admin – Truro Civic Society

Truro Civic Society Awards

admin — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:47:26 +0000

On Friday 21st March in the Methodist Church

The following people received Civic Awards

For their their dedication and service to the City of Truro

ADULT SECTION

Barry Cooper
Mr. Barry John Cooper has been a dedicated member of the Truro Branch of the Royal British Legion for many years, serving as Chairman and Vice-Chairman. He is known for his exceptional organizational skills, particularly during the Remembrance period, and his ability to liaise with military organizations and the Council. Barry also supports veterans, attends funerals, and
arranges commemorations throughout the year. His tireless efforts and embodiment of the Legion’s motto, “Service Not Self,” make him a deserving candidate for a Truro Civic Award

Christine Fuller

Christine has been a dedicated volunteer with iSightCornwall for 26 years, starting as an accompanist for the BLIS Singers in 1998 and quickly becoming the main pianist. She has transformed the fortnightly gatherings into a cherished social activity, creating an inclusive environment for visually impaired members by providing large print lyrics and reciting them for those who are blind.

Liz Ashton
Liz co-founded the Shower to Stage Choir in 2023 to raise funds for mental health crises in
Cornwall. By 2024, the choir had over fifty members, and it is expected to grow to around ninety members in 2025. Liz’s passion and dedication have been instrumental in this growth. She has created a supportive community where members gain physical, mental, and emotional benefits from singing together. Her home serves as a practice space and sanctuary. The choir, now a registered charity called One Voice (Cornwall), has raised nearly £30,000 for mental health charities

Laura Calcraft

Laura Calcraft has been an invaluable part of the community, contributing in numerous ways. She is involved in bell ringing at Kenwyn Church and serves as a dedicated unit manager for St John Ambulance. Laura volunteers to train cadets and participates in local events like the Royal Cornwall Show and Truro Pride. At St. Mary’s C of E School, she works tirelessly to build relationships with families, serves as the clerk to the governors, and supports vulnerable families as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. Laura also teaches first aid to children, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to the community

NCI St. Agnes Coast Watch

The NCI St Agnes Head Station Manager and their team of volunteer watchkeepers have shown unwavering commitment to the National Coastwatch Institution. Despite challenging conditions, they have worked tirelessly to improve their station, which lacked basic amenities until mid-2024. Through hard work, public donations, and grants, they have made significant upgrades, including a new roof, windows, door, and renewable energy sources. Their dedication ensures the safety of local mariners and coastal-path users, and they continue to volunteer in all weather conditions. Their efforts have made the lookout a vital part of the community.

Ellie Howell-Round

Ellie Howell-Round has been an integral part of the school community for many years, serving as the chairperson of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). She tirelessly raises funds, enabling class trips and whole-school events. Ellie plans and executes successful events like summer fayres and school discos, bringing joy to students and families. She also supports children with additional needs in accessing forest school sessions. Despite being a busy mum of three, Ellie always finds time to support the school and wider community. Her dedication and commitment have made a lasting impact, making her truly deserving of a Truro Civic Award.

Carla Phyllis Scrimgeour

Carla has been a dedicated volunteer with the First Truro Scouts for over 30 years1. She started as a Beaver Scout Leader, planning activities for 6-8 year olds and participating in Cub Camps. Carla also served as Group Scout Leader and was responsible for bearing the Beaver Flag during Church Parades. She has attended many memorable camps, including those on Brownsea Island, the Scilly Isles, and London. Additionally, Carla has volunteered as the secretary for Truro in Bloom for the past six years, helping to organize shop window displays for the annual South West in Bloom judging day

Julie Evans

Julie Evans is a modest and active community member involved in various groups. She is part of the Truro Evolution Rotarians Group, participating in events like litter picks and charity fundraisers. Julie also volunteers with the Truro River Water Quality Sampling Team, ensuring the health of water supplies. Additionally, she is a respected member of the Sunny Corner group, maintaining “The Celtic Patch” and serving as the group’s Secretary. Despite her significant contributions, Julie never seeks recognition and operates “under the radar”

Graham Humphrey

Graham, born and raised in Truro, has been a pivotal figure in the community. He leads the Truro Old Boys Association, raising funds for local charities and organizing events. His dedication is evident in initiatives like the memorial in Victoria Gardens and a vigil for the homeless. Over the past five years, he has raised over £25,000 for Truro and Cornish charities. Graham’s passion and commitment to Truro are commendable, and his efforts deserve recognition. He is a true community champion, always putting others before himself and making Truro a better place to live

Keith Wellington

Keith Wellington has served the Public of Truro surrounding areas extremely well in the years has been a member of the Lions Club of Truro. Major achievements include overseeing the installation of over 50 Defibrillators in the area in recent years plus being Chairman of the 50/50 Appeal which celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Club, by raising £44,000 equally shared between Cornwall Hospice Care and Children’s Hospice South West He has always been very conscientious about helping those in need and recently involved the Club helping the Memory Café in Highertown

Nick James

Nick James, a retiree, has been actively helping his community for many years. His skills have significantly contributed to the Sunny Corner Friends group and Truro Squash Club. He volunteers his time and resources, often without seeking recognition. A Truro Civic Award would be a well-deserved acknowledgment of his efforts.

Peter Fitzgerald

Peter Fitzgerald, a founder member of the Friends of Sunny Corner group, has been dedicated to improving the site since 2016. He uses his skills in building, painting, and carpentry to enhance the area and assist others with maintenance and repair work. Despite past injuries, he continues to work hard without seeking recognition or payment. He is highly respected in the community and is recommended for a Truro Civic Award for his contributions.

Cornwall Blood Bikes

Cornwall Blood Bikes is a volunteer-run charity providing out-of-hours urgent medical supply deliveries across Cornwall. They operate a fleet of motorcycles with 78 volunteers, covering a wide range of medical deliveries. The charity has significantly increased its operations over the years, saving the NHS over £300,000 annually. They have strong partnerships with local hospitals and medical organizations, and have covered over one million miles since 2015. They are celebrating their 10-year anniversary in April 2025.

John Larke

John Larke MBE TD is nominated for his tireless work as Chairman of the City of Truro Male Choir. Despite his illness earlier this year, he remained dedicated to his duties. He is also largely responsible for the success of the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival, which takes place biannually. His efforts have brought significant recognition to Truro and Cornwall in the choral world.

