Alan Harvey Awards are too restrictive

Penwith District Council is asking members of the public for nominations for the Alan Harvey Citizen of the Year Awards made to residents in the district who have provided a special service to the community on a voluntary basis.

There are five awards for each of Penwith's towns: St Ives, Hayle, Marazion, Penzance and St Just and their surrounding parishes. Nominations can be made by members of the public or organisations throughout the district.

But why restrict the awards just to voluntary work? There's nothing especially noble about such work - the UK now has millions of citizens doing unpaid work. If the Alan Harvey Awards were open to anyone - paid or unpaid - whose service to the community deserved public recognition, many 'unsung' heroes currently barred might be applauded. The St Ivean could today name several residents making a real contribution year after year who can't be nominated.

The Alan Harvey Awards is an excellent idea with rules that at present are too restrictive to reflect the breadth of good work in the community. They should be changed.

The closing date for the receipt of completed nomination forms is Thursday, March 20, 2008. For a nomination form contact Corporate Services, Penwith District Council, St Clare, Penzance TR18 3QW, or by emailing elliot.ridington@penwith.co.uk or telephone 01736 336777