and manning the hall by the Parish Council's Regeneration Committee and Kerrier District Council supplying the information boards and power point equipment. Thanks also to Kerrier Regeneration team at Cowlings Mill for all their help and support.

Chris Watts

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HARBOUR PROJECT GETS THROUGH FIRST STAGE

Major regeneration work at Portreath Harbour has come a step closer with the news that a multi million pound bid to the Lottery has made it through the first assessment stage. Cornwall County Council, acting on behalf of the Cornish Harbours Project, has applied for £25 million towards the cost of a five-year project that would see extensive improvements carried out at Portreath, Falmouth, Newlyn, Newquay and Looe.

The aim is to bring disused or run down harbour infrastructure and neighbouring waterfront locations back into use for the benefit of communities.

At Portreath Parish Council's March meeting, the Chairman, Chris Watts, announced he had received a letter saying the bid had successfully moved on to the next assessment phase.

He said: "We are through the first of many stages. I am delighted our grant application has been accepted but very aware there is a long process to go through and we do have a lot of competition for the grant.

Living Landmarks anticipate contacting us by April 13 to confirm whether or not the harbour project has been long listed for a project review visit."

If successful, the Cornish Harbours project would run from 2007-12. Portreath would be regenerated and brought in to community ownership.

Julian Ridge
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
brownies.jpg with this

WELL DONE PORTREATH BROWNIES!

The Brownies continue to go from strength to strength and on Sunday the 19th March, they won through to the final of the Halford Trophy. This is a three yearly competition between all the Brownies in Cornwall, and the Portreath Brownies will now represent the Kerrier Division in June. They have really enjoyed the competition and were so excited when the results were announced in reverse order , starting with the fifth place. As the positions were being called out and Portreath's name was not being announced they got more and more excited and at last the Brownies from Camborne were called out as coming 2nd, meaning we were first, they were jumping up and down with pleasure ! They have been presented with the Halford Trophy Cup for the Kerrier Division Round 1st Place position and the Brownies will take it in turns to take it home and look after it. So very well done !!

We've been up to all sorts, ranging from having visitors to teaching us about first aid, birds and wild life, to having a visitor who is deaf and who taught them to sign their names - she's due to visit again soon with her specially trained dog. The Brownies have also been looking at the world we live in and serious issues such as endangered species and then considering the food we eat and where it comes from – chocolate was the first product on the map. And we are also lucky to have other visitors come along occasionally to help us make cards etc., some of which were made for Harbour House last Christmas and a small group of Brownies went along to sing some of their favourite carols.

Getting ready for the Harry Potter day was one of the funniest things I've seen because in readiness for the day, as well as having to make fantastically decorated black card wizard hats, one the Unit Helpers thought drop down black card glasses would be a winner (I'm considering making up a calendar with some of most successful photos and this would definitely be included!)

We're looking forward to accepting our invitation from the 1st Redruth Guides to join them in a Bollywood Dance Night, with a professional teacher showing us Indian dancing. All the funds raised that evening are going towards the Pakistan Disaster Appeal, so there's a serious side to the fun as well.

Having given you a summary of some of the things we've been doing and hopefully demonstrating that working with the children is a lot of fun, I would also like to take this opportunity of asking if there is anyone out there who would like to come along to help at any time ? – this could be on a weekly basis or on a rota, or perhaps as a "one-off" as you may have a special skill that the children would enjoy learning about .

As a charitable organisation run totally by volunteers, its always helpful to spread the "work", but when the work involves playing games, going on visits like the pantomime or Newquay Aquarium, to helping the girls with any interest badges which cover a wide range of activities, including art, circus performer, computers, science investigator, water safety (there are over 50 interest badges !) it is really enjoyable, especially when we can also enable them as a Brownie group to take part in activities they wouldn't normally be involved with, such as the Halford Trophy, or raising money for children with leukaemia, all of which gives them such a sense of achievement as well as enjoying themselves.

We're planning to run some games / or a stall at the Portreath Fun Day in August to raise some funds, so we would very much appreciate seeing you there and in the meantime, if anyone would like to contact me, my telephone number is 01209 843873.

Finally, please wish us luck for the final of the Halford Trophy in June !

Shena Watts

Unit Guider for the 1st Portreath Brownies

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 3 please

Designated Public Place Order

Due to last year's outstanding success of the village's Dispersal Order, Portreath Parish Council has applied for a Designated Public Place Order.

Last summer the anti social behaviour dropped to almost nil due to the Dispersal Order which gave Police the power to disperse any groups causing a nuisance. This was extremely good news to all who use Portreath for leisure and pleasure and of course even better news for all of us who live here.

To make this anti social behaviour order permanent the Parish Council have to apply for a Designated Public Place Order. The next paragraph outlines the order.

DPPOs are orders made by local authorities under powers given to them under section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. These powers make it easier for local authorities to designate places where restrictions on public drinking will apply and are available in areas that have experienced alcohol-related disorder or nuisance.

While it is not an offence to consume alcohol within a 'designated' area, the police, police community support officers and people accredited through a community safety accreditation scheme have powers to control the consumption of alcohol within that place. If they believe someone is consuming alcohol or intends to consume alcohol they can:

* require them to stop; and
* Confiscate the alcohol from people whether the drinking vessel is unopened or not.

Our Neighbourhood beat manager Constable T. Roberts has collated evidence of drink related offences over the past three years and has presented these to Kerrier District Council's Solicitor, who needs more evidence from local people and organisations to justify applying for the order.

Most local businesses have already written to support the Council in its efforts to secure the Order and now it is hoped residents will write in also. Kerrier District Council needs accounts of specific drink related incidents. Please write giving your support together with details of any incidents which need not necessarily include the specific date of the event - month and year would be sufficient. Please write to:

Parish Clerk

Cosoleth

Cambrose

Redruth, Cornwall TR16 4HS

Please help your local Council to acquire this valuable tool and stop anti social behavior in our village.

Chris Watts

Parish Council Chairman.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

please "tweak" this one

Creative Crafts
Craft workshops held in your area for adults and children
Card making,jewellery,scrapbooking, felt making silk painting and more!
Reasonable prices

The Arty Party
Childrens birthday parties with a difference.
Craft parties to suit children from the age of 4 and up.
prices start at £3.50 per child and they get to keep what they make
Get your kids to ask for an Arty Party

Call Laura for more info on 01209 713664 / 07816128562
Also ring me for details of my range in Wedding Stationery.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

crop1.jpg & crop3.jpg with this

Carers Group

Sixteen people from the Portreath Carers Group recently spent three days at the Manor House Hotel near Oakhampton. This was a time of refreshment and rest and provided the chance to enjoy favourite hobbies and to try new ones too.

The activities programme included Tennis, Badminton, Golf, Bowls and Crafts (e,g. Jewellery Making, Pottery. Silk Painting, Enamelling) and numerous other fun and relaxing activities too numerous to mention. Amongst the favourites were Salsa Dancing, Archery, Shooting and Golf with the massage and pamper sessions, walking the moors and horse riding all adding to the enjoyment.

This was a great weekend amongst friends, eating together and enjoying quiet chats as well as plenty of activity 'as and when' people wanted it..no pressure just time to unwind and relax away from the many daily demands back home. Do phone Janet or Cath if you want to know more about the Portreath Carers Group Janet: 842658 Cath: 842797.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YOGA
A PATH FOR LIFE

WHERE? Portreath Millennium Hall, Portreath.

WHEN? Thursday evening 6.00pm to 7.30pm and 7.45pm to 9.15pm.

SUITABLE FOR ALL

BRING A MAT AND A BLANKET PLEASE.WEAR LOOSE AND COMFORTABLE CLOTHING.

Cost £ 4.00 per session

Telephone Nick on 01209 610515 or 07968 310097 for more details.

BRITISH WHEEL OF YOGA TEACHER

Fully insured.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portreath Surf Life Saving Club

All the results for the World Life Saving Champs are now on the Rescue 2006 website. http://www.rescue2006.com/2006/

Katy Whear won a silver medal in the 100m sprint

The girls team won silver in the beach relay.

For most of the other events the GB competitors finished in the top 10 places, so overall the team was 10th and placed 6th in the beach/ocean events which was very good as we are out of season.

Diane Green
Membership Secretary

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAVELLERS JUNK CLIFF BEAUTY SPOT

A beauty spot was left blanketed with an assortment of debris, litter and junk following the eviction of a travelling community who occupied the site for several months.

The group had moved last spring onto former mine workings between Porthtowan and Portreath on the world-famous South West coastal footpath. After months of behind-the-scenes work Kerrier District Council took out a court order to have the 13-strong group evicted, though one family remained when officials arrived on site on February 3.

Villagers and community leaders were horrified by the amount and variety of rubbish left behind by the travellers at a spot which is popular with walkers and holidaymakers.

"It makes St Day tip look like Buckingham Palace lawn. It's a pretty sad site," said John Beckinsale, a long-term resident of Porthtowan.

Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Press photographer and Portreath residnt Colin Higgs, was stunned by what he saw. "It took my breath away. It's absolutely disgusting," he said. "Everything you can think of is on the ground - tables, bits of caravans, endless fires, children's toys, mobile phones, hundreds of gas bottles. There is an incredible amount of filth."

County councillor Richard Cooper said: "I'm not anti-traveller, all I'm anti is the mess being left behind, and we have to tackle the problem.

"Ultimately it's the public who will have to pay because it's the local authority that will have to move it."

A team from Kerrier's Direct Services was on site with a digger and clearing equipment this week having already secured the area by fitting a new gate on an approach road. A spokesman said they aimed to have carried out a full clean-up operation by the weekend.

Liz Dunstan, chief solicitor for Kerrier, sympathised with villagers who had put up with their sometimes unwanted neighbours for so long. But she stressed the onus was on the council to do everything above board.

"You have to do it professionally and correctly, taking account of everybody's situation otherwise we would still be open to challenge and we could still be in this position in a year's time."

Assessments were made of the families and of the site itself before the court could evict.

"It was on the coastal footpath, it was very exposed and it was very dangerous," said Mrs Dunstan. "We never tolerated the site and we never said it was suitable."

Even though the travellers had left so much rubbish, she said the council would never have agreed to weekly removals as this would have legitimised their presence.

The travellers were believed to beheading to a site out of Cornwall.

However, this may not be the end of problems with the travelling community. Mrs Dunstan warned that new Government legislation placed the responsibility on local authorities to find sites for travelling families.
Joe Dyer, West Briton
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Hodge, 20, from Portreath

Dressed in their chef's whites, these youngsters are in training to become the best in the business.

The young men and women, all from Cornwall, are being trained to work at Jamie Oliver's new Fifteen restaurant in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

The 20 students have already been working hard to hone their culinary skills. And in just a few short months, they will work at Fifteen Cornwall when it opens in May. It is the first of Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurants to be unveiled outside London.

The chef, well-known for his crusade to improve school dinners, opened the first Fifteen restaurant in 2002. Based in Hoxton, it was inspired by the television chef's desire to help underprivileged young people forge themselves a successful career. Fifteen Cornwall will follow the same format.

Trainee Lee Hodge, 20, from Portreath on the North Cornwall coast, described the training as a "golden opportunity to succeed in life".

He said: "I'm so thankful that I've been given this opportunity and I'm really going to work hard to achieve the best possible outcome I can and make my friends and family proud. You only get one life and you've got to take every opportunity."

Selected from more than 300 applicants, the 20 trainees were among a shortlist of 150 who faced interviews and selection exercises before taken on in late December. Aged between 16 and 24, they have been recruited from all over Cornwall and are currently undergoing a 12-week intensive training course at Cornwall College before they start work in the Fifteen Cornwall kitchen at the end of April.

West Briton

Portreath SLSC Results

2006-02-18T15:45:00.000Z

All the results for the World Life Saving Champs are now on the Rescue 2006 website. http://www.rescue2006.com/2006/

Katy Whear won a silver medal in the 100m sprint

The girls team won silver in the beach relay.

For most of the other events the GB competitors finished in the top 10 places, so overall the team was 10th and placed 6th in the beach/ocean events which was very good as we are out of season.

Diane Green
Membership Secretary

NO NEED TO BE AN OXFORD SCHOLAR TO KNOW WHAT KATY WANTS

2006-02-18T15:37:00.000Z

October 20, 2005

Katy Whear’s pedigree says she was destined to compete against – and beat – Australians.Before she took up lifesaving and beach sprinting, she gained her Blue as a member of the legendary Oxford University Athletics Club – home of Sir Roger Bannister who famously beat Australia’s John Landy in the race to become the first person to run the mile in less than four minutes. Katy, 23, even took part in the 50th anniversary celebrations of that event in Oxford last year.

Now though, her focus is on retaining the world beach sprint title she won at the last world life saving championships in Italy two years ago – and also being part of a successful British team at Rescue 2006, next year’s world lifesaving championships being held in Geelong and Lorne. “Italy was my first international championships and it was great fun,” Katy said. “One of the best bits was having no pressure and no idea how I’d get on as I’d never raced in an international before. After winning the sprint, I was in total shock. The other highlight was the medals ceremony. I think it was the only time either the Aussie or New Zealand flag wasn’t at the top of the flagpole. Getting to hear a different national anthem was a nice change!”

Whear is confident the British team will do well in Australia next February, particularly after dominating the beach section at the European championships in Germany earlier this year. “Lorne is a really pretty part of the Surf Coast so I am looking forward to returning there,” she said. “I was last there in 1996.
We’ve got a great bunch of people in the GB team, too. We all get on really well, everyone is supportive of each other so the trip is eagerly anticipated.”

Sadly for Whear, she has had to turn down the chance to train in Australia in the lead up to next February’s events. “I put my boyfriend on the plane a couple of weeks ago but I couldn’t go with him because I landed a job that I couldn’t turn down about eight weeks ago,” the qualified geologist explained. Her boyfriend is David Green who has joined North Burleigh Lifesaving Club in Queensland and will represent his English club at Lorne.

“I am a bit disappointed I am not with David as training would have helped a lot,” Katy said. “In Italy we were coming out of our season while the Australians were just starting. This time it will be the other way around and that will probably make a bit of a difference.”

But Katy is hoping not too much of a difference. The Union Jack flying over the beach at Lorne and God Save The Queen on the PA would mean as much to her as the moment back at Oxford in 1954 when Roger Bannister beat John Landy to the fabled prize, then repeated his success two years later in the Race of the Century at the Vancouver Empire Games. As all Oxonian athletes would know only too well, especially one with the chance to compete against Australians, Rescue 06 comes in the 50th
anniversary of that great event.

Portreath AFC

2006-02-17T16:10:00.000Z

Saturday 18th February Praze Away Kick Off 2.30pm
Saturday 25th February Illogan Home Kick Off 2.00pm Dunn Cup Round 2
Saturday 4th March Holmans Home Kick Off

TRAVELLERS JUNK CLIFF BEAUTY SPOT

2006-02-17T15:52:00.000Z

A beauty spot was left blanketed with an assortment of debris, litter and junk following the eviction of a travelling community who occupied the site for several months.

L Assorted rubbish and scrap left by travellers at Nancekuke on the cliffs between Portreath and Porthtowan. Picture by Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Press
Now council tax payers are left to pick up the bill Joe Dyer reports

The group had moved last spring onto former mine workings between Porthtowan and Portreath on the world-famous South West coastal footpath. After months of behind-the-scenes work Kerrier District Council took out a court order to have the 13-strong group evicted, though one family remained when officials arrived on site on February 3.

Villagers and community leaders were horrified by the amount and variety of rubbish left behind by the travellers at a spot which is popular with walkers and holidaymakers.

"It makes St Day tip look like Buckingham Palace lawn. It's a pretty sad site," said John Beckinsale, a long-term resident of Porthtowan.

Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Press photographer Colin Higgs, who took these pictures for the West Briton, was stunned by what he saw. "It took my breath away. It's absolutely disgusting," he said. "Everything you can think of is on the ground - tables, bits of caravans, endless fires, children's toys, mobile phones, hundreds of gas bottles. There is an incredible amount of filth."

County councillor Richard Cooper said: "I'm not anti-traveller, all I'm anti is the mess being left behind, and we have to tackle the problem.

"Ultimately it's the public who will have to pay because it's the local authority that will have to move it."

A team from Kerrier's Direct Services was on site with a digger and clearing equipment this week having already secured the area by fitting a new gate on an approach road. A spokesman said they aimed to have carried out a full clean-up operation by the weekend.

Liz Dunstan, chief solicitor for Kerrier, sympathised with villagers who had put up with their sometimes unwanted neighbours for so long. But she stressed the onus was on the council to do everything above board.

"You have to do it professionally and correctly, taking account of everybody's situation otherwise we would still be open to challenge and we could still be in this position in a year's time."

Assessments were made of the families and of the site itself before the court could evict.

"It was on the coastal footpath, it was very exposed and it was very dangerous," said Mrs Dunstan. "We never tolerated the site and we never said it was suitable."

Even though the travellers had left so much rubbish, she said the council would never have agreed to weekly removals as this would have legitimised their presence.

The travellers were believed to beheading to a site out of Cornwall.

However, this may not be the end of problems with the travelling community. Mrs Dunstan warned that new Government legislation placed the responsibility on local authorities to find sites for travelling families.

TAXPAYER FOOTS BILL FOR TRAVEL DEBRIS

2006-02-17T15:49:00.000Z

17 February 2006
A beauty spot was left blanketed with an assortment of debris, litter and junk following the eviction of a travelling community who had occupied the site for several months. Now it seems that council taxpayers will have to pick up the bill for cleaning up assorted rubbish left by travellers at Nancekuke on the cliffs between Portreath and Porthtowan. Last spring the group had moved on to former mine workings between Porthtowan and Portreath.

