Luxulyan Valley and Charlestown village are two much-loved, iconic ‘jewels’, on the south coast in Cornwall. In 2006 they were joined into one area within the UNESCO Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site, recognised for the Outstanding Universal Value of the landscape and industrial heritage.
Today, as we pass the 20th anniversary of the Boscastle flash-flooding disaster, we – the local residents and businesses – alert the wider world to a Pivotal Moment. Through an amateur, voluntary and entirely unofficial process of local interviews, conducted by children’s author/educator Caroline Stephenson and her colleagues Bob Hatton and Lyndon Sid Allen, the outcome of neglect, ignorance, housing developments and drive to make profits has been exposed. Everything here is at risk … nature and people, their property, memories and livelihoods, from man-made, rather than natural threats.
But this is also a time of opportunity. A new 5 year management plan is set to kick in from 2025. Cornwall Wildlife Trust has a strong commitment to helping turn around the Par River catchment for nature, whilst keeping a balance with our history. Although we are fearful of the sale of Charlestown Harbour (if confirmed), plus the Shipwreck Centre and village collection, this also gives us the opportunity to achieve a new, better-protected status into the future. £656,047 of Levelling Up funding has been assigned to the harbour – a private business – which we propose would be better spent on a rescue plan that addresses the risk of another flooding and/or environmental disaster through our entire WHS area.
So please sign our petition, by taking the link at the top of this page. Ideally also either read about the local interviews process in Green Fridays blog reports; or at the very least watch the Water films, on Meadow Barns YouTube channel: – A to C sections for Luxulyan Valley, but then especially section D for Disasters and G-H Going for Hope, which feature Charlestown. Here is short summary of the main risk at Charlestown.
The petition commenced on Monday morning 19th August and we plan to keep going until at least Wednesday tea time, 11th September 2024. The next day (Thursday 12th) we will come together to make future plans (Route to 2039) at a public meeting in Alexander Hall, St Blazey. At 16.00 hours doors open for watching films, 18.00 for the meeting itself.
We are limited to 70 in the audience; tickets will be allocated to each person signing the petition on a 1st come 1st served basis. But if demand exceeds space we reserve the right to select the most appropriate persons and will set up another event in Charlestown.
Thanks to so many local voices, for playing their part and continuing to contribute to this consultation. Now let’s share the films and add many more followers.