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Six young school children were on ‘official duty’ when 20 new homes were opened in the sunshine and under a dazzling blue sky at Carbis Bay on Friday (11 September). It matched the occasion – for these were local homes for local people and are already fully occupied.
All six youngsters live at the new ‘Teyla Tor Road’ off Polmennor Drive, a Cornish name meaning ‘family land’ chosen by 8 year old twins Jasper and Milly Moffatt. They remembered it also as a farm field and Jasper brought his ‘before and after’ drawings of the scene.
The new £3.5 million development comprises 12 houses, two flats and a bungalow for rent, together with five houses for ‘affordable home buy’. The building work was by ROK of Truro and the official events were led by Gail Hunt, Chair of Penwith Housing Association (PHA) with Chief Executive, Andy Moore, Councillor Joan Tanner (deputy Mayor of St Ives) and Cornwall Councillor, Liz Penhaligan.
The scheme is the result of a partnership between Devon and Cornwall Housing Association, Penwith Housing Association; the Homes and Communities Agency; St Ives Town Council and the former Penwith District Council.
Head teacher at St Uny C. of E. School, Lyn McNamara, brought the children who held and cut the official ribbon and spoke of their pleasure in choosing the name. They liked it because it was Cornish, because their friends lived nearby and because they were brand new homes and they had their own rooms. Lilly Turner and Bethany Petre also added their comments.
Mrs Hunt welcomed everyone to “these beautiful houses” and Mr Moore thanked all who had contributed to the major venture. “We are here to celebrate” he remarked. The scheme was put together in partnership with the local authorities and received planning consent because it aimed to meet the needs of the area.
“We are proud to provide local housing for local people” he declared in thanking the builders and design teams. “But this would not have been achieved without the local co-operation in planning and finance. Without public money you don’t get affordable housing to rent built” and Mr Moore praised all who had put the scheme together to ensure its success.
Mrs Tanner agreed “It is wonderful” she commented and remarked that the Town Council had supported it so that local people could stay in the area – as well as thanking everyone on behalf of the Council. Among those at the opening were two sisters, Kath Matthews and Heather Rogers, whose family worked the ‘Laity Fields’ and who recalled their father and uncle breaking the land.