After months of behind-the- scenes work, Kerrier District Council took out a court order to have the 13-strong group evicted, although one family remained on the site.

Villagers and community leaders were horrified by the amount and variety of rubbish left behind by the travellers at a spot which is popular with walkers and holidaymakers.

"It makes St Day tip look like Buckingham Palace lawn. It's a pretty sad site," said John Beckinsale, a long-term resident of Porthtowan.

Lee Hodge, 20, from Portreath

2006-02-17T15:48:00.000Z

Dressed in their chef's whites, these youngsters are in training to become the best in the business.

The young men and women, all from Cornwall, are being trained to work at Jamie Oliver's new Fifteen restaurant in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

The 20 students have already been working hard to hone their culinary skills. And in just a few short months, they will work at Fifteen Cornwall when it opens in May. It is the first of Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurants to be unveiled outside London.

The chef, well-known for his crusade to improve school dinners, opened the first Fifteen restaurant in 2002. Based in Hoxton, it was inspired by the television chef's desire to help underprivileged young people forge themselves a successful career. Fifteen Cornwall will follow the same format.

Trainee Lee Hodge, 20, from Portreath on the North Cornwall coast, described the training as a "golden opportunity to succeed in life".

He said: "I'm so thankful that I've been given this opportunity and I'm really going to work hard to achieve the best possible outcome I can and make my friends and family proud. You only get one life and you've got to take every opportunity."

Selected from more than 300 applicants, the 20 trainees were among a shortlist of 150 who faced interviews and selection exercises before taken on in late December. Aged between 16 and 24, they have been recruited from all over Cornwall and are currently undergoing a 12-week intensive training course at Cornwall College before they start work in the Fifteen Cornwall kitchen at the end of April.

Trainee Emily Ratcliffe, 19, from Launceston, North Cornwall said: "I was really speechless when I was selected. All I could say was 'wow'. I couldn't believe it was really happening."

VILLAGERS KEEN TO OWN HARBOUR AT PORTREATH

2006-02-06T16:15:00.000Z

People living in Portreath have given the "thumbs up" to the idea of taking their harbour into community ownership.

More than 250 people turned up for a consultation day at the Millennium Hall on Saturday, when details of Kerrier Council's proposal to sell off the harbour were on display.

After speaking to representatives of Kerrier's regeneration team, the parish council, and the harbour association, 86 per cent of residents present supported the proposal and said they wanted to see it move on to the next stage.

Chris Watts, chairman of the parish council, said the result was "a very strong mandate" to pursue community ownership.

He said: "We had a very successful consultation day. The questionnaires that people filled out showed 86 per cent support for community ownership, and that is a very strong mandate for Kerrier to take into a feasibility study.

"The parish council can now move forward to the next stage of this project by taking expert advice as to the terms of reference of the feasibility study and finding suitable surveyors to tender for the task."

Kerrier regeneration officer Scott James said the high turnout was a big advantage when applying for grant funding.

"In terms of both the Lottery application and other bids that we've got to put in, we can demonstrate a high level of support, and that's exactly what funders want to see."

Kerrier Council announced last November that it wanted to dispose of Portreath Harbour, because of high maintenance costs. It hoped it could pass into community ownership, and offered £5,000 towards a feasibility study.

In January it was announced that Portreath had been included in a potential £42 million programme of waterfront improvements, along with four other Cornish harbours.

Saturday's consultation day was opened by Julia Goldsworthy MP, one of the village's newest residents.

Mike Clayton, Kerrier's portfolio holder for assets, who also attended, reaffirmed the council's continuing commitment to the project.

Data gathered on the day will be analysed over the coming weeks.

PRESS FAIL TO PICK UP A PENGUIN

2006-01-26T20:54:00.000Z

The West Briton's Redruth office received a tip off from a local resident and several 'eyewitnesses' phoned Radio Cornwall, declaring it was definitely a penguin; they had seen it. At one stage during the afternoon, hopes were high that the bird was Toga, a three-month-old penguin that disappeared from Amazon World on the Isle of Wight in December.

But as the number of press photographers, reporters and well-wishers arriving at Portreath grew, so the doubts about the authenticity of the 'penguin' also began to increase.

Eventually, two local men struggled out across the rocks to where the bird was sitting and identified it is a guillemot.

One man declared it a bit of a wild goose chase.

"More of a wild guillemot chase," declared a freelance photographer, who until then had been salivating over a potential exclusive and lucrative snap of Toga.

Apparently, a huge shoal of sand eels arrived in the harbour earlier in the day, accompanied by seagulls and seals.

It appears that the Guillermot was also attracted by the chance of a free lunch.

MAJOR SCHEME FOR PORTREATH HARBOUR

2006-01-18T21:13:00.000Z

Portreath harbour will be a major beneficiary of a £42 million programme of waterfront improvements, if a bid to the Big Lottery's Regional Living Landmarks fund is successful.

Cornwall County Council, acting on behalf of the Cornish Harbours project, has applied for £25 million towards the cost of the five-year project, which would also see major regeneration work at Newlyn, Falmouth, Newquay and Looe.

The aim is to bring disused or run down harbours and neighbouring waterfront locations back into use for the benefit of their communities.

Georgina McLaren, from Cornwall Enterprise, which would administer the project, said: "Cornwall remains one of Europe's most deprived areas, and while much of the rural coastline is in the stewardship of the National Trust, many coastal communities are still struggling to find ways to adjust to the social, economic and environmental challenges they face."

All five locations chosen for the project have been assessed over several years and, although different in character, share common goals.

In all cases their aims include the promotion of community access, active enjoyment, learning, and local enterprise. The harbours would be the focus for regeneration actions and high quality physical improvements.

Just two months ago Kerrier Council announced it wished to dispose of Portreath harbour and expressed a desire to see it pass into community hands. Portreath's inclusion in the Cornish Harbours bid would appear to be perfectly timed and to provide the resources to make it happen.

As a result, the news has been greeted with delight by community groups in the village.

Chris Watts, chairman of the parish council, said: "The parish council, the harbour association and Portreath Improvements Committee are working together on this project and we are delighted to be included in the bid. It's a really strong bid, with a good chance of success, and we're extremely optimistic about the outcome."

If successful, the Cornish Harbours project would run from 2007-12. Portreath harbour would be regenerated and brought in to community ownership; the Edwardian pier at Falmouth would be refurbished and a new marine college built; East Looe would get a new promenade on its sea front; Newquay would get a new events area and seafront pathway; and there would be a new multi-use fish market building at Newlyn.

Mevagissey, Porthleven and Hayle have been put on standby for the scheme, although the latter is expected to be the subject of a separate bid led by its private sector owners and supported by Penwith District Council.

There is a consultation day about the future of the harbour at Portreath in the Millennium Hall on January 28 from 11am to 4pm.

E-mail: julianr@c-dm.co.uk

KEN WITNESSES VITAL WORK OF SHELTERBOX

2006-01-18T21:10:00.000Z

A Portreath man has spent nine days of his own time witnessing the relief effort in one of the world's remotest areas.

Ken Wilkins, of Green Lane, who is a police inspector based at St Ives, travelled to the mountainous Kashmir region of Pakistan, witnessing first hand the scale of devastation caused by October's huge earthquake and assisting in the massive relief effort.

Mr Wilkins is also a member of the Rotary Club whose renowned Shelterbox initiative, instigated by Helston Rotary Club, has become a focus for scores of local fund raisers.

At a cost of nearly £500 each, every Shelterbox is packed and dispatched from their warehouse at the Water-ma-Trout industrial estate. Carried inside are a tent and sleeping bags for ten people, a shovel and tools, cooking aids, water purification equipment and other basic survival tools, even pencils and books for children. The difference they make is all too apparent from the positive feedback that has been received.

As well as the massive donations and very hard work of those involved in the operation at Helston, including many volunteers who turn up regularly to help with packing, another contributory factor is the work of the Rotary Club's 4R teams (standing for Rotary, Reconnaissance, Review and Recover) which fly out to disaster zones with the boxes to ensure the aid is deployed to those who need it most. Mr Wilkins is a member of a 4R team.

During his stay in the country he assisted in the distribution of sufficient Shelterboxes and additional tents to provide shelter to approximately 10,000 people. Overall the Shelterbox operation in Pakistan provided tents and the equipment listed to approximately 90,000 people. Now back in Cornwall, he said: "This part of Pakistan is a remote but beautiful area and looking out over a valley all that was left of the vast majority of homes were the roofs as the walls had just collapsed. "Some areas were totally devastated; we were shown one area which had seen a massive landslide in which an estimated 1,800 bodies were buried in the rubble.

"Each day our brief was to distribute boxes to those we had allocated them to the day before, and then go with a Kashmiri guide .... to visit more villages."

Rotary had a logistics team working at Islamabad airport getting the gear out to both other teams and this was essential as there was an incredible amount of red tape to overcome.

But there were also unorthodox means of getting aid to where it was needed: "It wasn't unusual to see men in their 60s arrive wearing just sandals, and then put the Shelterbox on their back, with a strap around their forehead tied to both sides of the box, before walking back several miles across the mountains to their families."

Mr Wilkins first became involved in the project after speaking with a colleague in the police who is also a 4R team member and he then helped pack boxes at the warehouse near Helston. He was then offered the opportunity to train to be a member of the 4R team. Just a week after completing an induction weekend he was offered a deployment to Pakistan replacing another team member who had to come back to the UK.

"Being a member of the 4R team is a great opportunity to see that the equipment fund-raisers work so hard to pay for, ends up going to the right people," said Ken. "Having done some packing I must admit that it was a pretty good moment seeing a string of green boxes going down the mountain on people's backs or hung between poles." Following his trip Inspector Wilkins would like very much to give talks and presentations to any groups interested in hearing more about Shelterbox. Ken added that groups can be any size or age, including children. Insp Wilkins can be contacted on 01736 792733. To make a donation, volunteer or for more information on Shelterbox visit www.shelterbox.org or telephone 01326 569782.

Parish Tram Issue 11

2006-01-17T19:29:00.000Z

Since the last issue of the Parish Tram there has been some progress with regard to the harbour. The parish council's regeneration team has been working closely with Kerrier District Council to work out the details of the feasibility study. The first step is to hold a public consultation day similar to the event the parish council held for the village enhancement scheme. Hopefully the results will demonstrate to KDC and potential funders the village is backing the Parish Council and the Harbour Association's efforts to commission the feasibility study.

The process of obtaining funding for the study continues, at present there are contributions from the Parish council, Kerrier district Council and Portreath Improvements Committee. Applications for further funding from various other sources including the National Lottery fund are ongoing. There have been offers from developers to assist, at present the Regeneration Team believes the project should stay independent so an unbiased study can be achieved.

A harbour charitable trust management committee will soon have to be formed. This committee will be the driving force behind the feasibility study and the harbour improvements should the study have a positive outcome. The members will most likely be drawn from the Parish Council, Portreath Improvements Committee and the Harbour Association plus other interested groups or individuals. There will be forms to register interest available at the consultation day.

The consultation day is to be held on Saturday January 28th between 11:00am and 4:00pm at the Millennium Hall, a good turn out and your support is essential to gauge the opinion of residents. The harbour project could change the village significantly in a number of areas, employment and tourism could increase, more business opportunities could become available and the harbour could become a very busy area both on and off the water. Your local councillors need to know what the opinion of residents is so they can act for the majority.

Inside this issue is an advert for the event with a very short questionnaire. Should you be unable to attend on the day please fill out the form and drop it into the Post Office or if you prefer write to the parish council.
The Clerk
Cosoleth
Cambrose
Redruth,
Cornwall TR16 4HS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
greenslade.png with this
A chance meeting

While giving out Christmas trees for the PIC in the harbour car park I met a very sprightly elderly gentleman who after we introduced each other turned out to be Captain Gordon Greenslade, the last Cornish captain to bring a coal coaster into Portreath harbour. We had an interesting chat and I later went to harbour house where we were able to talk at length about his Merchant career.

Gordon is 92 years of age, was born in Portreath and went to school here and then finished his education at Illogan Boys School. At the age of fourteen and a half he went to work in the harbour. His first boat was the Treliegh. He worked his way through the Bains fleet until April 1939 when he was made Captain of the SS Isleman. In his own words this is his account of the war years.

"At the start of the 2nd World War, I was Master of a Coasting Vessel, the SS Islesman, trading out of Portreath Cornwall, to Newport Cardiff and Barry in the Bristol Channel, for steam coal for the mines, and cement, to Preston and Garston, and to Whitehaven and Maryport for house coal. To Charlestown and Par for China clay.
In the first winter of the war, in December, one of our ships, the SS Ruban, hit the rocks off the Lizard in fog and sank - all crew saved.
Later in the war, the SS Florence Reynolds, on voyage to Newport, was in collision with one of our destroyers and sank all crew were saved.
We used to fly a Barrage Balloon at 1,000 feet from the masthead against low flying aircraft and had three Naval Gunners and a 40mm gun mounted on the stern.
We used to go in convoy part of the way, sometimes enemy aircraft attacked us.
There were moored mines, acoustic and magnetic mines and submarines about.
Later on another of our ships left Maryport for Portreath, she was lost with all hands – we don't know what happened to her – she was the SS Kyle Rona.
The SS Rosemore left Hayle for the Bristol Channel and was bombed and sank off Newquay, most of her crew were lost.
Another ship from Hayle, the Porthgarret, went ashore at the Nash Bank in a gale and Black out.
We in the SS Isleman were bombed off Bardsey Island- it was a near miss.
We came safely through the war – the only Portreath ship left."

Sandra Beckett on behalf of Captain Gordon Greenslade submitted the above to the People's War web site.

Captain Greenslade stayed with the Isleman until October 1946; he had a daughter of two at the time and wished to spend more time with his family so took a job with a firm in Redruth working with automotive coachwork.

Gordon is presently spending Christmas and the New Year at Harbour house retirement home.

Chris Watts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Badminton club has been meeting every Tuesday night since October 2004 in the Millennium Hall and it has been great fun. We have about 16 members now, of varying abilities from regular players to complete beginners. The annual membership fee is a mere £15, which gives you insurance through the Badminton Association and each session is £2 per person. It is possible to attend as a guest before you have to join, so come and try it out.

At the moment, we are only playing on Tuesdays, but it is possible to book the Hall at other times according to availability. We have received a generous grant from the P.I.C. this has enabled us to buy a net and some shuttles so far.
It is not just a chance to get fit, it is also a social occasion and a chance to meet new friends. As there is only one court, between badminton games, we play backgammon, charades, dominoes, juggle or just chat together.

Portreath Badminton Club
At Portreath Millennium Hall
Tuesday 7-10
New Members welcome
All abilities – coaching available- all ages
Contact: Sara, tel.843213

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.A.T.C.H
Baby and Toddler group to be held in the new Church Hall every Friday morning from 10:00 to 12:00
Come along for tea and a chat
50p
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PORTREATH MILLENNIUM
COMMUNITY HALL

This venue is available to everyone, and the Hall can be used for a wide range of activities. Any individuals or groups interested in booking the Hall should contact the Bookings Secretary Mrs. Jan Sowden on 01209 842960. Hire costs are £25.00 a session (3 hours) for the large Hall and the smaller meetings room can be booked for £8.00 per session and these fees include the use of the fully equipped kitchen.

If you wish to run an event and would like to publicise the information in the next Parish Tram, please send your copy to the Editor.
chris@parishtram.co.uk
or leave at the post office

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Local Lad will play for cornwall

Sam Newman aged 15, from Portreath has been selected to play rugby for
Cornwall. Sam started playing tag rugby at Portreath school, before joining
the mini/junior rugby section at Redruth rugby club aged 9.
he still plays his rugby with the Redruth club and also for Redruth school.
Playing either center or fly-half.
His first Cornwall game will be at St Austell Against Bristol Schools on the
8th January 2006.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C.O.G.
A dozen people went on the pre-Christmas shopping trip to Exeter on Saturday 26th November. Despite concerns over weather conditions, everyone had a good time and a smooth journey.
There will be a Spring trip before Easter, any requests welcome.
Di Helyer 842492
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can any of your readers help?
I am trying to discover details of the last working ship to enter Portreath harbour, her name, tonnage, dates etc. Also does anyone know the date the port ceased to have its own harbour master and loss of its port status. The records should be somewhere but I've drawn a blank. I believe this to have been around 1967 or '68 just before the harbour houses were constructed. If anyone could help me I would be very grateful.

Allen Forster
68 East Pool Park
Pool Redruth TR15 3LD
allen.forster@btinternet.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.jpg or png we used last year
Your village needs you

Portreath Improvements Committee AGM 23th January 2006
7.00 p.m. in the Portreath Institute

Yes, it's January and that means the Portreath Improvements Committee elections are upon us once again.
We need members that are prepared to attend the majority of meetings throughout 2006. These are held on the second Monday of each month. The main order of business at the meetings is to make decisions on the best use of the income created by the sea front car park, which is owned by the PIC. This is a substantial sum and the Constitution states that the income is to be spent for the good of Portreath village and it's residents. Consequently the agenda at the monthly meetings can be extremely varied, ranging from litter picking and property maintenance to long term financial investment and constitutional matters.

Another responsibility is the day to day running and management of the sea front car park. This is carried out by the Portreath Association Ltd. (PAL), a small limited company that was formed because by law, a charity (the PIC) cannot trade to make a profit. Five people run the PAL, three of who are elected at the March meetings (they are elected from within the membership of the Portreath Improvements Committee) the other two members coming from the board of directors of the PAL.

