Christine Phillpotts, chair of the Civic Society of St Ives, talks about the work of the group in this, her first monthly column for The Hunts Post. 

The civic society formed in 1968 to stop what is now the Harrison by-pass carving through the town, Holt Island and Hemingford Meadow.  

Today’s residents are equally concerned about HDCs St Ives MasterPlan which was all about pedestrianisation and housing infill but without credible ideas to address the decline of the town centre.  

At a local level, the St Ives Neighbourhood Plan, started just before Covid struck, has been revived and is ready for consultation.  

Our civic society, always keen to support consultations with townspeople, is kick-starting this one with a Q&A session at 8.45pm, after its AGM and talk 'Gothic Revival Architecture' at in the St Ives Free Church on October 20.

Nick Dibben, chair of the Neighbourhood Planning Group St Ivians will be taking the opportunity to have a say about how the town goes forward to make it fit for future generations, whilst retaining important features of the past, too. 

St Ives is full of historic features beloved by residents and visitors alike.  

Some, such as the bridge and the chapel are already Listed but there are many smaller, overlooked places - things which make an area unique or special: these deserve conservation for future generations.  

So, I am creating the first Local List to record these. If you treasure something in your area – a particular window or door, a green space - anything interesting - do write to me.

For details of our public talks for 2023-34 go to: www.stivescivic.org.uk

Copies of the Neighbourhood Plan will be on display at the St Ives Library and in the Town Hall.  To comment on St Ives town planning write to: np@stivestowncouncil.gov.uk

For civic enquiries contact me:  Chairman@stivescivic.org.uk

Further presentations and Q&A sessions are being booked with community organisation. Look out for posters and flyers giving dates. 

St Ives is a great town and gives much: this autumn saw the opening of the beautiful Elizabeth Bandstand on The Waits and the popular Sunday concerts, the Jazz and Blues festival filled every hostelry in town with music lovers sporting festival T-shirts .

The annual fair attracted families and young people from everywhere, and the Heritage Open Day brought 800,plus visitors into the Norris Museum to enjoy their Muddy Hoard exhibition and to Holt Island nature reserve.