The Parish of Gwinear-Gwithian lies in the west of Cornwall, in the former Penwith District. The Parish covers 2,889 hectares, and stretches from the coastline at Godrevy Point down to Fraddam, incorporating the villages of Gwithian, Gwinear, Connor Downs, Carnhell Green, and the hamlets of Fraddam, Wall, Reawla, Roseworthy, Gwithian Towans and Upton Towans. The Parish is bordered by Camborne Parish to the north-east, by Hayle Parish to the west, St Erth Parish to the south-west, and Crowan Parish to the south. The civil parishes of Gwinear and Gwithian were combined to form the parish of Gwinear-Gwithian in 1934.
The Parish has a population of 3,261 living in 1452 dwellings. The Parish is currently assessing the demographic data from the 2011 census as a part of developing an evidence base for its neighbourhood plan. This will be shared with GGSCF to ensure that the community benefit is targeted towards the areas which will do most good. There are a number of pro-active residents’ associations in the Parish, and a good cross-section of community groups and associations who will be eager to engage with us when the fund is up and running. Parish plan crafted in 2009 (adopted) but applicable to 2010-2015 period has ‘technology, energy and climate change’ as a key Strategic Objective. GGSCF will be key in helping the Parish to deliver on the strategic objective.
As a predominantly rural Parish, farming is still the main industry, although tourism makes a significant contribution: the Parish hosts a number of caravan and camping sites, with visitors keen to use the beaches at Gwithian and Godrevy, the latter owned by the National Trust.
The Parish has also seen a substantial growth in affordable housing, with Connor Downs in particular earmarked through the former Penwith District Council as a village suitable for such development. In addition, on the edge of the Parish we have seen the growth of the West Cornwall Retail Park, and consequently increased traffic through Connor Downs as well as growing concern over the ability of an aging infrastructure to cope.