JUNIOR SECTION

Tobias Newlyn-Jewell

Tobias Newlyn-Jewell climbed Ben Nevis, Snowdon, and Scarfel Pike to support the Sunrise charity, raising over £2,500 for post-suicide support services. His efforts have raised awareness around suicide prevention and encouraged others to take action. At just 13, Tobias exemplifies compassion, community spirit, and resilience, inspiring others and creating a lasting impact against mental health stigma and suicide.

Nate Hall

Nate Hall is a lively, bouncy member of Year 5 at Archbishop Benson school with a passion for the environment. Recently, Nate has initiated a litter picking club at school where he collects litter at lunchtimes from the playground. Nate’s enthusiasm has meant that this club is growing in size and now has a committed group of environmentalists. Well done Nate for your commitment and passion.

Elliot Wills

Elliott, diagnosed with Hereditary Spherocytosis and Gilbert’s Syndrome, has spent much of his life in and out of hospitals. Despite his health challenges and impending surgery, he remains brave and active, even participating in the Remembrance Sunday parade. Elliott also shows great understanding and support towards his older autistic brother, Josh. He aims to raise money for the Children’s unit in their names.

Housing Bombshell

admin — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 15:51:14 +0000

At the start of the year Cornwall Council had a Local Plan and a Five Year Land Supply. These are important documents which set out how many houses we’re going to build up to 2030, where we’re going to put them and that we have the sites (land supply) to support this. These are particularly important documents if the Council refuses a planning application.

The Developers can appeal to the Planning Inspector and the first question he asks is do you have an up to date Local Plan and a Five Year Land Supply? If you don’t, there’s a presumption in favour of development, and the Council is more than half way to losing the appeal.

Up to the 1st January we could have confidently answered yes. Our target is 2,707 houses per year, and we have the sites for them. We don’t always manage it, there are lots of variables beyond our control like availability of builders, finance, etc. but we’re ok. Or we were. During January the Government in London dropped what one Councillor described as ‘a nuclear bomb’ on us. They announced, without warning that our new target would be 4,421, with immediate effect. That means our Local Plan is out of date and we no longer have a Five Year Land Supply.

This puts Cornwall completely at the mercy of speculative developers. It doesn’t matter how many people object or if our Planning Committees vote to refuse the application, the Inspector will say if there’s no Local Plan, there’s a presumption in favour of development. The last Local Plan took four years to prepare. I asked ‘Can’t we just cross out 2,707 and write 4,421 and be compliant?’ But of course it’s not that simple.

We have to have the land to put these extra houses on, and we don’t.

The answer seems to be higher density, going up, three or four storey blocks. Nobody wants that, but we’re scrabbling about for solutions at the moment. I’m not against development, our young people need somewhere to live. If the Government was giving us grants to build affordable rentals for young people, or social housing, I’d be there. But what they’ve done is usher in a Wild West where speculative developers will be jumping on land that wouldn’t have been considered for development as recently as December. And your local Councillors didn’t vote for this, it’s come from London, and shamefully some of our local MP’s put their hands up and voted for it. The next step is that at the end of the month Cornwall Council will put out a call for sites, and the wrangling will begin!

Send us a postcard with your answer to this

Or, better still, comment below

THE VIEW FROM THE RETAIL TRENCHES

admin — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:09:31 +0000

What is it that makes one town or city a bustling place and another into a relative backwater? It is, of course, trade, and it was ever thus. Truro may have lost its shipping and mining heritage, but this has been replaced by a thriving retail sector plus a very active business quarter. In addition, it still has all the major banks represented here: another reason why it is Cornwall’s major retail centre.

Notwithstanding this, the traders in the city are facing a perfect storm of adverse factors such as competition from online, crippling business rates, the recent changes in the Budget, expensive car parking and now a major reduction of parking places due to the problems at Moorfield, together with the loss of facilities at the Pydar development. It’s no wonder the average trader says, “Give us a break for goodness’ sake”.

As traders and a commercial property landlords, we have been in Truro since the early 80’s. In that time, very few people have asked me (or my late father) for our thoughts on the decisions which affect Truro’s businesses, and I mean at Council level. I know that Truro BID (Business Improvement District) does a fantastic job generally. and sends out occasional surveys, but that is only at BID’s level, and I feel that Cornwall Council and, to a lesser extent the City Council, don’t really know what is going on with grass-roots businesses in Truro

The idea of pedestrianising the centre of Truro has been thrashed around for a long time with arguments on both sides. but it is a pretty momentous decision, and I ask myself, would it really work? So, perhaps, we can compromise and use some of the Towns Fund money to install rising bollards on the roads that lead to the centre of Truro, so on weekends and events such as Armistice Day and Xmas shopping events, the centre can be closed very quickly and easily without the need for Traffic Marshalls and fencing, etc. which is always cited by the Council as being expensive and time consuming to arrange.

My fear with the Towns Fund money is that in 10 years’ time, we’ll all be scratching our heads thinking, “Where did all that money go”?. It needs to serve as a legacy for Truro for years and years to come.

It’s quite understandable that the two Councils should seek to maximise income from special events in Lemon Quay and Boscawen Street. but not at the expense of existing traders. I have concerns about the number of markets/events that happen on the Quay, I feel it’s surpassed saturation point. Even though they do drive footfall into Lemon Quay, the sales in the surrounding shops often decrease and some traders who have similar businesses, such as Greengrocers and Gift Shops, have found it so devastating that their businesses have collapsed. The frequency of the outdoor markets has wiped out their profit margin. Twice a week throughout the year is becoming exceedingly difficult for our traders.

Yes, an additional shopper drawn into the city by the various markets is always welcome, but a pound spent there by a regular visitor is a pound less spent in the normal shops,

It’s all a question of balance

As an example of this, a “late night shopping” event is always followed by a retail hangover the following morning. Of course, the former is welcomed by retailers but one should at least be aware of the latter.

When we have pop-ups in Tinners Court, as we sometimes do, we have a duty of care towards our tenants in the Pannier Market not to allow too much direct competition with them. I do ask whether the same duty of care is being employed by the two councils.

Pop-up stalls in Tinner’s Court

They need to be more mindful of the damage to full time shops and businesses by having so many pop-up competitors on their doorstep. I have brought this to the Town Clerk’s attention on a few occasions now and he has raised it in a council meeting. We await confirmation if our opinion is heard or whether it falls on deaf ears.