If you can't spare the time to put yourself up for membership, please still come along to the Portreath Institute on Monday the 23rd of January at 7:00pm for the election and vote for the residents you want to sit on the committee. There are 24 seats available and the rules of the PIC allow all village residents aged 18 or over to vote for up to 24 fellow residents. Voting slips will be passed around on the night.

Currently the January meeting is the only time residents can attend the PIC meeting, so this is your chance to ask questions and put suggestions forward other than in writing, which you can do at any other time in the year.

The Portreath Improvements Committee is a major influence within the village and needs your support. Please come along on the 23rd of January at 7.00 and vote for those you want to represent you for the coming year.

Portreath Improvements Committee application form

To stand for election please fill out the following application:
(Applicants must reside in Portreath village, as must your two supporters.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name and address of applicant:

Name and address of 1st supporter:

Name and address of 2nd supporter:

Post to:
Secretary to the PIC
5 Belerion Road
Portreath
Cornwall
TR16 4PA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Annual Bonfire and Firework Display
Took place on Sunday 6th November, when we were exceptionally lucky to have a "window" from the bad weather, and yet another quality display.
Thanks must go to Roger Bricknell and his team; also to PC Tim Roberts and the community Policing Team; the Gold Centre for the free use of their car park; 1st Buses for the park and ride shuttle. An especially big thank you to the Bonfire Building Team led by Trevor Tonkin, who all spent over three hours in bitter conditions that morning and to the stewards who collected donations during the evening and the Bar-B-Q team for cooking. Also the Promenade Cafe, the Retreat and the ShoreShop, who all stayed open throughout.
Mention must also be made of the many village businesses, shops and pub that continue to sponsor:
1. The Park and Ride scheme.
2. The Bonfire insurance.
3. Insurance donation to Bicknells by the PIC.
4. Attendance by St Johns Ambulance by the Parish Council.
This year the costs of numbers 1, 2 & 4 all increased substantially and without the continued support and community spirit of those mentioned, the event could not take place.
Fortunately and increase the collection money was sufficient to cover the cost of the fireworks and ensure a display next year.
Finally, thank you to those who contacted me afterwards by phone and letter; it was much appreciated.

Di Helyer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Table Tennis Club

Every Wednesday 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. in St Mary's Church Hall
All very welcome. Under 18s should be accompanied by parent or guardian
Please come along
Or ring Malcolm on 01209 842695 or Geoff on 01209 843181
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
copy of last quarter?

St Mary's Church Hall
Weekly Itinerary

Tuesday 19:30 Alpha course

Wednesday 10:00-12:00 C.H.I.C. Care and hospitality in the
community
10:00 Veg Boxes
19:00 Table Tennis

Thursday 10:00-11:00 Coffee Morning
19:30 Belly Dancing

Friday 11:00-12:00 P.A.T.C.H. Parent and toddler Christian
hospitality

Sunday 9:45 GroundBreakers Fun Club for ages 4-18

Alternate Greenhouse Club 12 plus youth group?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sterling effort by pub

2005-12-19T22:07:00.000Z

THE Cornwall Speakeasy Laryngectomy Club would like to say thanks to the landlord, landlady and all patrons of The Bridge Inn, Bridge, Portreath, for all their hard work on behalf of our club.

The Bridge Inn has raised £1,212 through a car boot sale, a fun day and an auction for our charity this year.

The club is a small charity, run by laryngectomy patients and volunteer nurses from Wheal Coates Ward, who donate their time to support patients who have had throat cancer. The aim of the club is to assist patients in readjusting to a normal life after they have had a laryngectomy (removal of the voice box).

The club arranges visits to attractions for the members to build up their confidence in a supportive environment.

Obviously this requires funding, and therefore the generosity in hard work, time and money from all at the Bridge Inn really will make a difference to the lives of Cornwall's laryngectomy patients.

Ron Wills

Chairman Cornwall Speakeasy Laryngectomy Club

New county councillor

2005-12-19T22:01:00.000Z

The new county councillor for Illogan and Portreath is Paul Holmes (Liberal), who won back the seat he held between 1985 and 2002 at a by-election.

His 324 votes put him 56 votes ahead of his nearest rival, Liberal Democrat David Ekinsmyth, followed by Independent Tommy Bray (268), Conservative Mary Anson (202) and Labour's Tony Bunt (84). There was a 20.47 per cent turnout.

Mr Holmes, who lost his seat in 2002 to Terry Rowe, said it was "good to be back".

"I'm delighted to be the county councillor for Illogan and Portreath again, the seat I held for 17 years.

"I have very loyal support in this area and I'm very grateful they turned out in force in such poor weather to support me. It's very humbling.

"I'm also indebted to the excellent band of workers who went out in all weathers to support me in the run up to the election."

Mr Holmes said he was keen to get back into county council life and was committed to working for the people of Illogan and Portreath.

He added: "I shall be working very hard, and in particular, I shall be making every effort to get the Trevenson Moor footpath put in. I consider that a priority."

Mr Holmes, who lives in Illogan, is a self-employed electrician. He is a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd for his services to music, and a churchwarden at Pencoys Church, Four Lanes. He is a Cornish speaker, and a playing member of Chacewater Cricket Club.

A 20.4 % turnout!

2005-12-19T21:09:00.000Z

Four-fifths of the electorate didn't even bother to vote in the Illogan-Portreath county council by-election. For the record, I didn't win, but over 200 voted for me and for that I thank them.

But what really worries me is voter apathy, and it's obvious that politicians aren't getting through to the people we are supposed to be serving.

Does anyone have any idea what's wrong, and what to do? Compulsory voting, perhaps? Better venues? Voting times? More e-mail, on-line and postal voting? No canvassing (because no-one believes us, anyway)? Candidate debate before voting? Freepost envelopes for all electors? More information direct to voters?

What do you think? Let me know, and I promise I will reply and send all comments to the Electoral Commission and election officers.

Back to reality, my latest charity auction is at the Victoria Inn, Four Lanes, tomorrow (Friday) at 8pm, in aid of Pencoys Church roof appeal. Please come along.

Cllr TOMMY BRAY

Barn Youth Project

2005-12-01T16:29:00.000Z

Portreath Youth Club has reopened after a refurbishment that has seen it transformed from a stark, uncomfortable space into a fresh, young people-friendly environment. Based in the Millennium Hall, it now boasts a coffee bar and computer facilities set in brightly-painted surroundings.

To mark the re-launch, the club has been renamed the Barn Youth Project and now offers a variety of activities for different age groups. From 6.30pm-7.45pm on Mondays, nine-to-13-year-olds take part in activities and socialise with their friends. From 8pm-9.15pm, 13-to-16-year-olds can meet in the coffee bar and play pool.

On Thursdays from 7.30pm-9.30pm there is a drop-in centre offering issue-based workshops covering such things as self-esteem, bullying, healthy eating, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Youth workers are now looking for funding to run a homework group on Wednesday evenings, when there will be a chance to learn more about computers and develop numeracy and literacy skills.

Links have also been forged with Mount Hawke Skate Park and Sportlink to help girls, aged 11 and over, to take part in new sporting activities, such as skateboarding.

Youth worker Tracy Robson said: "We work with about 50 young people every week and form an important part of the local community.

"The project is entirely run by volunteers who work incredibly hard and give up their spare time to help the youth club become the success that it is.

"We feel that it is important for the project to be young person led, enabling us to work on their specific needs and ensure their voices are heard.

"We have recently formed a new management committee, which includes two young people enabling them to voice the needs of people of their age in the community.

"We would like to thank Johnny Gyatt, Andrew King, and Ian and Peta Redmore for giving up their free time and helping to refurbish the centre."

Surf life-savers from Portreath....

2005-12-01T16:27:00.000Z

Surf life-savers from Portreath are looking forward to the new year, and the chance to exchange the Cornish winter for Australian sunshine. Six club members have been selected for the 12-strong British team to compete in the world championships, which are being held in Melbourne in February.

Mat Bowden, Tim Widdershoven, Rachel Pascoe, Jenna Hawkey, Katy Whear and Sienna Chapman will be accompanied by club chairman Rob Phillips as team manager and Penny Whear as sports therapist.

Mr Phillips is hoping the team can match, or better, the performance in Italy last year when three gold medals and three bronzes were won.

"Katy, who is already training and competing in Australia, is a strong contender to retain her world sprint title," he said. "All the Portreath members stand an equal chance of podium finishes.

"The biggest obstacle is that February is off-season, which makes training and final preparations that much harder."

He added: "Nevertheless, we have earned a reputation not to be under estimated and we have a realistic chance of medals."

Four-band extravaganza at the Millennium Hall in Portreath

2005-12-01T16:25:00.000Z

One of the finest bands to emerge from Cornwall in recent years, The Chinaski Effect are back in action at The Clipper in Camborne tomorrow (Friday) and headlining a four-band extravaganza at the Millennium Hall in Portreath on Saturday, December 10. Formed in 2002, this St Austell four-piece consisting of drummer Chris Morley, guitarist Alex Stenhouse, bassist Matt Duggan and singer/guitarist Kevin Pearce have been making waves this year spreading their brand of alternative punk rock around the county and beyond.

If you haven't heard of them yet hang your head in shame, although by the band's admission they have too often been bridesmaids and not brides.

"This has been a big year for us in terms of becoming a headline band rather than just clinging onto other bands' coat tails," said singer/guitarist Kevin Pearce. "But the aim is to take it up a level again."

Thanks to the support of a small group of loyal fans and supporters backed by their outstanding six-track EP recorded at legendary Sawmills Studio, they have become a must-see local act.

A ferocious blend of hacksaw guitars and tuneful choruses underscored with moments of subtle calm, cynical humour and angry delivery, Chinaski have carved a distinct niche for themselves in the local music community.

Taking their cue from their often bleak clay country upbringing, guitarist Alex Stenhouse says disconsolately: "We're proud of where we come from but to this day when somebody says St Austell all I can picture is sitting in run down clay works trying to shelter from the rain."

It is from this boredom he became involved in music and ultimately formed the band. With a general distaste for pub cover bands, the St Austell foursome decided that they would only play their own songs, much to the delight of this music lover.

Highlights have included gigs at various venues here in Cornwall, as well as an appearance at the Castle Rock festival alongside the likes of Reuben, Offshore, Sanguine, Burning Coalition, B*Movie Heroes and The Needles. Plus, let's not forget several memorable appearances in Plymouth, most notably a hell-raising bus journey to The Phoenix with local superstars Baby Astrolab and friends. The band took their first steps into the wider music world with a trek to Birmingham earlier this year and a potential gig in London on the cards, things are starting to come good for The Chinaski Effect. However, the band are not resting on their laurels. More recording sessions are being planned and at the moment they are concentrating on demoing new songs on four-track. "We might release the results of these sessions if they turn out ok, but it's mainly about documentation. We've been playing some of these songs for three years now and we really want to thrash out a new set for next year," continued Stenhouse.

They also aim to continue raising the profile of music in Cornwall "There are so many good bands down here, all with such differing sounds and I see so many kids with band hoodies on and just wonder if they are even aware that they exist. Baby Astrolab have really laid a marker down in terms of effort and quality but bands like Blindfold Garden and Kelly Don't Drive and numerous others are really good too, we just need more people to sit up and support us locally."

Support the local live music scene by checking out The Chinaski Effect at The Clipper in Camborne on Friday, December 2, or see them at the Millennium Hall in Portreath on Saturday, December 10 with support from Last Warning, Cheese Steak Jimmy's and The Lucky Polar Bears.

For information see www.myspace.com/thechinaskieffect or email thechinaskieffect@hotmail.com

Nancekuke Clean-up

2005-11-20T14:11:00.000Z

Preparatory work to excavate material from the first of five dump sites at Nancekuke, Portreath, is due to start in spring 2006.

Further investigative work needs to be undertaken on the other four sites, with a start to be made on two of them early in the new year.

The Ministry of Defence is cleaning up waste dumped at Nancekuke when the former chemical defence establishment, which produced nerve gas, closed.

Group Captain Jayne Millington, a Royal Air Force spokesperson, said: "The ministry is totally committed to undertake this highly technical multi-million pound programme which will tackle this environmental legacy issue.

"A comprehensive programme of work has been designed to allow us to remediate Dumpsite C and this will start in spring 2006."

Kerrier councillor Pat Aston said: "The council welcomes further details of the remediation programme and supports all the measures that are being taken to ensure that this process is completed safely."

In 2001, the Ministry of Defence opted to carry out remedial work on the five dumps at the former chemical defence establishment site, which had been identified by the Environment Agency as presenting a potential risk to the environment.

Poison Pen Letter

2005-11-20T14:09:00.000Z

A poison pen letter writer who has sent hate mail to publicans in the Portreath area for up to 20 years was yesterday at the centre of a police investigation.

Officers were trying to piece together the identity of the mystery writer who apparently holds a grudge against groups including gay people and single mothers.

This week Clem Tregear, landlord of the Waterfront Inn at Portreath, told how he had been bombarded with letters from the same author for about a decade.

They arrived regularly while he was running the nearby Bridge Inn for six years from the mid-1990s and continued during his four-year spell at the Rambling Miner at Chacewater.

"I've got boxes of letters and now we are getting about one a week here," said Mr Tregear. "The writer appears not to like single mothers, gay people or anybody who doesn't conform to the behaviour they expect.

"We had one letter at the Bridge Inn which upset us because it inferred that a barmaid was a 'woman of the night'. That was a scurrilous suggestion."

Phil Fox, who took over the Bridge Inn with his wife, Von, last year, said the recent batch of letters sent to Mr Tregear featured slurs against their staff and customers.

He pointed to one attacking the alleged sexuality of a former bar manager.

The West Briton understands that a local mother was also urged to move away from the community with her child in a recent, abusive letter.

Mr Fox, who believes that two people could be behind the latest spate of poison pen letters, said: "Following the remarks about our bar manager, he left us.

"I've been told that this has been going on for 20 years and I believe that whoever is doing it holds a grudge against humanity as a whole. They've picked on people who use the pub and those who don't.

"It's just got silly now," he added. "We don't know who's doing it so everybody's under suspicion. We just want it to stop."

PC Tim Roberts, of Redruth police, confirmed that he had seized several letters as part of his inquiries to identify the culprit.

He said: "I believe the author may think they are not causing any harm but the content of the letters refers to many local people who are very upset by what is being written.

"I would appeal for any information which may lead to the identity of the author and would ask the letter writer to contact me at Redruth police station."

County Council Election

2005-11-11T11:17:00.000Z

FIVE candidates have been nominated for a Cornwall County Council by-election at Illogan and Portreath after the resignation of Terry Rowe for health reasons. They are Conservative Mary Anson, of Lanner; Independent Tommy Bray, of Four Lanes; Labour's Tony Bunt, of Camborne; Liberal Democrat David Ekinsmyth, of Tehidy Park; and Liberal Paul Holmes, of Illogan. Voting takes place on November 24. The closing date to register for new postal or proxy votes is November 16.

COURAGE OF A LONE SWIMMER

2005-11-11T11:13:00.000Z

A charity yesterday praised the courage of a man who carried out a sponsored swim in rough seas on Monday to raise money to help children suffering from bone disease.

Coastguards had pleaded in vain with 28-year-old Dale Austin to postpone his attempt to swim to Gull Rock and back because of the dangerous sea conditions.

Mr Austin, who runs the Retreat cafe overlooking the beach at Portreath, decided on the sponsored swim after receiving a call out of the blue from the charity Strongbones, which helps children suffering from bone disease - from brittle bones to cerebral palsy.

He said: "I had two nephews, Ben and Alex, who lived very short lives because they were born with cerebral palsy. When I got the call, it was a lovely day. The sea was calm and the sun was out, so I decided to swim to Gull Rock."

But the Indian summer was over in Portreath and on the eve of the fundraiser, coastguards had asked Mr Austin to shelve the swim for safety reasons.

Following a good luck kiss from his 28-year-old wife, Andrea, he took the plunge on Monday afternoon under the watchful gaze of the men who had warned of the potential dangers that lay ahead.

"It's choppy out there with a 6ft groundswell and a changeable wind," said a coastguard. "But he's doing a brilliant job under the conditions."

Coastguards watched for 25 minutes as the lone swimmer battled his way through the heavy surf and neared the foot of Gull Rock.

"This is the most dangerous time," one of the coastguards told his colleagues from their vantage point at the beachside car park in Portreath.

"He's nearly there. He's on - you beauty!"

With gulls circling the rock that juts out of the sea around half-a-mile from the shore, Mr Austin clambered to the summit where he celebrated completing the first leg of his charity stunt.

After diving back into the breakers crashing against the rock, his family breathed a sigh of relief.

His mum, Sharon, had hoped to accompany her son there but had been defeated by the strength of the surf.

With more and more well-wishers gathering to cheer the end of the challenge, Mr Austin arrived back on dry land.

"The trickiest part was re-entry from the rock," he said. "But I was delighted that just on the way back to the cafe I raised another £50 on top of the pledges of £150 for the charity."

A spokesman for Strongbones Children's Charitable Trust said: "This was a very brave feat from a very courageous man. Without people like Dale, it would be hard for us to support the number of children that we do."

Remembrance Service

2005-11-11T11:12:00.000Z

09:00 - 10 November 2005
History was made and recalled when Carn Brea Parish Council staged a Remembrance service at Moorfield Road on Sunday morning.

It was the first time the community had had the opportunity to pay tribute to its Fallen since the unveiling of the war memorial earlier in the year.

Nine standard bearers stood behind the monument as the chairmen of the parish council, district council and neighbouring Illogan parish council joined representatives of the services and community groups to lay wreaths to honour the memories of those who had died in war.

