Past Projects - SERA - St Erth Residents Association

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Projects

Projects Completed ... or not as the case may be

It took a while for the Committee to find its feet and get to know the Ins and Outs of obtaining grants, getting approvals and being recognised as a body that could get things done. This is reflected in the length of time it took for some projects to be completed.

Vicarage Gate Playing Field 2005 - 2015

Provided with the help of a grant, the environmental friendly "obstacle course" equipment was officially opened on 22 April 2006. After a number of trouble free years, serious problems were reported in July 2015. Sadly, as a result of damage to the play equipment and boundary fences through the use of powerful strimmers to clear the grass the wooden supports had rotted, the Parish Council decided that the structures had to be removed due to safety fears.

Battery Mill Playing Fields 2005 - 2010

BMX site transformation to Village Green

August 2005

Although the reinstating of the BMX track had been prioritised at the Open Meeting and subsequently at the Inaugural Meeting when put to the Parish Council as a project SERA could assist with the Parish Council decided that it was not affordable due to the high cost of safety requirements for construction of the track and the annual insurance premium. Subsequently at the next Committee Meeting it was agreed that the land was more suited to be an informal Village Green which was approved by the Parish Council. However, work on the Vicarage Gate Play Area took over and this was put on the back burner.

February 2007

The Village Green project resurfaced and three Committee members again approached the Parish Council on 3 April 2007 and got the go-ahead. The area was measured and a hand-drawn plan produced. The land needed levelling and seeding and partly fencing. Work began with the land being cleared and a gentle, curved bank built at the southern end of the old BMX site with the possibility of it becoming a seating area. The bank also acted as a buffer for flood water from leats further to the south encroaching on the proposed open space. Topsoil was acquired and spread and grass seed spread.

Once again there was a lull in project progress while difficult Planning Applications took over along with giving help with grants etc to various groups

November 2007 - January 2008

Natural Play Area Opporunity - details to follow

19 August 2010

Unfortunately due to a lack of funding combined with the grass not growing interest was lost (it was believed that the soil supplied was poisoned) we all lost interest. The Parish Council arranged for a soil test and depending on the result either the top could be skimmed and fresh soil added or if poisoned the depth of the soil required needed to be considered. However, as nothing more was heard of this the project remained in abeyance and was not taken up again by SERA.

The project remained in abeyance and not taken up again by SERA.

Addendum

Early in 2025 the Parish Council reported the completion of St Erth Riverside Regeneration & Community Access Project which included the transformation of what had become overgrown scrubland into the St Erth Nature Park.

Renewable Energy 2009

SERA obtained a grant to research the possible alternative energy needs of our village which could offer benefits for our community buildings (eg the Church, Old School Rooms, the Chapel, the Chapel Hall and the Vestry Rooms) and for residents of St Erth. Atlantic Energy was invited by to carry out this research and gave a public presentation on Friday 17 April 2009 at the Old School Rooms on the results of the feasibility study which assessed energy usage and possible cost savings for the village. The potential energy generation/income from natural, renewable, non-polluting sources were explained.

Following this a formal written report was produced which contained a great of data regarding the types of renewable energy that could be used if the right conditions prevailed. Sadly, though the only suggestion that was nearest to matching the village requirements was not affordable nor really practicable and therefore not progressed.

May 27, 2011

Allotments

SERA assisted the Parish Council in the setting up of allotments in the field adjacent to Vicarage Gate Fields. There are 14 allotment plots on land at Vicarage Gate for residents of the Parish. More information on apply for a plot and the cost is available on the Parish Council website.

Benches for the Riverside path 2006 - 2015

Early on in the life of SERA (2006) two benches were acquired with the possibility of one being placed in the Vicarage Gate Playsite, the other on the path beside the river. However due to various circumstances this did not materialise and, as they were kindly being stored on behalf of SERA, they became out of sight out of mind ... In 2010 the subject of the benches was revived and the need to get them placed, one in Playsite, the other by the river bank. Once again though they became overlooked as other events took over.

Summer 2014 Success! It was quite a task with many obstacles to overcome for two benches to be installed on the permissive pathway along the bank of the river between the St Erth and Trewinnard bridges. After jumping through hoops the Residents Association received landowners’ consents and approval from the Environment Agency for Flood Defence Consent. However, the sites still needed to pass a visual inspection to ensure that the benches were positioned at points where the path was wide enough to allow safe access for machinery for the annual bank clearing of vegetation and any needed maintenance to the bank and flood defence. This was undertaken by Luke Jones of Environment Agency. Both sites passed!

