Today St Ives Town Council has successfully negotiated a deal with Cornwall Council that will protect and enhance 46 buildings and spaces in the parish of St Ives.
These include parks such as Richmond Gardens, empty buildings such as Barnoon Workshop and the empty Longstone Chapel. Income generating property including the Sloop carpark will help fund the additional running costs and new services that will be enabled by the package.
The Town Council aims of the package are to:
- Protect important green spaces and re-imagine them for future generations
- Direct important investment into heritage buildings and bring them back into use
- Use commercial income to support investment and help the Council run services
For some tenanted properties, such as the NCI coastwatch and the Museum, the Council aims to be a responsible long term landlord and ensure these community facilities are protected.
With such a large programme, it will take lots of time and resources to complete the handover. The target is for four parcels of sites and buildings to be transferred over two years.
Mayor of St Ives, Councillor Johnnie Wells said:
“We are stoked that the Cabinet of Cornwall Council has supported the transfer of such important buildings and spaces to St Ives Town Council for the sum of £1 at their meeting on 14th June 2023. We thank the officers and members of the Council for their work and commitment to managing services locally”.
Councillor Rachael Gaunt, Chair of the Town Council Devolution Panel said
“Today marks the beginning of an important new chapter for our Parish. By working together with Cornwall Council and other stakeholders as a trusted partner we can secure a bright future for much loved open spaces and buildings. We see our role as a custodian, working for the benefit of the communities we serve”.
Details of the properties in the package can be found here
