Newquay Aiming to Stay a Top Resort with Local Initiatives

Newquay in Cornwall knows that you can’t stand still to stay on top, and so it is making sure that local people can play their part by being involved  in the future of the  town that they call their home.

Residents  are being called upon to attend a special meeting aimed at instilling some pride into the resort.  An open meeting called ‘Pride of Place’ is being staged by Newquay Regeneration Forum on Monday, March 11 – it has been arranged to discuss the condition of Newquay’s public areas.  Officers from Cory, Cormac, Cornwall Council and Newquay Clean will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have.

Held at the Griffin Inn on Cliff Road from 7.30pm, organisers say the meeting is an “extremely fantastic” opportunity to find out about the general budget cuts and the ongoing impact on the council’s responsibilities.  Both town and Cornwall councillors have recently thrown the spotlight onto the image of the town centre and surrounding areas. Concerns have been raised regarding peeling paint on benches, derelict buildings and broken bins, among others.

A Regeneration Forum spokesperson said: “There have been grave concerns highlighted in recent press reports regarding the detrimental impact on replacement, maintenance and repair of street furniture and fixtures and fittings. Newquay Regeneration Forum Ltd urges as many people as possible to attend the meeting on March 11.”

Anyone wanting to submit a question should do so to the Regeneration Forum by emailing Claire Evans at b4csw@bt internet.com by Thursday, February 28, including your name.  Claire said: “Each person that submits a question will be given a slot to ask their question to the panel at the meeting We look forward to seeing as many people at the meeting as possible.”


Newquay Mayor Kevin Towill is also urging residents to attend the meeting. He said: “I think this is an excellent opportunity for residents and different organisations in the town to come along and question council officials under one roof. Cornwall Council is a very large organisation. Many people find themselves directed to different departments and individuals at County Hall.  One large open meeting is a simple and effective way to communicate. I’d encourage as many people as possible to attend.”

Fistral Bay in Newquay

Meanwhile as a separate initiative, SHOPS in Newquay are being offered the chance of a shop-front facelift thanks to £8,000 of funding secured by the Town Team. The money forms a “significant” part of the £10,000 which was awarded to the Town Team in 2012.

It was awarded following an application to become one of the UK’s Twelve ‘Portas Pilot’ towns in a Government-backed initiative to regenerate retail areas and high streets through community-led projects.  The Town Team is made up of representatives from  Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) and Newquay Town Council, as well as businesses, residents and community organisations.

One of 371 applications from towns across the country, the team won the sum to assist with the projects that it felt would make a difference to Newquay’s high street, and was made Town Team Partners, with access to resources and workshops on invigorating and improving town centres. Through the ‘Newquay Shop Front Improvement Grant scheme’, the Town Team is offering up to £250 per retail business for refurbishments and visual improvements to the outside of retail properties.

This could fund a new shop front, better signage, or even a simple paint job depending on individual requirements. The grant is available to local property owners, tenants and businesses in Newquay town centre from Monday, February 18, on a first come, first served basis. The Town Team says it is essential that people register their interest as soon as possible by logging onto www.newquaybid.co.uk and downloading and completing the expression of interest application form.

BID manager Eve Wooldridge  said: “The aim of the scheme is to help regenerate the retail sector by upgrading the frontage of shops, providing a more pleasant environment for residents and visitors, as well as brightening up our town centre.  We are targeting properties with shop fronts that are in the greatest need of improvement and that will bring about a significant positive impact to the area.”

Cornwall councillor for Newquay Central, Geoff Brown, said: “I am delighted that so many of our town centre retail businesses will be able to take advantage of this funding. It not only provides much-needed grant aid to local retailers and improves the visual appearance of our town centres, but it also has an important secondary impact on the local economy. Local painters and DIY suppliers will also gain from this grant, helping to boost the economy in Newquay. I hope that as a result more people visit our town to shop and to enjoy its refreshed appearance.”