Spring 2015 Finally, the benches and plaques were in place. One opposite what was known as "diving pool" until the first dixie was enclosed. The young used to spend summers' days here swimming, jumping and diving in the deep pool and picnicking on the grass beyond the path; the other half way between it and Trewinnard bridge. It is hoped that these will enable all, those less able to walk without a rest and others, to sit and enjoy the sound of the river and birds while admiring the flora and fauna on its banks for many years to come.

*Watch this Space* It is also proposed to have a further bench placed mid-way between St Erth Bridge and The Causeway when funds permit.

Youth Shelter and Community Picnic Area 2012 - 2014

The Green Lane Park

July 2012

SERA was invited by the Parish Council to help provide a youth shelter on an under-utilised over-grown site (owned by the PC) opposite the Parish Church on The Green Lane. The Parish Council was hopeful of a budget of £20,000 inclusive which would mainly be made up of grants and monies sourced by the Parish Council.

To start the project off a grant of £5,000 was approved by the Hayle Area Plan Partnership, which a Parish Councillor and a SERA Committee Member were associated with, in recognition of the wider social benefits such a project could provide.

The Parish Council matched the £5,000 which enabled an application by SERA to Awards for All for the remaining £10,000 to be prepared. This involved meetings and correspondence with different organisations and groups including Kate Bijon of Cornwall Council’s Localism Service and Grayburn Owen of Penwith Community Development Trust with both helping to complete the grant form.

To support the application evidence was needed. Sample questionnaires were provided by Kate and Grayburn which Sally Beach, a colleague of Grayburn, helped SERA finalise. She also offered to meet with younger residents and gather their responses to the questionnaire which, as well as focussing on the youth shelter, also asked what other provision, amenities, and equipment they would like to see in the village.

The Committee agreed that another and important way to gather evidence of support was to hold a consultation event at a suitable time for the teens and younger element of the village to be able to drop in. It was agreed that 29 September would be a suitable date which would give Sally time to gather responses to the questionnaire and for posters and other advertising to be put in place.

27 September 2012

Sally met the school buses, visited the Toddler Group and spoke with the adults present, the St Erth Children Centre, and St Erth Primary School to inform them of the consultation event for the youth shelter and to fill in the questionnaire/survey.

29 September 2012

The consultation event took place, kindly hosted by the Star Inn. There was a free draw with 1st prize a session

for two at Coast2Coast Karting, refreshments (soft drinks and biscuits), the chance to play pool and to sign up for free basketball coaching. The opportunity was taken to get more responses to the questionnaire! A display showed examples of shelters used around Penwith and other parts of Cornwall, open sided, built-in seating, two sided, etc. Coloured stickers were handed out for placing on the displayed pictures to show which shelter was preferred. The winner by a long chalk was the Smoka-Kota.

What is not immediately obvious, however, is all of the background work that was required to prepare The Awards for All application and get the project off the ground. It needed a real team effort which involved:

1. St Erth Residents Association - which provided the local context, supporting evidence and the consultation event;

2. Cornwall Council’s Localism Service – which provided statistical data and guidance;

3. Cornwall Council’s Planning Service – which provided planning advice – especially because of the Grade 1 Listed Church opposite;

4. the Environment Agency – which provided advice and later gave consent;

5. the Penwith Community Development Trust – which undertook consultation with young people;

6. The local Police – which wrote a fantastic letter of support, in particular to the site which separated the existing play area more suited to pre- and primary school young from the 10-17 year olds;

7. St Erth School – which encouraged its pupils to get involved; and

8. the Star Inn – which provided the consultation venue for the young people to choose the design of their Shelter.

Mid-December 2012

Following the lengthy application process The Awards for All application was finally submitted with a suggested start date of 1 April 2013 although due to further requests from the Big Lottery on 4 April 2013 this was missed. Eventually all the hard work of obtaining the grant from HAPP and securing monies from the Parish Council, gathering the supporting evidence from them and other sources such as the local Police including crime reports showing the need for somewhere for the young to gather, together with the analyses of the survey, reassured the Big Lottery that the project did have local support the full £10,000 requested was awarded - the maximum available for this type of project.

May 2013

Work began with the site being cleared and prepared for redevelopment by Chris Bray of Cherry Trees Garden Services who gave their labour and costs for free. The company providing and building the shelter made several visits during this time to ensure all was ready on the ground. A concrete base was laid with the structure’s main support poles concreted in. Once work began the construction was fairly quick but before it could be used SERA ensured that it was well protected by painting it with many coats of fire retardant, rot retardant and anti-graffiti paint all of which had to be put on in the correct order in line with the manufacturers specifications with time for drying between each coat.

Mid August 2013

Although not formally opened the shelter, picnic tables and surrounding grassed area was being enjoyed by young and not so young locals and visitors.

