The story so far
In 2002 the Newlyn Fish Industry Forum (NFIF) made up of catchers, merchants, harbour commissioners was set up realising that action needed to be taken to sustain the future of the harbour, the fishing industry and the wider economy in Newlyn. The Forum asked respected local firm Atlantic Consultants to do some consultation and research. They produced, in 2002, a document called “Newlyn and Surrounding Area Regeneration Strategy.” Since its initial set up NFIF has invited many other organisations to get involved, including Penwith District Council, and over 30 community organisations are now represented on the Board.

Many of you will have seen the plans that set out what is being proposed for the harbour and great credit should go to Tony Woodhams for his hard work in making the proposals known and receiving feedback from many people.

The strategy also listed over 40 other project ideas that weren't to do with the harbour (or the “wet and fishy” side as it's becoming known!). NFIF are committed to seeing these projects get off the ground and the logical progression was to form themed subgroups covering Homes, Environment, Business and Community to take these projects forward.

Each subgroup has a piece within this Newsletter to let you know what they're planning and what progress has been made.

We decided that we should attempt to post the newsletter through every door to make sure that most of you know what's going on. Issues will also be available from, Gwavas Advisory Rooms, Tony Woodham's Office and The Fisherman's Mission.

The Newsletter will come out quarterly and if you have any information that you'd like us to include, please get in touch.

We hope this will help us all have a better understanding of what’s happening in harbour and village so that together we can build a positive future for Newlyn.

Thank you for reading this,

Rev Julyan Drew
Chairman, Community Subgroup

Sub-Group prioritisation
The sub-groups recently prioritised their own work to help deliver the Newlyn Regeneration Strategy. Representatives, including chairs from the Visual Environment, Business, Homes and Community sub-groups spent the day with Penwith District Council officers prioritising the development programme at the Astro Park, Penzance.

Penwith District Council was asked to facilitate the four groups and concentrate on delivering those projects outside of the harbour, identified in the Newlyn Regeneration Strategy produced by Atlantic Consultants in 2002.

Most of the day was spent with the sub-groups scoring and ranking those projects which would enable a logical approach to delivery. Through scoring each project, the benefits to Newlyn for its people, businesses, the environment and linkages of each project were identified and an overall plan for the groups to focus on was developed.

Penwith District Council's Capital Projects Co-ordinator, coordinated the day which also provided a methodology for delivering each project. The groups were facilitated by; David Clough (Housing Officer), Charlotte Chadwick (Strategy Support Officer), Sally Newby (Community Regeneration Manager), Tom Jane (Community Regeneration Facilitator), Claire Tiffin ( Project Development Officer) and Tony Woodhams (Newlyn Fisheries Officer) and the day turned out to be a great success.

The results were presented to the NFIF Executive Board on the 21st September who gave a recommendation for the NFIF to adopt the plans and processes for delivery at their next meeting on the 9th December. Once the NFIF has adopted the plans then the Community Subgroup will make sure this plan is available to the people of Newlyn.

Harbour News
NFIF have begun work to deliver the vitally important Seafood Park, which is at the heart of the industry related element of the Regeneration Strategy. In due course, this will enable fish merchants to relocate to brand new premises outside of Newlyn, close to Stable Hobba, eventually creating some additional jobs, and freeing up buildings for alternative use in Newlyn. Traffic movement will also be reduced to the benefit of local residents.

In the last 18 months £1.5million has been obtained for some investment projects in Newlyn that were identified on the overall Regeneration Strategy. These include the technical investigations, a trial fish waste treatment plant, chill chain curtains in the fish market, 3 phase electricity, landing derricks and the slipway upgrade. Beyond this, work will be starting soon on new and costly traceability and grading systems for the market, to ensure it is able to meet Food Safety regulations in January 2005.

Public consultation took place in July in the Mission with the Newly Pier and Harbour commissioners, NFIF representatives and Hyder Consultants (who are carrying out the technical investigations) to hear about their research and assessment of investment priorities. Since the consultation the research and studies are being finalised. Final plans will be showcased to the public on the 14th and 15th January in the Mission.

