THE question of whether Delabole and St Teath should each be represented by their own parish council was put to residents in both villages at a couple of events earlier this month.

Cornwall Councillor for the area, Dominic Fairman, organised the drop-in sessions on Saturday afternoons in order to explore the option with local people and gauge opinion before Cornwall Council discuss a countywide governance review at New County Hall on December 10.

The review offers town and parish councils across Cornwall a chance to make changes to their councils and ward boundaries in order to make this important grassroots tier of local government more effective and efficient in working for residents.

Cllr Fairman said: “I have long held the opinion that the villages of St Teath and Delabole have outgrown the current arrangements which see them as separate wards within a single parish.

“This is an opportunity to create a separate parish for Delabole so that each village will be represented by their own parish council consisting of councillors elected only from their own village.

“Both villages are already individually much larger than many other rural parishes in North Cornwall and there are many good reasons why in this case two councils would work better than one.”

He continued: “Issues such as planning and neighbourhood development plans are much better made as close to affected residents as possible, and each village would be able to set and spend their precept solely for the benefit of the council tax payers who fund it.

“It would enable both villages to be more ambitious for improvements in services and facilities with a clear mandate from the local households who would directly benefit.

“If the proposal is taken forward, then the changes will be made in time for the May 2021 local elections which would give a new cohort of parish councillors from both villages an exciting opportunity to shape and work towards a positive future for the benefit of their own residents.”

If you live in St Teath or Delabole then it is not too late to register your opinion on the issue.

Cllr Fairman is happy to take views by phone, text or email right up until the Cornwall Council meeting on December 10. Contact him on 07939 122 303 or email [email protected]