If your business produces or sells Cornish or Scillonian goods then I
want to hear from you. On March 8th I am hosting a 'trade show' in
London where you have the opportunity to promote your wares to some of
the top hotels, retail outlets and chefs. There are just a few stands
remaining for producers based in the St Ives Constituency. This event
has three simple objectives: to support local businesses to grow and
expand, to promote Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and to nurture and
develop the 'Freight on the Rails' initiative. Already local
businesses are using the new freight service to get their goods to
customers in London and it is hoped that the event in March will
create new business opportunities for local producers and demonstrate
that the freight service is a reliable, safe and environmentally
friendly method of transporting both fresh and non-perishable
products.
Following the fuel poverty conference at Penwith College last week, it
was encouraging to see the determination locally to help people in West
Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly to have warm homes and affordable
energy.
At the conference we identified a list of priorities which include,
securing funds to insulate homes properly; bring an end to prepayment
meters (that force people on low wages to pay extra for energy); work
to ensure people pay the lowest cost possible for electricity, gas and
oil; use renewable energy solutions to replace inefficient heating systems; secure funds to externally insulate
park homes and argue for a green deal equivalent to help private
landlords improve their housing stock.
It would take just 3% of the Government's infrastructure spend to
bring every home in the UK up to a Band C energy rating (which the Government has committed to by 2013). This is money
well spent if local small businesses secure the contracts to deliver
the work and, in Cornwall, we have the businesses and skills to do
this work.
The benefits are healthier homes for all ages, reduced hospital
admissions, lower energy bills, new skilled jobs and lower carbon
emissions.
Derek Thomas