I mean, it’s probably time I shared some of the good stuff, right? I feel like I’ve fallen down a bit of a hole lately… or maybe I’m like a wild animal that’s been backed into a corner (we all know how that ends). Thank you for bearing with me!
But amid all the politics (who knew there was so much politics in politics?), the pomp, and the frequent belittling, there are actually some really positive things happening, definite reasons to smile.
The Overgrown Bush That Made My Day
A lady messaged me today, someone I didn’t know. She’d first been in touch a couple of months ago about overgrown bushes. I asked her to take a few pictures, and I’ll be honest, I knew straight away it probably wasn’t going to be “a me thing.”
I always get that sinking feeling when I have to say, “Sorry, that’s Cornwall Council’s responsibility.” But she sent the photos, and I passed them on to the Cornwall Councillor on her behalf. I didn’t think much more about it.
Then today: ping, ping, ping — photos of a neatly trimmed bush and a big thank you. I hadn’t really done anything. But sometimes, just listening and trying is enough. Actually getting what you want is a bonus!
Motions in Motion
We’ve also passed two motions recently, I think I mentioned that last time, somewhere between my moaning and my mild despair.
It’s a great feeling, though. A bit of research can go a long way. As town councillors, our remit is limited when it comes to direct action, but that doesn’t mean we can’t represent.
One of the biggest local frustrations (and not just here in Redruth) is the decline of the high street. There are all kinds of myths and finger-pointing about why, but not much acceptance that this is a national problem, or any clear ideas about what to do. And, to be fair, not much commitment to using the shops that are still here.
So I did a bit of digging. I came across High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), introduced by the government in December 2024. The idea is simple: if a retail property has been empty for 12 months, the local authority can give the owner a deadline to rent it; and if they don’t, the council can bring it up to standard and auction it off to rent.
It sounded perfect. Despite several empty units in town, only one actually met the criteria, as most are for sale. Still, it felt like a great opportunity for Redruth, a small-scale test case. So we put together a motion asking Cornwall Council to trial the scheme here. It passed unanimously, and off the email went.
You won’t be surprised to hear the response: they don’t currently have the resources to run the scheme. But it’s given us leverage and started conversations that wouldn’t otherwise be happening. Sometimes you just have to keep reminding people that Redruth is here, and worth investing in.
That’s definitely something to feel good about.
Reasons to Smile
And then there are the emails and comments, people saying thank you, asking for help, or just reaching out because someone’s told them I’m a positive person. Those little moments mean a lot.
Over 100 people have now joined Rise Up Redruth, adding their names to a list of residents who want to give their time and energy to the town.
I’m not going to pretend any of this is easy, because it isn’t. But I keep reminding myself, it’s only been five months. We’ve already come such a long way, and there’s so much to smile about.
Leave a Reply