Why should the craft market run throughout so much of the year? It has aggrieved so many traders to find out that there was a weekly Friday Craft Market for the majority of the year, which almost immediately took business away from many small shops in Truro. With a proper consultation with local businesses, a more thoughtful event-type of monthly market would likely have been suggested and would be more welcome. Instead of a weekly hit on all craft-type of businesses, a monthly varied event specialising in “pet products, or eastern foods, vegan events, or festival wear, etc.” would result in greater interest and be less damaging to one specific type of industry”

The “Farmers’ Market” is not what it once was, the original idea being local businesses being invited to sell their locally produced items. For example, the ‘Farmers’ market’ greengrocer imports a percentage of their stock, and is thus not even totally British, let alone Cornish! Unfortunately, the Pannier Market greengrocer just couldn’t compete with Wednesday and Saturday shoppers filling their baskets twice a week outside, thinking they were buying local, and her sales just plummeted. Do we really need Farmers’ Markets twice a week?

Regarding the events on Lemon Quay, some events warrant marquees – some don’t. I feel that the Fat Stock show and the Food Festival (which was not a great success this year using the huts) are best in a traditional marquee setting because they create a better sense of community and traders and the public are protected from the elements, whilst others such as Xmas markets are better in the wooden sheds, as it creates better movement of shoppers over the Quay. it might also be better to use smaller Marquees occasionally.

A simple idea, why not create a drivers’ room for coach drivers? An area where they can meet, relax, have some refreshments and maybe watch TV and chat with other drivers, whilst their passengers are all shopping in Truro for the day. The money could easily build a small room in the corner of the coach park, with toilet facilities. If you make the drivers comfortable, they’ll want to come to Truro, and they’ll all be bringing 60+ people who are willing and able to spend money. This is another example of where some of the Towns Fund could be spent.

Half of all available spaces are now taken by buses

Whilst on this subject – the idea of “Transport for Cornwall” buses taking up half of the valuable spaces within the coach park is wrong. This was done by Cornwall Council, seemingly with no consultation with anybody in Truro. For example, the visit by American tourists this year from a cruise ship, organised by Visit Cornwall, was a fiasco as they were unable to offload their passengers in the Coach Park and were reduced to parking on the main road and causing traffic chaos. It was ridiculous.

Truro is a unique and thriving city and it is so important we don’t lose focus on that. It is the small shops that make Truro what it is, and many of them are currently struggling. We need to protect our local independent businesses but a lot of the decisions which affect the city -planned events and Fund’s money ideas – are already made by the councils and are never really open to debate.

John Roach – Vitalbirch Ltd

With over 40 years of experience in the retail sector, the family business now focuses on property letting, including the Pannier Market and other commercial properties in Truro.

1988 Floods-Recollections & Reflections

admin — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:12:33 +0000

Luci Isaacson BEM**

Flooding in Truro has been a recurrent event, shaping the lives and stories of many. One of the most memorable floods in Truro’s history occurred in 1988, and it’s a time that remains vivid in the memories of those who lived through it. The city was hit by devastating floods twice in the same year, in January and again in October. The Truro flood of 1988 wasn’t just an environmental catastrophe; it became a moment that brought the community together in ways that are still remembered with both nostalgia and resilience.

I, too, have my own story from the 1988 floods. Like many, I joined in the effort to help where I could. I vividly recall helping to bale out water from Petite Pantry, a small shop located at the corner of Victoria Square. While I and others worked to salvage what we could, firefighters were busy rescuing people trapped in shops. In fact, there was an incident where the fire brigade had to row across the flooded square in rubber dinghies to rescue three women who were stuck on the first floor of Fox’s travel agency.

The store owned by Robert Mallett, a central figure during the floods, was among the hardest hit. His store was submerged under four feet of water, flooding the ground floor and filling the lift shaft. Despite the devastation, Robert remained positive. In fact, his attitude became symbolic of the wider community’s response. Everyone was upbeat, helping each other in the face of adversity. Robert lent the fire brigade rubber dinghies, demonstrating not only his generosity but also how the entire town pulled together to overcome the crisis.

“All my staff worked without question,” Robert later reflected. Despite the devastation, they were determined to reopen the store as soon as possible. “By 8:00 p.m., we stopped and went to get fish and chips from Sole Plaice. Everyone was amazing, and we all worked together.” This spirit of community cooperation was one of the silver linings of the flood, a memory I carry with me to this day.

The Long-term Solutions to Truro’s Flooding Problems

While the floods of 1988 brought people together, they also highlighted the need for long-term solutions to protect the town from future disasters. Robert Mallett, at the time the Mayor’s consort, played a significant role in the aftermath. Along with the lady mayor, he established a Flood Alleviation Committee that worked closely with South West Water, the local council, and other agencies. As a result of their combined efforts, two important flood prevention measures were implemented: the construction of storage dams on the rivers Kenwyn and Allen and the installation of a tidal gate at Newham.

These measures have played a crucial role in mitigating the risk of flooding in Truro, but they did not eliminate the problem entirely. Flooding is a complex issue, exacerbated by environmental changes that extend beyond the control of local infrastructure. Reflecting on the events of 1988, I hadn’t realised how deeply these experiences would shape my understanding of environmental challenges and my subsequent work in this area.

A Broader Perspective: Environmental Awareness and Flooding

In 1995, I moved to Greece, initially planning to stay for a few months, but I ended up living there for two years. During this time, I taught English, and as part of the curriculum, I helped students practice their pronunciation through discussions on various topics, including environmental issues. Over the course of three rounds of exams, I noticed a significant increase in environment-based topics, from 18% to 38%. This rise in environmental awareness made me realise that I needed to gather more comprehensive information on the subject.

I sought out Greenpeace Greece for relevant materials, a decision that marked a turning point in my life. On the day I visited their office, Athens was sweltering under an intense heatwave, and a rubbish strike had left the streets piled high with black sacks of materials. The heat was so extreme that the materials caught fire, sending thick, black smoke through the streets. As I fled the smoke, I stumbled upon the Greenpeace office, gasping for air. It was a surreal moment, but one that further fuelled my passion for environmental activism.

