Illustrating ideas with the aid of a model fish, Carrick District Council’s Chief Environmental Health Officer, Nick Hibbert described Falmouth as an interesting place to live and visit with its Docks, Georgian Hotels, beaches and other attractions. As guest speaker Mr Hibbert’s talk was entitled “Pollution and other Environmental Health issues in Falmouth” and was a wide ranging discourse on the functions of his department.

Using his visual aid he referred to Falmouth’s long history and that it comprised many elements which were all pushing the town along. However, it was necessary for the local authority to forge relationships with people who care about the town.

Mr Hibbert referred to problems of noise, dust and pollution some years ago from the docks particularly the oil operation, but the situation was now greatly improved owing to action that had been taken. He said that there was now legislation dealing with noise which enabled Council officers to seize the equipment creating the noise. The council could take persons to Court if they were too noisy. It was a matter of persons acting reasonably.

The Environmental Health Department has responsibilities for enforcing food hygiene regulations as well as monitoring health and safety in hotels, cafes and restaurants. Mr Hibbert made reference to an incident at an holiday site where a child fell into a septic tank and said that the authority could check to make sure that there was a safe environment at these premises. He referred to holiday programmes that talked of Blue Flag beaches, but there weren’t any in Cornwall. However, now that South West Water have carried out certain clean up works Carrick will be applying for a Blue Flag for Gyllyngvase beach. It was necessary for the town to provide clean beaches, clean hotels and safe holidays.

Moving from dog fouling and the nuisance of sea gulls Mr Hibbert turned to air pollution which is an issue of great concern to the Society. He said that air quality had become a national concern and the government had set certain standards. In Falmouth there is a problem, and last year money was found to carry out a study into air pollution in the town. There was found to be a problem with very fine particulate matter which was being inhaled by the public. The study found that there were very high levels of pollution in Church Street and Arwenack Street caused by the so called canyon effect. The pollution levels were equivalent to those in Marylebone High Street, but arising from fewer vehicles. The traders in these streets acknowledge that they cannot go on with the same levels of traffic and pollution. Mr Hibbert said that pedestrianisation was important for Falmouth and that other towns that had introduced it had seen a 27% increase in the number of shoppers since introduction.

Mr Hibbert made reference to the proposed Park and Ride scheme expressing the view that it would make a major impact upon traffic. He said that park and ride systems do work and could be extended to Park and Rail, and Park and Sail.

Will It Or Won’t It Happen?

 

Development at the Harbourside has moved up the Agenda with the Regional Development Agency having appointed consultants to advise them on the options and possibilities of developing the harbourside between Prince of Wales Pier and Custom House Quay. It is likely that Carrick District Council as one of the prime stakeholders will be consulting the public upon any proposals that come forward, and it is important that members make their views known in response to any such consultation.

As has been made clear your Executive Committee is unanimous in opposing any large scale development extending into the harbour with a car park accessed across Prince of Wales Pier. The Executive Committee supports a walkway from the Pier to Fish Strand Quay with appropriate and sympathetic development taking place on the site of Church Car Park. Car parking would be removed from the Church Street site to an enlarged facility at the Quarry. This is in line with the Plan drawn up for the Society and displayed at the AGM last year.

Dog Fouling Nuisance

Dog mess is more prevalent than ever before. What should be done? At the Society’s open meeting last October one member complained that the problems of sea gulls creating mess and of dog excreta were exacerbated by a failure to empty bins often enough. Mr. Nick Hibbert, Chief Environmental Health Officer, said that if bins weren’t being emptied then his department needed to be told. He accepted that bins should be sited where there was a need, and said that gull-protected bins had been supplied to residents. In addition, Carrick employed a dog warden for the area. Therefore, if anyone has a complaint about failure to empty bins, let the Environmental Health Department know.

The delightful garden around the Killigrew monument

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