WHAT IS GOING ON?

Managers at South Crofty tin mine are incensed by what they regard as a blatant attempt by English Partnerships, a key partner in the urban regeneration company, to ride rough shod over local planning laws.

Having acquired The Pole Yard in Tolvaddon Road for development, English Partnerships have spent the last few days pouring tons of concrete into the Trevenson Engine Shaft, which is on the land, in order to permanently cap it.  The work affects a 45sq metre area, to a depth of 8 metres, yet no planning application was made.  The shaft had been temporarily capped and there were no reported safety issues.

Despite complaining to both Kerrier District Council and Cornwall County Council, Baseresult Holdings Ltd, owners of the mine, were unable to stop the concrete being poured.

‘This work is contrary to the rules laid down by existing mineral planning legislation and we are being legally advised regarding damages,’ said Kevin Williams, Managing Director of Baseresult Holdings.  ‘When we heard what was going to happen, we tried to talk to English Partnerships but they didn’t want to discuss the matter so we complained to Kerrier. They referred us to the County Council who said it wasn’t anything to do with them and that we should talk to Kerrier. We feel like a ball being batted to and fro in a tennis match.’

Baseresult Holdings are angry about what has happened because Trevenson Engine Shaft had been earmarked as a ventilation shaft in their plans for modern mining.

‘The action taken by English Partnerships appears to be yet one more example of the local regeneration company following their own agenda, without regard for the huge amount of time, money and effort that we are putting in to making the mine fully operational again,’ said Mr Williams.  ‘We were quite willing to compromise and find a mutually acceptable way forward for the shaft but our requests for discussion were ignored.  Now the concrete has been poured – potentially sterilising the minerals in that part of the mine – and we are once again faced with having to resort to legal action to get our voice heard.

‘Our aim has always been to restore mining pride and profit to the Camborne, Pool, Redruth area. Sadly, our commitment does not appear to be matched by that of English Partnerships.’

                                                                                                13 March 2006