Despite the language barrier, I was able to understand the core of Greenpeace’s message: many environmental problems, including flooding, had relatively simple solutions. The problem wasn’t that these solutions didn’t exist; it was that they were not widely implemented. For example, many bad things could be prevented by changing behaviours or being better prepared. These two concepts—stopping harmful practices and preparing for potential disasters—became the cornerstones of my environmental philosophy.

After two years in Greece, I moved to New Zealand, where I continued working on environmental projects. Once again, I found myself dealing with issues related to pollution and its impact on natural ecosystems. Whether it was dieldrin in the ground or dioxins in my cereals, the common theme was that human activities were causing widespread environmental damage, much of which could be prevented with better practices and awareness.

Back Home in Cornwall: The Fight for Flood Prevention

When I eventually returned to the UK, I took up a position with the Falmouth-based Rag & Bone Recycling company. My work there helped expand the doorstep recycling services that are now commonplace, and it reinforced my belief that individual actions could make a big difference in tackling environmental issues. Around this time, a sailing friend introduced me to Earth Systems Science, a field that examines the interactions between the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces.

Although I wasn’t an academic, I found the subject fascinating, particularly as it related to the broader issue of climate change. The more I learned, the clearer it became that human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, were contributing to global warming. This, in turn, was increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events, including floods. For every degree of warming, the atmosphere can hold 7-14% more water vapour, which has to fall as precipitation at some point. This phenomenon, known as atmospheric rivers, can lead to sudden and intense rainfall, which in turn causes flooding.

The Future of Flooding: Preparing Truro for the Challenges Ahead

Given these facts, the question now is: Are we ready to accept that climate change is already affecting us and that more flooding is inevitable? For many, the answer is no. This isn’t surprising, as environmental education was pretty much zero when I was in school, and it’s only recently become a central focus in the curriculum. But for those of us who have experienced flooding firsthand, like the people of Truro in 1988, and had chance to study climate change, the need for preparedness is clear.

Truro is particularly vulnerable to flooding because it sits at the confluence of three rivers. As the climate continues to change, the likelihood of more frequent and severe floods increases. However, there is hope. There are steps we can take to make our homes, workplaces, and communities more resilient. One such initiative is our new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) qualification, designed to educate people about climate resilience. This two-day course, open to all, provides practical advice on how to prepare for and mitigate the effects of flooding. It also includes a flood plan template that individuals can use to protect their homes or businesses. The first 400 are funded, get in touch to sign up.

For those interested in learning more about climate resilience, there’s also the opportunity to join a “Shaping Climate Vision CIC Walk and Talk” in Truro. This guided walk starts from the Truro River and offers a chance to discuss flooding and other climate-related topics with experts. Participants are given resources to help them create their own flood plans and reduce their carbon footprints.

A Call to Action: Protecting Truro for Future Generations

The tide gate and two river dams were designed in the early 1990s to provide a high standard of flood protection considering river and tidal flood. They work alongside river walls, channels, bridges and culverts which are often in private ownership and management and have provided a good level of protection since they were constructed. Surface water and sewer flooding has been a problem in a number of locations and upgrades to the system have been implemented by South West Water following flooding at Victoria Square. The combined surface and foul sewerage in Truro interacts with river and tidal flood management so that when high river flow and tides occur, drainage systems cannot discharge freely. With increasing rainfall, river flow, and rising sea level our current management systems will be put under more pressure.

Howard Simpson, Environment Agency

To address these challenges, the EA is starting a Strategic Appraisal Study in 2024. This study will assess the future flood risks in Truro and propose new measures to ensure the town’s long-term resilience. While infrastructure improvements will play a key role, individual preparedness is equally important. For questions and comments, please get in touch with their enquiries team at: DCISEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Conclusion: Flooding is Everyone’s Problem

The history of flooding in Truro is not just a story of natural disasters; it’s a story of community resilience and adaptation. From the floods of 1988 to the present day, the people of Truro have faced the challenges of flooding with determination and solidarity. But as climate change accelerates, the risks are growing, and we must all do our part to protect the city we love.

Whether it’s by taking part in the CPD course, developing a flood plan, or simply being more aware of the environmental impact of our actions, each of us has a role to play in making Truro more resilient to future floods. The time to act is now..

**Luci is a director of Climate Vision which is based in Truro. in 2020 she was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to “Flood Risk Management in Cornwall”. You can contact her at luci@climatevision.co.uk

Rob Mallett

Yes remember it all well there was a flood in both January and October and we had about 4ft of water through the front doors and right up through the ground floor into the lift shaft about 4ft depth. Phoned the fire brigade who came and pumped it out. Opposite was Fox’s travel agents there were 3 ladies trapped on the first floor the fire brigade borrowed a couple of rubber dinghy’s to row across the square to rescue them. At the time I was the Mayor’s consort and the lady mayor set up a flood alleviation committee south west water, and the council several other agencies and through this we got the 2 holding dams and the lock gates at Boscawen park. Everyone helped each other we got a lot of publicity through it turned bad news into good news and all the traders had a flood sale. All my staff worked on without question so we could get open the next day. About 8.00pm we stopped and got fish and chips from Sole Plaice, took a cheque up. No, pay me when your sorted. Everyone was amazing and worked together

A series of superb b/w photos kindly supplied by Jay Williams

Photographed by Ken Hambley of Truro (deceased).

[See image gallery at trurocivicsociety.com]

Bert Biscoe

I first met Mrs Armorel Carlyon whilst a member of Citizens of Truro – a group formed to oppose Carrick District Council’s attempts to sell-off Truro City Hall in the early 1980s. My efforts to hire the hall for a gig, only to find that CDC’s warped approach to its management meant I would have to hire it for 24 hours, led me towards standing for election to Truro City Council.

I was also much exercised by proposals to put weirs into the Millpool, to partly infill it, and to remove historic sluice gates from the bridge. I learned that the River Allen is a sanctuary for European Eels, which was, by the late 80s an endangered species. I was elected n 1987. I am still wrestling with that issue as the Pydar Street development proposals suggest a suburbanization of the River Allen and further risk to the eels. In 1988 Mrs Carlyon became Mayor..

In the meantime, we had formed Cornish Alternatives to the Structure Plan (CASP) to campaign for reform of the structure planning process. We ended up in Examinations in Public in the basement of the Falmouth Hotel of which, at the time, Mrs C was a shareholder – afternoon tea was most graciously served! We had many adventures – a situation which has continued to this day!

