BOSCASTLE BLOWHOLE No 45 Spring 2004 £1 New Faces and Old Favourites in Smash Hit Cave of Harmony Contents: Mike Hircock p6 Seaside Parish p8 Recycling p12 Historic Houses p16 Swaziland p17 Church & Chapel p18 Music Hall p23 District & County Councillors p29 Postmen p30 Doctors Surgery p36 Useful Numbers p41 Sports News p46 Editorial We are sorry to report that, due to ill health, Jim with articles and artwork but there is still room Castling has given up the helm of the Blowhole. for others to join the team. There is a need for Jim has been involved with the publication for someone with computer skills, also more help eight years or so, contributing many articles and with distribution would be much appreciated. most of the photographs. Since John and Yvonne Of course, we are also always on the lookout for Ayling left he has also been responsible for interesting copy to publish. The winter edition production, aided for a while by Alastair Priest. showed a marked rise in income from both sales Whilst we hope that Jim will still be involved from and advertising, covering the expenditure and time to time it does mean that more help is needed leaving a small reserve. if the Blowhole is to continue in its present form. Note from Philippa: Apologies for any errors or omissions Philippa Arthan finished off the production of this but setting up the Blowhole is not as easy as you would think! edition. Chris Rodda and Hilary Allen helped us Boscastle Blowhole Editorial Panel The editorial panel reserves the right to edit, accept or reject any material submitted for publication in The Blowhole. The views expressed within the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team. The team are: Jim Castling, Arthur Bannister, Chris Rodda Philippa Arthan, Daphne Rogers, Joan Cork and Noel Ward, Hilary Allen Photography and artwork by Jim Castling, Chris Rodda, Joan Cork and Noel Ward To advertise in the Boscastle Blowhole, please contact Daphne Rogers on 01840 250244 Copies of the Blowhole are available by post at a cost of £1.75 per issue Contact Philippa Arthan on 01840250483 or email: [email protected] Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2004 Page 2 unchanged at 120 times the highway" in Section 41 the new charge of 50p for of the Highways act 1980. View of the Village one hour! The Railways and Road by Arthur Bannister Coastal Car Parks Suffer Safety Act 2003 which received Royal Assent on So once again Coastal Car 10 July last year has added Parks suffer: at least in a clause to the Highways To encourage coaches to places such as Bude the Act. The clause states that use the car parks the blow is softened as there "a highway authority are charge has been reduced are Shoppers Cars Parks under a duty to ensure, as to £1.10 for the whole day. and Long Stay Car Parks far as reasonably The previous charges were as well as free practical, that safe £1.50 for two hours and supermarket car parks. passage along a highway £3.00 for the whole day. Boscastle has just one car is not endangered by snow Two years ago coaches park and it happens to be or ice." were charged £4.00 to the most profitable in No doubt there will be NCDC Press Release re park all day. North Cornwall. Even if debate about the Boscastle Car Park: the District Council thinks Now down to earth interpretation of "as far as The Press Release issued that visitors have District Councillors reasonably practical" by NCDC boasts “North bottomless purses they originally considered but hopefully we should Cornwall reduces Parking should spare a thought for raising the one-hour see an improvement in and Prices for the third year to Boscastle residents. charge in Shoppers Car around Boscastle next help Shoppers and Local Parks by 10p to pay for True Grit winter. Traders. NCDC will the reduction in the continue to offer the Local Councils and the Seats and Benches charges for coaches. Highways Agency will cheapest parking charges However, it was Malcolm Drover has been in Devon and Cornwall. now have a duty to grit awarded the contract to eventually decided to dangerous icy roads and For the third year running, increase the charge for carry out essential repairs prices in Shoppers Car pavements thanks to a to a number of seats and parking up to four hours in change in the law. Under Parks are being dropped to Coastal Car Parks from benches in the Parish. help local businesses and the new rules they must Several, beyond repair, £2.00 to£2.20. In addition grit skidding blackspots. attract customers to the weekly charge will be will have to be replaced. independent retailers. In England and Wales Our Parish Clerk, Bob increased from £14.00 to legal judgement has Last year the one-hour £15.00. Winter charges Smith, will be pleased to charge was reduced, this concluded that there is no hear from anyone who for up to two hours will duty upon authorities to year the two-hour charge rise by 25% to 50p. would like to donate the was dropped and next year remove ice from highways cost of a seat. Bob's The exorbitant Excess under the general both will again be Charge of £60 remains telephone number is reduced. responsibility to "maintain 01840 250440. Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2004 Page 3 public lavatories. Most taken this course of action disabled people would reluctantly and emphasise View of the Village prefer a less than perfect that they have no objection to service to no service at all. Post Office customers and From 1 October 2004, any Public lavatories are those collecting school Public Toilets - body that provides a service essential to everyone and children, staying for no more Cleaner to the public has a new legal should be protected. Local than 15 minutes. As part of a joint venture with businesses will lose out responsibility to consider Merlin Magic at Nansalsa the Parish Council, North what improvements they can because disabled and non Cornwall District Council is make to ensure their service disabled will not spend a Anne and Tim Dawson advertising for a cleaner in isn't impossible or pound if there's nowhere to recently opened their home in local newspapers and the unreasonably difficult for spend a penny…" Old Road over four days to aid the Merlin Project. They current Blowhole (see p 7). disabled people to use. That Parish Council Changes The cleaner will be might involve changes to put on an interesting art and After twenty-five years responsible for cleaning all of buildings. However the new jewellery exhibition, sold service Mike Hircock has the three toilet blocks on a law only requires what is books, clothes and bric-a- retired as Chairman of daily basis. reasonable. But many local brac as well as cream teas Forrabury and Minster councils claim the new and pasties. Raffle prizes Parish Council; he will Disability Rights legislation means that included a self-catering remain as a member of the Commission inaccessible public toilets holiday, a hamper and a Council. George Findlay "Councils warned not to must be closed. The DRC lovely pendant. replaces Mike and Arthur blame disable people for has heard of toilets being The Merlin Project is a new Bannister becomes Vice- public toilet closure" shut down in towns and charity set up in 2001 to raise Chairman. funds for a Multiple Sclerosis Writing to the Blowhole, cities across Britain where Therapy Centre in Cornwall. Graham King referred to a the new duties have been Wheel Clamping. News Letter published on the used as a reason for There are more than seventy On an increasing number of Disability Rights closure." MS therapy centres in the UK occasions vehicles parked but not one in Cornwall. This Commission's web-site which Bert Massie, Chairman of without authorisation in the is in spite of the fact that it said: "Local Councils are DRC comments "I urge Community and Recreation has the second highest using the introduction of the councils not to use the Centre car park has meant number of sufferers in the new disability laws to close Disability Discrimination that people using the Centre country. Only the Orkneys public toilets. Act as a false alibi to close have been unable park there. have a higher figure and they There have been as many as do have a centre. seven vehicles at one time At least £1 million is needed and some of them have been to set up and build the left for several weeks. When therapy centre. Anne and Tim gentle persuasion failed the raised more than £1,000 and committee members felt that took the central fund over the they had no option other £350,000 mark. They thank than to introduce clamping all those who helped them to and a security company has achieve this amount. been commissioned to carry For more information contact out this task. Committee Anne and Tim or visit members say that they have www.merlinproject.org.uk Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2004 Page 4 discuss plans to erect twenty two wind powered generators at View of the Village Worthyvale and ten at Otterham. Euphemistically named wind farms Best Kept Village are still a frequent topic of discussion Over Fifties Lunch but what would be interesting to Boscastle will be entering the Best Kept know is just how much electricity Every year, in January, the Cobweb plays Village competition again this year.