Latest News

To read the update from The Environment Agency dated 22nd March 2021 - CLICK HERE

1st March 2021

-       The EA together with our delivery partners, Contractors Kier and Engineering Consultants Atkins, continue to make progress with the Portreath Stream flood risk improvement project.

-       Considerable effort has been put into completing the hydrology and hydraulic computer model of the Portreath Stream. The computer model has been updated with the latest hydrology and survey information and calibrated to best represent historic flood events. The Portreath catchment is extremely complex from a hydrology and hydraulic modelling perspective due to the influence that historic mining has had on how the water flows and therefore this exercise has been challenging. Final quality assurance checks on the model are currently being undertaken and this is to be completed during the next 2 weeks.

-        In addition to the proposed perched channel improvements, we are also looking for opportunities to deliver environmental improvements and additional flood risk benefits. We have commenced a review of the wider Portreath catchment by using specialists in Natural Flood Management assessment. The aim is to use nature where possible to further reduce flood risk whilst also delivering environmental benefits. This can include influencing land use in the catchment so that there is more natural infiltration.

-         As part of the next step, the completed hydraulic model will now enable us to progress and develop in more detail the designs for the perched channel improvements.

 

To read the Update from the Environment Agency dated 20th October 2020 CLICK HERE 

28th February 2020 

Today Councillor’s hosted a meeting with MP George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, representatives from the Environment Agency including Helen Dobby, Environment Agency Area Director for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Kevin Bryant, Cornwall Council Head of Highways and Infrastructure, Cornwall Councillor Duffin and representatives from the Portreath Emergency Response team to hear the progress of the £4million flood alleviation project for Portreath.

Councillors were pleased to hear the project was keeping on track and that the business case would soon be presented. The group addressed potential areas of concern and are working on solutions to over come these. The Environment Agency confirmed that although the project had changed direction from its conception that they were working on a hybrid of natural flood attenuation and improvements to that channel through the village. Other areas in the Parish where flooding is as issue were also discussed and working with Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency these will also be addressed.

The Environment Agency informed the group that there would be contractors surveying during the next week, you may be able to spot them working!

The group will meet again prior to the business plan being submitted and to confirm details a public information session which is being planned. Full details will be advertised in due course. 

For an overview of the proposal click on the below link:

To see the Environment Agency flood Alleviation Project Presentation CLICK HERE

At the February meeting of Portreath Parish Council members considered the application for 14.572 hectares of land at Nance Woods and Illogan Woods under The Commons Act 2006, Mistaken registration under the 1965 Act, Schedule 2 (7), Land wrongly registered as common land.

Martin Wright, Common Land and Village Greens Registration Officer from Cornwall Council was invited to the meeting and addressed councillors and public present. Mr Wright gave a comprehensive overview of the common’s laws, the application itself, the implications of having the common status removed from the land and information on how to make representation to Cornwall Council. Mr Wright explained that the decision for this application would be made by Cornwall Council, unless a person with a legal interest in the land came forward, and in the case of this happening the decision would be transfer to the Planning Inspectorate. Mr Wright gave examples of those who have legal interest in the land. Mr Wright explained the protections that would remain on the land should be removed from the commons register, highlighting that the woodland is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and that the majority of the woodland was a Tree Protection Order Area.

Parishioners were given the opportunity to ask questions. Mr Wright confirmed the area of the application, stating that it did not encompass the whole woods and that the public footpaths were not in the application area and would not be affected in any way. Mr Wright confirmed that the law stated that unless Cornwall Council had an interest in the application, they would remain the decision-making body. Mr Wright explained the process for gaining planning consent on common land and that should the application be successful that any application for development would have to be considered by the planning authority and the parish council. Furthermore, due to the other protections of the land and the topography of the land that development was highly unlikely. Mr Wright stated that the remaining common land known as Illogan Wood and Nance Woods had a number of owners and should they also wish to make similar applications would have until the end of 2020 to do so. The Applicant also addressed the meeting confirming that the application was being made on the grounds of health and safety and that there was no plan for development of the site. The applicant explained that it was their wish to safeguard the SSSI and that of their farm land and the Iron Age Round that sits within the farm land. The Applicant confirmed that access to the round could still be arranged as before with themselves as is often done for educational visits.

Mr Wright explained again how to make representations on the case and explained that they would need to provide evidence that the land was not mistakenly registered and that signatures on a petition would not prove this. The final date for representation to be received is 2^nd March 2020.

For full details on this application please see the link below to with the full notice of application: Click Here

To see details of Schedule 2 (7) of the Commons Act 2006 Click Here

To see Explanatory Notes to Section 22 and the Whole of schedule 2 Click Here 

If you require any further information please contact Martin Wright, Common Land and Village Greens Registration Officer, Cornwall Council. Environment Service, Cornwall Council, Telephone: 01872 224773, martin.wright@cornwall.gov.uk 4A Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro TR1 1XU

 

 

 

Please see below update from Julian Cowans, Cornwall Development Company regarding the fiber broadband rollout for Bridge

'In terms of the build to Bridge, as some of you will be aware we had managed to bring the build forward rather than wait until the main work of the DEFRA funded contract extension happens next year. Openreach tell me that the build is progressing well and they expect to have completed this by Xmas. There is one small access problem we need to try and resolve, but this affects just one property.

Once the build and testing has been completed there will be a commissioning phase which usually takes 2-4 weeks, and is outside of the control of the local build team. My best estimate is therefore that the area will be ready to order in January, barring any unforeseen circumstances, although the team are working to try and complete asap.

 For information the scheme is wider than just the business park and covers a total of 100 addresses, mainly within the following postcodes:

TR16 4HY, TR16 4QE, TR16 4QG, TR16 4QL, TR16 4QP, TR16 4QQ, TR16 4QW

Please note that the boundaries of postcode areas do not neatly align with the way the network deployment needs to happen. So once an area has been enabled, it is not necessarily true that all the premises in the postcode will experience an improvement in broadband speeds.

If anyone has any follow up queries please contact me on Julian.cowans@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk or 07834 891660.'

 

O2 have announced:

With high levels of ‘staycation’ holidays expected to be taken in the UK this summer, O2 has upgraded almost 400 tourist hotspots and transport hubs across the country with enhanced 4G coverage including St James’s Palace, Madame Tussauds and LEGOLAND Windsor. O2 has also connected 100 popular destinations to 4G for the first time, including Cornwall’s hugely popular Portreath beach, and the remote Luskentyre beach in the Outer Hebrides

Click here to read the full O2 press relaese