Twice during her Mayoral year floods struck Truro. They were both deemed ‘One in 300year’ events which, coming within ten months of each other, seemed a trifle ironic!

Armorel rose to her occasion. She demanded the presence of what was then the National Rivers Authority (later the Environment Agency), and many be-suited gentlemen appeared. I remember shutting one slightly bemused-looking engineer in the Parks Manager’s office with Les Williams (Manager of the Sewage Farm), John Cockle (First Mate to the last cargo ship registered in Truro), and Arnold Hodge (Freeman, engineer and tenacious political townsman) – it is said that, after two hours the NRA engineer emerged looking pale and his hair was turning white!

Mrs Carlyon pushed for concrete proposals to defend Truro from future floods. She did not let go and proposals came forward. It was then a case of finding the money. She took herself to London and marched around offices – always polite and determined, she won lasting respect for her civic leadership. As a committed Methodist she held to a strong ser of principles., and these sustained her bravery, her directness and her constant charm – the money was quickly identified.

Two dams were built to stem the flow of the rivers Allen and Kenwyn when necessary – that is, when heavy and persistent rain coincides with spring tides. Lock gates are recently renewed which are designed to hold back the tide when conditions require. And, a siren was installed at St George’s Road.

Mrs Carlyon’s tenacious, energetic, friendly and determined leadership has brought lasting safety to Truro. We have seen nothing like 1988. She would quickly say that many people helped, and some took risks, and that we should never be complacent – Nature is a mysterious and surprising mistress of the planet – she can unleash immense forces as quickly as she can charm a heavy heart with a primrose – and she can nurture rare talents and characters like Armorel Carlyon to cut like a scythe through grey forests of bureaucracy to protect families, places and businesses – and to achieve sanctuaries of peace and quiet for threatened and nervous eels –

In certain quiet corners of government offices and parliamentary corridors they still speak her name with respect and admiration.

Further memories welcome – just comment below

A personal recollection by Peter Brinton

We moved into St. George’s Road sometime in the summer of 1987 from a small terrace house in Daniell Street in Truro. Our daughter was about eighteen months old at the time. It was a big change to move from a small, two-bedroom terrace house to a large four-storey property albeit in need of extensive renovation.

Work was started on renovating the basement as this would provide a workspace for a new business.

The chronology of events has blurred with the passage of time but I was working as a teacher in Newquay at the time and getting a phone call (landline then) for me to come straight home at the end of the day as the level of the River Kenwyn was rising and the may be flooding. I arrive home after a somewhat apprehensive drive from Newquay to find the river level rising but no actual flooding of the house.

When it started it happened very quickly. Water started coming out of the toilet downstairs and the small back garden began to flood. Water leaked through the wall that separated the garden from the river Kenwyn and within minutes after that the basement was flooded to about a metre in depth. In many respects we got off better than might have been imagined. The upper floors of the house were not directly affected (although a bit soggy from all the toing and froing) but we nevertheless accepted the offer from friends who lived in Highertown to spend a couple of nights there.

And eight months or so later it happened again!

But that is only half the story. What can I remember that was driven by emotion. Firstly the Local Education Authority did not pay me for the two days I had off to sort things out! That really hurt at the time.

Secondly, the intense anger at the attitude of South West Water and the Environment Agency towards the inhabitants of the houses that flooded.

Thirdly, being interviewed on my doorstep by Westward Television (or was it the BBC?) and them panning down to show my trousers rolled up to my knees and my bare feet.

Fourthly, The coming together of the affected houses and families to help and support each other. Closed friendships developed and remain.

Fifthly, it spurred me on to become closely involved in local politics (Truro City Council and Carrick DC) in which I remained for about fifteen years.

Last night I spoke to my daughter and asked her what she remembered. She has two memories as an eighteen-month-old from that day. Barbara Parson’s cat being floated out of her basement flat on a cushion. And Ann Talbot’s large bright yellow raincoat.

We renovated the basement again and put in flood protection measures. The night storage heaters were removed and the central heating extended into the basement. The washing machine was placed on a plinth and the floors tiled so they could be brushed out. Shelves were all at above flood height. If I was ever flooded again the first thing I would do is save paper. Photographs, diaries and letters can not be replaced. Stuff can.

Peter Brinton

Old County Hall

admin — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:27:50 +0000

Some years ago, I was lucky enough to be a joint remember representing an amalgamated ward in Truro on Cornwall Council alongside Mrs Doris Ansari. We were presented with proposals to sell Old County Hall. We were told there was an offer which we were recommended to support. When we asked if this one bid was the only bid, we were told there were two others. One was not credible. The other was from Cornwall Care. We perked up and asked what their proposal was?

After a good deal of prevarication and obfuscation we discovered that Cornwall Care wanted to buy Old County Hall and use it to provide a new residential care home in Truro in order to replace Mountford House and Redannick. In addition, the charitable company wished to construct a new 20+bed nursing unit. This could have been a great help in alleviating the bed-blocking problem at Treliske Hospital.

Mrs Ansari and I knew that Cornwall care was a company, set up by Cornwall ‘County’ Council in the 1990s, to provide residential care services. It was endowed with all the Council’s care homes. Ever since, it has been a key provider of residential care services to people referred by Cornwall Social Services. If it wished to sell a Council care home then the Council’s consent was needed. In this case, they wished to use the proceeds of sale to finance the OCH project.

We both felt strongly that this was the best option – it would be useful. It would deal with a public service problem, and would keep OCH in the public domain. We walked into a brick wall!

The sale was made, despite our strong views (so much for the influence of the ‘local member’!) to a Falmouth-based hotel chain. It was later sold, and, as we can all see, is now for sale yet again – nothing has happened. Cornwall Council has deemed it necessary to sell Cornwall Care to Sanctuary Housing Association. Bed-blocking still deepens the pressures on Treliske.

Old County Hall is a fine building. Its hard to tell what has happened inside, but it remains an important part of Cornwall’s story. If it could be made useful within the public domain then that would be the best outcome for a saga which has dragged embarrassingly on and on.

Therefore, in order to find a good productive future for a fine example of early C20th architecture, , why don’t Cornwall Council and Sanctuary HA bite the bullet and buy back this significant and much-loved building, and do what Cornwall Care proposed in the first place? It would a be a practical solution to a big (and least talked about) problem in Truro. It’s an old-fashioned thing to say but I also suggest that, as well as being practical, repurchasing Old County Hall and repurposing it for residential care would be an honourable thing to do.