26 July 2014

The opening of the Youth Shelter and Picnic Area took place! 84 people from various walks of life were invited including all the village groups, teachers,

St Erth Church Vicar, the Methodist Minister, representatives from the Star Inn and others. Cornwall Councillor John Pollard (2009 – 2021), at this time was the Leader of the Council and had been Chairman of the Hayle Area Plan Partnership which started the ball rolling with the £5,000 grant, was asked to come formally open the site. Despite having been a Hayle Town Councillor since 1982 and Hayle Town Mayor for two years this, he proudly stated, was the first time he had been asked to cut a ribbon!

This project proved that when groups work together – in this case, the public, private and voluntary sectors - great results can be achieved. The transformation from a neglected and underused site was a fantastic achievement.

St Erth Smell 2010- 2018

Although frequently discussed it is in August 2010 Minutes SERA first mentioned the West Penwith (and probably much further field) famous St Erth Stench when the formation of a sub-committee to take on this problem was put forward. For many years prior to this St Erth had been (and unfortunately still is) renowned for the “offensive to delicate noses” smells. Two in particular stand out, the harvesting of cauliflower which occurs on a rotational basis and lasts for a comparatively short period of time; and the persistent smell which emanates from the South West Water Sewage Treatment Works. It is the latter that causes uproar throughout the community so much so that at a meeting in May 2018 between members of the Parish Council, residents and South West Water in response although unable to agree a request for a dedicated phone number as it would be unmanageable, the offer of provision of a text service to around 20 people was made.

A number of Planning Applications for updates to the Sewage Treatment Works have been submitted over the years which SERA has commented on. Although by 2018 there had been a great improvement there were still 102 complaints made from April 2017 – March 2018 (sorry no update on figures since then).

To report a smell from the Sewage Treatment Works providing details like the smell's location, character, and frequency call South West Water Freephone 0344 346 2020 and/or the Environment Agency on Freephone 03708 506 506.

There is no need for more to be added here just use this link to keep up to date with comments on the Stench at Hayle sewage treatment works –

when did St Erth become Hayle?

Church Hall Roof 2013 -2015

Early in 2013 Sera became involved with fund raising for a new roof for the Church Hall; a Grade II listed building, opened in 1841 as the National School, later known as the Old School Rooms, and owned by the Parish Church. It serves as a venue for community groups and functions (public and private). On 5 October 2013 with the roof in a dangerous condition and likely to collapse the building was closed.

March 2013 a St Erth Church Warden suggested getting in touch with Grayburn Owen, a Community Development Officer at Penwith Community Development Trust (PCDT), who had helped the residents at St Hilary with funding for refurbishment of their Church Hall. A meeting was arranged for 9 April 2013 when grant possibilities were discussed.

23 November 2013, Numbered raffle “slates” sold at St Erth Christmas Fayre raised £102. Prize winners who were to have their name engraved on a slate were drawn on New Year’s Eve.

Between November 2013 and October 2015 just under £1,500 was raised for the roof appeal through “Old School Room” styled collection boxes in the Shop/Post Office and Star Inn. Although a drop in the ocean as regards the total cost of around £80,000 when questioned whether it was worthwhile having the boxes it was explained that local support was required to be shown on grant applications and the amount was immaterial.

Work started in April 2015 and was completed by

October 2015 the appeal closed. Just under £1,500 had been raised for the roof through collection boxes in the Shop/Post Office and Star Inn; grant application to SITA which SERA assisted with completing was successful; and through various donations the village collectively raised over £9000!

Inclusive Swing May 2013

Thanks to the Parish Council and SERA, which applied for and obained a Community Chest grant from the St Erth's Cornwall Councillor, an inclusive swing suitable for all abilities was installed in Battery Mill Lane the play area.

DOG FOULING

September 2014, following a discussion about the removal of the dog bin and the subsequent increase in dog fouling in the Vicarage Gate/Fore Street area, Cornwall Council was contacted with a request to reinstate the dog bin and relocate the existing bin in School Lane closer to the school. The Council cited economic reasons why these matters could not be resolved. It was agreed to pursue this with the Community Network Manager, James Hardy.

2015 a request was made to Cornwall Council for more dog bins around the village, and to again to replace the one which had been removed from Vicarage Gate and to have another at the Trewinnard Bridge end of The Green Lane, however due to a shortage of funds these were not forthcoming at that time. However, over the years more have been provided.

2005 - Now

Housing Schemes Planning Applications

Various planning applications for housing schemes have been put forward which our members have requested we object to. We have attended and spoken at Planning Committee meetings and been successful in persuading Cornwall Council to refuse all, however, on appeal the Government Inspectors have overturned the Council's decision on several of these. This has, in fact, resulted in housing schemes which fit in well with the existing housing, with better layout and less impact on the surrounding farmland and countryside.

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