Altarnun Parish Council April 2025 Meeting Report

Being the last council meeting of the current four year term before the May 1st elections, Altarnun councillors were mainly involved in discussing and finalising in house administrative matters at the April meeting. Among them, was a new cleaning contract for the Riverside public conveniences that will reduce the council’s costs considerably and allow it to take on other maintenance works in future without having to raise additional funds.

With ever rising costs and cuts in services being made by Cornwall Council, the parish council is all too well aware that the parish could be left wanting and therefore is planning to be more self sufficient as the needs arise through strong financial management. For example, councillors did not sanction an additional expense on maintaining a gov.uk web site domain name at this point in time. The clerk explained that whilst still optional, central government considers it is best practice to use .gov.uk domains for smaller authorities’ emails and websites on the grounds of all round integrity, professionalism and clear identity. No doubt HMG will enforce a change in due course!

In planning matters, councillors supported applications for extensions to dwellings situate at 14, Fairfield Park and 11, Hendra Tor View. The proposals are of modest scale but will clearly enhance the desirability and enjoyment of both properties.

Among the planning decisions reported, the local planning authority have granted permission for the installation of electric vehicle charging points at Trewint Garage. As applied, this is a substantial scheme for up to 10 units to be available 24/7.

Elsewhere in the meeting it was reported that Cornwall Council have now established a project team to press ahead with plans and negotiations with National Highways and central government for major works to make Plusha junction safer. It was noted that whilst National Highways tinker with the temporary arrangements for traffic control these seem to be less than helpful and prone to mis interpretation of purpose and cause doubt in drivers minds.

The next parish council meeting will be held on Wednesday 14th May 2025 to be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting which will start at 7.30pm in Altarnun Village Hall. Once again it would be greatly appreciated if local clubs, societies and other organisations could attend the parish meeting, to publicise themselves and report on their activities in the past year. Let’s go for a maximum turn out!!