CORNWALL COUNCIL -- FIRST FEW DAYS!

Monday and Tuesday, 8th and 9th May 2017 were induction days at Lys Kernow (County Hall) for newly elected councillors, with a mind-spinning round of lectures and presentations on what the council is, what our roles are, how it all works, plus reams of paperwork, signing up for training sessions, photographs for the website and ID cards, and getting to know people.
 

Afternoons were opportunities for councillors to meet in their political party groups, (I say "Councillors" as that is the common term, but apparently we are "Divisional Members" in council-speak.)
 

Obviously, political parties such as Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Mebyon Kernow, Greens etc are true political parties but what about Independents like me? I have never been in a political party and have changed my votes depending on the election and the state of the country at the time. I have also usually supported Independent candidates in local elections.

The Independents have traditionally formed an "Independent Group" a banding together for mutual support, advice, and to avoid being brushed aside by the political parties. I have signed up to the Independent Group, and listened intently to their debates.

The "Big Issue" is that no political party has overall control of the council, there are 123 councillors, so to hold overall control and be confident of winning debates in council, a party needs at least 62 councillors.

Conservatives have the most with 46, Liberal Democrats next with 37, and Independents third with 30. (Labour 4, MK 4, Labour and Cooperative party 1)

There are intense discussions ongoing about whether any parties and groups will work with others to form an administration for the council, if Independents came to an agreement with Conservatives or Lib Dems, there would be a possibility of forming some form of joint administration, so are in a good position, however rumours abound but there is no firm news at the time of writing!

Locally in Hayle there is an informal meeting this week for old and new town councillors to meet and decide who wants to do which jobs and roles in the council. Remember there are three vacancies for the council which we will need to co-opt people for (unless enough people in town wish to force another election!)

Watch this space, I hope to continue letting people know what's going on in Hayle local politics!

Graham.

2017 Local Elections - Hayle.

Vote GRAHAM COAD

For Cornwall and Hayle

Town Councils in 4th May

Local Elections

Popular Independent Cornwall Councillor John Coombe is not standing for re-election in Hayle South Ward on the 4th May 2017

I believe I am his natural successor for that position. I was born and raised in St George’s Road, Hayle and went to Penpol and Humphry Davy schools. I had a full career in Devon and Cornwall Police, mainly in Cornwall, and have been able to live back in Hayle for the last 21 years. I have four children, three adult and grown up and one still in Hayle Community School.

Ten years ago I was elected to Hayle Town Council and have served Hayle as councillor since then, plus two years as Deputy Mayor, and two years as Hayle Mayor until last year. I really enjoy council work and the challenges it brings.

My attendance record at meetings is very good, and I am currently chairman of the Amenities Committee. I have been on almost every committee, subcommittee and working group on the council and am aware of all the recent and current dealings between Hayle and Cornwall councils. I am also a member of the steering Group of the Hayle Neighbourhood Plan which should reach completion this

year, giving Hayle real influence over many planning issues up to 2030. My special interest is planning.

I too am an Independent, not beholden to any political party, and I don’t think party politics should be a factor in Local Government. Time should not be wasted in squabbles over party politics, but all energies should be put to getting the very best results for Cornwall overall and Hayle in particular.

Two of the political parties oppose me in this election, with one candidate parachuted in from Lostwithiel, and another from Gwinear Parish with no recent involvement in Hayle council matters or business with Cornwall Council. I firmly believe that I am the best candidate for the job, and my knowledge and experience will see me as an effective Cornwall Councillor working for Hayle right from the start.

It is a great benefit if a Cornwall Councillor is also a Town Councillor, for continuity between the Town Council representing the people and Cornwall Council, it makes for greater efficiency and better representation so I am also standing for re-election as a Town Councillor in Hayle’s North Ward, (neither of my opponents are or are seeking to become Hayle Town Councillors.)

Wherever you live in Hayle, Phillack or Angarrack you will be able to vote for me for Cornwall or Hayle Councils. Please DO vote, and please vote for me. I will do my very best for you.

If you want to speak to me or ask anything I am on 07989 606992, email gcoad@btinternet.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mr.graham.coad.
Graham Coad

Promoted and published by G. Coad 4 Springfield Close, Hayle TR27 5AH, printed byBloger

Hayle Supermarket Wars and ASDA on South Quay.

How ASDA ended up on South Quay, Hayle.

As Mayor, and a Hayle Town Councillor for the last seven years, and active on Social Media I am becoming aware that many people did not follow the developments of the "Supermarket Battles" or the recent history of South Quay and Hayle Harbour, and don't understand how an ASDA ended up being built on SouthQuay, Hayle.

I recently posted an explanation on Facebook which has received some praise, so I will re-post it here to help people understand.

 The Harbour came into the possession of ING around 2004, and amongst the various plans and proposals, South Quay renovation was starting to look like being the last phase of the overall development.