Homes Sub-group
The Homes Subgroup is working to ensure that new affordable homes are provided in the village as part of the Newlyn regeneration Strategy. With the help of Penwith District Council, we have carried out a survey of potential development sites in the village. The hope is that a number of homes can be provided in the centre of the village, where there is convenient access to local shops and other community facilities. Hopefully this will be through the conversion of existing buildings to be vacated in due course by business relocating to the new seafood park, or as part of the redevelopment scheme for the harbour area.

The subgroup is also looking to consider other potential development opportunities such as small sites at Gwavas and larger sites (both previously developed and 'Greenfield') within or on the edge of the village. The subgroup are also forging of links with the Business Subgroup to ensure that potential opportunities, including mixed developments, are maximised.

Home Subgroup Members: Kevin Brownridge (Chair), Cllr. John Payne, Rev. Julyan Drew, Jenny Beamish, geoff Lane, Favell Biggs, Ton y Woodhams. We are supported by David Clough (Affordable Housing Officer for Penwith District Council).

Owners of land or buildings within the village who would like to discuss the potential of a site with the intention of seeing it developed for affordable housing are urged to contact Penwith District Council. We are looking to attract new members to the subgroup. Anyone who is interested, or would like more information, should contact Kevin Brownridge 332 094

Environment
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 you would like to get involved in some of the projects contact: Tom Jane (Community Regeneration Facilitator for Penwith District Council): 336 899

The members of the subgroup are: Ruth Simpson (Chair), Ron Hogg, Nick Howell, Linda Hitchcox, Grevis Williams and Ashley Barton. The group are intending to hold a public meeting early next year.

Community
A subgroup to help work on the projects with a community theme in the Newlyn Strategy has been set up by the Newlyn Fish Industry Forum. We met formally for the first time on the 17th September 2004 and already have a good idea of the jobs we need to be getting on with to make sure the people of Newlyn can get a good understanding of the village's regeneration - and have a bigger say in some of the developments.

As local people, we know that many of you don't know what is actually going on and don't know about the subgroups or the plans for the future of the village. So, one of the first things we have done is take on the Newlyn Newsletter. We hope you will be able to get a good understanding of the work that's already going on and how the community can get involved. The newsletters will come out quarterly.

We are also hoping to find funding to buy some notice boards to put around the village that can be used to let people know what's going on. The Community Subgroup would like to hear from any businesses or home owners who own property in prominent positions around the village that would be happy to give a home to a notice board.

The projects which the Community Subgroup are currently supporting are:

• The Trinity Centre,
• Gwavas Playing field,
• looking at the potential of a community building in Gwavas and
• traffic speed reduction throughout Gwavas.

We are hoping to work on other community projects in Newlyn once the initial projects in Gwavas are up and running and will make sure that the people of Newlyn have a big say in the future work of the group.

The people on this subgroup are: Rev Julyan Drew (Chair), Jenny Beamish, Lisa Ellis, Jeremy Drew, Cllr John Payne and Jenny Lane. They also have the support of Tom Jane, Community Regeneration Facilitator for Penwith District Council and CN4C for the Gwavas Project.

The group is looking for more members who have an interest in what's going on in Newlyn and have time and skills to contribute to the group – particularly if you're interested in helping to support the communications aspect of the Community Subgroup. If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions for the Subgroup, please get in touch with Tom Jane on 336 899.

Environment group moves forward
The Environment Subgroup would like to thank Cllr. Pilcher (Penwith District Council's Chairman) and Arthur Roberts, head of Operation Services, for cleaning up inthe 'unadopted' areas in Newlyn. We hope to see further improvements, however small.

The group is working with Tamsin Daniel (PDC) and Alison Bevan (Director, Penlee House) on a project to publicise the sites of paintings by artists of the Newlyn Colony. This would help to enhance Newlyn's distinctive identify.

We hope to link this with the restoration of surviving water features – an old well, a pump and several 'shoots'. These were later replaced by standpipes and a number of these sites remain. We would welcome information or anecdotes relating to this project which has useful educational links e.g. Public Health, the Clearances etc. as well as to many Newlyn paintings.