The Rev Lyn Wills led prayers and hymns, and Bill Bishop from the Royal British Legion sounded Reveille and Last Post. Redruth Town Band provided the accompaniment to proceedings.

Malcolm Moyle, chairman of Carn Brea Parish Council, said it had been a moving occasion.

"It was our first Remembrance service following the dedication in April, and we had a wonderful turnout from the British Legion, the services and local people.

"It was an excellent occasion, where we were able to remember for the first time all those from Carn Brea who died in the service of others."

A few hours later and a few miles down the road, residents of Portreath lined the streets of their village to watch the Remembrance parade make its way from the car park on the sea front to St Mary's Church. Again with strong support from the Royal British Legion and RAF Portreath, wreaths were laid by dignitaries and representatives of village community groups.

The Rev Mike Kippax led a short service beside the war memorial, followed by hymn singing in the church. Afterwards Portreath Improvements Committee served refreshments in the institute.

Chris Watts, chairman of Portreath Parish council, said: "The weather was brilliant and a good number of residents lined the road as we marched to the church. The veterans did a tremendous job. The Brownies laid a posy and it was nice to see the young keeping up a tradition."

A Golden Opportunity?

2005-11-08T10:22:00.000Z

Many residents will no doubt be aware of the parlous state of our much-loved harbour.
For the past few months the Portreath Regeneration Committee has been in discussion with Kerrier District Council as to the future of Portreath Harbour. We can now publish the results.

--------------------------------

On the 11th of October 2005 the cabinet members of Kerrier District Council resolved that “In principle, assist the enablement of Portreath Regeneration Committee to carry out a feasibility study with a contribution of £5,000 from the Matched Funds Reserve, with a view to ultimately acquiring the freehold of Portreath Harbour’.

Kerrier District Council’s Asset Management Plan identifies the on-going requirement for the Council to review its property portfolio; since October 2004 the Council has been considering the options for the harbour..
KDC
----------------------------------

The Regeneration Committee is a sub committee of Portreath Parish Council, with members drawn from the Parish Council, Portreath Improvements Committee and the Harbour Users Association. Now the decision by Kerrier has been made, we need your thoughts and opinions on the direction and purpose the harbour should take, consequently we are organising a consultation day in the village Institute in the near future. Please come along to discuss possibilities, view ideas and give us your thoughts.

This resolution gives the community of Portreath a chance to guide and safeguard the future of our harbour for the first time in its history.

This is a huge undertaking and decision for the village and members of the committee are well aware of the enormity of this project. However, with the support of residents, village organisations and Kerrier District Council a new body can be formed to manage and administer the harbour and surrounding land into a self-funding enterprise.

Everybody who sees (and smells) the area will be aware of the substantial funding needed to regenerate it. Kerrier District Council has given us this opportunity to commission a feasibility study to see if this project is within our grasp.

The harbour could once again become the focal point of this community but this time under community control.

Annual Bonfire and Firework Display

2005-10-30T10:24:00.000Z

Will be held on Sunday 6th November
Bonfire 6:45
Fireworks 7:15

Please encourage visiting family and friends to use the FREE Park and Ride scheme to and from the Gold Centre, New Portreath Road.

Please give realistic donations to this unique seafront event. Insurance premiums rise every year and monies collected on the night have to cover all costs. The more the donations, the better the next years display.

Offers of timber and combustibles are NOT required this year.

2005-10-30T10:23:00.000Z

Incline Project

2005-10-30T10:22:00.000Z

The Incline Church Community Project goes from strength to strength! Our 6 weekly meetings provide a forum for discussion and debate as we work together to strengthen community resources. Recently we had workers from Drednought and On Track join us, and In the New Year, hope to develop further work with the 16 plus age group and with Parents.

Here is an update regarding some of the groups supported through Incline:
Having recently enjoyed Drumming and Swimming, The Carers Group have an array of exciting activities planned including a trip to France to enjoy the Markets and more locally, a Christmas Musical. This friendly and supportive group would like to hear from local carers, contact Janet 842658 or Cath 842797.

Mish Mash continues to meet on the first Saturday and a joint Christmas Party with GroundBreakers (Sunday School) is planned for Christmas. A new Mish Mash is starting in Camborne and some of the local children have been involved in setting this up.

Table Tennis meet on Wednesday evenings in the new church hall, 7.00 until 9.30. and Belly dancing also runs from the hall on Thursday evenings 7.30 until 9.00. Do come along!

CHIC can be found in the church hall on Wednesday mornings, call in for a cuppa, to order or pick up a Veg Box or to browse through an assortment of resources where you might just find the answer to something important!

St Mary’s Church Hall

2005-10-30T10:21:00.000Z

As Chairman of Portreath Parish Council I was delighted to accept an invitation to attend the official opening of the new hall at St Mary’s Church. The event was extremely well attended with hardly a pew to spare.
Jim Dennis the Church Warden who has done a great deal of work on the project started the evening off with an introduction to the scale of the project. He handed on to Brian Phaby who was Project Manager. Brian gave a very informative pictorial presentation showing the progression of the building works from the demolition of the old Church hall to the completion of the new. The high quality of the complete build undertaken by Mark Bryant was apparent at the buffet after the service.
After an introduction by the Ground Breaker Puppet team with Ben, Claire and David the Rev Jim Foley, who was curate in our Parish and had the original vision of the new church hall, gave an entertaining talk on how the project came about and how the local congregation carried it through.
We were all treated to a great musical accompaniment by Mixed Spice, enhanced by the new sound system and visual aids installed by Kevin Stevens. The Church certainly rocked!

Before the buffet organised by Lesley Stevens and helpers there were presentations made to Jim Dennis, Brian Phaby and Kevin Stevens for all the work they did throughout the whole project. Thanks also went to Joyce Holdaway, retired Church Warden and Helen Jones new Church Warden.

Speaking to Rev Mike Kippax at the buffet, he said how delighted he is with the new Church Hall and how it is already being well used with great plans for the future. Current uses are CHIC care and hospitality in the community, Veg boxes, Coffee Morning, PATCH baby and toddler group, Alpha course, Table Tennis, Belly Dancing with ideas for future use including; A computer IT suite, a Parents group and Diva nights for young women.
A great evening was had by all that attended, we all wish St Mary’s Church Hall the very best for the future.

Report of Portreath Parish Council

2005-10-30T10:20:00.000Z

Report of Portreath Parish Council

Dispersal Order

Members of the Council were very pleased to learn during a report from P.C. Roberts, Neighbourhood Beat Manager given at a recent meeting of the Council that the implementation of the Dispersal Order
within certain parts of the Village had resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of incidents of vandalism, etc.

The combination of the Dispersal Order and the installation of a barrier at the Precinct end of the Harbour had also prevented the gathering of youths in vehicles in that area which had, in the past created, problems for those living nearby and had often resulted in the vehicles leaving the area
and travelling around the Village and Car Park at great speed. Members of the Harbour Association
have contacted the Council expressing thanks for Members ‘perseverance in persuading Kerrier District Council to allow the barriers to be erected and for all the measures taken by the Council to put an early end to anti-social behaviour.

Designated Public Place Order

The necessary legal steps necessary in the implementation of a Designated Public Place Order are being processed by Kerrier District Council following requests from the Parish Council and the support of Portreath Improvements Committee

Footpaths

All the Definative Footpaths within the Parish have now been trimmed and cleaned with the exception of a short section of New Walk which cannot be cut during the flowering season due to the presence of the rare Deptford Pink plant on the middle section of this footpath. However, trimming of this final section will be carried out shortly

Highway matters

The County Council Area Surveyor has informed Members of the Council that works will be carried out later in this financial year to reinforce the section of Sunnyvale Road near its eastern end where the retaining structure is failing. In the meantime the condition of this section will be monitored by the County Council and remedial maintenance work will be carried out if necessary. The problem of surface water run-off from the cliff area at the eastern end of Sunnyvale road is also being investigated by the Area Surveyor as a result of representations by the Parish Council.

Bridge Village
The Parish Council are pressing the County Council, through the local County Councillor, Mr. T. Rowe, for the provision of footways; the District Council for the provision of litter bins and the Police Authority has been contacted regarding the enforcement of the speed limit through Bridge Village

VE-VJ Commemoration Event

The Chairman, Councillor C.J. Watts accompanied by Mrs. S. Watts represented the Parish Council at the VE-VJ Commemoration Event held at Truro Cathedral on 11th September

.

HARBOUR NEWS

2005-10-30T10:19:00.000Z

As promised in the last edition , some information on the oldest wooden boat in the harbour. In fact it’s the only wooden boat currently in use, and is owned by David Jeffery (Jethro) to his friends.
Jeanette was manufactured in Porthleven by Oliver’s in 1960. She was carvel constructed from pine on oak as a displacement type hull, her shape suiting a fairly heavy sea. The engine is a 8HP Yanmar diesel running through a Yanmar gearbox.
Steering is through a traditional tiller.
The type of construction also allows the boat to take the pounding of harbours that dry out. In its early life at Portreath it was used as a licensed fishing boat SS278 by Keith Porter who still uses the harbour with another boat. Since David took over Jeanette, he has enjoyed fishing and potting as a privateer, but admits she has taken a lot of upkeep due to the timber construction.
“Being a carpenter has helped” said David.
Jeanette can be viewed and appreciated close up as the boats are due to be lifted onto dry standing now.
David is considering retirement this year, so if you are considering aquiring something that is part of our Cornish maritime history, have a word with Jethro.
NS

Jet ski to the rescue
Sunday the 21st of August saw 'tombstoning' nearly lead to a place in the graveyard. After consuming more than a little alcohol some young lads thought it would be funny to play chicken with the Atlantic Ocean and its boats and pushed one of their party off the end of the harbour. Unfortunately the lad in question was a weak swimmer and hurt himself on hitting the water. His friends, also poor swimmers and drunk could do little to help him. Swift action from local fishermen Jim and Kevin, in a passing boat, and the actions of Innis (spelling?), a holiday maker using a jet ski, meant that the lads were saved from drowning. Amazingly, whilst the boat crew and others tried to raise the alarm they were met by a torrent of abuse from the casualties' friends on the quayside - who had clearly failed to see the seriousness of the situation. It is ironic that yet again people had to risk their own safety to come to the aid of yobs who argue that society does little for them.

30-minutes later, in an unrelated incident, another local fishing vessel, this time skippered by Paul, plucked a young lad from the same area who simply did not have the swimming abilities to cope with the strong currents.

Dr Bryan Mills

LETTERS

2005-10-30T10:13:00.000Z

Hi there

I was born and brought up in the Camborne-Redruth-Hayle area, and, for reasons of career, profession etc, like most young people, moved away from the area. Although I have visited Cornwall to visit friends and relatives regularly over the years, I visited Portreath this week, probably for the first time in 30 years, and how disappointed I was.

I have always been aware of the good work done by the Kerrier Council, and the Portreath Improvements Group of local residents, and they have to be commended for many of the things they have achieved. However the things which dismayed me, an understatement, were:

* the uglification of the car parking area by the beach;
* the grim steel barriers to the car park;
* the ugly signs, and the fact that the car park is locked up at 10pm; where is the freedom that existed when I was young?
* the awful yellow bins by the beach: are these for clinical waste?
* the grotesque traffic calming;
* the signs on the telegraph poles stating that you could be moved on and asked to leave the area and a curfew for kids;
* pay and display;
* the appearance of the people walking about the place, who looked as though they were from another planet.

Maybe I am the one from another planet, or maybe it is just old age taking its toll. Portreath remains a beautiful place, but I guess my tendency is going to be to focus on the beach and the scenery on my next visit, and to avert my gaze from the village!

Jon Holland

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOODBYE

No matter where I wander
No matter where I roam
There is a place in Cornwall
I will always call my home

Where ever my journey takes me
Over land and sea and air
I can close my eyes and imagine
And in my heart I’m there

And when the sun is shining
And the skies above are clear
I will always remember Cornwall
And that place I hold so dear

When those waves are crashing
And you stare out to the sea
As the sun dips down behind Gull Rock
Please remember me.

ABBIE, AMY and LIAM McGHEE
PORTREATH PRIMARY SCHOOL 1999-2004
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St Mary’s Church Hall

2005-10-30T10:11:00.000Z

St Mary’s Church Hall
Weekly Itinerary

Tuesday 19:30 Alpha course

Wednesday 10:00-12:00 C.H.I.C. Care and hospitality in the
community
10:00 Veg Boxes
19:00 Table Tennis

Thursday 10:00-11:00 Coffee Morning
19:30 Belly Dancing

Friday 11:00-12:00 P.A.T.C.H. Parent and toddler Christian
hospitality

Sunday 9:45 GroundBreakers Fun Club for ages 4-18

Alternate Greenhouse Club 12 plus youth group?

Fun Day Committee News

2005-10-30T10:10:00.000Z

Fun Day Committee News

We are forming a new committee and are seeking enthusiastic support and ideas. This is your chance to make a difference to your community with action and at the same time, have a lot of fun. Your input will make all the difference to the success of the day and the money raised helps many local activities.

I am sure everybody will want to join me in thanking the past committee for the invaluable work they have done over the past years and we hope to continue their good work.

Our first meeting will be on 16th November at 7-30 PM at Bassets Acre. Glenfeadon Terrace, Portreath.

Contact Pam or Rich Christ 01209 842367

BEAT LINES

2005-10-30T10:09:00.000Z

There has been a lot of press coverage about the dispersal order that was put in place in Portreath this summer. I am sure that most residents will be aware of its existence but may not know that it ceased to be enforceable as from 1st October. I now have to assess the value of the order and report statistics back to the home office.
After I first proposed that a dispersal order in Portreath would assist us to deal with the annual problems of summer anti-social behaviour we received overwhelming support. Indeed it would not have been possible for the police and the district council to bring in this legislation without the public support that we received.
My own feelings are that it was successful and that it was worth the hard work that it took to get it into place. I will now try to ascertain if it is possible for a similar order to become effective during the summer months every year automatically.

By the time you read this October will be upon us, many people like me will soon be thinking about halloween night and ‘trick or treat’. I would like to make it very clear that none of my colleagues or I wish to be killjoys or seek to spoil anyone’s fun – however we will not tolerate one persons fun becoming another persons misery. Consequently as in previous years we will again be taking measures to deal with people who are intent on causing problems for others. If you have any concerns about the forthcoming celebrations please contact me at Redruth Police station to discuss further.

You may be aware that there is a current initiative to try to gain funding for a hand held speed gun/camera for officers in Redruth. There are not sufficient funds in police budgets for each station to have their own camera. The present situation is that stations in West Cornwall have to share the use of the camera. This means that each station gets to use the camera periodically. Each Parish Council has been asked for a donation to assist in the purchase of an extra camera that will then be used by Redruth officers only.
It is unfortunate that Portreath have been unable to support this proposal as it is only contributing councils that can expect the benefits that the extra equipment will bring.

On a more positive note, I am currently working on a project that I believe will provide a huge boost for policing and the Portreath community generally. The final details have yet to be completed, including the extra ongoing financial costs that will be incurred by constabulary. Until these matters are resolved it would be imprudent for me to say more at the moment. However I hope and anticipate that I will be able to give a positive update on this idea in the next issue of ‘The Tram’.

PC TIM ROBERTS

Portreath took the victory

2005-09-19T19:45:00.000Z

08 September 2005
Top volunteer lifeguards from all over the UK tested their physical strength, stamina and skills over a tough weekend at Fistral Beach in Newquay for the British Championships of Surf Life Saving. It was the second year in a row the event has been held at the famous Newquay beach and coincided with the 50th anniversary of Surf Life Saving Great Britain.

Hundreds of spectators watched members from 22 teams show off their skills in a number of events in and out of the water including swimming races, board races and competitions involving picking up colour-coordinated flags, described as 'musical chairs without chairs or music', which tests the competitors' speed of reaction, speed and agility.

On Sunday there was also an iron man competition, which combined running, swimming and board paddling.

National president of the organisation Jonathon Ball said: "We had a terrific weekend. The surf came up well on Sunday which was magnificent.

"We had clubs competing from all over Cornwall and Devon and some from as far away as Wales, Ireland and Croydon but it was definitely Portreath that took the victory home with them."

The event saw several European championship contenders taking part, including members from the UK team who will compete in the world championships in Australia next spring.

2005-07-23T10:51:00.000Z

RNLB Royal Shipwright

LIFEBOAT DEMO TURNS INTO REAL-LIFE DRAMA

2005-07-23T10:37:00.000Z

A demonstration by RNLI lifeguards ended in a real-life beach rescue.

Members of the St Agnes RNLI lifeboat crew abandoned a presentation about safety and rescue techniques when they received an emergency call.

Within two minutes, their new rescue boat was fighting through heavy surf following a report that a man had become stranded in the sea at Portreath.

A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also on stand-by but the man managed to reach the safety of the beach without injury.

Before the drama unfolded, the crew from Blue Peter IV had been at Trevaunance Cove in St Agnes, thanking members of the Cornwall branch of the Auto Cycle Union who raised £500 for the RNLI.

Operations manager at St Agnes lifeboat station Nick Marsh presented club president John Bassett with a framed certificate as thanks for the club's work.

Earlier this year the club donated £500 to the St Agnes branch of the RNLI during the annual car trial at Blue Hills.

And a commemorative bench was placed at the top of the infamous cliff top hill.

Club spokesman Rose Disney said: "The motorcycle club was really honoured to have been treated to a display. It was a dramatic day in the end," said club spokesman Rose Disney.

"We have always supported the RNLI because they save so many lives - they even saved mine once.

