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Spring 2025 Newsletter
- michaelstickley
- Mar 27
- 8 min read
Spring is in the air! We almost had a few days of sunshine and no rain here for a few days didn't we?!
All (Not So) Quiet On The Cornish Tin Front.
Cornish Tin’s exploration in our area appeared to stop at the end of May last year, so we could perhaps be forgiven for thinking they had gone away.
Updates on Cornish Tin’s website give some idea as to what we may expect in the future. There are two large reports as well as a general news update. One of the reports is about tin exploration and the other is about their interest in Lithium.
You can read what they have to say here: https://www.cornishtin.uk/news
In brief, it appears that they will be hoping to continue with the tin exploration program.
‘The Company has already designed its next tin exploration drilling program’
They also are actively looking into the exploration for Lithium, both in Tregonning East (the east side of Tregonning Hill) and Tregonning South, an area to the west of Porthleven where their current activities appear to be mostly soil sampling.
New Development Proposal Near Carleen Quietly Withdrawn
Back in June 2021, Cornwall Community Land Trust Ltd (at the time headed by Councillor Andrew George - now MP) facilitated a public consultation for the residents of Carleen, Trew, Polladras and the surrounding area. This concerned a proposal to build six affordable homes in Carleen on land to the east of Ganilly cottage. The consultation preceded the submission of the scheme plans to Cornwall Council for planning approval on the 15th of November 2021 Ref PA21/10262. The project itself was the continuation of a similar proposal which was shelved in 2015.
On the 15th of July 2024 the planning application for this development was withdrawn. Neither the Cornwall Community Land Trust or the Cornwall Council Planning websites detail the reason for this action. However, a look at the related correspondence attached to the planning application reveals that:-
The offices of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, together with Historical Environmental Planning (Archaeological) and Public Protection Contaminated Land, had been involved and consulted and had subsequently indicated that no site development would be possible until a “multiplicity” of checks and conditions were met.
It therefore seems likely that the problematic nature of the plot of land made the development costs for affordable housing prohibitive.
It does end with a good news story though. A local couple have now purchased the land in question and have set about planting a variety of indigenous trees and bushes that will hopefully create a habitat for nature. We wish them well.
Although many may have their doubts about the overall feasibility of affordable homes to attract young families in a village that only has a 2 hourly bus service (that doesn't run on Sundays), no local amenities, and poor transport links (read tiny lanes that are problematic for commuter traffic) it appears that the legacy from mining has cast its shadow over a new proposal in terms of the remediation that would be necessary to make building such homes possible. Cornwall is in dire need of affordable housing for local residents - surely there must be brownfield sites available with good transport , local amenities, schools etc without the need to develop greenfield sites?
The venture capitalists, politicians and junior miners pushing the agenda of renewed mining in Cornwall are less vocal on where all the people for "thousands" of jobs they propose to create will be housed, or how the already creaking local infrastructure of schools, hospitals (sorry hospital), waste water treatment etc will be financed.
An Update On Our Water Testing Results
In February 2025 our water monitoring team carried out another round of surface water sampling along the Porthleven Stream. The samples were collected from various points through the Flow Valley and Roseladden to Porthleven. (The group has been collecting data since June 2022 - see https://www.protectwhealvor.org/water). The testing is done by an accredited laboratory and is funded by GWVCEG. Our intention is to continue the water sampling for as long as possible so that we can establish a reliable baseline for the amounts of pollutants. This will enable measurement of any future changes.
The Environment Agency also monitor the stream, although their last published results were in 2019. They found the stream to be ‘Poor ‘ or ‘Fail’ in terms of the concentrations of most metal elements and gave the reason as being consistent with ‘abandoned metal mine workings’.
The Environment Agencey found high levels of Cadmium, Zinc and Nickel. These findings have been borne out by our recent testing. Mercury was also a ‘Fail’ in 2019, although our recent testing shows lower levels. Arsenic levels have fluctuated over the past three years, but this year at a particular point has shown high levels. More details of the water testing carried out by the GWVCEG team will be published shortly.
Cornish Tin Ltd have also been monitoring the pollutants in the same stream. In one of the latest posts on their website they say the following:
‘CTL has been carrying out weekly water sampling within the Licence Area on a continuous basis since April 2022. The water sampling takes place in two locations, both of which are on a small tributary of the river Leven. One location is upstream of a discharging historic mine shaft and the other location is downstream from the same shaft. This allows analysis of surface water and also water discharging from the historic mines. As at 16th July 2024, 224 samples had been collected by CTL’s geologists. Whilst the water samples show contamination related to heavy metals such as copper and arsenic as result of the historic mining, the results have shown that CTL’s exploration activity has not caused any discernible change to the geochemistry of the water.’