Bert Biscoe

Truro

25^th July 2024

SOMETHING’S GOT TO BE DONE WITH THE MOORFIELD CAR PARK

admin — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:33:55 +0000

The Moorfield multi-storey car park was built in the early 1970s. It is part of a major re-engineering of traffic management in Truro Town Centre. The architect was the late John Taylor. The re-engineering included the by-pass (inexplicably named ‘Morlaix Avenue’), inner distributor routes (City Road/Charles St/Fairmantle Street to Fairmantle St Roundabout and Union Street/St Clement Street to Trafalgar Roundabout), it transformed Truro and the prospects for those who live and work there.

In addition, the scheme provided rear servicing for much of the primary shopping area, which attracted the national chains which trade in Truro. That part of the scheme

capped the Town Leat (now The Leats), serving Pydar St, King St, St Nicholas St, River St:
the High Cross multi-storey complex servicing Boots and (the-then) Tescos,
the undercroft of Moorfield CP serving Malletts, Argos and (the-then) Somerfield supermarket:
using St Mary’s Street (linking via Old Bridge Street to the St Clement Street distributor road) to service what is now Mountain Warehouse, the Co-op, The Entertainer and others – in Boscawen Street..

This was a massive undertaking. It paved the way to Truro becoming a major shopping centre whilst also supporting a wealthy business and commercial sector, entertainment/hospitality, culture and town centre residents. It continues to underpin modern Truro very well, although it is given little credit for doing so – sadly!

Moorfield muti-storey car park is a key installation, served by the inner distributor road, supporting the town centre and the Lemon Street business district. It was controversial, partly because it was built on land used historically for events – wrestling, fairs, markets – and partly because the original concept included demolishing Walsingham Place. This prompted Sir John Betjeman to visit, give the Mayor a ‘dressing down’, and the Philip Sambell masterpiece to be prominently featured in his ‘Shell Guide to Truro’ – he described it as ‘Mercifully preserved’.

We are now hearing reports that the car park structure is nearing the end of its life. I am lucky enough to have been shown the evidence of this, and it is clear. There is no imminent risk of collapse, but loading has to be tested, calculated to be strictly limited in future. The structure may well need to be modified, or to come down.

What if it has to be demolished?

There are several points to be made:

Keep the Moorfield for car parking

The fundamental importance of this site as a car park serving business and retailing has been well and truly proven over time. Whatever happens, it must continue as a car park – even though with reduced capacity – a ground level open-air car park may well accommodate the reducing amount of vehicular parking demand as climate change demands more public transport and different ways of doing things – but, we should make no mistake – we will need a centrally located car park – employment, productivity, value and future evolution all depend upon it. Just ask the cinema, Malletts or any other business, particularly in the Victoria Square area.

CC must pay for revenue-stripping car parks

Cornwall Council (like the district councils before it) has pushed car park charges to produce a surplus which feeds the general revenue budget each year – pre-Covid this was often in excess of £10m per year. There is no capital reserve to manage car parking strucvtures like Moorfield.

Now, Moorfield will need money to either demolish, modernise or refurbish – having siphoned off tens of millions, the onus must be on Cornwall Council to ensure that timely analysis and action is taken – there can be no excuse – the parking gravy train has (so to speak!) come home to roost. Whatever has to happen, it must happen quickly – Truro cannot afford delay or a long period without the Moorfield (in some format or other).

CC must make temporary town centre provision

Whilst urging speedy action, whatever happens will take some time to sort out. In the meantime, businesses all around the Moorfield are suffering, day and night. On top of everything else this is a pressure which should not be there. Cornwall Council must make a temporary provision – it’s no good saying ‘Use the Park & Ride’ – many professionals rely on their cars to generate business, and losing time bussing up and down is going to undermine their performance. Truro needs something in place by the Autumn so that the Christmas retail and hospitality trade is not undermined, and more quickly than that if businesses in Lemon Street are to keep going. Perhaps an option lies on the Pydar Street site!

THE MOOR FIELD IS NOT FOR SALE

CC could, if confronted with demolition, opt to sell if the site could be sold. This land has been in public ownership in the town since time immemorial but, unlike The Green, there are no covenants or other constraints (except that the mineral rights are owned by others).. Any notion of selling should be discounted as a non-starter – Truro needs the Moorfield to support its trade – NOT FOR SALE! Neither is it acceptable for the Moorfield to be ‘transferred’ to Treveth!

Cornwall Council must remind itself (daily) that it is a local authority, not a private business, and that its function is to provide services – including well-located, good-condition car parking in town centres like Truro.

Losing an important Truro Building

Moorfield CP is mainly boarded up now to prevent vandalism and trespass. We should not allow ourselves to be manipulated into believing that the multi-storey is derelict. We – the town and Cornwall Council – have choices to make. Most of those choices involve doing what is constructive to encourage the economy, employment, productivity, accessibility and employment. The town must be included in the decision-making processes.

And one last point! Whilst accepting that there are structural problems, mostly stemming from not having as much understanding then, as we do now, of how to construct using concrete, the Moorfield Car Park is an elegant and well-designed building, slotted-in to a more complex structure which includes the supermarket, Argos store and rear servicing for Malletts. It has served the town well for 60 years or so. Let us recognise the value and the aesthetic of Moorfield, and the contributions of that community or architects gathered together by John Crowther and John Taylor. Whilst not being too sentimental about it, we should acknowledge their architectural achievement and the role it has played in generating the sort of wealth that enables owners of property in the town centre to sustain a very high quality Conservation Area, including examples of the best of our post-War collection of buildings, and to sustain a level of trade and commerce in the town which, uniquely, as I write, still has five high street banks operating in Front Street..

Bert Biscoe

Persimmon “can’t afford it”.

admin — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 05:51:30 +0000

On the ferris wheel of campaigning issues come around – so here’s a question!

Persimmon Homes is one of the biggest and most prosperous housebuilding companies in Europe – with a pre-tax profit of £351 million last year – so why has it done nothing to repair the damage to Tolgarrick Farmhouse (at the top of Arch Hill) caused by its neglect of a building about which it gave solemn undertakings to a formal Planning Inquiry and to Cornwall Planning Authority that it would retain, conserve and refurbish?