Mrs Disney said she once became stuck at the bottom of a cliff, and praised the RNLI crew which rescued her.

"They were out there so quickly. It is nice to know they are always on hand if you get into trouble."

Lifeboat operations manager Nick Marsh said: "It costs approximately £30,000 a year to run the lifeboat so we are always grateful for donations such as this.

The Blue Peter IV came to St Agnes in February following a naming ceremony by Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq at the International Boat Show, London.

She is the fifth boat St Agnes has received from the children's television programme and has been greatly modified from the previous one.

PLAN TO CLEAN UP MORE DUMPS AT NANCEKUKE

2005-07-14T00:11:00.000Z

Kerrier councillors have given their support to a proposal by the Ministry of Defence to clean up two more of the dumpsites at the former chemical defence establishment at Nancekuke.

The council supported the remediation of the first of RAF Portreath's five dumps sites - dump C - in December 2004.

The MOD now wants permission to investigate dumps A and B, which are located in the north-east quadrant of the air station.

Dump A is a disused quarry of about 2,000 square metres, and between 10-15m deep. It is believed it contains building materials, and technical and domestic waste.

Dump B is valley in-fill of about 7,200 square metres, between 4-5m deep.

In its application, the MOD said: "The principal purposes of the proposals are to prevent possible pollution from the dumps, to improve the environmental quality of RAF Portreath, and to prevent potential future hazards to the environment and human health due to the presence of material within the dumps."

Under the proposals, the dumps would be examined using a system designed to prevent the release of chemicals or dust into the atmosphere.

Any hazardous waste would be transferred to Porton Down for disposal.

In his report to members of Kerrier Council's planning committee, head of service Jon Pender said he had no objections to the proposal, "subject to its implementation in accordance with the details in the supporting environmental statement".

He said: "The remediation of this and other dumps clearly must be carried out. The only question before you is whether the proposed way of doing so to Dumps A and B are acceptable.

"There is no absolute knowledge of the materials to be excavated from there, but the element of uncertainty is considered to be small, and the scheme includes measures to address a range of eventualities."

Tommy Bray said he was against the clean up.

He said: "It's been left for 60 years, and suddenly we're going to dig it up. We don't know what we're going to find. Let's let sleeping dogs lie."

Councillors voted to support the proposal, which will now go before the county council's planning committee for a final decision.

E-mail: julianr@c-dm.co.uk

Dispersal Order

2005-07-13T16:13:00.000Z

Police officers posted notices throughout Portreath informing of the imposition of a Dispersal Order that takes effect on the 17th of July. This action comes about following a well attended Open Session prior to the recent Council Meeting , when members of the Public reported on various acts of anti-social behaviour within the Village, Councillors unanimously resolved to approve the setting in motion of action to introduce a Dispersal Order in respect of parts of Portreath Village. This Order would enable the Police Officer to disperse groups where there is felt that the presence of groups has resulted or is likely to result in a member of the Public being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed. Individuals could be directed to leave the locality and may be excluded from the area for up to 24 hours. The Police Officer would also have the discretionary power, within the designated area, to return young people under 16 years of age, who are out on the streets and not under the control of an adult, to their home. A refusal to follow an Officer's direction to disperse is a summary offence and the penalty for conviction for such an offence is a fine or a maximum, for adults, of three months' imprisonment

BOY AS YOUNG AS 12 INVOLVED IN THEFT

2005-07-03T00:47:00.000Z

Police were this week hunting a boy as young as 12 after thieves grabbed money from a bus driver as she dropped them off at Portreath.

Officers said the youngster was part of a three-strong gang who escaped with change amounting to around £19 after the Truronian bus had ferried them to the seaside resort from Redruth railway station.

PC Dave Cracknell, the Camborne police officer heading the inquiry, said the bus driver was unhurt after a "tug-of-war" with the bags of cash.

But he raised concerns over the young age of one of the thieves, a ginger-haired boy of around 12 who was accompanied by two others aged in their late-teens or early-20s.

PC Cracknell said: "I am concerned that such a youngster is involved in a crime like this and that it was carried out when the holiday season in Portreath is getting into swing.

"It upsets me that you get silly incidents like this one which can have a detrimental effect on the image of Portreath. People work very hard in that community and this is not the sort of thing we want to see happening."

The trio struck last Wednesday lunchtime after travelling on the bus from the railway station to Portreath. They were dropped off near the village bakery.

As they walked off the bus, they grabbed several bags of money from a tray in the driver's compartment. Eyewitnesses reported them fleeing in the direction of Lighthouse Hill.

PC Cracknell said: "The driver said they had local accents but she does not recognise them as having travelled on the bus before. I have a feeling that they are living somewhere in the Portreath area. We are keen to hear from witnesses and anyone who can help in this inquiry."

The younger boy was said to be white and around 5ft tall. He was wearing a black top and blue, baggy jeans.

Both his accomplices were also white with tanned complexions and 5ft 10ins tall. One, who was bare-chested, wore blue jeans and was described as muscular and stocky. The second man was wearing a blue top with white writing on it.

Anyone with information on the theft or identity of the thieves is asked to contact PC Cracknell at Camborne police station on 08452 777444.

July-September Quarterly

2005-07-02T16:41:00.000Z

Portreath Harbour Fun Day will be held on Sunday 21st August this year. It is a family orientated event with plenty of fun and games for all ages. Please come with friends and relatives and support this village event which will benefit local groups and organisations.
Peta Redmore (Chair)

Stall Holders
Anyone interested in having a stall on Harbour Fun Day, please contact me by phone, or leave a note in the Post Office by 24th July. You will need to supply own table.
Cost £5.00 normal sized table
£10.00 larger table
£15.00 very large table

Raft Race
Teams wishing to enter, please phone me with name of team and number of team members – maximum of 5.

Thank you

Di Helyer (Secretary) 01209 842492

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Harbour Fun Day

12 noon Official Opening (name to follow – possibly Julia Goldsworthy)

12.15 Fancy Dress Competition : Theme is Nursery Rymes
Age Groups Under 5
5 – 9
10 – 11
12 – 14
14 +

12.30 * Welly Throwing

* Tribal Drums

1.0 Morris Men Dancing and / or Cornish Cloggers

1.30 Rebecca Whittaker singing

2.0 "Saqqara" – Portreath Belly Dancers

2.30 Tai Kwondo – on grass by Marquee
Run by John Lamb – classes on Wednesday and Sunday.
Interested ? Ring John on 01209 213558

3.0 "Stars in Your Eyes" – come and join in the fun.
Are you the next budding pop star ?

4.30 Gunge Tank : Junior and Senior –
Voting forms in Post office July/August

5.0 Beach to Harbour Swim – enroll at the Surf Club

6.0 * Raft Race – please enter your raft at the Raffle Tent during
approx the day and place raft on the slipway

* Presentations and Raffle Draw

6.30 * Family Disco – come and boogie in the Marquee

* Boat Trips from the Harbourside

8.0 End of the Day – we thank you all very much for your support

Throughout the day – Raffle tickets, stalls, BBQ, childrens entertainment in the Marquee (craft tables run by Portreath Play School; visit by Jed the Puppet, and parachute games) Beer Tent, Tea Tent etc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath applies for a dispersal order
Today at the Parish Council meeting it was resolved by a unanimous vote of councillors to apply for a dispersal order. This has come about due to an increase in anti-social behaviour by a number of youngsters at various locations around the village. The main areas of concern are the beachfront car park, the harbour precinct, memorial gardens and Beach Road.

The Parish Council meeting was packed out with residents, organisation representatives and business owners all of one opinion that the anti-social behaviour has to stop and stop quickly. A well-supported petition was presented to the Council with the main points of complaint being, the congregation of youths in the previously mentioned areas, drinking, swearing, driving their cars in a dangerous manner, playing loud music, fighting and generally behaving in an intimidating way. There were a number of specific incidents mentioned, two of which were particularly dangerous. The first occurred on a busy Bank Holiday at 5:00 pm. A BMW drove through the village and down Beach Road by a driver above the alcohol limit, he lost control when he clipped a van parked outside the Beach Shop. Consequently the vehicle careered across the road into the entrance of the car park, destroying the gatepost and part of the wall and writing off the car. It was a miracle no one was walking on this usually busy path at the time. The second incident happened a few days later. Two vehicles full of youths were parked at the turning basin end of the Harbour, they then threw the Harbour Users Association hazardous waste material barrel into the harbour and used concrete blocks to split it open so releasing the waste into the harbour. They then released the mooring that is used for emergency landings. Malicious damage, that polluted the harbour for many days and put the emergency mooring out of use.
These are just two incidents of quite a long and rapidly growing list of anti-social behaviour that is becoming the "norm" in Portreath. Residents and businesses have had enough and voiced their protests extremely well to the full Parish Council.
Local Beat Manager PC Tim Roberts and Sargent Paul Marchent were present and assured the meeting that steps were being taken to increase the amount of patrols through the village in the early to late evening periods. PC Roberts is to progress the Dispersal Order as quickly as possible. If this order is obtained it will allow the police to move on any groups that are acting in an anti-social manor and prevent them from returning for up to 24 hours.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

£6 MILLION CASH BOOST FOR CORNWALL'S CENTRAL MINING DISTRICT
Great news, The Mineral Tramways Project has now secured the remaining £5.5million of funding to complete the largest heritage Project Cornwall has ever seen.
Half a million pounds was approved in November 2003 as Stage 1 to further develop Project proposals and costings. Stage 2 approval of £5.5 million, making an overall Project total of £6 million was granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Objective 1 and the South West Regional Development Agency on 16 March.
Project staff will now be appointed to complete the work on the ground, before the Project finally closes in December 2007.
The Project area covers, Camborne Redruth and Gwennap St Day which make up the Central Mining District of Cornwall, and will create 30.5km of new multi use trails which are predominantly off road, conserve and make safe 11 mining heritage sites, and carry out enhancement works in 13 villages. The following Project proposals will be carried out in your Parish.
Trail Creation works
The overriding aim of the Project is to create an accessible heritage experience, following as closely as possible the original mineral tramways and railways within the Project area, to connect important sites of Cornish mining, and mining villages with a network of multi use trails, although it has been necessary through Stage 1 of the Project to revise the route of some sections of the trail which were presented in the original funding applications. Earlier phases of the Project have created the Coast to Coast, Great Flat Lode, and Tresavean Trails. The new 30.5km multi use network consists of 4 new trails, two of which are within the parish of Portreath:-
Portreath Branchline Trail – running up the disused incline railway, using the original Portreath Branch Line to Alexander Road and Spa Lane on the outskirts of Illogan, onto Park Bottom, Tuckingmill finally connecting with the existing Great Flat Lode Trail at Brea village.
Tehidy Trail – running from the top of the disused Incline in Portreath to the Tehidy East Lodge car park on Cot Road, and west through the Park to Coombe.

Village Enhancement Works
The proposed Project enhancement works in the village will vastly improve its present appearance for both locals and visitors by forming a village square, narrowing the wide tarmac roads, and improving the appearance of the bleak car park and bus stop area. Thank you to all who took the time and trouble to fll in the questionnaire issued in the last Parish Tram. The Parish Council and the Minerals Tramway Team were pleased with the response.
The Project hopes to create more of a village square outside the shops and Portreath Arms, narrowing the wide sweeping expanse of tarmac, and creating smaller landscaped areas with improved paving and planting.
Beach Road will also be narrowed creating areas for new planting and a streamside pathway with parking retained. The Beach car park entrance will be altered and the car park itself will have new railings installed and disabled access improved. Other work is also proposed in the car park by the Portreath Improvements Committee.
Penberthy Road is already the subject of traffic improvement works, however there may be some scope for further Project input, particularly at the entrance to the Square. Gateway features are proposed at the entrances to the village from when approaching from Bridge, or down Tregea Hill.
Detailed layout plans will be displayed over the coming months.
For further Project information contact the Mineral Tramways Project team on (01872) 322646, or the Kerrier Community Regeneration Office on (01209) 614061.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARER'S CAR CLAMPED AS SHE HELPS ELDERLY MAN

A carer whose car was recently clamped as she popped into a cafe to get change for the beachside car park at Portreath this week warned other motorists to be on their guard.

Jean White, of Gwinear, near Hayle, claimed the clamper pounced within about six minutes of her parking her car and escorting the 84-year-old man she was looking after into the nearby cafe.

Trouble began after Mrs White, aged 48, picked up the elderly man from his home at Camborne and drove him to Portreath last week.

She said: "One of our policies is that you are not allowed to leave a client in the car. I took him into the cafe and was given the change straight away. The lady in the cafe said she would bring out the coffees I had ordered.

"She said, 'You'd better go back to your car because the clamper's there.' He was by the car and said he had tried three different clamps."

A boss at her company, Penhellis Community Care, of Penryn, paid the £70.50 fee to have the clamp released.

But Mrs White insisted she was in the car park for no more than six minutes and the patrolman for Truro-based Armtrac Security Services had failed to give her 10 minutes' grace to buy a ticket.

She said: "I've heard that a lot of people get clamped at this car park but Armtrac have got to be fair and give people a chance to get the change for a ticket."

A spokesman for the firm's appeal centre said it had decided to make a full refund as Mrs White was a carer and was looking after an elderly man at the time.

He added: "The patrolman was doing his job. We have looked into it and felt a little compassion wouldn't go amiss."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incline Project

The Incline project continues to support and assist in securing funding for various village projects. In this issue of the Tram you will find a "Portreath information Pack" A leaflet full of contact numbers and web sites relevent to the village. We hope you will find it informative and useful. A big thanks to Malcome and Daphne for the work they put into it.

The Cares group, C.H.I.C, Belly Dancing and the C.O.G continue at a steady pace.
If any reader wishes advice or support or both, to start a community project please email chris@parishtram.co.uk or phone 01209 843873 or drop a line to the Parish Tram c/o Portreath Post Office.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portreath AFC

Managers Reflections
( a look back at the season )

Well what a first season as manager of Portreath AFC I have had. When I was first approached to take charge of the team, I thought long and hard, what players would join the club and would we attract any sponsors etc. Little did I know what a roller coaster of a season it would be.

There have been lots of rumours about Portreath this season, from the paying of players, to me having a vehicle supplied - all are false.

The players play for Portreath because they enjoy it, I manage them because I want to, it's that simple.

I have had players from 7 clubs sign on for the New Portreath. I asked them to change the way they played and play a new system. They took it all on board, and in my opinion, have at times played some very exciting and adventurous football. The mixture and blend of players that I have had the pleasure to manage this season, has sometimes made my life easy, and sometimes made it difficult because of the pure talent and commitment of the players.

The club has had a very successful season, we have gained promotion to the top flight at the first attempt, breaking the all time record of goals scored in the Mining League with 164 scored and only 30 conceded.

We have won the Jubilee Cup against Storm in an action packed final.

We had a great run in the Arthur Pearce Cup beating three highly placed Div 1 teams on the way, only to be beaten by Gwinear in the semi-final.

We faced the Mining League Div 1 winners Gulval in the second round of the Junior Cup and in my opinion acquitted ourselves well.

If there is a downside to the season it is that Big Ross, ( as he is known within the club ), will not be with us next season due to work commitments, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all he has done for me personally and for the club, but I am sure that the foundations that he has helped to lay will last for many seasons to come.

I am looking forward to Div 1 football next season and all the challenges that it brings.

We will be training every Wednesday, starting Weds the 29th of June at RAF Portreath, meeting in the car park at 6 - 30pm, if any players out there think they might like to join this successful club ( don't worry we are a friendly bunch ), please come along to a training session or contact me direct by e-mail at roger.sowden@btinternet.com or ring / text me on 07969 954911.

In closing I would like to say a big thank you to all our committee members who have worked so hard and believed in me and a big thanks to our sponsors who were so generous last season.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Parish Council Report

Appointment of Chairman

At a meeting held on 16th May Councillor C.J. Watts was unanimously appointed Chairman of the Council and Mrs. D. Butler was appointed Vice Chairman. Upon taking office Councillor Watts
thanked the outgoing Chairman, Councillor K Bowden, for the able manner in which the Council had been chaired during the past year

Regrading of Footpaths

Cornwall County Council have adopted an updated system for the grading of footpaths throughout the County. The most important and most used footpaths will now be graded as Gold footpaths, the less used as Silver and those rarely used will become Bronze paths. The Parish Council noted with pleasure that all the footpaths within this Parish would now become Gold Paths and would, therefore, be upgraded and would be maintained to a higher standard.

Portreath Harbour

The Chairman reported on a recent meeting with Heads of Service at Kerrier District Council regarding the future of the Harbour. Ways in which the future of the Harbour could be assured were discussed and the possibility of incorporating 2 lock gates, one on the outer Harbour so that this would always be full of water, and a second scheme to erect a curved wall between the end of the pier and Horse Rock. This would create a number of advantages as it would relieve the force of the water on the pier and would mean that the area could be used all year round.

Various other aspects of the use of the Harbour were discussed including the re-siting of the 'fishermans' hut , the possible sources of funding and the possible advantageous knock on effect for the Village of such improvements.

A Working Party is to be formed as part of the Council's Regeneration Steering Sub-Committee and funding is to be sought for the carrying out of a feasibility study into the various proposals.

Planning Applications

Various planning applications received consideration since the last publication including the proposed Remedial Works to be carried out at RAF Portreath. This work would be carried out over a fairly lengthy period and Members were assured that all possible safety precautions would be taken during the course of the work.

