Parliament: Andrew George MP asks question on second-homes

In my constituency, three times as many properties continue to be sold to second-home buyers than to first-time buyers. The Government's rural advocate and their Affordable Rural Housing Commission recommend action, and meetings that I had with the Minister for Housing's predecessor and with the Prime Minister have left the door open for action, so can I assume that the Government will act to rebalance the market? If so, when will they do so? more>

How to hear from Andrew George MP

The MP for this constituency is Andrew George (Liberal Democrat). So far, 65 people have signed up to HearFromYourMP in this constituency. To discover everything you could possibly want to know about what your MP got up to in Parliament, see their page on our sister site... more>

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Why Land's End is the pits

Taking a wheelchair on holiday to St Ives is like being in one of those naval field-gun teams racing over an obstacle course. What were they thinking when they built it? Had they never so much as glanced at the EU directives on accessibility? ...more>

County? Region? Duchy? What do Cornwall MPs say?

May I suggest a slight amusement? Look at the things Cornwall MPs say and see how they deal with the c-word. Do they say county or use some other word or circumlocution? Is there a pattern? Who never says county? ... more>

Lib Dem priorities...

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has been urged to put pressure on social network website Facebook to create a network area for people from Cornwall.
Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy, the Falmouth and Camborne MP, presented a petition to Parliament calling for Cornish recognition.

"Despite being a county with a population of 500,000, the nearest geographical area represented on Facebook is the city of Plymouth in Devon," she told MPs.

The petition states: "Cornwall should have its own network region on Facebook. Cornwall possesses one of the world's oldest natural borders, its own language and flag and a population of half a million people."

The petitioners urged Mr Burnham to press Facebook's owners to create a Cornish network... NEWS.scotsman.com

Dogs on beaches (and elsewhere) 7

A report in this week's St Ives Times & Echo - "St Ives 'being turned into a toilet'" - claims that "parts of St Ives are being turned into a toilet because of a lifting of beach restrictions which now allow dogs on St Ives beaches throughout the summer".

The probable consequences of the new regulations was first raised at the beginning of April by The St Ivean.

The Times & Echo story says:

"There were strong feelings on Wednesday when people living around The Warren said clearing up after dogs had become a daily task.

"Local beaches have now become a free-for-all for dog owners in the evenings and early mornings much to the annoyance of some".

The report says that there are concerns that St Ives could lose its Blue Flag status because of the daily fouling taking place on the beaches. People in The Warren have been told that street cleaning would be done once or twice a week.

Reports of dog fouling can be made to Penwith via the FixMyStreet website.

UPDATE: Norway Stores

Protesters against the closure of St Ives' Norway Stores gathered in Penzance to oppose two applications to council planners.

Campaigners made their presence felt at St John's Hall as district councillors rejected the first of the controversial change of use planning applications and postponed a decision on the second.

The planning committee will visit the site in Back Road West on the Tuesday morning of May 27 before debating and voting on the issue in a second public meeting around midday... more>

Diary of a St Ivean

Walking on the Island early this morning I just meet the usual dog walkers - except for an elderly lady who hands me what she assures me is "an interesting tract". She's a Jehovah's Witness and her leaflet informs me that, amongst other unlikely events, "All suffering is TO END SOON" - but doesn't name the day. These people used to knock on doors around Easter, but it appears they now have adopted a different method of bothering us all.

Is contemplating its constitutional navel all that Mebyon Kernow is about?

In March I wrote:

'Although if anyone can show The St Ivean the last time MK had anything to say remotely touching the life of the man or woman on the Penzance omnibus, they will receive as a reward a lifetime's supply of pasties (fanciful constitutional proposals not allowed, but a real bread-and-butter issue like The St Ivean's recent suggestion for discounted fares for people living in Cornwall on income support, is certainly allowed)'.

On that occasion I was suggesting that MK's silence on the plight of migrant workers in West Cornwall was just one example of the party's failure to connect with the real concerns of real people in the county. It's a point also raised by the blogger mudhook who has remarked on the silence of MK and other nationalists on the effect of the abolition of the ten-pence tax band on the county's poor and, last week, on the estimated 8000 people in Cornwall who will struggle to afford prescription charges.

Is contemplating its constitutional navel all that MK and other Cornish nationalists are about?

OBITUARY: Robert John Harker 'Nokka'

The St Ivean recently reported the death of 'Nokka'. This week's St Ives Times & Echo carries a contributed obituary which I post here.

