Key Documents

This is where we will post key documents and letters which will be of interest to everyone in the Village.  They are also referenced in other places within the site - but this page will act as one central respository.  Click on each link to read the document - you will be asked if you want to open or save the file.  If you choose open, a new window will be opened containing the document.  If you choose save, you will be asked to select somewhere to save the word/jpeg etc document.

1. Cornishman Article - 25/02/1960.  Click here to read.

This historical article documents the cessation of all industrial activity on Port Navas Quay from 1960.

2.  Falmouth Packet Article - 26/02/1960.  Click here to read.

This historical article demonstrates that since the 1960s all industrial activity was prohibited on the Quay and that appropriate compensation was given at the time to the affected parties.

3. Letter from Duchy to Port Navas resident - 10/09/1963.  Click here to read.

The Duchy states that it is pleased to preserve and protect the Quay for the residents of Port Navas.

4. Application from the Oyster Unit for a Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) Grant - 22/09/2006.  Click here to read.

It appears that the Oyster Unit failed to obtain planning permission prior to the erection of this lighting.  Click here to see some photographs of the offending lighting, taken June 2008.

6.  Emails from Natural England regarding the Oyster Stock and placement of metalwork in the Helford River - various 2008.

Natural England expresses deep concern at the methods and approach of the current tenants of the Oyster Unit.  Click here to read email of 12/02/2008.   Click here to read email of 19/04/2008.  Click here to read email of 21/04/2008.

7. Letter from Duchy to Natural England - 11/04/2008.  Click here to read. The Duchy contends that it should be exempt from EU Habitats Regulations.

8. Email within Natural England regarding EU Habitats Regulations - 08/05/2008.  Click here to read.

Natural England expresses concern that the Duchy and Mr Ben Wright (Oyster Farm tenant) believe themselves to be excluded from the EU Habitats Regulations.

9. Email from Mr Ben Wright to Natural England regarding his funding - 04/06/2008.  Click here to read.

Mr Ben Wright expresses surprise at Natural England's concerns and the subsequent possible threat to his funding.

10.  Letter from Natural England to the Mr Ben Wright of the Oyster Unit / Factory - 30/06/2008.  Click here to read.

This letter was posted on the Village Noticeboard, but was torn down.  Natural England requires the Oyster Unit to remove the trestles and sacks immediately.

11. Letter extract from Mr Ben Wright to Natural England contending the concerns that have been raised - 17/07/2008.  Click here to read.

12. Order from Natural England to Mr Ben Wright to remove Oyster trestles by 31/12/2008 - 05/08/2008.  Click here to read.

13. Draft press release from Natural England regarding status at the Oyster Unit - 05/08/2008.  Click here to read.

14. Letter from concerned local resident to the Kerrier Conservation Officer about the damage at the Quay - 18/08/2008.  Click here to read.

15. Letter to The Times from a local resident about damage to the SSI and the Port Navas Quay - 17/10/2008.  Click here to read.

16. Letter from the Royal Yachting Association's Legal and Government Affairs Manager to the MFA about Oyster Cages and 'potential obstruction or danger to navigation' - 02/12/2008.  Click here to read.

17. Letter from the late Chairman of Natural England to the Chief Executive of the Duchy of Cornwall expressing strong concerns over the Helford River - 14/11/2008.  Click here to read..
 
18.  Various emails in 2008 from the tenant of the Oyster Unit, Mr Wright to the MFA requesting funding.  Click here to read email of 12/09/2008.  Click here to read email of 18/12/2008. 

19. Letter from Mr Evans of the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) to the Oyster Unit about the Coast Protection Act - 22/12/2008. Click here to read. 

Mr Evans states that permission is required to place the oyster cages.  He expresses concern about the positioning of the cages and believes the cages may present a navigation risk and require proper authorisation under the Coastal Protection Act.  It appears that 40 cages were placed in situ prior to the MFA letter of 22/12/08.

Click here to guauge the size and scale of such cages.

20. The Oyster Unit notifies its application for the cages in the West Briton - 05/3/2009.  Click here to read.

21.  Letter from the Oyster Unit Tenant to the Helford River Association's Robert Williams - 13/03/2009.  Click here to read.

Mr Ben Wright states that the 40 oyster cages are already in place.

22. Letter to the Marine Enforcement Team (MET) of the MFA requesting an investigation into the placement of Oyster Cages as a potential navigation hazard - 07/04/2009.  Click here to read.

23. Extract from West Briton article 16/04/2009 and subsequent retraction 23/04/2009.  Click here to read.  PNQP Ltd requested a retraction over inaccuracies from the Oyster Unit at Port Navas – reported in the West Briton on 16 April 2009. The West Briton kindly reported the attached retraction on 23 April 2009.

24. Natural England's own review of its handling of a Freedom of Information Act/Environmental Information Regulations request produced an interesting internal email (23/7/08) hitherto not revealed by NE.  Click here to read.

25. Letter from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) to the Duchy of Cornwall 04/06/2009.  Click here to read.  The CPRE summarises its concerns over the environmental impacts caused by the oyster cages to the Helford River SSSI, SAC and AONB.  It also lists the other issues present elsewhere on the Helford River.  The CPRE challenges the Duchy (as the competent authority) to carry out an environmental assessment.  Please read in conjunction with documents 8 and 17. Please make your views known in writing to the Chief Executive of the Duchy of Cornwall. 

26. As a Special area of Conservation (SAC) the Helford River has special protection under  what are generally known as the ‘EU Habitat Regulations’. A formal complaint has now been made to the EU that the UK Government has failed to comply with the law regarding the Helford River and is in breach of these Regulations.  The complainant writes that "The public body that is responsible for the matter leading to this complaint is the Duchy of Cornwall."  Click here to read the complaint which the EU is now considering. Please look also at Document 24 and the email from Natural England to the Duchy of Cornwall of 23 July 2008 on the subject. A year ago NE wrote to the Duchy that “I am concerned that the reputation of the Duchy could be vulnerable if a third party were to complain to the European Commission regarding management of the Fal and Helford SAC.”

27. Data Protection Act.  A copy of the key legislation.  Click here to read.

28. Freedom of Information Act /Environmental Information Regulations.  The different rights of access to information for ‘environmental information.’   Click here to read.