PUBLIC meetings are to be held in the coming weeks to review parish and town boundaries.

A series of ten public meetings will be held across Cornwall in September and October as the first review of parish and town boundaries are to be held since the 1970s.

These reviews will take place throughout the Post area, with public meetings to be held for Bude, Camelford and Launceston.

The first of these public meetings will be held in Bude’s Parkhouse Centre on Wednesday, September 11, starting at 7pm, to review the parishes of Bude-Stratton, Launcells, Marhamchurch, Kilkhampton and Poundstock.

Bude-Stratton Town Council’s (BSTC) proposal to Cornwall Council was to assume parts of Marhamchurch, Poundstock, Launcells and Kilkhampton.

The town council submitted two options to Cornwall Council: Option one — create one large parish by combining Bude-Stratton with all of Launcells and Marhamchurch parishes along with the Ivyleaf part of Kilkhampton and the Widemouth Bay area of Poundstock, which would also take in a part of Marhamchurch to the west of the A39. This will produce one large parish.

Option two — bringing in Ivyleaf as it is intrinsically linked to Bude-Stratton and the coastal resort of Widemouth Bay (along with the coastal strip of Marhamchurch).

We spoke to some of the effected parishes before the meeting held on Wednesday, September 11 (after the Post went to press).

Tom O’Sullivan, representative of Marhamchurch Parish Council, has been disappointed by the alleged ‘lack of communication’ from Bude-Stratton Town Council in the lead up to the public meeting.

He said: “We have had no contact from Bude-Stratton Town Council and to my knowledge neither have the other parishes. To us it is the manner they have gone about it. It was never brought up or on an agenda at a community network meeting.”

Mr O’Sullivan has been living in the parish for more than 26 years and can’t see any benefit to either side, if the parish boundaries were to change. If there are any benefits we haven’t been told them.”

Annually for a Band D property in the Bude-Stratton area £229.14 goes to the local council authority. Where as Launcells residents only pay £27.99; Poundstock pay £78.50; Kilkhampton pay £45.30; and Marhamchurch pay £49.33 towards their parish council.

Chairman of Marhamchurch Parish Council Jackie Walter said: “Following our latest parish council meeting on Tuesday, September 3, Marhamchurch Parish Council were unanimous in their vehement opposition to BSTC’s proposals.

Our present boundaries have been set for many years, and as a council we have worked hard to retain the character of the parish. Marhamchurch has a strong sense of community, and is proud of its rural areas and village to coastline boundaries.

“We have excellent lines of communication with our residents, and our councillors are able to provide face-to-face support to address any concerns which may be raised by local residents, as well as ensuring redevelopment demands are assessed in the best interest of the parish.

“It is difficult to see what benefits the BSTC proposal may bring to Marhamchurch, as we are already a strong vibrant community with its own village shop, play park, public toilet, access to the mobile library as well as working farms alongside our coastal area.

“Following the public engagement meeting on Wednesday, September 11, we hope to be clearer on what steps Marhamchurch Parish Council can take to oppose the proposal, and continue to work in the best interests of our parish.”

Alan Whittle, chairman of Launcells Parish Council, has said that the lack of information has also caused concern for him and his fellow parishioners.

“It’s very tricky to comment as we know very little. We were told by Nicky Chopak, not Paula Dolphin our own Cornwall Councillor. It makes us feel uncomfortable.”

Mr Whittle wanted people to attend with an open mind despite parishioners seeming to be against it. He added: “It’s hard to comment because we haven’t got any data.

Please attend and see what it’s all about. I don’t want to hold a preconception that it’s bad, let’s see what it’s all about first.”

Both Launcells and Kilkhampton were approached for a comment, but none were received before the Post went to press.

However, each of the parishes submitted their own proposal to Cornwall Council, each outlining no change to the current layout — with BSTC the only council to make any changes to the current boundaries.

Deputy mayor of Bude-Stratton Town Council, Cllr Peter Moores, who is the chair of the finance committee, has been at the forefront of the review, alongside fellow councillor, Peter La Broy.

Cllr Moores believes that some surrounding parishes, of which residents pay much less council tax per annum, should contribute towards the payment of the services they use.

The devolution of Cornwall Council’s services has meant the town council has had to incur additional costs, an example being the recent procurement of Bude’s library.

Cllr Moores explained: “The surrounding parishes should share the cost of the services they use, for example the library. Some services like the Parkhouse Centre run at a significant loss, but is paid for by town council tax payers and used by neighbouring parish residents.

“We do not wish to steal the identity of the parishes. However, many of the residents in these areas associate themselves with Bude and not necessarily the parish they live in.

The increase in tax base would share the cost of using town council services much more fairly and would result in a reduction of council tax rates for BSTC residents.”

Although, this would increase the cost of some of the current tax payers in the surrounding parishes — in Launcells as much as £201.15.

Cllr Moores believes that one will offset the other and will bring about balance to the area, adding: “Although one side will be worse off, the services should be paid for by all that use them.

But of course not everyone is going to be happy.

The parish councils had the opportunity to send their reviews into Cornwall Council and they never came to us before their submission, just as we didn’t go to them before ours.

“I have to do what I believe is best for who I represent, just as the parish councillors have to do what is best for who they represent.”

The mayor of BSTC, Cllr Bob Willingham was approached for a comment, however he had abstained from the town council’s vote on July 7, when the submissions were voted for during a full council meeting. The mayor had declared an interest in the situation as he resides in the parish of Poundstock.

The Community Governance Review is conducted by Cornwall Council and overseen by the Council’s Electoral Review Panel, who will have the final say.

The panel will be able to make changes to parish areas — change parish boundaries, create new parishes and merge existing ones.

They can change the number of parish councillors on a particular council, and introduce or change the parish wards within a council.

They even have the power to change the name of a parish council.

The panel’s chairman, Cllr Malcolm Brown, said: “These public meetings will allow us to really start testing public opinion on the issues and ideas raised during the review so far.

Many of the proposals are highly controversial. Some town councils want to expand their boundaries into surrounding rural parishes. Elsewhere there are some places where it is being argued that an existing parish should be divided so that different communities have their own council.”

But Cllr Brown assured the final decision will be made to benefit all parties.

He added: “The main objective of the review is to ensure that community governance arrangements work effectively in future for the benefit of all at the parish level — and we want to ensure we get it right.”

Once the meetings are concluded, the council will consider all the opinions it has received. At the end of this year it will publish its draft recommendations for the future and undertake a 12 week public consultation. Final decisions should be made in June 2020.

The Launceston area meeting will be held on Friday, September 27, at Tregadillett Community Centre. This will focus on the parishes of Launceston, South Petherwin, St Stephens by Launceston Rural, St Thomas the Apostle Rural. It will also include Davidstow and Treneglos — from the Camelford Community Network Area.

Then, on Wednesday, October 2, some of the Camelford Community Network Area will be included in the Wadebridge/Padstow meeting at Shuttleworth Memorial Hall in Egloshayle. This will focus on Wadebridge, Egloshayle, St Breock, Padstow, St Minver Highlands, St Minver Lowlands, and St Teath Parish. Both meetings are due to start at 7pm.