AFFORDABLE HOUSING

A fairly quiet few months on the housing front and then excitement! We have been given planning permission to build at Lafrowda Close, St Just and Moorland Close, Pendeen. To remind people this will be for two 2 bedroom houses and one 2 bedroom bungalow at St Just and two terraces of three 2 bedroom houses and two 2 bedroom bungalows at Pendeen. All except the bungalows at Pendeen will be affordable and all will be for sale. So spread the word that we are on our way to provide affordable homes for local people and if you or some-one you know is ‘in-need’ then get registered with Cornwall Council and the Land Trust. The reason for the open market bungalows is to subsidise the affordable homes.

We had some opposition at Pendeen but have made great efforts to meet and talk with people and when we achieved this we found we were able to reduce their worries. If anyone knows of some-one who is still concerned then do put them in touch as just because we have been granted planning permission we are still happy to talk.

Thank you to everyone who has played their part in us getting to this stage.

WORKSPACES

A reminder that we also want to play our part in encouraging start up businesses or business expansions so if you want to help take this forward get in touch with Terry Porter by emailing on

cromlin@byconnect.com or ring 01736 810100

AGM AGM AGM AGM AGM AGM

Note this years AGM will be at the Town Council offices in St Just on Wednesday 27 June at 7 p.m. All welcome and members can be nominated to join the Board as Trustees.

Bosavern Community Farm (BCF)

COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER EXTENDED TO 14^TH AUGUST 2012

This is your chance to make a social investment in a local community enterprise growing food in St Just. You can invest as little as £20 or as much as £20,000.

Community Shares are a relatively new approach to raising financial support for not-for-profit, social enterprises like Bosavern Community Farm. This investment from the public is intended to put the community farm on the road to a financially sustainable future. Investors will become members of Bosavern Community Enterprises and be able to vote on Board members to run the project. It is hoped that some investors will want to get actively involved in the project, in some way but this is not a requirement.

Currently, BCF is a pilot project of a local charity, Lands End Peninsula Community Land Trust (LEPCLT), at a Council owned farm just outside St Just. LEPCLT is committed to continuing the farm's long heritage as a training ground in agriculture. Cornwall Council now intend to sell this one remaining County-owned farm in Penwith and in order to prevent it from being sold on the open market (and lost as a community agricultural asset) LEPCLT aims to buy the farm from the Council and keep it in perpetuity on behalf of local people. We are progressing well with our Lottery application but it will not provide 100% of the capital costs so we will still need other social investors, even if successful. News from the Lottery should be available very soon and the more shares we have sold, the more likely we are to complete the deal with Cornwall Council.

What you can do?

If, like us, you recognise and value the wider benefits of community investment in healthy living, increased social wealth, a more active local economy, useful and interesting training opportunities, and the many positive environmental bonuses, then these community shares may be for you! Why not pop down to the farm to get involved before you decide whether to invest?

For more details please visit www.bcfshares.org. uk

DOWN AT THE FARM IN JUNE

Drop in to any of the volunteer sessions to learn the skills of growing sustainably: prepare new ground, sew and plant crops and harvest the end result for veg boxes and Farmer’s Markets. Help is also needed with our chickens and pigs, collecting eggs, mucking out and soon there will be piglets to fuss over! And for those of you that can’t wield a fork we also need indoor volunteers for some of the admin tasks and organizing fundraising activities. Or perhaps you have an idea of your own or skill you would like to share.

Regular drop in volunteer sessions are Tuesday and Saturday 1 until 5 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. but if you prefer another time or have a group with special requirements please ring Hugh on the office number under contacts. We can also accommodate volunteers who want a residential experience, for a week or two, so let family and friends know of this opportunity.