Beach Toilets

Due to various acts of vandalism to the Beach Toilets, the owners of the building, Kerrier District Council, issued a directive that the toilets be locked at 5:00 each evening in a effort to prevent further acts of destruction and instructions to this affect were issued to the person carrying out the daily locking of the toilets. Members of the Council were of the opinion that this very early locking time would cause problems for those visiting the Village and Beach during the evenings and following representations to Kerrier District Council it was agreed that from the end of June until early September the toilets could remain open until 8:30.. It is to be hoped that the few persons causing damage to the toilets will appreciate the difficulties caused to others as a result of indiscriminate vandalism.

Dispersal Order

Following a well attended Open Session prior to the recent Council Meeting , when members of the Public reported on various acts of anti-social behaviour within the Village, Councillors unanimously resolved to approve the setting in motion of action to introduce a Dispersal Order in respect of parts of Portreath Village. This Order would enable the Police Officer to disperse groups where there is felt that the presence of groups has resulted or is likely to result in a member of the Public being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed. Individuals could be directed to leave the locality and may be excluded from the area for up to 24 hours. The Police Officer would also have the discretionary power, within the designated area, to return young people under 16 years of age, who are out on the streets and not under the control of an adult, to their home. A refusal to follow an Officer's direction to disperse is a summary offence and the penalty for conviction for such an offence is a fine or a maximum, for adults, of three months' imprisonment

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TABB RESTAURATEURS HEAD FOR THE CITY

After 14 years, Nigel and Melanie Tabb have served their last customers at their Portreath restaurant. The couple have sold the premises, which will now become a Chinese restaurant, and are moving to Truro.

"After so many years here, we wanted to take on a fresh challenge," said Nigel, who is one of Cornwall's top chefs.

"We will be really sorry to leave. We wouldn't be where we are now, without Portreath. It has been really good to us."

Their restaurant has been rated as one of the best in the county but Tabb's will be reborn in Truro later in the summer.

They have bought the Royal Standard pub in Kenwyn Street, which has been closed and boarded up for several months.

After a major refurbishment, it will reopen as Tabb's bar and restaurant in August.

Nigel said: "We will be doing similar sorts of meals to what we have been doing at Portreath but we will also be open for lunches."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Class 2 from the Portreath Primary School made an acrostic poem about the Seaside,
which they recently read out in assembly –

Sun, sand and sea
Everybody enjoying the fun
All children playing the sand
Surfers surfing into shore
Ice-creams melting in the sun
Dolphins diving in the sea
Every fisherman catching a big one

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPLOSION FAILS TO MAKE CLIFF SAFE

24 May 2005
A loud bang and a plume of smoke marked the places where explosives tore into a cliff-face on the 24th May, but the eruption was more of a damp squib, with very little rock crashing to earth. The National Trust owns the cliff above Portreath beach and after the winter cliff fall of many tonnes of rock onto the Western end of the beach leaving dangerous looking faults, it was decided to consult experts.

South Western Mining and Tunnelling was called in by the Trust and carried out a controlled explosion to stabilise a 20m section of cliff and remove 100 tonnes of rock, but the blast failed to dislodge the main dangerous crag, which was more stable than previously thought.

Bill Makin, the Trust's Assistant Property Manager for mid-Cornwall, said: "It is still a work in progress really because not a lot of stone came down at all."
"It is the first time we have had to take action here but there have been some quite big falls over the winter and we are moving in to the summer season and the risk to beach users is that much higher."

An exclusion zone was set-up around the blast area to maintain safety while the specialist team used 160g charges to blow out the crumbling rocks.

Subsequently at the 6th of June Parish Council meeting Mr Makin gave a talk on the present situation. He explained that after a fairly extensive survey it has been decided that no further action is to be taken as the survey shows there is a large buttress of rock underlying the visible cracks.

To advise and warn the public of the possibility of any further falls, the National Trust has prepared highly visible warning signs and have made arrangements with the Portreath Life Saving Club to have them prominently displayed every day throughout the holiday season.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leanne's Eden Summer Ball

Saturday 9th July 2005

7.30pm

at the Eden Project, St Austell

Individual tickets £25.00

Guests will be taken down by land train to the biomes, eat a summer feast, and be entertained by the amazing 'Tequila' band, a 25 piece steel band.

There will also be a Summer Ball Auction, with Lots including:
A week in a luxury villa in Tenerife
A private plane to take you and 7 people off for a weekend
2 Hospitality tickets in a box at Old Trafford
A private helicopter to whisk you off to London for a shopping trip
A Conservatory
A Hot Air Balloon Ride
An 'off road' experience

and much more including meals, hotel breaks, oysters & bubbly, etc !!!

Tickets are available from :

Ottakers Bookshop, Truro 225765
The Body Shop, Truro 241562
Lush, Truro 20469
Next, Truro 0870 386 5497
Carbonara Restaurant, Truro 223008

Or by by emailing Leanne at lgrose@tiscali.co.uk

This Black Tie Benefit Summer Ball will be excellent value for money and at the same time will raise funds for a very special young lady of 24 who is fighting cancer. The tumour has meant Leanne has now had to have her left leg amputated above her knee and this means she is desperately trying to raise money for an extension to her home to give her a ground level bathroom and shower.

Many of you will have seen the articles in the West Briton, and if you want to find out more about Leanne, her web site is www.leannesfundraisingappeal.co.uk. From this you will see that she is also holding a bandage appeal, is willing to go into schools to talk to children about her experience, and is willing to talk to anyone else who is needs advice about fundraising or a chat about a forthcoming operation or amputation.

My reason for advertising this particular event is because Leanne is such a fantastic person and having attended her event "A Girl's Night In" at the Alverton Manor in May, I can assure you that you will have a memorable, wonderful evening at Eden – she is certainly very good at giving amazing value for money ! She is never self pitying, just a caring, warm, lovely person, with a bubbly fun sense of humour, who is fighting cancer and pain with an indomitable spirit, which affects all of us who are lucky enough to know her.

If you can support her in any way, that would be fantastic.

Shena Watts

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beat Lines

Summer has finally arrived and I am sure that most of us will look forward to enjoying the sunshine and lighter warmer evenings that this time of the year brings (occasionally!). However I am equally as sure that no one will look forward to the poor behaviour that the good weather seems to bring out in some groups of people. Many residents and business people have already complained to me about incidents of drunkenness, harassment, intimidation and threats. Anti-social behaviour of this type is unpleasant to experience and has the ability to make responsible holidaymakers want to leave the area vowing not to return.

The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary are committed to stopping anti-social behaviour to improve the quality of life for all. I have recently submitted an application to seek authorisation for a dispersal order for the village covering the summer months only. There has been very strong support for the application within the local community resulting in a strong attendance by members of the public at the parish council meeting on 6th June. The council unanimously agreed that the order was necessary. In addition, I have been handed a petition signed by local people in favour of a dispersal order.

I would like to thank all those people that have taken the time to consider the issues and have been prepared to state their opinions. Without public support such an order would be more difficult to implement.

You may be wondering what a dispersal order is all about so I will briefly explain.

If authorised, an area (within Portreath) will be designated as the dispersal zone. Groups of 2 or more people who gather within the zone may be ordered by an officer to disperse or leave the zone for a specified time (up to 24hrs). They can only be given this order if they are suspected to be involved in or are likely to engage in behaviour that will cause alarm, harassment, intimidation or distress to others. For example if the beach were included within the zone and a group of people were causing trouble here this group could be ordered to leave the zone and not return for up to 24hours.

A dispersal order also empowers police officers and police community support officers to return any person aged under 16years to their home address if they are found within the zone after 9pm without responsible supervision.

The orders may only be authorised for a maximum of six months.

It is important to stress that the aim of a dispersal order is to prevent anti-social behaviour. It is not legislation that designed to specifically target young people and it will not be used against any group that is not involved in anti-social behaviour.

The parish council and I have discussed a designated public place order for Portreath – if this is applied for I'll explain about it in the next edition!

PC Tim Roberts

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

letter page

The Feadon Residents Group is in the midst of an application to Cornwall County Council to correct an anomaly on the definitive map. Although the footpath that Feadon residents use to access the amenities of the village appears on old maps, guides, aerial photos etc, and has been used daily for as long as residents here can remember, it is not shown on the latest definitive map. The path also appears on the 1973 planning application for the houses at Hillside, and it was a condition that there were to be no enclosures.
The Feadon Residents Group would like to hear from anyone else who has used this path (which runs parallel to the track known as "Glenfeadon Lane" but higher up the bank of the hill) for the past 20+ years
Contact Marj on tel: 843194

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BID TO SAFEGUARD FUTURE OF PORTREATH HARBOUR

A charitable trust is one option being considered by Kerrier Council as it looks at ways of safeguarding the future of Portreath's historic harbour.

In recent years the Grade II listed structure has become a drain on council funds, with almost £20,000 spent on repairs to the pier last year, and more needed this year.

Graeme Hicks, Kerrier's portfolio holder for the environment, believes a long-term solution must be found.

He said: "Last year we allocated £18,000 and there'll be more this year. It's throwing money on the fire really, but we've got to do it, it's a Grade II Listed structure.

"There are a lot of options on the table. It's all very well selling these things off, but some company will come in, asset strip it, and then the district council will still be left responsible to take enforcement action when something goes wrong.

"Personally, I'm very keen on the charitable trust idea. I think a trust would be able to draw down grant funding.

"Clearly, we've got a duty to make sure public money isn't thrown into a bottomless pit, but we will not do anything without consulting local people - the fishermen, residents, the parish council, the improvements committee - that's a guarantee."

Chris Watts, chairman of the parish council, believes a charitable trust is an idea worth further investigation, but says the first step has to be a feasibility study.

He said: "The feasibility study would look at returning it back into a working harbour, with the aim of bringing in employment, more tourism and generally regenerating the local area and most importantly making the harbour self-maintaining, and even once again become a profitable business that will help Portreath, as opposed to cause for concern."

In the early nineteenth century Portreath harbour provided a gateway for the mining parishes of Gwennap, Illogan, Redruth and Camborne. It had its own tram road and railway, and was the base for such industries as fishing and shipbuilding. Today, the harbour survives largely thanks to its appeal as a tourism attraction.

The vision for the harbour includes investment in the overall structure, an extension to the breakwater to Horse Rock, the building of a dockside facility for storage tanks and bait freezers, two lock gate installations to enable deep water moorings, and the building of a 70-plus berth marina in the inner harbour.

He said: "We have an opportunity to turn around the fortunes of Portreath harbour, with financial funding from Government, Kerrier Council, Europe and Lottery grants, and with the support of residents, I and others believe it is possible."

Story by Julian Ridge
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DRIVE A MONSTER IN A CHARITY CHALLENGE

An appeal has gone out to women to take part in the ultimate driving event, the Marie Curie Ladies' Driving Challenge. The annual event on September 18 at RAF Portreath, Cornwall, involves driving some of the most unusual and challenging vehicles, from a double decker-bus to a fire engine and maybe a luxury salon or an off-road car.

To date more than 60 ladies have signed up, but there are still places available.

Lynne Juleff, who took part last year, said "The day was a wonderful experience, a day to be enjoyed by all. I can highly recommend driving the fire engine."

"The day raises vital funds to enable local families, who have a loved one with cancer to be cared for in their own home by Marie Curie Nurses."

"The outstanding work that Marie Curie Cancer Care provides is priceless. My mum experienced their dedicated care nearly five years ago and was able to die peacefully at home with family and friends close by."

"My family and I will always express our thanks to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. Ladies, this opportunity does not occur every day and I hope you fancy taking up this year's Ladies Driving Challenge."

"I will not be driving this year. I will be coordinating the day, as part as my new job role as a community fundraising coordinator for Marie Curie Cancer Care."

Entry for the event is £10 and everyone taking part is asked to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship. Places are limited so early entry is recommended.

Call Lynne Juleff for an entry form on 01872 260500 or e-mail lynne.juleff@mariecurie.org.uk for an electronic entry form.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over 50s Leisure Week
Activities for Older People

Monday 19th September – Sunday 25th September

As some residents of West Cornwall may be aware an extremely interesting and active week of leisure and recreation activities took place in April. For those of you who had not heard about it, don't worry the Over 50s Leisure Week is back, this time between September 19th and the 25th!

The week is organised by Kerrier & Penwith District Council, in conjunction with the West of Cornwall LEAP (Local Exercise Action Pilot) project. The activities take place right across West Cornwall, using sports clubs, leisure centres and other leisure providers such as golf clubs and the adult education service. All activities are fun, led by suitably qualified coaches and most importantly are FREE of charge.

The April week was enormously successful. There was a wide range of activities including bowls, walking, pilates, tai-chi, cycling, swimming, windsurfing, sailing plus many more. The week in September will include similar activities and will be a great chance to try something new, meet new people or just have some fun while being active.

If you think this may be your sort of thing, its easy to book:

Ring LEAP on 01209 313419 to register for a timetable which will be sent once it has been finalised.

The whole Over 50s Leisure Team would like to pay special thanks to all the sports clubs and leisure providers who have delivered activity sessions in April and those who are going to take part in September.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTREATH HARBOUR ASSOCIATION

As this is the first time the Association have taken a space in the Parish Tram, it would seem a good time to tell you more about us.

The Portreath Harbour Association constitution and rules were adopted in January 1993.

The objective being to act in the interest of members as decreed by the membership.

To conserve Portreath as a working harbour and to promote good practice in harbour management in the interest of fishermen, boat enthusiasts, members of the association, and the public.

Any person who has interest in furthering the objectives of the association shall be eligible to apply in writing for membership. Meetings are open to all members, and are held on the first Friday of the month, at the Portreath Institute.

Officers- Chairman Doug Coates

Vice Chair Junior Walters

Treasurer Brian Mills

Secretary John Buckland

Committee Peter Goode, Keith Porter, Lawrence Hosken, & Winston May

We have over 70 members now, not all need moorings in the harbour, in fact 37 moorings have been allocated to date. Most boats being used for private fishing and pleasure.

You may have noticed that the boat yard area has been tidied up by the Harbour Association members and all discarded maintenance materials put in a skip and taken away. In the winter especially at weekends boat maintenance is at fever pitch, no more so than Jeanette a timber built boat of which I will feature in the next issue, along with any news regarding the Harbour.

NS

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Portreath Surf Life Saving Club

Eight members of the club travelled to Brisbane to take part in the Australian National Surf Life Saving Competition that was held at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast from the 15th - 20th March 2005.

The 'Aussie Nationals' as this competition is colloquially known attracts in excess of 7300 entrants from all round Australia. It is the second biggest world-sporting event; the Olympics being the first.

Jenna Hawkey, Rachel Pascoe, Ryan Doble, Matt Bowden, David Green and Katy Whear were competitors. Rob Phillips the club's chairman was the Great Britain team manager and Penny Whear was the team masseuse and 'Girl Friday'.

These young athletes all performed exceptionally well and given that they were competing 'out of season' against the very best in Australia came up with superb results.
Ryan Doble got to the quarterfinals of the beach sprint in the men's open and Matt Bowden got to the semi finals in the Under 17 boy's beach sprint. Jenna Hawkey paddled her ski in a superb manner and got into the semi final of the under 19 ski race against some very strong and 'die hard' ski paddlers. Katy Whear ran very well despite a niggling hamstring injury and got into the finals of the open women's beach sprint, in which she attained 6th place overall.

The week after the Australian National competition the Portreath members representing Great Britain were competing again in The International Surf Challenge 2005. This was a five nation's challenge between the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Japan. The top athletes from these countries took part, some being Olympic and Commonwealth champions. Again, despite the incredibly hot weather and the fact that they were competing out of season (the competitors from the southern hemisphere were in their peak season) superb results like Rachel Pascoe finishing second in the ski behind the current world champion which boosted the overall aggregate and helped at beating the USA over the two-day test.

The final result was;

1 Australia
2 New Zealand
3 Great Britain
4 USA
5 Japan

It is all down to the dedication to their sport and the serious training that the team put in that gave us such a fantastic result. They are a credit to their club and their country and surf life saving.

It is also thanks to the Portreath Improvements Committee for the grant of £1000 for easing the financial burden for these young athletes to be able to travel so far and perform so well.

Thank you

Portreath Surf Life Saving Club.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRAVELLERS DESCEND ON CLIFF-TOP BEAUTY SPOT

The cliff-top location is perfect, with panoramic views stretching from the headland beyond St Ives to Trevose Head, near Padstow.

Planning permission would never be granted for a house to be built there but a group of families have set up home beside the coastal footpath between Porthtowan and Portreath.

Their presence has brought complaints from local residents because, after several weeks, they are showing no sign of moving on.

A cluster of caravans, a bus and a converted lorry are parked on the site of old mine workings close to the edge of the near 300ft high cliffs.

One of the group, who declined to give his name, said this week: "Most people are friendly and say hello as they walk past."

He claimed that as it was so out of the way, with no houses within half a mile, they were causing no offence to anyone. "We will be off soon," he added.

The site almost straddles the boundary between Kerrier and Carrick districts but is in fact on land owned by Kerrier Council.

Graeme Hicks, Kerrier's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "It's a nightmare situation because we have nowhere else to put these people.

"I have been approached about this but it's not a planning enforcement issue because we own the land."

Mr Hicks said he understood the travellers had been served with notices to leave the site but the issue was complicated because the group includes a number of children.

A Porthtowan resident claimed: "Kerrier have done absolutely nothing to stop the site being used.

"I just think it's appalling that a group of travellers can be allowed to take over such a beautiful area, where thousands of pounds have been spent restoring the mine workings."

She added that the travellers came and went at will, without any attempt being made to prevent them returning to the site.

TRAVELLERS DESCEND ON CLIFF-TOP BEAUTY SPOT

2005-06-17T22:57:00.000Z

The cliff-top location is perfect, with panoramic views stretching from the headland beyond St Ives to Trevose Head, near Padstow.

