The Newlyn Environment Group has achieved an important step in its efforts to preserve and enhance the attractive character of Newlyn.  Funding amounting to more than £23,000 has been granted by the Local Heritage Initiative to research, restore and celebrate six sites in Newlyn relating to the historic water supply from the medieval era to the 1920’s.

The project will invite local craftspeople to help restore the sites, which will be recorded visually and orally. Local schoolchildren are being invited to join in developing an information gathering study.  As they are repaired, the sites will  be added to the already existing Newlyn Trail and accompanying guide.  A relevant logo will be needed and suggestions are invited from the general public. 

The group would welcome any volunteers who would like to contribute to uncovering this slice of Newlyn history.  It is hoped to reveal old shutes, pumps, standpipes and wells which in their time provided the main water supply to the fishing community’s homes and industries. Once all the sites are restored in approximately a year’s time, there will be a launch of the new guide and a public celebration.

Latest news:

Keel Alley - Newlyn Environmental Group findings

Over 20 volunteers from the Newlyn community have been walking around the streets of Newlyn on your behalf, making notes to create a report about parts of the Village which need to be improved. We have been looking at issues including: telegraph poles and getting cables put underground, bad and patchy road repairs after the Services have repaired pipes, poor, uneven pavements and also restoring the cobbles where appropriate and the blue and white enamel signs.

We want to:

• Tidy up not prettify
• restore visual features
• establish future standards
• maintain and enhance the distinctive character of Newlyn.
  
  
Our report will be used to help draw up two important documents for Newlyn: Planning Policies and a Design Brief. This will make sure that any new building work adheres to some basic principles to make sure that they are visually in keeping with the character of Newlyn and sustainable regeneration will be promoted. We are going to be working closely with Penwith District Council and the County Council.

Other projects which the Subgroup are looking to do include

• managing the Bowjey
• managing the walkway to the Seafood park, making sure that local species of plants are used to encourage local wildlife.
• Restoring the old Water Features, which are in various locations around the village.
  

For more information, or if you would like to get involved in some of the projects contact:
Tom Jane (Community Regeneration Facilitator for Penwith District Council): (01736) 336 899

PREVIOUS NEWS

Despite howling wind and pouring rain about 40 people attended the Public Meeting in St Peter’s Hall on 11th March. 23 people volunteered to work in three areas—the Coombe, Tolcarne and Street-an-Nowan led by Nick Howells, Newlyn Town with Grevis Williams and the rest of the Conservation Area towards Sandy Cove with Ron Hogg. The work—to identify problems, note possible improvements etc is ongoing.

Ruth Simpson is involved with volunteers for improving Green Spaces. The neglected areas in Rue des Beaux Arts are already being worked on. It is hoped that volunteers and Conservation Groups will manage the Bowjey (see information below from Karen Clowes.)

Historic features are being identified, possibly some of these could be sympathetically restored.

The group’s aim is to improve the quality of the environment whilst reinforcing the distinctive identity of Newlyn.