Photographed Dec. 2021

Tolgarrick Farmhouse is a traditional Cornish farmhouse. Its presence helps us to interpret the landscape and setting of Truro. It gives us a reference point and, by looking south into the Parish of Kea, into Blanchelands (where Tristan and Isolde settled, having escaped from King Mark, until Isolde decided to fulfil her betrothal vow and marry the angrily jilted Cornish king), it celebrates the cultural relationship between market town and the farm, between the scholarly professions and the crafts of rural life, and between Truro and Kea Parishes.

In recent times the case for Tolgarrick Farmhouse has been tested in the Planning System, and it has been made clear to Persimmon that Truro, official and informal, sets great store by this symbol of identity and distinctiveness – it is not a particularly special bit of architecture – it is a typical building that we expect to find in the Cornish landscape – which is more than can be said for the off-the-shelf Persimmon estate which surrounds it.

We thought that progress was being made. Having sat through a meeting with a Persimmon representative who told City Councillors that ‘Persimmon couldn’t afford’ to refurbish the farmhouse (one member asked how much the CEO’s salary with bonuses had been that year!), we thought that the case was sorted, and we would see appropriate fixtures and fittings, structural repairs, and, before long, signs of habitation – but no!

In a triumph of cynicism and corporate arrogance the farmhouse has been simply ignored by Persimmon and left to decay.The only intervention is to impose increasingly visible and eye-catchingly ugly shuttering to try and create a public demand for it to be removed.

However, Cornish people are made of sterner stuff than that! Tolgarrick Farmhouse remains a typical aspect of our rural landscape. The developer solemnly undertook to keep it and do it up- and provide a house.. Why is Persimmon so loathe to fulfil this obligation? The company should be proud to be contributing to the character and distinctiveness of the Cornish landscape. Simply (and grudgingly) adopting Cornish language names for the various estate roads is not enough – we want both our selves and those who visit and who succeed us to be able to read our landscape in depth – that is why Tolgarrick is so important.

Dean Finch -CEO – earnings last year in excess of £2.4 million

So! What are you going to do Messrs Devlin (Chairman), Finch (CEO) and Duxley (Finance Director)? And when? You’ve had time enough, and we’ve listened to quite enough excuses. Do what you said you would do when you got the consent from the Inquiry Inspector.

Bert Biscoe

Compton Castle

admin — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:31:03 +0000

The Compton Castle on the River Dart

In the 1980s, when there was a cavalier energy abroad in Truro, John Cockle, City Councillor, broadcaster, and former seafaring Truronian, who served Captain Peter Mortensen (Peter the Viking), the last skipper registered in Truro, to deliver cargoes to Newham Quay and Phoenix Wharf, observed that the craning-in of a river paddle steamer, Compton Castle, from the River Dart to the last smidgin of Lemon Quay still in maritime use, would be ‘nothing but trouble’.

It initially served as a ‘character’ restaurant and was quite popular. Later, it was taken over by Jane Adele, whose flower business prospered. It was sold and re-let as a ‘café’. Unlike when it was operated as a flower shop, the quay and the boat were separately sub-let. Eventually, John Cockle’s prophecy proved correct, as tidal silt forced its way between the quay wall and the hull – on-board services were condemned and eventually the mooring device failed and a hole appeared in the bottom.

Today, the Compton Castle is a hulk. Whether or not it is salvageable is a moot point being feverishly discussed by Cornwall Council with the leaseholder. Whatever the outcome of this encounter, the question must be asked: ‘Do we want the Compton Castle, or is there something better to be done.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the floating part of the leasehold rests with Truro Harbour Authority, which is currently part of Cornwall Harbours Authority (am amalgam of municipal ports set up by Cornwall Council via a Harbour Revision Order). The Quay falls to Cornwall Council – so the ‘landlord’ may be in two minds!

Harbour dues are quite expensive, especially when added to business rates, lease rent, insurance and utilities – so operating a business on-board needs to be very profitable – and with only limited visibility – the boat goes up and down on the tide! – it is a very real challenge.

John Cockle would say, if he were still with us, break it up; be done with it!

There is much talk about Lemon Quay – most of it unfairly critical, because it is the venue for a varied range of activities, and sports at its western end an internationally acclaimed work of art which brings a flow of appreciative people to town. It is, of course, prey to Cornish weather, but that’s the reality of alfresco life, isn’t it?

Some have argued since before the advent of the Compton Castle, that if something is to me located on the river, then it should be a craft which would be more usually associated with Lemon Quay – something like a brigantine. Paul Greenwood, of Looe (author of ‘Once upon a Cornish Lugger’), once suggestyed that there are restoration projects undertaken by trusts and that they are always on the lookout for places to locate their projects, where they can be useful and admired.

The appearance of the Compton Castle has been radically and detrimentally altered since it first arrived in Truro. It bears no resemblance whatsoever to the craft which once plied the River Dart in Edwardian times. It is ugly! And now, it is also sunk!

Looking at images of Lemon Quay when it was open and operational, small schooners, barques and brigantines were the craft one would be used to seeing – the sort of craft skippered by Peter the Viking and sailed by First Mate Cockle. Something of that ilk would feel more like real Truro. If the ownership and arrangements were carefully worked out, then a replacement would be nothing like the liability this old hulk has become.

What should be done? Who can help?

Sunny Corner History

admin — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 22:08:39 +0000

Sunny Corner, sited on the banks of Truro River, just beyond Truro Cricket Club, has an interesting and potted history. The first mention of it was in 1846 when it was the venue for the Truro Royal Regatta, in recognition of Queen Victoria and the Duke of Cornwall visiting in 1846. The Queen wrote in her diary:-

“We went up to Truro, which is beautiful, something like the Tamar, but almost finer, though not so bold as Pentillie Castle and Cotehele, winding between banks entirely wooded with stunted oak and full of numberless creeks”. She goes on to say “then we turned back(from Tregony river) and went up the Truro(river) to Malpas. Another bend in the river from whence we can see Truro. We stopped here for a while as so many boats came out from a little place called Sunny Corner. Indeed, the whole population poured out on foot and in carts etc along the banks and cheered and were enchanted when Bertie was held up for them to see. It was a very pretty, gratifying sight”.

Indeed, a water colour, commemorating the visit was bequeathed to the Institute of Cornwall by Mr Edward Heard (see above).

