Residents of the Newquay and St Columb Community Network area are being invited to attend the May meeting of the Newquay and St Columb Community Network Panel. Agenda items include the new Community Network Highways Scheme and celebrating with local organisations that have received a Cornwall Councillor Community Chest grants over the last year.

The Network Panel meeting will take place on Thursday 24 May at 7pm at St Columb Major Town Hall, Market Place, St Columb Major, TR9 6AN.

Esther Richmond, the area's Community Link Officer, will introduce the new Community Network Highways Scheme that will give community network panels a greater influence over local and major transport schemes. Esther will explain how community network panels will be able to review and prioritise local schemes and will have a budget of £50,000 for highways improvements in their area.

Some of the local voluntary and community groups who have benefited from Community Chest grants from their local councillor will come together to celebrate their award and give a short presentation to promote their work. Groups include Newquay Friends of St Petrocs, Our Town St Columb Major, Pentire Esplanade Project, Newquay Orchard, Porth Residents Association, Treloggan Residents Association and Oll An Gwella Choir.

Community Chest grants can be used for various activities such as helping vulnerable people and supporting community facilities and local environment projects. In the Newquay and St Columb network area grants have funded local initiatives, including supporting St Columb Major's Arts and Heritage Festival and promoting wellbeing by offering Tai Chi to residents at St Petrocs.

As this is the Annual General Meeting the Panel will be asked to elect a Chair and Vice Chair for the Community Network Panel for the next 12 months.

St Mawgan and Colan Cllr John Fitter and Chairman of the Newquay and St Columb Community Network Panel said: "Everyone is invited to attend the Newquay and St Columb Community Network Panel. The Community Chest celebrations and the new highways scheme are both good examples of how proposals to strengthening community networks are being put into practise. Come along, find out more and meet your parish, town and Cornwall councillor."

The Newquay and St Columb Network Panel meets bi-monthly to discuss matters that affect the local area. At future meetings they will be discussing the other priorities they have for the network area; highways schemes and health.

They progress these by working in partnership with Cornwall Council and its partners; including town and parish councils, the voluntary and community sector, and the police and health services.

Some of the areas that community networks focus on include anti-social behaviour, economic development, the environment, community planning, regeneration, conservation, community safety, transport and highway issues.

The Newquay and St Columb Community Network Panel includes all seven Cornwall Councillors for the area and representatives of the five Towns or Parish parishes in the community network: Colan Parish Council, Mawgan-in-Pydar Parish Council, Newquay Town Council, St Columb Major Town Council and St Wenn Parish Council.

More information about the Community Network Panels and dates for future meetings can be found on the Cornwall Council Community Networks webpage. 

For details about Cornwall Councillor Community Chest grants visit: www.cornwall.gov.uk/communitychest

Story posted 10 May 2018