13.01.03      
Funding provides the 'key' for major St Columb community project

The St Columb Major Old Market Centre feasibility study has been awarded £30,000 from the newly established Objective One funded ‘Rural Key Fund’ with the help of Restormel Regeneration Partnership’s Integrated Area Plan (IAP) team.

The feasibility study is the next stage in developing an innovative multifunctional community building and public garden on the site of the old cattle market, which has not been used since the mid 1980s. It is planned to use local re-cycled materials so that the building will complement and reflect the beautiful, surrounding architecture of St Columb. It will also be designed to be as energy and water efficient as possible.

Dave Shapcott, Chairman of St Columb Major Old Market Centre Steering Group who are developing the project, said, "We are extremely delighted to have gained the funding for the feasibility study, which is an important next step in achieving the project. The study will explore the possible options that we can take to achieve the project and ensure that it really meets the needs of the community.”

The Steering Group have worked very closely with Sally Heard, who is the IAP Development Officer for Newquay and its Rural Hinterland. "This is another example of how we can successfully work with community projects and develop ongoing, long term, effective relationships with the leading group.” Sally commented, "We are delighted to support this really innovative project that will make a such a big difference to St Columb and its community.”

Catherine Roberts, Key Fund Manager at Cornwall Enterprise, added, "The Rural Key Fund was set up to enable community groups to get involved in local regeneration and deliver their own Objective One projects. This project will enable the group to move closer to providing the residents of St Columb Major with a valuable resource for the future.”

Editor's notes:

Restormel Regeneration Partnership

Restormel Regeneration Partnership was established in 2000, with the object of making Restormel ‘…a more prosperous and lively area..’ by making maximum use of the opportunities for regeneration.

Integrated Area Plans (IAPs) are the way in which Objective One can help communities. These are the plans that integrate the economic, social and environmental aspects of the Objective One programme into a framework for use in a specific area. There are eleven plans throughout Cornwall, three of which (St Austell Bay, China Clay Area, and Newquay & its Rural Hinterland) are covered by Restormel.

The Objective One funded Integrated Area Plan team was established in February 2001 to deliver the three IAPs for Restormel. It can help with developing and supporting community based projects who wish to apply for Objective One funding.

The RRP team is funded by Objective One, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Imerys, Restormel Borough Council, and Health Action Zone.

For further information contact:
Katrina Waters
Administration Officer, RRP IAP team
Tel: 01726 623735
e-mail: Katrina@rrp.org.uk

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388

jason@dclark.co.uk

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