The 1850s saw Charles Dyer build boats at Sunny Corner. He built many before he retired in 1894. He was one of the numerous boat builders that owned yards on the river banks. We know the importance of Sunny Corner from historical records in that tin and copper was loaded onto boats there. In its time, it was a very prosperous, but small loading point. Here is a piece written for Truro Port:

“Water transport was much more important before modern roads and railways, particularly for heavy industries such as tin mining. Both visiting and locally built trading vessels used the port. Wooden sailing ships were once built on Back Quay and there were other ship-builders at Newham, Sunny Corner and Malpas. The 82 ton schooner ‘Lizzie’ was built at Malpas in 1881. The ship operated a regular service to London before being wrecked in 1905. As trade shifted to more reliable steamers, local traders ran the Truro shipping company between 1814 and 1876. From this grew the Truro based Chellew steam navigation company that traded around the world until after the Second World War. Tin trading through the port made Truro important, but from almost the earliest days, mining also caused Truro’s rivers to silt and there have been many attempts to clear the choking mud”.

The City of Truro Boundary lies here too, from beyond Park Farm Lane, back towards Truro and that was often celebrated by the “Beating of the Bounds, a task undertaken by the Mayor of Truro.

Sunny Corner shelter was built in 1910, primarily for use by Truro Swimming Club. The lattice feature at the end of the building is, we believe, all that remains of the original building. If you look closely above the shelter, you will see the slope leading down to the rear of the shelter and is where the original entrance was.

In the 1950s, another hut was built to accommodate the swimming club, this time closer to the roadside, in the area currently accommodating the picnic benches. That was later removed from the site. During the 50s, few boats were moored here and it allowed Truronians to use the area for swimming . In the front of the shelter, at low tide, you can still make out the tiled area that was laid to make bathing more comfortable.

Sunny Corner was often used as part of the Truro Regatta festival. Sadly, it no longer occurs, suffice to say that there are moves afoot to re-introduce it.

The 1980s saw the Manpower Services Commission rebuild the entry/access path and construct the concrete steps up to the main Malpas Road. For many years little happened. The shelter fell into a state of disrepair and was neglected. However in February 2016, a volunteer group took over the rebuilding and maintenance of Sunny Corner. The preferred choice of those who owned it was to knock it down and leave it as a barren area. Thankfully, the volunteer group thought differently and took the task of rebuilding and renovating the entire area.

The site is actually the responsibility of four different organisations, five if you include the volunteers that look after it. The Truro Harbour Master owns and is responsible for the river frontage, and the area immediately alongside it, including the shelter itself. Cornwall Council own both sets of steps and the land above the paths as far as Malpas Road. The ground from the entrance notice board towards the shelter lies in the St Clement Parish Council District, whilst the land from the Park Farm Lane back towards Truro lies in the Truro City Council District.

Sunny Corner lies in the middle of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI). The bird life is abundant as can be seen from the bird identifier panel close to the steps in front of the shelter. It attracts numerous “twitchers” for that reason. It has always had a tranquillity about it and that is what attracts our visitors today.

The site is now maintained by a voluntary committee and a willing band of helpers. They have to raise all of the funds to keep the site well equipped and maintained. Various activities are held each year to raise the funds needed to keep the site looking attractive and useable. Since the rebuilding in 2016, the use of the site has increased enormously.

The Sunny Corner Volunteers have received lots of recognition for their efforts. In 2021, they were the only organisation in Cornwall to receive the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of the receiving the MBE for volunteers. A formal presentation by the Lord Lieutenant took place and that was followed by a visit to Buckingham Palace by two volunteers to attend a Royal Garden Party.

The site has also received recognition and accolade from the Royal Horticultural Society, gaining “Outstanding” awards for their efforts every year.

Currently, thousands of people use Sunny Corner to rest, relax and enjoy the pleasures that it readily provides. Had it not been for the band of volunteers back in 2016, the site would no longer be available for the public to use.

If you would like to stay in touch with what is happening at Sunny Corner, there is a Facebook Page called the “Sunny Corner Conservation Group” – why not join us and see what we get up to on a regular basis ?

Paul Caruana

Sympathetic Development?

admin — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:13:58 +0000

The Daniell Arms (now known as The Thomas Daniell) is a listed building. It was originally two mirror-image houses, and the two arched front doors remain, to convey this. The whole structure has a unity of classical proportion, and is constructed in ‘rubble’ stone – so very much toning-in with Truro.

It sits at the junction of Infirmary Hill with Falmouth Road, Lemon Street, Daniel Street and Strangways Terrace. The effect is of an informal ‘square, with Lander’s Monument and the Daniell providing a ‘gateway’ for travellers to and from the South.

With St John’s Church nearby, and both residences in Falmouth Road, Daniel Street and Strangways Terrace, with Lemon Villas, Southleigh and The Deanery, the Daniell forms part of a very distinctive characterful early C19th group that is a ‘grand entrance’ to Truro – a fitting introduction to the long sweep down Lemon Street.

One of the key characteristics of all these buildings is that they are elegant and simple in line and detail – attributes of their classical origins. Both Lander’s Monument and St John’s Church are significant civic structures which should be respected and allowed to sit within surroundings which are unspoiled and tranquil. How would it be if a funeral or wedding was intruded upon by Stormzy or Taylor Swift pumping out alfresco hits!

It is therefore with concern that we draw attention to the recent addition of a long green canvas awning attached to the full frontage of the listed Thomas Daniell. We can find no evidence of a planning application having been made to add such a feature. Listed Building consent is usually required for even very minor works, including replacement (like for like) of windows, rainwater goods and doors. So, one would expect an application to append an awning which radically alters the visual appearance of the building, and obscures several aspects and featured highlighted in the Listing Citation.

As well as the awning, we now have a series of picnic tables along the front terrace and earshot reports of ‘piped’ music playing quite loudly during opening hours. Apart from materially altering the visual quality of the building, the musack tends to detract from the quality of the surroundings – God knows what Richard Lander makes of Spotify!

We understand that local Cornwall Councillor, Rob Nolan, has reported the imposition of an awning to the CC Planning Enforcement Team. We must hope that, for once, this unpermitted distraction is not merely made subject to a ‘retrospective application’ but is required to be removed, and any impacts to the materials of the front elevation be made properly good.