Summer 2025 Newsletter
We hope that you, as a subscriber to our Newsletter, find the content interesting. We continue to do research into the state of health of our local stream, the Porthleven Stream and also to stay informed of the activities of the exploration companies that are operating in the area as well as monitoring the mining industry in general. Our intention is to keep you as well informed as we can, so that when the time comes to mount an objection to any proposed mining project, we have a collective of informed people who can make a sound judgement and make representation to local and central government.
We have a goal to build our subscriber network to over 500 people. When the time comes to make our voice heard, we need to prove that we have the backing of a representative number of people in the community: our subscriber network can be that proof. Please ask anyone you know who is opposed to the resumption of mining in our area to join our network. You can join by visiting our subscibe page
Water Monitoring
The group is continuing with regular testing for metal contamination in the Porthleven stream catchment. We now have four data sets which are consistently showing levels of contamination above environmental standards – in some cases significantly above. Although the cost of these tests has increased considerably since we started, we plan to keep going as we believe the picture that is emerging from this data will be important in determining the future of mining in this area. We also plan to start monitoring flow rates with the purchase of a flow rate meter to enhance the validity of the data in relation to volume of water in the stream.
We are looking at the possibility of joining The West Country Rivers Trust Riverfly monitoring programme. This involves a commitment to trained citizen scientists doing 12 sampling points a year. i.e. one per month. We think this would be an important addition to our metal contamination monitoring as it would provide an indication of the ecological health of the stream as well as the impact by metal contamination. The results will be interesting.
Cornish Tin Limited (CTL)
One of our group attended an Investors Meeting held by CTL recently. Approximately 70 people attended and were advised of the future exploration plans for Tin and Lithium in the area. CTL is interested in a lithium field three times the size expected that extends 4km North and South and 1-1/4 km wide in the Tregonning Hill area. It is unknown to us at this stage if extraction would entail surface or underground mining.
The addition of Lithium to CTL’s exploration plans is very concerning for residents of this well populated area on all sides of the hill particularly as they indicated production to be in place by 2030. (If feasibility studies and planning consents allowed). Further exploration in the Tregonning Hill area is scheduled for autumn of this year comprising 600 surface samples and 5 or 6 boreholes. They have enough funds to continue their exploration work until the middle of 2026 and will then have to raise additional funds thereafter. They have declared Government support, local MP and Cornwall Council support, but no mention of community support.
Nimby’s Corner
One of the compensations of being part of the GWVCEG community is that the thoughts and actions we undertake are to protect a fragile environment for generations to come. What better cause is there for us to be involved in? As we can see, the world is finding it difficult to move on from a dependence on oil. The fossil fuel industry exerts a huge influence upon governments, the media and a plethora of vested interests. This is an industry at the start of its death spiral whilst the coal industry – another huge 20th century industry – has already reached the bottom of the same spiral. ‘So what?’ you may legitimately ask. How does that fact help us fight mining applications in Breage?
There are lessons to be drawn from this historic perspective, which need to inform local and national governing bodies when making decisions about mining projects. Such decisions need to be subject to the most rigorous fiscal, geological and social scrutiny.
A serious example of this situation recently occurred in a South Wales coal mining community, where the operators, having enjoyed a long history of profit from opencast mining including a self-appointed year long extension to their licence agreement, has now reneged on meeting the full cost of clearing up and sterilising the site for the local community to reuse. What a way for governance to treat a mining community hewn from years of hard labour, exploitation and mismanagement on health and safety issues. (some of us still remember the tragedy of Aberfan) Make no mistake – the same situation can apply here in Breage if safeguards were to be either insufficient or non-existent.
We know the miner’s balance sheets can never represent the true cost of reparations or even unexpected abandonment. Mining is a highly complex and speculative activity at the mercy of fickle world pricings and the uncertainty of ore quality and quantity. So our GWVCEG community challenges governance in all its forms to answer the following questions:
Before you grant planning consent for a new mining project, can you give the Breage community guarantees that all competitive, substitutional, environmental and community impacts have been considered??
Will the decision process be fully open to independent review?
Will bond placement against default be based on ore production or on an upfront payment plus an insured indemnity to a maximum value determined by an independent review?
The final questions therefore are:
Is this something the UK should be doing?
Is there still place in the world to trade internationally with poorer countries who rely on the winning and exporting of minerals needed for the energy transition?
Can we as a nation devote more focus on recycling and reducing consumption to stop this madness?
PEOPLE POWER. PERSISTENCE PAYS
One piece of encouraging news for our GWVCEG community came last month with news from a Devon quarry planning proposal that reached beyond the stage of a Judicial Review and proved to be a classic example of the importance of campaigning groups not giving up in the fight to protect their environment.
The full story played out over more than twenty years and featured the enthusiastic campaigning of an environmental group (like GWVCEG) the local council and the County Council on one side and the Applicant on the other. Unusually the initial planning application was refused following a very comprehensive rebuttal from the opposition. However, the applicant’s business was taken over by by a large multinational company, who submitted and funded a judicial review of the planning refusal. The review itself took place at the end of 2024 with great research and attention paid to expert testimony, especially in the areas of water supply and quality. It concluded that planning permission would be granted but subject to a list of conditions reflecting the concerns of the environmental group which included the commitment to reduce rock extraction by about 25% p.a. This setback apparently did not deter the group from continuing to raise minor concerns of tree placements access points etc. In other words, it became obvious that the environment group was going to be ‘a pain in the neck’ to the company. The happy ending so far is that the company has withdrawn its planning application and put the site up for sale. Current status unknown.
Conclusion – Persistance Pays.
Tea Treat 2025
The fourth annual Carleen Tea Treat took place on 2nd August. The weather was especially kind to the revellers who joined the 7 ft Goat in procession from Carleen village hall to Trew Green for dancing and games. Local musicians played them on their way to what has become a firm favourite in the summer calendar.
This year, there was an optional ‘goat’ theme for those making flags or dressing up. This is to celebrate what the area used to be known as – Nanny Goat Country!
The event has proved very popular particularly with the approximately 40 children who, once exhausted from all the running around, were treated to a sumptuous tea in Carleen village hall donated by the local community.
In the evening, the adults enjoyed an energetic ceilidh with music from The Rosevilles. The event raised hundreds of pounds for this joint venture of the Carleen Village Hall Committee and for the Great Wheal Vor Community and Environment Group. Both groups would like to thank everyone who took part and helped to make this such a successful and memorable day. More information can be found on Protect Wheal Vor by GWVCEG Facebook page.
Upcoming Local Events
FINALLY WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are increasing our water monitoring of the local watercourses and we are looking for two enthusiastic people, interested in all things aquatic, to help us in our field research on a one day per month basis. As with all of us volunteers there is no financial reward – just the knowledge that you will be helping us protect our waters and wildlife in Cornwall. — If you know someone who may be interested please let us know through the contact page on our website
Stay In Touch
If you want to tell us about your upcoming event, or if you are considering becoming a member and actively supporting our campaign to stop mining and the destruction of our local environment, or have any queries please head over to our contact page.
If you’d like to hear more local news and events from the Breage Parish area then feel free to sign up for our free mailing list.
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