Suddenly supermarkets took an interest in Hayle, because of its position on the road network and its potential catchment area. Morrisons wanted the Jewson’s site at Carnsew, Sainsbury wanted to build on Loggans Moor nature reserve and marsh, and ASDA wanted to build on the Rugby Club. All of these wanted to come to Hayle, but the Penwith Retail study of 2007, (and the later Cornwall Retail Study 2010) which was evidence the planners are obliged to rely on said there WAS scope for an additional supermarket in Hayle, but ONLY ONE.

This made it a “Battle of the supermarkets” but then ING joined in by proposing their South Quay site for a supermarket development, without any supermarket brand being signed up.

ING’s advisors had learned something that the local councillors, and people interested in planning were to discover. Sequential Tests.

These were and are strong parts of government guidelines on planning, and serve to ensure development is in the best, or least harmful sites.

The Retail Sequential Test stated that a supermarket development site closest to an existing shopping centre is the preferred option as it enable footfall to the supermarket to be close to existing shops so they have a chance to compete for the new potential customers. (This put South Quay in the lead.)

The Flooding Sequential Test meant that sites least likely to be flooded or most easily protected against flooding are preferred sites (This effectively knocked Sainsbury out)

The two proposals, ASDA and Sainsbury both on Marsh Lane, also had largely unresolved Traffic and Transport issues with the already overloaded roundabout at Loggans Moor/Carwin.

These were the planning issues and policies that set ING’s South Quay as the Number One preferred site for a supermarket development.

Added to that were the additional “Planning Gains” for the South Quay site of ING having to carry out the highly expensive repairs to South Quay and Carnsew Quay, exposing and excavating Carnsew Dock and the Carnsew Sluice, replacing the sluice gates and repairing the sluice tunnels (“Black Houses”) so a sluicing regime could be restarted, making contributions to road improvements around Hayle, contributing to the new railway station approach, building a bridge from its supermarket to Penpol Terrace shops, and new routes through ISIS Gardens to Foundry, public promenade all around South Quay and public entertainment and recreation areas.
The final benefit was ING’s offer to hand ownership and control of the harbour over to a Hayle body.|

The South Quay supermarket planning application was the clear winner on planning grounds.

Originally ING were negotiating with Sainsbury, but they dropped out when they got the Penzance Heliport site, then ASDA switched from supporting the Rugby Club site and came to South Quay.

Graham.

HAYLE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FIRST SURVEY

This is to start people finding out about Hayle Neighbourhood Plan and a request for people to fill in a simple short introductory survey to get us started.

Say what you love about Hayle and what you wish could change in this very short survey.

(Hayle Neighbourhood Plan website and then the surveys tab or just link here http://np.hayle.net/surveys/ ). Please complete it before July 22nd 2014 to get your voice heard.
Information about the neighbourhood plan is on the website and you may also like to participate through the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hayleneighbourhoodplan .
You can do the survey if you live in Hayle, work in Hayle, visit Hayle, come from Hayle, want to return to Hayle, (making sure there is affordable housing and/ or affordable land to build houses is something the Hayle Neighbourhood Plan can make happen!).
http://np.hayle.net/

(Stolen and reproduced from Lucy Frears, unashamedly copied here! Graham Coad.)

HAYLE PARKING ON PAVEMENTS

The issues of people parking cars and vans on pavements throughout Hayle has come up at Hayle Town council meetings more than once in recent times, and now a ‘mini campaign’ has started on the council’s Facebook page about people parking on the pavement in front of Hayle War Memorial, especially at this time marking the 100^th anniversary of the start of the First World War, and the 70^th anniversary of D Day. People complained it was “a disgrace”.

These issues mainly occur in the evenings and for some reason the pavement “build outs” around junctions along the main road in Hayle and the pavement in front of the War Memorial are attractive to people thoughtlessly parking on pavements.

Pavements are for people, pedestrians, for their safety and convenience.

These matters have been reported to local police, in person and via the Town Clerk’s office, but the Police Community Support Officers who patrol the town do not have the power to issue fixed penalty tickets, the Traffic Wardens were taken from the control of local police and passed to Cornwall Council, so Hayle no longer has a dedicated Traffic Warden and the Cornwall Council wardens are seldom seen in Hayle, (and never in the evenings?).

Hayle Town Council pay for the upkeep of our War Memorial, but no one seems to know who actually OWNS it and the Town Clerk’s team are looking into it. We are fairly sure the pavement in front of it is ordinary pavement the same as anywhere else, and bollards to prevent parking have been suggested.

It seems that the parking issues at the War Memorial may coincide with certain local groups having functions or practice sessions at the nearby Passmore Edwards Institute, if so “You know who you are – please stop parking on the pavement by the War Memorial”

The local police are aware and fixed penalty tickets might be issued if the pavements are being obstructed.