Did You Know?We're hoping (time permitting) to bring another recycling event to the area this year - the previous event we ran was a great success. In the meantime We've a few suggestions on how to reduce the amount of WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) we all produce, not to mention save a few pennies on the cost of replacement:-
If all of us (politicians included) carried forward these ideas, then there would be less need to dig new holes in the ground for the minerals needed for their manufacture. It's always cheaper to recycle than replace in the long run, especially when you consider the clean up costs of extractive industries (almost never borne by the companies concerned) Remember the four R's of environmental sustainability : Reduce (Consume fewer resources and products), Reuse/Repair (Finding alternative uses for products before discarding them), Recycle (Convert waste into new products) But also remember it's not just down to us to "do our bit", it's also down to those who we vote for to enact those principles in our name... and not be beholden to lobbying by vested interests. Promises of "jobs for tomorrow" need to viewed with an eye on the long term environmental and fiscal costs. |
One of our members recently had a letter published in the West Briton newspaper in which he succinctly argued that simple accusations of Nimbyism are ignoring the wider picture of what's actually involved when the miners seek to return to Cornwall.
NIMBY AND PROUD
Yes I admit it. I’m a Nimby. As such I am No.1 on the Government's hit list of folk who are holding up the rush for growth and, more locally, the release of Perran Moon's Cornish Celtic tiger! In my Cornish world, the back yard part of Nimbyism stands for the whole county of Cornwall which - in case you were not aware - is under the imminent threat of renewed industrialisation in the form of mining and mineral processing.Of course, we have been here before and despite the romanticism of Poldark the reality was exploitation, early death and social upheaval. The only winners then were the aristocratic mineral rights owners and the venture capitalists. And in 2025 nothing has changed. That is still the situation except we now have the proven reality of climate change.
To meet this reality transition minerals are needed. Which ones, in what quantity and at what true cost locally, nationally and globally must be the subject of the closest scrutiny. This must go beyond a mere Parliamentary debate, beyond the lobbying of multi-national mining companies, and even beyond the quick profit mentality of a government (any government). Serious intellectual thought should be exploring recycling, substitutional materials and holistic cost analysis.
Locally, we should support the South Crofty project on the basis of its existing infrastructure, estimated lifespan and perhaps some overdue economic payback to the people of Camborne and Redruth for the years of deprivation created by the historical collapse of mining.
Finally to awaken Mr Moon's Cornish Celtic tiger let's focus on agriculture, tourism, fishing and new technology - the things we know we are good at. Oh, and make sure our local population have somewhere to live too.
Andrew Brown
Local Events for Spring 2025
Carleen Village Hall Soup and Pudding Morning Saturday 29th March 2025
Come along for a bowl of hearty soup and tasty pudding to Carleen Village Hall from 12 noon to 1.30pm. Any allergies please call 01736 763297
Ale & Cider Festival, Atlantic Inn Porthleven Fri 4th April - Sun 6th April 2025
If you like your Ale or Cider get down to the Atlantic Inn in Porthleven and sample their wares!
Helston Farmers Market at the Old Cattle market Helston
First Saturday of every month starting from 5th April 2025, A real community event, people come from all over the local area to stock up on the freshest local produce, be it potatoes dug that very morning to award winning pork pies still warm from the oven, the market is a feast for all your senses.
Camborne Trevithick Day - Saturday 26th April 2025
Trevithick Day is a fun day out for all the family and has lots to entertain with historic engines of all kinds, food stalls, dances and more.
Flora Day - Wednesday 8th May 2024
Helston Flora Day Our local town has held the Flora Day and Hal-an-Tow celebrations for centuries and marks the end of winter and the coming of the summer. If you've never been don't miss it. Make sure you enjoy a pint of Spingo at the Blue Anchor while you watch the festivities.
Porthleven Food Festival, 2nd - 4th May 2025
The Portheleven Food Festival is a firm local favourite showcasing foody talent from near and far. Also features live music in the evenings.
Stay in touch!
If you want to tell us about your upcoming event, or if you are considering becoming a member and actively supporting our campaign to stop mining and preserve our local environment, or have any queries please head over to our contact page.
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