Also we are monitoring planning applications. It is so important that new buildings, conversions and alterations should enhance the visual environment of Newlyn.
Ruth Simpson - (Chair) 01736 367714

Business
Business brains have joined forces in Newlyn to help spearhead the regeneration programme and boost the local economy. The Business & Skills sub-group of the Newlyn Fish Industry Forum comprises local business owners; Godfrey Adams of Trelawney Fish, Nick Howell of the Pilchard Works, Fiona Gray of Badcocks Gallery and Ian Waghorn of 'Inside Cornwall' magazine, supported by Charlotte Chadwick of Penwith District Council.

Introducing the Business & Skills sub-group.....

Godfrey Adams, Trelawney Fish
Sole owner of Trelawney Fish for most of its 21 years. Currently Chairman of the Penzance Cricket Club, Chairman of the Newlyn Fish Merchants Association and
Board member of Pirate FM radio.
He is also involved with the Penzance Forum and is Chairman of the Business & Skills sub-group of the Newlyn Fish Industry Forum, members of whom are...

Nick Howell, The Pilchard Works
Owner of 'The Pilchard Works' for 24 years; instigator of the re-branding of “Cornish Sardines”; previous Chairmanships of Newlyn Fish Merchants Association , Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions and the Objective One Tourism Task Force. Now focusing on ideas for Newlyn’s diversification through the Business sub group and the Visual Environment group.
“Business, in its widest sense, is the motivation for a flourishing civilisation. It is the principle activity that people do in their life to earn money. The secondary wealth created through business permits a society to care for the vulnerable, protect the environment and indulge in leisure activities. Newlyn needs to embrace the opportunities to diversify its wealth creation activities towards a more stable and varied base that will allow existing and future generations to prosper. ”

Ian Waghorn, Inside Cornwall
Publisher of Inside Cornwall magazine, Ian previously worked as a journalist on newspapers in the UK and Australia before establishing his own Cornish business in the late 1980s. His family has been associated with Newlyn and Penzance for over 30 years and ran Waghorn Stores before the shop was sold several years ago.
Inside Cornwall is based in Newlyn and employs several local people. The magazine has strong links with a wide range of small Cornish businesses. As a businessman himself, Ian is keen to see Newlyn use the NFIF strategy to create a strong and diverse local economy.

Fiona Gray, Badcocks Gallery
Co-director of Badcocks Gallery, Fiona has lived in Newlyn and Mousehole for 35 years. Through re-organisation and considered planning, she believes Newlyn can enhance and build on its existing economic assets, thereby creating new opportunities which will directly benefit the local workforce and residents of Newlyn.
“Change should be approached with caution, we are the custodians of this beautiful port – only with careful management and 'joined up' communication between the interested parties can the integral 'sense of place' be preserved, without compromising for momentary gain”.

The Business & Skills sub-group has hosted several meetings and is keen to be a pro-active driving force at the centre of the Newlyn Regeneration plans. Of significance to the Business sub-group will be the published plans for the harbour which will have an impact on the way the group helps to deliver various projects.
The group has decided to press ahead, in readiness for impending announcements regards harbour developments and compile a robust Marketing Plan. This will be available in due course, for local residents and businesses to comment on, so it is absolutely the 'right fit' for Newlyn.

The plan will target marketing and communication in three important phases;

Phase 1: local – to the local community and businesses
Phase 2: regional
Phase 3: national & international

Successful and effective marketing is the essential ingredient to ensure that Newlyn's recipe of benefits for the resident, business or visitor lead to a profitable and vibrant community.

Unveiling of a plaque marking the voyage of the Newlyn lugger 'Mystery, to Australia
To mark the 150th anniversary of the departure if the lugger “MYSTERY” on the 18th November 1854, bound for Australia, a plaque is to be unveiled at the Old Quay, Newlyn, by Colonel Edward Bolitho, O.B.E., Chairman of the Sailors Institute Trust.
The Trust has been a generous donor to the commemoration.
As many will know, the Newlyn lugger arrived safely at Hobson's Bay, Melbourne in March 1855 at the end of her “Epic Voyage”.
This specially commissioned plaque, with the full support of the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners, will be unveiled on Thursday 18th November 2004, at 11am at the Old Quay Newlyn.