ST AUSTELL mayor Cllr Crystal Pearce has been looking back at her year in office.

In a speech composed for this week’s St Austell Annual Parish Meeting, Cllr Pearce says: “Once again, the town council has had a good year and being mayor has allowed me to see St Austell with all its plusses and minuses very clearly.

“The town council continues to be the accountable body for the town centre revitalisation activities and the majority of this year has been taken up with the rooftop garden feasibility project which should be completed in the summer.

“The town council and revitalisation partnership have been receiving update reports throughout the year and it is hoped that once complete, there will be a ‘shovel ready’ project in place for the development of the old multi storey car park into a community space.

“Running alongside this project, the town council has secured funding to design and deliver a church piazza scheme and, hopefully, design and deliver replacement banners for the Poundland building. Final sign off by Cornwall Council for both projects is awaited.

“The town council has considered 80 planning applications and approved 18 grants for local organisations.

“The town council has also been involved in: the Bethel Park mine capping; the demolition of the old toilet block and the erection of a bat house in Poltair Park; agreeing additional funding for the town centre security guards, town centre planting schemes and Christmas lights; objecting to a major planning application at Aspen Drive which led to Cornwall Council’s planning committee refusing the application; providing free parking in Priory Car Park on the last four Saturdays in December for Christmas shopping; and taking on the planting at St Austell Station.”

The mayor says the council has facilitated a number of community events in its parks, including Coronation celebrations, the party in the park (Poltair), a charity dog show (Poltair) and a butterfly count (Linear Park).

The council refurbished Bethel Park, and other parks and open spaces have also received investment.

Cllr Pearce says: “We are still doing our bit with regard to climate change. A total of 45 trees have been planted since May 2023 in the town council’s parks and open spaces and we continue to maintain and enhance a number of wildflower areas.

“A new wildflower area has been created in Bethel Park and for the D-Day commemorations in June, poppies have been planted at Edgcumbe Triangle and Mount Charles Roundabout. The town council supported CASA’s green fair at Holy Trinity Church and the council’s grounds staff assist Edible St Austell at the Landrew Road community garden.”

In the speech, the mayor also covers a number of other issues and thanks the council for its support.