Planning permission would never be granted for a house to be built there but a group of families have set up home beside the coastal footpath between Porthtowan and Portreath.

Their presence has brought complaints from local residents because, after several weeks, they are showing no sign of moving on.

A cluster of caravans, a bus and a converted lorry are parked on the site of old mine workings close to the edge of the near 300ft high cliffs.

One of the group, who declined to give his name, said this week: "Most people are friendly and say hello as they walk past."

He claimed that as it was so out of the way, with no houses within half a mile, they were causing no offence to anyone. "We will be off soon," he added.

The site almost straddles the boundary between Kerrier and Carrick districts but is in fact on land owned by Kerrier Council.

Graeme Hicks, Kerrier's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "It's a nightmare situation because we have nowhere else to put these people.

"I have been approached about this but it's not a planning enforcement issue because we own the land."

Mr Hicks said he understood the travellers had been served with notices to leave the site but the issue was complicated because the group includes a number of children.

A Porthtowan resident claimed: "Kerrier have done absolutely nothing to stop the site being used.

"I just think it's appalling that a group of travellers can be allowed to take over such a beautiful area, where thousands of pounds have been spent restoring the mine workings."

She added that the travellers came and went at will, without any attempt being made to prevent them returning to the site.

TABB RESTAURATEURS HEAD FOR THE CITY

2005-06-17T22:52:00.000Z

After 14 years, Nigel and Melanie Tabb have served their last customers at their Portreath restaurant. The couple have sold the premises, which will now become a Chinese restaurant, and are moving to Truro.

"After so many years here, we wanted to take on a fresh challenge," said Nigel, who is one of Cornwall's top chefs.

"We will be really sorry to leave. We wouldn't be where we are now, without Portreath. It has been really good to us."

Their restaurant has been rated as one of the best in the county but Tabb's will be reborn in Truro later in the summer.

They have bought the Royal Standard pub in Kenwyn Street, which has been closed and boarded up for several months.

After a major refurbishment, it will reopen as Tabb's bar and restaurant in August.

Nigel said: "We will be doing similar sorts of meals to what we have been doing at Portreath but we will also be open for lunches."

DRIVE A MONSTER IN A CHARITY CHALLENGE

2005-06-17T22:50:00.000Z

An appeal has gone out to women to take part in the ultimate driving event, the Marie Curie Ladies' Driving Challenge. The annual event on September 18 at RAF Portreath, Cornwall, involves driving some of the most unusual and challenging vehicles, from a double decker-bus to a fire engine and maybe a luxury salon or an off-road car.

To date more than 60 ladies have signed up, but there are still places available.

Lynne Juleff, who took part last year, said "The day was a wonderful experience, a day to be enjoyed by all. I can highly recommend driving the fire engine.

"The day raises vital funds to enable local families, who have a loved one with cancer to be cared for in their own home by Marie Curie Nurses.

"The outstanding work that Marie Curie Cancer Care provides is priceless. My mum experienced their dedicated care nearly five years ago and was able to die peacefully at home with family and friends close by.

"My family and I will always express our thanks to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. Ladies, this opportunity does not occur every day and I hope you fancy taking up this year's Ladies Driving Challenge.

"I will not be driving this year. I will be coordinating the day, as part as my new job role as a community fundraising coordinator for Marie Curie Cancer Care."

Entry for the event is £10 and everyone taking part is asked to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship. Places are limited so early entry is recommended.

Call Lynne Juleff for an entry form on 01872 260500 or e-mail lynne.juleff@mariecurie.org.uk for an electronic entry form.

BID TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN PORTREATH

2005-06-17T22:35:00.000Z

09:00 - 16 June 2005
Hopes are high that a dispersal order can be introduced in parts of Portreath in time for the summer season to combat anti-social behaviour.

The legislation, which will have to be approved by Kerrier Council and police chiefs, would give police the power to move on groups of people, including youths, causing "intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress" to others. Unaccompanied under 16s could be taken home after 9pm.

The decision to apply for the order was taken at last week's meeting of the parish council when residents turned out in force to demand action against groups of youths who terrorise the resort with their drinking, fighting, vandalism and intimidating behaviour.

The residents handed in a petition highlighting the problems of "boy racers", car horns blaring late into the evening, sexual behaviour in public places, broken bottles, and aggression.

They claimed the problems had been made worse by the dispersal order in Illogan, which had shifted troublemakers into their village. Businesses were being affected, and Portreath's reputation as a holiday resort was being tarnished.

One resident described how someone from Birmingham had been on the point of taking on a long-term rental of a property in the village until they witnessed some of the problems. They had changed their mind, comparing the village to parts of Manchester.

Another resident reported seeing youths racing cars backwards through the village, and doing "donuts" in the car park.

Another said she found a young couple having sex in the women's toilet in the early afternoon.

A businessman said his takings were falling as tourists saw the problems, promised never to return, and told their friends to stay away as well.

Neighbourhood beat manager PC Tim Roberts said he recognised there were problems in the village, and he believed a dispersal order would help policing efforts.

"We recognise that there has been trouble. In previous years dispersal orders have not been available to us," he said.

"I would like to think the parish council and the public recognise the police are trying to do something about these problems."

He believed the dispersal order in Illogan had been effective, and would be renewed for a further six months as a result. Portreath would benefit from a similar order during the summer months.

Ashton White wanted to know which parts of the village would be covered.

Mr Roberts said: "The parish council can comment on the areas to be included, but it will be drawn up by the police where historically there have been problems, or where we believe there may be problems to do with legislation introduced elsewhere."

He suggested the areas likely to be covered would include the beach, car park, harbour, Beach Road and the square.

Nigel Mathews proposed the council ask the police to pursue a dispersal order in the village. His fellow councillors supported him unanimously.

Sgt Paul Marchant, who was also at the meeting, said the police planned to introduce another initiative to combat anti-social behaviour.

Instead of working in isolation, Redruth neighbourhood beat managers would be teaming up.

He said: "They will roam the area in a marked police van. They will carry out foot patrols in the summer. You will see a lot higher police presence than you have in the past."

E-mail: julianr@c-dm.co.uk

£5.5 MILLION GRANT FOR MINERAL TRAMWAYS

2005-06-09T22:03:00.000Z

09 June 2005
Millions of pounds of conservation and regeneration work is to be carried out in Camborne, Redruth, Gwennap and St Day, thanks to a partnership between Cornwall County Council and Kerrier District Council.

Between them they have secured £5.5 million of funding to create "an accessible heritage experience" in the former central mining district, by connecting important mining sites and villages via a network of multi-use trails.

The new grant follows on from the £500,000 granted in 2004 to carry out a 12-month feasibility study.

The Mineral Tramways Heritage Project will see the preservation of 11 mining heritage sites, 10 Grade II listed structures and three schedule monuments, and the making safe of numerous dangerous mine shafts.

A 30km heritage trail will be created linking mine sites, mining heritage attractions, settlements, public transport and visitor attractions, to add to the existing 30km of the Coast to Coast and the Great Flat Lode trails.

Thirteen villages adjoining the Mineral Tramways trail will undergo enhancement work, with new links created to attract people in to boost the economies.

And there will be a major marketing, education and interpretation programme to increase awareness of the area's heritage.

Simon Murray, acting principal project officer said: "The project has so far received tremendous support from the local community and both district and county councils. I now hope that continued liaison with the local community will ensure that the project is successfully delivered on the ground."

Adam Paynter, the County Council's executive member for environment and heritage, said: "This is fantastic news for Cornwall. It's another feather in the cap for Cornwall where a lot of work is being done to preserve and enhance our important history."

Mark Kaczmarek, Kerrier's portfolio holder for regeneration and chairman of the Mineral Tramways Partnership Steering Group, said: "I am delighted that all the hard work we have put into the project has resulted in the extra funding being granted.

"This is going to have a real positive impact on the regeneration of the mining villages by linking them to the very popular coast to coast multi-use trail network by upgrading some of the existing footpaths and bridleway and creating many kilometres of new trails."

Carleen Kelemen, director of the Objective One Partnership said: "The programme has invested more than £1.5 million in this project. Cornwall's mining landscape is of international importance and the central mining district is a key part of the proposed World Heritage Site.

"Investing in the conservation of this key aspect of the distinctiveness of Cornwall and provides new and exciting opportunities for both residents and visitors to visit and explore the countryside.

"This will provide the building blocks for heritage-led tourism, bringing benefits to local businesses and people."

Funding partners for the project include the Objective One Programme, South West Regional Development Agency, Heritage Lottery Fund, Cornwall County Council, Kerrier and Carrick District Councils, and parish councils in the project area.

ImageShack - Hosting :: dscf00628na.jpg

2005-06-01T22:41:00.000Z

ImageShack - Hosting :: dscf00628na.jpg

BID TO SAFEGUARD FUTURE OF PORTREATH HARBOUR

2005-05-26T14:34:00.000Z

09:00 - 26 May 2005
A charitable trust is one option being considered by Kerrier Council as it looks at ways of safeguarding the future of Portreath's historic harbour.

In recent years the Grade II listed structure has become a drain on council funds, with almost £20,000 spent on repairs to the pier last year, and more needed this year.

Graeme Hicks, Kerrier's portfolio holder for the environment, believes a long-term solution must be found.

He said: "Last year we allocated £18,000 and there'll be more this year. It's throwing money on the fire really, but we've got to do it, it's a Grade II Listed structure.

"There are a lot of options on the table. It's all very well selling these things off, but some company will come in, asset strip it, and then the district council will still be left responsible to take enforcement action when something goes wrong.

"Personally, I'm very keen on the charitable trust idea. I think a trust would be able to draw down grant funding.

"Clearly, we've got a duty to make sure public money isn't thrown into a bottomless pit, but we will not do anything without consulting local people - the fishermen, residents, the parish council, the improvements committee - that's a guarantee."

Chris Watts, chairman of the parish council, believes a charitable trust is an idea worth further investigation, but says the first step has to be a feasibility study.

He said: "The feasibility study would look at returning it back into a working harbour, with the aim of bringing in employment, more tourism and generally regenerating the local area and most importantly making the harbour self-maintaining, and even once again become a profitable business that will help Portreath as opposed to cause concern."

In the early nineteenth century Portreath harbour provided a gateway for the mining parishes of Gwennap, Illogan, Redruth and Camborne. It had its own tram road and railway, and was the base for such industries as fishing and shipbuilding. Today, the harbour survives largely thanks to its appeal as a tourism attraction.

Mr Watts's vision for the harbour includes investment in the overall structure, an extension to the breakwater to Horse Rock, the building of a dockside facility for storage tanks and bait freezers, two lock gate installations to enable deep water moorings, and the building of a 70-plus berth marina in the inner harbour.

He said: "We have an opportunity to turn around the fortunes of Portreath harbour, with financial funding from Government, Kerrier Council, Europe and Lottery grants, and with the support of residents, I and others believe it is possible."

Story by Julian Ridge

2005-05-10T09:49:00.000Z

HMS Ocean

2005-05-10T09:43:00.000Z

Royal Navy: Photo Gallery

Royal Marine excersise

2005-05-10T09:34:00.000Z

Today there is to be an exercise by the Royal Marines to simulate an attack on RAF Portreath. The Royal Navy are involved as the Marines are using HMS Ocean as their launch platform. There will be a good deal of low flying helicopters and the beach could be used for landings of the Marine forces, although most activities will be at RAF Portreath.
Keep your heads down locals!!

2005-04-18T18:01:00.000Z

Heavy plant

2005-04-18T18:00:00.000Z

pulling the plug

PORTREATH HARBOUR ASSOCIATION

2005-04-18T17:55:00.000Z

As this is the first time the association have taken a space in the Parish Tram, it would seem a good time to tell you more about us.

The Portreath Harbour Association constitution and rules were adopted in January 1993.

The objective being to act in the interest of members as decreed by the membership.

To conserve Portreath as a working harbour and to promote good practice in harbour management in the interest of fishermen, boat enthusiasts, members of the association, and the public.

Any person who has interest in furthering the objectives of the association shall be eligible to apply in writing for membership. Meetings are open to all members, and are held on the first Friday of the month, at the Portreath Institute.

Officers- Chairman Doug Coates

Vice Chair Junior Walters

Treasurer Brian Mills

Secretary John Buckland

Committee Peter Goode, Keith Porter, Lawrence Hosken, & Winston May

We have over 70 members now, not all need moorings in the harbour, in fact 37 moorings have been allocated to date. The boats will be back in the water on the 9th and 10th April “Where they look best”. However you may have noticed Good Fortune has been in for some weeks earning a living.

We have plans to bring you articles of interest in the future, so look out for HARBOUR NEWS next time.

STOP PRESS...... Good News. Kerrier D Council have organised sand removal from the harbour. This is planned to be carried out by week ending 8th April. The purpose to reduce seaweed build up and the associated smell in this part of the village, and help navigation within the harbour. The harbour association thanks Kerrier D Council , Portreath Improvements Committee for helping us to fund this much needed job.

2005-04-18T17:48:00.000Z

Report of Portreath Parish Council

Traffic Calming

It is hoped that, by the time that this publication is distributed to
residents, work will have commenced on the traffic calming measures to
be implemented by the County Council in Penberthy Road This will
involve the installation of 'speed humps' along the length of
Penberthy Road and various other methods of traffic calming which,
hopefully, will reduce the speed of traffic along this very busy
highway, particularly in the vicinity of the School.

Footpaths

The attention of the County Council has been drawn to the damage being
caused to the surface of the Mineral Tramway at Bridge where heavy
vehicles have been crossing this footpath/cycleway to gain access to
the recently widened St Anne's Lane. Residents have been very
concerned not only by the damage being caused to the path but to the
possible danger to walkers and cyclists using the Mineral Tramway.
The Parish Council has been in contact with Mineral Tramways Warden
and Councillors have been informed that it is anticipated that the
County Council will carry out some improvements to
the surface and drainage during the coming financial year. The
legality of the right of access to the lower section of St. Anne's
Lane is being investigated by the County Council.

Due to the unsafe nature of the coastal footpath a 400 metre section
of the path adjacent to Lighthouse Hill Playing Field has been closed
for a period of 6 months. Consequently the Lighthouse hill car park
will not be opened for the time being.

RAF Portreath

Approval has now been granted by the county Council to the carrying
out of the remediation of contaminated land by the Ministry of Defence
at RAF Portreath. This will comprise the construction of on-site
engineered landfill, construction of secondary waste transfer station
and associated works. Stringent Health and Safety measures,
controlled traffic routes, etc., have been imposed in respect of the
works including the restoration of the landfill site by 31st December
2009

Parish Precept

As reported in the previous issue of the Parish Tram, Members of the
Council gave very careful consideration to the setting of the Parish
Precept for the coming Financial Year and, as a result of careful
budgeting, the tax levy for a Band D property in Portreath Parish is
the lowest in the whole
Kerrier District area.

Public Toilets

Again, as reported in the previous issue of the Parish Tram, the
unlocking of the toilets caused a problem, particularly over the long
Christmas period, as Kerrier District Council employees were not
authorised to carry out the unlocking of the toilets in the mornings.
However, it was agreed, as a matter of urgency, that the local person
who carries out the locking of the toilets on behalf of this Council
on a daily basis, would also unlock over this period and that the cost
would be borne by the Parish Council. As the weather over the very
long Christmas holiday period was very good there were a large number
of visitors to the Village and Members of the Council felt that the
toilets should be available during this time.

Greenfield Gardens

As Members of the Parish Council have become more and more concerned
regarding the unkempt condition of Greenfield Gardens an approach has
been made to Kerrier District Council to investigate the possibility
of the leasing of the Gardens. This would enable this Council, upon
obtaining a satisfactory lease, to make an application for a
Liveability Grant to carry out much needed improvements and upgrading
of the Gardens. At the present time investigations into the various
aspects of a possible lease and the financing of the future
maintenance of the Gardens are proceeding.

Due to the very unsafe condition of the closed toilets in Greenfield
Gardens the demolition of this building will be carried out by Kerrier
District Council commencing in early April.

Portreath Beach

The Royal Marines will be carrying out an amphibious exercise on
Portreath Beach between 9th and 11th May which, it is understood, will
include landing of Marines from ships anchored in the bay.
(could offer some great photo-shoot opportunities)

In response to a letter regarding the amount of litter washed onto the
Beach in recent weeks, Kerrier
District Council have informed Members that whilst the local authority
have a statutory duty to clean the amenity beach between 1st May and
30th September only. However, cleaning will, in fact, be carried out
during the week prior to the Easter period.

Western Power – Safety

The following telephone numbers have been forwarded to the Council by
Western Power:-

South West Enquiries 0845 601 2989 (general enquiries)
South West Emergency 0800 365 900 (power failure or emergency)

The Arch, Glenfeadon Terrace

Members of the Council have been very concerned regarding the safety
of children playing in the vicinity of The Arch in Glenfeadon Terrace
and contacted the County Council in an effort to obtain signage
informing motorists of the possible presence of children. However,
the County Council is not prepared to meet this request and
Councillors would like to impress on parents and children the possible
dangers in using this section of Glenfeadon Terrace as a play area.

Primrose Terrace

This Council is continuing to press the County Council Highways
Section to carry out the surfacing of the section of Primrose Terrace
leading to Illogan Woods. Following representations from the Council
the Divisional Surveyor accepted that this section of the Terrace was
a 'maintained' highway and that upgrading would be carried out but, to
date, no action has been taken in this respect. Hopefully continued
pressure will ensure that the work will be carried out shortly.

