IT’S that time of year when the Christmas decorations are returned to their usual place of residence – the loft! The same applies to Porthleven’s Christmas displays, stored away until the next year; and I must take this opportunity to thank the people and businesses of Porthleven who enabled the port to look the best it has done for several years. Special thanks must be made to Graham Barber and Roger Taft who have been stalwarts in the maintenance and ongoing improvements to the lights around the port. However, things may not continue to be so. A draft report commissioned by Kerrier district council regarding the conservation area of Porthleven has recommended that: “A new coherent lighting strategy would present the opportunity to remove some or all of the coloured light strings.”

This they say, would remove some of the “cluttered appearance” of the port.

The lights in Porthleven have been part and parcel of the appearance of the Port since 1986 and to the people of Porthleven it is part of its inheritance and charm. To lose the coloured light strings would make the overall viability of the festive lighting of the port questionable. The loss of the power point at the Harbour Head would mean that the local organisations and their events would have no power on hand.

Whilst the consultation period for these proposals expired on December 12 and the Porthleven lights committee made strong representation to the council, I am sure that anybody who sent their views to The Major Projects Team, Kerrier district council, Dolcoath Avenue, Camborne TR14 8SX., or e-mail: majorprojectsteam@kerrier.gov.uk would help to indicate the feelings that the majority of the people in the area have. Let’s hope that the festive lights and Christmas displays in Porthleven continue for years to come.

Peter Ward Head of Displays and Maintenance Porthleven Lights Committee