Chairman Robin Momber
told members at the AGM that their committee
had submitted an outline plan - preparedby Tony Whale - to the Carrick Corporate StrategyUnit to illustrate the kind of development which they believed would be appropriate and practicable within the overall “Maritime Carrick” concept. The
plan was available for
members to peruse and
comment upon during
the evening.

Robin went on to press for
a marked reduction in
vehicular traffic in Market/Church/Arwenack
Streets because of the
very high pollution levels
highlighted in a recent
report. He was also concernedthat there were
still weaknesses not only
in enforcement of litter

laws and places where
drinking alcohol in the
streets was forbidden, but
also in the field of planning.There are many examples
of planning laws
being flouted with impunity and insufficient resources to enforce them.As the committee's response to the Corporate
Strategy Co-ordinator's
draft of the Carrick Integrated Plan the committee suggested that derelict sites needed to be
closed up, Prince of Wales
Pier improved, the remaining Opes smartened
up and kept clean, graffiti
removed and a shelter for
people using buses from
the Quarry provided. Robin stressed that in many small ways as well as large the committee felt that Carrick should do more to help clean up the town and make it more attractive for tourists as well as residents.

On a happier note, Robin
reported the success of
the campaign to have the
Wain Homes Swanpool appeal turned down and
that the CCTV schemes in
Falmouth and Truro had
been merged with theirassets transferred to Carrickso that 24 hour monitoring could ensue.Also, an extremely welcome contribution to the
regeneration of the town
centre, nearly £¾ million
would be available from
the Heritage Economic
Regeneration Scheme
(HERS) to help with repairs and re-instatement
for priority buildings
mainly from the High
Street to Arwenack Street
over the next 2½ years.

M J Long, architect of
the Maritime Project
talked at the Annual
General Meeting about
the development of the
harbour-side and
stressed that the need
for such a scheme
must first be properly
demonstrated.Assuming that need, she
thought that a development which opened/re-opened Opes to run onto separate

viewing galleries or piers
could be an attractive
solution.This would ensure that any adverse impacton other parts of the
town would be minimised.Projects whichattempted to introduce a harbour-side connection and retail premises between the Prince of Wales

Pier and Upton Slip would encouragepeople away from Market & Church Streets
and the existing traders
there. However, MJ
Long then went on to
demonstrate that sympathetic architecture
could reduce the negative impact on the two streets

Falmouth harbour is our greatest asset: commercially, the Docks etc. and tourism, outstanding beauty The problem is that areasare run down and have beendamaged by poor development in the past, particularly the harbour front from Prince of Wales Pier to Church Street car park where shops face away from the waterand Opes have been shut. There is only limited access for vehicles, and no development which would suck in more traffic during the day is practicable.This part of the waterfrontshould not be developed for industrial purposes or housing,
and is unsuitable for large scale retail due to lack of access and the potentially enormous cost of infill withor without a sub surface car park. A large platform jutting out into the harbour would
destroy the historic

aspect of the interface between the waterfront and the town.
But, enhancement of this area is badly needed and is long overdue.Prince of Wales Pier and its approaches are key elements in this. The Pier needs renovation, and possibly extension to cater for increased ferry activity but a road across the approaches would be a disaster because it would change dramatically a very popular focal point of
the town frequented by visitors.What is needed is to open up the waterfront viewsto the public. There is little hope of re-opening the Opes,so the only means is a walkway from Prince of Wales Pier to Church Street car park. A really good design would greatly enhance the neglected waterfront, open up the views of the harbour from Market Strand

while preserving the historic character
of the area, improve
the attraction for tourists and with it the prosperity of
the town.

My message is, therefore, go all out for a sensible waterfront
development that supports the town’s historic character and enhances our beautiful harbour,and which will complement those already taking place on the Moor and the
Maritime Museum,so all can enjoy it.
This is the message we in Falmouth should be
giving to our Councillors, and to
prospective developers.