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151226 | The Mayors of West Cornwall send out their Christmas messages | The Cornishman

The Mayors of West Cornwall send out their Christmas messages

By CMKirsteSmith | Posted: December 26, 2015

Christmas messages from the Mayors

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The Mayor's of West Cornwall have sent out their Christmas messages:

Graham Coad, mayor of Hayle:

MY LAST Christmas message as mayor! Well, that went quickly enough and what fun!

Some of the best bits were presenting flowers from the council to residents reaching 100th birthdays and marriage milestones, often people who remembered me as a youngster and knew my parents.

I particularly recall Doris Williams' 100th birthday. She was my next-door neighbour with her late husband George in St George's Road.

It's marvellous to see the harbour repaired and tidy after all these years, and I'm looking forward to seeing sluicing start next spring. I still stop to admire the smart grey swingbridge from the new North Quay Bridge and gaze up at the Foundry Viaduct, looking all smart and newly serviced.

Across the harbour the impressive new Hayle Marine Renewables Business Park nears completion and is reminiscent of the "presence" of the old power station on the same site.

It was a backdrop to a brilliant fireworks display put on by local businessmen and the cricket club at Hallowe'en. Thanks.

As I write, I see Christmas signs and symbols increasing daily around the town and am looking forward to the Christmas lights and the annual services and events put on by the various churches, groups and clubs around the area. Will Angarrack lights excel again this year?

Check this newspaper for local seasonal events and for those of you on the Internet, local Facebook pages may be useful.

Probably the best thing about being mayor is actually knowing what's happening and being involved in Hayle.

I like the way so many of you feel happy to phone me, stop me in the streets or shops (even pubs!) and chat to me about Hayle and its issues. I also enjoy the ease with which I can communicate on Facebook and get so much feedback from so many people.

Now Christmas is coming fast – try to do as much shopping as possible in Hayle. We have some terrific shops at both ends of town and the Old Foundry Chapel is as nice an arcade experience as you could want.

Be kind to each other and remember, Christmas is not just about spending.

Have a merry Christmas and a truly happy new year.

Martin Britten, mayor of Marazion

MARAZION has had a busy year. Most of the businesses of the town have reported a good summer season.

The council has been in negotiations with Cornwall Council to takeover responsibility for the Folly playground and is near to conclusion in getting it refurbished with new equipment to be ready for next season.

Yet again, toilets have been high on our agenda; this year the Folly Field's toilets are to be taken over by Marazion at a cost of £27k. Working with a third party has ensured that we are left with costs of £18k to cover. Hence the increase in our precept.

Even though the original was postponed, our town carnival was a great success when it ran alongside another charity event on August Bank Holiday.

A dedicated and enthusiastic team have worked on Marazion in Bloom, winning a local and national award. The town was buzzy and colourful all summer. These all make me proud of being mayor of Marazion. Much has been achieved by the town council who work with dedication and commitment. Merry Christmas to everyone.

David Nebesnuick, mayor of Penzance:

CHRISTMAS is a time to reflect on the past year and look forward with renewed hope and enthusiasm to the new year.

Over the year, the mayoress and I have attended many events organised by community groups, schools, sporting organisations, churches and voluntary societies, and we have been privileged to meet so many people who encourage, support and care for others in Penzance. Our town has a very strong sense of community and this will be an abiding memory for us.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Golowan festival and the town was full of families over the June weekend, demonstrating that strong sense of community, as did the Newlyn Fish Festival, which took place in glorious weather in August.

This year is also the 200th anniversary of the miners' safety lamp, invented by Penzance's most famous son, and was marked by a day of very special events on his birthday, December 17.

Penzance Town Council, working in close partnership with its Cornwall councillors, chamber of commerce and the recent Business Improvement District (BID), has focussed on those issues which you have told us are important to you.

The town council will be funding the town's toilets from next April and has adopted a community toilet scheme. Currently, the council is in negotiation with several town centre businesses to open their toilets to the public, and these should be available in the new year.

We have worked with Cornwall Council to ensure that Penzance is a priority town in the devolution of local services back to local people. In the coming months, our open spaces, such as the Morrab Gardens, Alexandra Play Park and the Princess May Recreation Ground, will be back under local management.

Over the next three years most of the town's car parks will also be returned to local management.

The Penzance Neighbourhood Plan is also progressing well, with councillors and volunteers listening carefully to your ideas and priorities for the town. The town council has worked hard this year to be more accessible to the public and key information is now regularly put on our website, including the diary of council events. A report also appears every week in the Down Your Way section of The Cornishman.

There is much to look forward to as a number of regeneration projects, which started in 2015, come to fruition. Two iconic buildings will be reopened in 2016 after a two-year closure. St John's Hall has been completely refurbished and will once again be the centrepiece of our town. The Jubilee Pool will also reopen under town council management, having been restored.

On behalf of the town council, I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Kevin McFadden, mayor of St Just:

THE town council has had another busy and productive year.

Next year will see the council take over ownership of the Pendeen Playing Fields for the benefit of the local community, with discussions continuing on other devolution matters such as the library, car parks, public conveniences and open spaces.

We, as a council, are committed to listening to our local community and strive to safeguard local services for the future.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all.

 

Linda Taylor, mayor of St Ives:

2015 has seen increased visitor numbers once again, especially during July and August. As a town we welcome them and especially the contribution they make to the local economy.

The challenge for everyone was negotiating the busy roads, especially the pavement and road obstructions along the harbour.

I have, over the year, attended many events, from wedding anniversaries to sandcastle competitions on Porthminster beach. The contribution that our businesses make towards community and providing that customer experience cannot be underestimated.

Our visitors are becoming more and more discerning, and to maintain St Ives as a top holiday destination, we need to support our businesses. As a town council, we also need to contribute to the customer experience, so some of the toilets are having a serious refurbishment programme.

As mayor, I attend many church services and find the continuity of faith and commitment to our community is a lifeline to locals and visitors alike. My chaplains Mark and Ellie Reid, from the Salvation Army, continue to encourage and develop the youth within St Ives, and provide an open door to the wider population.

Gideon Bibles have been presented to the mayors of St Ives, and usually by William Barber. It is a great sadness that William died this year. He will be remembered by many in St Ives and certainly me.

This is a time of year that will be sad for many people, who also remember loved ones, and I hope that we all share the Christmas spirit with our neighbours.

This week my husband and I will start to visit local hospitals and nursing homes, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff who look after our residents and provide the care and attention they deserve.

Last Wednesday I was invited to the infant school nativity play – an absolute joy – and this was followed by the opening of the new funeral services. So, in one morning, I experienced life's cycle.

The evening before saw the Rotary carol service in the parish church. It was an evening of talent, ranging from instrumental to angelic singing, and all provided by the children of St Ives and Nancledra.

During this year, our musical heritage has been evident in the wonderful choirs and singing groups that support a large number of events that I have attended. Particular thanks must go to the Old Cornwall Society, St Ives Archive Centre and the St Ives Museum for preserving our heritage but more importantly encouraging future generations to appreciate it.

On behalf of St Ives Town Council, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.


 

via http://www.cornishman.co.uk/Mayors-West-Cornwall-send-Christmas-messages...

 

Graham Coad, mayor of Hayle