23.03.04
Action plan delivers first new project for Camborne, Pool and Redruth

The go-ahead has been announced for the first new project to come out of the £150 million Action Plan for Camborne, Pool and Redruth.

The Learning Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Ltd has just heard that it has been successful in securing investment from the Objective One European Social Fund and the Learning & Skills Council for a major training programme to develop skills much needed in Cornwall across a range of industrial sectors.

Although subject to final confirmation and agreement with the funders it is expected that it will see many people from local building firms trained at various locations across the county in sustainable and traditional construction skills.

One element of this project is a two-year training programme in traditional building skills leading to NVQ level 2 & 3 qualifications. This is the first phase of a £4 million project based at Robinson’s Shaft that has been developed by CPR Regeneration and is one of 15 schemes identified in the Action Plan launched on March 5.

This element of the project has been led by Kerrier District Council’s Robinson’s Shaft Working Party since July 2001, with this group being Chaired by Councillor Malcolm Moyle.

In developing the Construction Skills project the group has brought together an expert panel within the heritage sector that has worked with the North Kerrier IAP (Integrated Area Plan) Team, CPR Regeneration and those organisations delivering the scheme, Cornwall Sustainable Buildings Trust, Cornwall College and Constructive Cornwall.

Paul Bright from Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust said: "The Trust is delighted to be coordinating this important project as sustainable construction has so much in common with traditional building skills. Basic craft skills and the use of traditional materials like lime, cob and heavy timbers are increasingly in demand and nowhere more so than in the regeneration areas of Camborne, Pool and Redruth.

"In addition to the traditional skills at Robinson’s Shaft, we will be working with the renewable technology sector to provide the multi skilled workers needed to install renewable heating systems. We will also be giving seminars on sustainable construction methods and sustainable self building at venues around Cornwall.”

The first phase of the wider CPR Regeneration project will also secure the future of the mine buildings and the historic beam engine that they contain. A second, later phase of the project – which is being developed with local conservation bodies – will see the creation of a major geology-based visitor attraction and a centre for the history of Cornish mining and engineering based at the important heritage site.

The urban regeneration company has developed the plans for Robinson’s Shaft in partnership with Kerrier District Council and a range of other organisations.

Scott James from Kerrier’s regeneration team said: "There is a real shortage in the local area of people with traditional and sustainable building skills and increasing regeneration work – particularly in the heritage conservation projects planned for the area – are only going to increase that demand.

"This project will be led by the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust and Cornwall College, who will begin the process of ensuring that high quality traditional skills are once again provided by our local workforce.”

He added: "Having the skills will not only improve the employability of individual workers but it will also enable local firms to tender for valuable building projects both in this area and further afield.”

Tim Williams, chief executive of CPR Regeneration, said: "We’ve been tasked with driving the £150 million plans for the physical and economic regeneration of Cornwall’s former industrial heartland.

"Skills have been identified as one of the key non-physical drivers of this process and the Robinson’s site is at the heart of the main brownfield development area. We are going to take a license on the site, which will not only provide a base for the traditional building skills project but for protecting and restoring this historic place.”

Robinson’s Shaft was the original core of South Crofty and contains the most important of the National Trust’s beam engines in Cornwall.

Dr Williams said: "Although iconic, the resources hadn’t been available until now to secure the future of Robinson’s Shaft. In addition to training local workers in traditional skills, the buildings will be made wind and waterproof, and made safe and accessible for the public.”

Dr Andrew Green of the Cornwall Learning Partnership Company said: "What we hope to achieve over the next couple of years at Robinson’s Shaft will allow the construction industry in Cornwall to achieve a quality of work that will become their hallmark for generations to come.

"The benefit of this will also be felt by the general public, as buildings of heritage importance will have new life breathed into them.”

Leading local businessman David Brewer, who is chairman of the CPR Regeneration board, congratulated all the partners involved in putting the project and its funding together.

He said: "We launched our Action Plan on March 5 and we said it was about action not words. This is an early example of action and how we mean it when we say we will deliver.

"This project means really useful training for local communities and a shot in the arm for traditional building skills in the area. It should also lead to Robinson’s Shaft again playing a role in the economy of the area as we envisage it being the hub for the traditional building skills training project.”

Councillor John Woodward is a board member of CPR Regeneration and the cabinet member at Kerrier District Council with responsibility for regeneration.

He said: "This project will go a long way to delivering the necessary traditional skills so badly needed in Cornwall whilst at the same time helping to secure the future of Robinson’s Shaft.”

Editor’s notes:

Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk

back to top