9 February 2010

New Kind of Shop Opens in Redruth - Redruth Information Exchange

Tuesday 9 February saw the launch of the Redruth Information Exchange at 2 Fore Street Redruth (opposite the Regal cinema).  Barbara Ellenbroek, Mayor of Redruth and Alan Jewell, Redruth Town Crier, cut the ribbon to open the Information exchange.  The Information Exchange is open from 10.30am - 4.00pm until Saturday 13 February. 

The Information Exchange is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in the Redruth Action Plan Project (RAPP), which aims to inform and create a 20-year vision for the economic regeneration of Redruth, together with a five-year action plan to start to bring that vision to life. 

Local youngsters from Red YOUth will also be at the Information Exchange at 11.00am on Saturday 13 February to give a street performance.

Kez Salmon from Red YOUth, which provides street dance, street music and street art classes for young people in Redruth, got involved with the RAPP through an earlier workshop for local voluntary and community organisations.  She believes that Red YOUth has already benefited from the RAPP by meeting other local organisations.

Kez said, "I would encourage other people and local organisations to get involved with the Information Exchange.  We have been able to look at some joint work with Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change at the Elms and the Redruth Charitable Trust, and it is great to know that there are other organisations out there working to provide and improve opportunities for the whole community in Redruth."

The Information Exchange aims to provide information about all local organisations who have been in contact with the Redruth Action Plan Project through a special information tree which is being put together in the shop at 2 Fore Street.  Following the event the tree will be given to the Town Council which will ensure the information is available on its website.

Everyone who visits the Information Exchange and participates in the consultation will also have the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw.

Prior to the Information Exchange, a report was prepared to quantify the economic position of Redruth.  For instance, only 25% of Redruth residents currently use their town centre.  The report also considered the barriers to investment such as poor access, image and potential flood risk.  A summary of the report is available on this website go to the 'What We Do' page and click on 'Redruth Action Plan Project'.

Barbara Ellenbroek, Mayor of Redruth, said, "I hope that the whole community and especially our young people will want to get involved with the Information Exchange in Fore Street.  Redruth has a strong community spirit and I would encourage people to come and share their ideas so that they can influence the future of their town to make it the kind of place that they and their children will be proud to live in."

The RAPP is directed by a steering group made up of South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), Homes & Communities Agency, Cornwall Council, Redruth Town Council and is managed by CPR Regeneration, the urban regeneration company for Camborne, Pool and Redruth, utilising investment from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).