Theft from to vehicles

PC Roberts, Neighbourhood Beat Manager, has drawn the attention of
Councillors to the number of offences involving theft from vehicles
that had occurred over recent months urging that valuables are not
left in unattended vehicles and that residents and visitors remain
vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIGHTHOUSE HILL GARDEN

Passers by will have noticed the devastation that took place at the
end of February in the isolated garden at the bottom of Lighthouse
Hill. As I have attempted to rescue the one raised bed remaining many
people have stopped and asked me what is going on. This is the story –
as far as I know it.

The garden has belonged to Portreath Improvement Committee (PIC) ever
since Benyon Shipping Company sold up and handed it into their care
together with the Pepperpot and other sites in the early 1960's. An
old photograph shows there was, what appears to be, a very small
cottage on the site, presumably let to a harbour worker. The remnants
of an old slate floor underlie one of the raised beds and I broke up a
concrete floor when I created another bed. No structures still stood
when the PIC took the site over.

The site remained derelict until a local resident approached the PIC
and offered to create a garden. The PIC agreed and charged a
peppercorn rent on the condition that it was kept tidy and no
buildings or sheds erected. There have been several tenants since
then. The garden was neglected when I took it over in 1994. I have
added several new raised beds and a small lawn since then. Countless
passers by have stopped to have a chat, admire the garden and enjoy a
tour.

Unfortunately the cliff at the back of the garden is unstable. There
have been small cliff falls for years but over the last two they have
got much bigger, engulfing my seat and leaving badly overhanging rock
and vegetation. This has endangered the private access path, which
runs along the top of the cliff to the gardens at the rear of Cliff
Terrace, frequently used by children. The PIC decided that it should
be made safe.

Work began late February. Unfortunately, once the vegetation was
cleared, the cliff proved to be more unstable than it appeared and a
mini-digger was required to scrape it back to a more stable angle. In
doing so a SWEB electrical earth was uncovered from the transformer
just above, originally set well back from the cliff now perilously
near the edge. At the same time SWEB said they wanted to replace the
pole transformer with a ground level one and were looking at creating
a 3-meter square platform, considerably lower than existing levels.
No one has any idea what they will actually do or if they will require
some or all of the garden space to do it. In the mean time PIC have
called a halt to all work until agreement is reached with SWEB and
their work is complete.

What with creating access for the mini digger, the enormous amount of
debris scraped down and removal of it all from the site, my lovely
garden has been pretty much destroyed and what is left may not survive
whatever SWEB does. Sadly, it all happened so quickly, that I was
given no time to rescue my precious plants one of which was a rare
Michaelmas Daisy named after my father who was a well known
horticulturist in his day.
The only bright spot is the number of people who have offered to help
me restore the garden once all the work is complete - help ranging
from wall building to providing plants. So if any one else would like
to aid the restoration, just let me know. But it might be a long wait
knowing the speed at which SWEB move and, worst of all, there may be
no garden left to restore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Martin

Much has been written about those who have helped to shape the local
governing bodies in Portreath in recent years. One such gentleman was
my father the late John Martin. He was born and bred in the village,
the younger of two children born to the merged dynasties of the
Greenslade and Martin families. After service in the RAF during the
Second World War, John eventually settled back in Cornwall with his
wife and family.

Moving from Redruth back to Portreath in the 1960's, John soon became
immersed in local life. He joined the Portreath Improvements Committee
where he served as Secretary for over 20 years. He was also active in
the Portreath Association which oversaw the management of the car park
and seafront areas for a large part of this time. John's efforts to
achieve Parish Council status for the village have already been well
documented.

John always maintained a sense of public duty and agonised over some
of the decisions that had to be made during his terms of office on
both the Improvements Committee and the Parish Council. He always had
the best interest of the village and its people at heart and was noted
for his integrity in business matters.

John also ran an exhibition of photographs of Portreath for many years
in St Mary's Church Hall, drawing return visits from locals and
holidaymakers alike. This collection now resides with my sister, his
younger daughter Kate Shaw and can still be exhibited. Not confined
to public duties in serving the village John also spent many hours
woodcarving and woodturning, teaching it at the local college and
delighting many with his displays of the craft at the Annual Art
Exhibition. His most taxing commission, which was also a labour of
love, was to carve a complete set of choir stalls for St. Mary's
Church, along with a carved chair in memory of his late wife Hilary.

All this the very public face of the man who was my father, but there
was so much more to him than that. I remember a dad who was always
interested in what we were doing, who took us for walks, whose
Christian faith was an integral part of his life, who loved Morecambe
and Wise, the Two Ronnies and the Last of the Summer Wine; someone who
enjoyed football and sport, amateur dramatics, writing poetry and
listening to classical music, as well as the natural beauty of his
environment. In chronicling his own early years and ancestry he left
us his children with a unique view of life in this village as it was
from the turn of the century to the 1950's.

Yes much as changed in Portreath but the legacy of men like my father
and his contemporaries' lives on and we have much to remember and
thank them for.

Alice Allsworth (nee Martin)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COG

Anyone interested in trips to Exeter or Trago Mills at Liskeard,
please contact me before April

Di Helyer
01209 842492

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portreath Coastguard rescuing a sheep from the cliffs by Battery
House. The animal was recovered safely although was suffering a broken
leg.
(caption for the rescue pic)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BROTHERS, CRAIG AND LIAM SMITH WIN FIRST EVER BARN TOURNAMENT.

The Barn Youth Club enjoys the facilities of the millenium hall
badminton court and every Monday from 6.30 till 7.45 youngsters
battle it out on the badminton court.
Standards have improved greatly over the months and scoring is a
cinch! so a tournament was arranged and a mixed group of 24 keen
players entered. It was a knock out tournament which ran over a
number of weeks culminating in a fantastic final on Monday February
7th.
The final was between 4 boys - Jack and Justin against Craig and Liam.
There were line judges, an umpire and a crowd silently watching, only
to cheer on points won! It was a hard fought match with the winners
trailing by 10 points to 3 at one point, they scrambled back to 6 - 12
and then gritted their teeth for a win and put everything into
catching up to 13 each. The crowd ooohed and aaaaahed to smashes,
dropshots and breathtaking rallies. The final score was 15 - 13 to
Craig and Liam.
Craig is 13 and Liam12 and they have been invited to join the
Portreath Badminton Club, so their rewards were bars of galaxy, an
invitation to a club and of course the honour of winning the first
tournament at the Barn Youth Club.
(badmington pic with this)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bellydancing
The Incline Project, Family Learning and Portreath School are running
bellydancing classes on a Friday afternoon at the school. This is
great fun, lots of laughter, dressing up, exercise and a new
experience for most of us. The youngest member is 7 and the oldest 85
and we are all female! We really enjoy the sessions, Vronnie our
teacher is great and always performs an inspiring dance to whet our
appetites for the future! We hope to start another class when this
ends in April so if you are interested, phone Terry 843181.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEAT LINES

Portreath has had a relatively quiet time for the first few months of
the year. Reported crime and calls for our assistance are both down
on last year. However this is not to say that the village is crime
free. There have been a number of incidents where vehicles have
either been broken into and had items removed or have been damaged.
The bulk of these offences were committed in the areas of Greenfield
Terrace and Tregea Terrace.

Reducing vehicle crime is an important policing objective. We often
find that items are stolen from vehicles simply because it has been
left unlocked. A very easy and straightforward measure that we can
all take to prevent this type of offence is to ensure that your
vehicle is locked and has no valuables left in it when you park up.
As a vehicle crime prevention measure the importance of doing this
cannot be stressed enough. I would ask any vehicle owner reading this
article (particularly those who park on the street or in a driveway)
to think about the way in which they have left their vehicle. I
suspect many will find that it is unlocked and has some item inside it
that a thief would find desirable.

I am pleased to say that technology has provided us with additional
means to bring to justice those people who break into vehicles. You
may have seen recently in the press that we are now able to deploy
'Covert Capture Cars'. These are ordinary looking vehicles that if
broken into, will film the thief in action and at the same time will
automatically notify us that the offence is taking place. A thief will
not know that he has broken into such a vehicle until it is too late!
Whilst I can tell you that we can use these vehicles anywhere at
anytime I am sure that you will excuse me for not detailing the exact
locations of deployment!

PC TIM ROBERTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beach clean

Thank you very much to all those who joined in with the 3 beach
clean-ups. They were really successful so we have decided to start
again in the autumn, out of season, when the beach is not regularly
cleaned professionally.
We will put a clear announcement in the Tram beforehand.
Meanwhile, don't hesitate to pick up any litter you see lying around!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portreath Carers Group
This new group has now begun and a big thank you to UnLtd for their
initial funding, the Incline Project and the P.I.C. Fourteen of us
recently went out for a Thai meal and a group of between 8-12 enjoyed
weekly relaxation and massage sessions at the Millenium Hall (with
more planned). We have a full programme of activities ahead of us
including a trip to Trebah, a Cream Tea and an information session.
This supportive group is open to local carers, we want to hear from
you! Further details from Cath 842797 or Janet 842658

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(front page with pics please)
Portreath Harbour
The present dredging operation of the harbour has come about due to
numerous complaints regarding seaweed build up and attendant odour
nuisance. (Portreath Pong!) Kerrier Senior Engineer Steve Wood is
overseeing the project. He has told the Tram that he hopes to remove
5000 cubic metres of sand benefiting the harbour users and local
residents. The sand is not to be deposited on the beach as has been
the case in previous works, but will be recycled by the plant hire
company that are carrying out the work.
Kerrier District Council and The Harbour Users Association share the
cost of the project. The Portreath Improvements Committee, having
heard of the works in progress then generously offered to match fund
the project so enabling a far more thorough operation. Let us hope
that this will minimise the Portreath Pong for many years to come,
many local observers are confident that with the removal of the infill
of granite blocks from the slipway end of the harbour, that this will
be the case.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portreath Improvement Committee
At the January meeting of the PIC a full membership was duly nominated
and selected. The committee then went on to normal business, one item
of which was to donate funds to the tsunami appeal.
£1000 was also donated to the Surf Club to pay for uniforms for the
team members representing Great Britain in Australia where they are
competing in the Five Nations International and the Australian
National Championships. Many letters were subsequently received from
the club members thanking the PIC.

At the March meeting the present three members of the Portreath
Association Ltd agreed to carry on representing the PIC in the
administration of the car park.
The PIC voted to donate match funding for the dredging of the harbour.
If you have any views or comments for the PIC any correspondence can
be sent to
The Secretary
5 Belerion Road
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PULLING LEEKS FOR PINKS
Nine intrepid conservationists got on all-fours last Thursday (17th
March) to remove a pernicious invader from Portreath's New Walk. The
three-cornered leek had invaded the path, ousting a very rare
neighbour – Deptford pink – from its natural habitat. Deptford pink -
so called due to a seventeenth century muddle in which it was mistaken
for a related species that grew in Deptford, London – has suffered a
massive 90% decline. It is now known only from only 30 localities in
the Britain. The leek in question – Allium triquetrum – originated
from the Mediterranean, being brought to these shores for cultivation
in 1759. It has since naturalised, sometimes becoming a nuisance in
south-west England, forming dense stands to the exclusion of native
wildflowers.

Working with the Parish Council and English Nature, Plantlife
International and Duchy College joined forces to tackle the problem at
Portreath where it has also declined in recent years. The surface of
the path was dug by hand – removing bulbs of the leek and coarse
grasses. Tim Wilkins of Plantlife said, "The underlying cause of the
invasion isn't known but Deptford pink tends to grow on low nutrient
soils whereas three-cornered leek seems to flourish on enriched soils.
Dog fouling could be altering the soil conditions and accelerating
the leek's colonisation of 'New Walk'. Local dog owners can do their
bit to help protect this wonderful and very rare plant by using the
poop-scoop bin provided." It is hoped that Deptford pink will respond
well to the clearance and put on a spectacular show of flowers in two
years time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regeneration Report
There has been some welcome movement on the regeneration front. In
this issue of the Parish Tram the Minerals Tramway team have asked to
distribute a questionnaire concerning the proposed design of the
village square. They have put forward three designs and are very keen
to receive as many replies as possible, even supplying post paid
return envelopes.
The regeneration committee had a meeting with Kerrier representatives
regarding the lease of Greenfield Gardens. It could be possible for
the parish council to obtain funding to enable a "make over" in the
gardens, suitable plans have been drawn up for a low maintenance area
that can be used and enjoyed by all age groups. The Parish Council is
now actively searching for funding to enable long-term future
maintenance before committing to a lease.
If you wish to comment on these plans please send any correspondence to
The Clarke
Cosoleth
Cambrose
Redruth, Cornwall TR16 4HS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur Rodney Brown

As many people in the village are aware, very sadly Rod Brown recently
died at Treliske Hospital. As editor of the Parish Tram, living in
the village and knowing Rod for a number of years I find this
particular item very difficult to write. We worked together on a
number of projects and many more were in the planning stage. Rod gave
his time very freely to the local community including raising £15,000
for the Millennium Hall by holding fortnightly bingo sessions, he had
been involved in the Harbour Fun Day for many years , was a member of
the Senior Citizens Party Committee and various other fund raising
activities including the dreaded gunge tank and he was always a
steward on bonfire night.

Rod was a man who always put others first and he will be sorely missed
by his family, and all who knew him in his various walks of life.

Rod's wife Sylvia has agreed to let us reproduce the obituary written
by the funeral directors Colin Matthews / John Jenkin of Camborne
(telephone 01209 717772).

Rod was born at Shirley, Birmingham where he attended the local
village school and late the Sharman's Cross Boys School. From an
early age he loved working with wood and enjoyed model making. He was
also a lifelong jig-saw fan and the bigger and harder they were, the
more he enjoyed them. In his earlier years, Road had played golf at
the Warwick Gold Club.

Rod had been employed as a trainee manager at George Mason Grocery
Stores and when the store closed he became an apprentice carpenter.
Rod had continued working in the building trade, working in England
and also in Denmark.

Rod met Sylvia and married in Solihull in March 1978 and then moved to
live in Warwick.

In 1985 the family moved to Cornwall. Rod worked as a sub-contract
carpenter for local builder Colin Bishop and later was employed by
Perkins and Perry fitting roof trusses.

When still quite young, Rod had become involved with youth clubs and
when he could no longer work at his trade, he started to work with
children with special needs, in colleges, schools and in his own
workshops and at Police Stations, dealing and helping minors and grown
ups with learning difficulties.

From 1988 Rod and Sylvia had fostered several children, mainly those
with special needs. He was also very involved with charity work and
in recent yers he had organised and run fortnightly bingo sessions in
aid of the Millennium Hall in Portreath.

Any donations are going to the Sunrise Oncology Unit at Treliske and
the total to date is £520.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 2nd April Trispen Res Home Kick Off 2.30pm
Wednesday 6th April Mount Ambrose Away Kick off 6.15pm
Saturday 9th April Gulval Res Away Kick Off 2.30pm
Wednesday 13th April Gwinear Church Town Illogan Kick Off 6.00pm
Authur Pearce Cup Semi Final
Saturday 16th April Truro G.W.R.S.A Away Kick Off 2.30pm
Wednesday 20th April Redruth Utd Goonhavern Kick off 6.00pm Jubillee
Cup Semi final
Saturday 23rd April Storm Away Kick off 2.30pm
Wednesday 27th April Frogpool Away Kick Off 6.15pm
Saturday 30th April Frogpool Home Kick Off 2.30pm
Sunday 8th May Cup Final
Sunday 15th May Cup Final

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

will send attachments and a few bits and pieces tomorrow.
--
Chris

P{

ReplyForward

Chris Watts
to Jeremy
More options Apr 7
hi Jeremy, here is the rest of the Tram,
Adverts
Portreath Garden Machinery
Promenade Cafe'
Redwoods (new add attached) back page as usual please
Shore Shop (add attached) Full page
Crafts by Laura (add attached) 1/4 page
Mitchell Garages (there is a slight change to this add, i will phone to discuss)
HandPrint
Harbour Tea Rooms
Mobile Library (every other Tuesday from 12th April)
Contact the Tram details.Deadline for next issue June 20th

Attached .jpg's
dredge and plug to go with the harbour story front page
coastgaurd to have the sheep rescue caption
badminton to go with badminton story
then the three .pdf's
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Late entries
Extracts of News from the Portreath Badminton Club – March 2005

The full version of the article submitted by the users of the
Badminton Club can be found on the web page for the Tram - due to
limited space in the paper, here are just some of those comments.

"We are having such fun on Tuesday evenings"
"Fun is guaranteed where expertise is not needed - just a little
fitness as it is best to avoid falling on the floor !"
"Young and old can participate and you can while away the time with a
friendly crowd"
"We all have a brilliant time on and off court – we have made new
friends and got fit at the same time. We really look forward to
Tuesday night"
"I am one of those rare German's with a sense of humour ! I think its
great fun – come and join"
"I won the badminton doubles tournament and got in the Link and in the
Tram in April. I think that the Portreath Badminton Club is lots of
fun and there are lots of nice people"
"I was also in a tournament with my brother and I think joining
Portreath Badminton Club is the best thing that has happened to me"

Club Membership £15.00
£2.00 per session
Hall available for members to book badminton sessions outside of club
evenings (Tuesday 7 p.m – 10 p.m)

Contact Sara on 01209 843213 or Roselynne on 10209 843541
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTREATH MILLENNIUM
COMMUNITY HALL

Any individuals or groups interested in booking the Hall should
contact the Bookings Secretary Mrs. Jan Sowden on 01209 842960. Hire
costs are £25.00 a session (3 hours) for the large Hall and the
smaller meetings room can be booked for £8.00 per session and these
fees include the use of the fully equipped kitchen.