'Robert John Harker (Nokka), who died in Steeple Woods, St Ives, on March 29, was a well-known figure in the area. He lived in the woods and was well- liked and respected by the majority of those who knew him. He had many friends among those who visited the woods and who worked there as project volunteers.

Born at Hunstanton in Norfolk, in 1945, and brought up in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, he had a difficult childhood, and was always 'fighting the system'. He recalled hiding in a chicken coop where his mother couldn't reach him to avoid going to school to be 'brain washed'. Nevertheless, he always spoke of his mother with great respect.

Nokka spent the last twenty years living with as little as possible. In fact, it was his aim to live with nothing. He abandoned conventional housing and modern amenities and had no income. In the woods he resided in a bender - the traditional gypsy shelter - using an open fire for cooking and warmth. He also preferred to wear as little clothing as possible and relied for sustenance on salvaging passed 'best sell by date' food from shops and on the goodwill of those who respected his life-style.

For some of these years he enjoyed a loving relationship with a female companion who supported his life-style. The couple had three children, two of whom were born in the Steeple Woods bender. Although his chosen life-style made it difficult to stay in touch he would often talk of his children who now live with their mother.

Seen as an 'anchor' in the woods, Nokka always had a fire going to feed anyone who needed cups of tea and chapattis. Friends would sit round the fire enjoying his stories and humorous conversation. He was something of an aesthetic inspiration to others who shared his concerns over mankind's detrimental effects on the environment and disillusion with modern living.

He enjoyed walking alone along Carbis Bay and Porthkidney beaches and cut a striking, if unconventional figure, with his brown, weather-beaten face, a sincere (if rather stern) expression, dreadlocks and beard. In his own lifetime he became an almost figure of folklore - the guardian of the woods.

Nokka will be sadly missed by many who knew him. Some maybe living alongside him for a while or visited him by way of retreat, for he offered balance to their lives. In these times of remembering him one thing is sure, there will always be laughter.

Nokka leaves three daughters who live with their mother in New Zealand, and a sister who it has not been possible to trace.'

Dogs on beaches (6)

This week's St Ives Times & Echo publishes a letter from St Ives Town Councillor Tamsyn Williams, who writes to say that she has had many complaints from people, including dog owners, about the new regulations which allow dogs on beaches from 7p.m to 8 a.m. over the next few months.

Cllr Williams makes the point that "it isn't just the dog mess which is worrying but also that children and dogs don't always mix happily...". Quite so, as a contributor to The St Ivean recently pointed out.

People can object to the new regulations (although it's too late to change the regulations for this summer) which, Cllr Williams says, will be reviewed next February, by contacting the Environmental Health Manager, Penwith District Council, St Clare, Penzance TR18 3QW or by telephoning on (01736) 336641.

You can also report instances of dog fouling to Penwith by using the FixMyStreet website.
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D-day looms for Norway Stores campaigners

Plans to close a much-loved St Ives corner shop and replace it with a flat or an artist's studio and gallery will be considered by district councillors next week.

Applications by the owners of the Norway Stores will be discussed at the Penwith planning meeting in Penzance on Tuesday, May 13.The change of use proposals have sparked a campaign to maintain the shop as a community resource with hundreds of people signing a petition and sending letters to Penwith District Council... more>

Daffodil harvester stripped of gangmaster licence and accused of using forced labour

A gangmaster, who ran a company based in Cornwall, has been stripped of his licence... more>

Dogs on beaches (5)

Since May 1 when the new regulations on dogs on beaches came into force, I have seen just one dog owner on the beaches outside the times allowed. But quite why dogs should be allowed on beaches until a couple of hours before people arrive, is puzzling. The assumption is that dog owners will clear up after their pet. If they don't, then there is a real danger to public health. Where dogs foul the streets it is easily seen and avoided - not so on the beaches. And the risk to health are well-documented. The St Ivean would like to see a total ban on dogs using our beaches.

The jewels of their trade: Breon O'Casey

WHEN the playwright, philosopher, and memoirist, Sean O'Casey, declared that "laughter is wine for the soul," his son Breon, the celebrated painter, jewellery-maker, weaver, print-maker and sculptor, was clearly paying attention.

Breon, who turned 80 on Wednesday, was in town with his jewellery-maker daughter, Duibhne, for the opening of his exhibition, and it would be hard to find a more modestly humorous and gentle man... more>