NEWSLETTER July 2008

We continue to be beset with developments around the River to its detriment, which justifies our existence – but all is not bad news.

Thanks to Jeff Meadows, the WEBSITE is now running and can be visited at www.helfordriver.org. There are also other websites of the River, well worth visiting for the views and information.  Charles Pugh (340630) is our lead for this project.

The threat of a MUSSEL farm in the entrance to the River has, as a consequence of protests, gone, perhaps to Porthallow, in Falmouth Bay.

Sadly, the OYSTERAGE at Port Navas continues to divide the inhabitants, and, in an Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB), has a quay in some disarray, and trouble with metalwork in the main River. Conciliation seems the way forward in order that both sides can prosper.   Ben Wright posted a robust defence of the Oysterage position on the Port Navas website in the spring and has followed this with an update dated July 2008.

For the improvement of ANNA MARIA CREEK, we have now made a Formal Written Complaint to Kerrier on their inaction over the removal of unauthorised settlement, namely the ‘red bus’, to kick them into doing their duty.   This Complaint is not only supported by the Mawnan Parish Counci but the Council have co-signed the Complaint. We are grateful to Stuart Powell (250481) for dealing with this seemingly intractable problem.

We have also had a number of PLANNING APPLICATIONS by new owners to increase substantially their houses in Port Navas Creek, which is in an AONB. This has undesirable social effects if the owners are not resident and adversely deteriorates the natural environment, as the area becomes more built up.   Kerrier have supported our objections (in some degree), but with wealth against them, have faced Appeals or their threat, which could be costly if allowed. Principles can have their price which has to be paid sometimes. In the case of Tideway (PA07/00898/F), their Appeal has been allowed, but their costs have been denied ; interesting.

We have also used the new system of being allowed to speak directly (for a maximum of three minutes only) to the Planning Committee on Applications.   Though minimal, this does emphasize our concerns.

The current Marine Bill, some 600 pages long, has raised concern at obscurely placed provisions to allow Natural England to substantially increase access to the coast and inlets which might affect the Helford. This has been mentioned to our MPs.

Robert Williams Chairman