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| The Regeneration of Camborne |
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Page 1 of 4 Change on the horizon Once a great town of engineering and invention, Camborne suffered a change in its fortunes with the collapse of mining. Inspired by Camborne’s history and changes on the horizon, which include the reopening of South Crofty, Katia Ward investigates what the rebirth of Camborne will deliver. In the tale of two Cornwalls, Camborne is in other camp. Not for Camborne the beautiful locations and celebrity restaurants. In Cornwall’s heartland there is an absence of shiny 4x4s and new luxury saloons that proliferate in the more glamorous locations of West Cornwall and the North Coast. Now that the world no longer craves Cornish tin, Camborne and its neighbours are off the radar and easy to ignore. Even more so since the A30 now takes holidaymakers and second-homers along a bypass to their seaside destinations. Despite the obvious economic hardships that you can read on the streets and buildings of this fine Cornish town and on the faces of the inhabitants, there is a buzz to Camborne. There is a strong feeling of community, of belonging, of a determination to continue to despite the abandonment and neglect of the past few decades.  Centenary Wesleyan Church, Camborne, a symbol of the vast wealth once apparent in the town. Photograph by Mark Woods. The mind might conjure other representations of Cornwall: St Ives art, Newquay surf, Truro Cathedral and the famous restaurants of Padstein. Yet are these photogenic darlings of the English media about to be joined by the arrival of a reborn powerhouse of the industrial revolution? Many in Camborne see the difficulties that face this town, indeed they are difficult to ignore. Yet what residents hold dear are the many values and qualities that are plentiful in this economically deprived town. Brian Cory, a resident of 13 years standing who moved to Camborne from Bugle in the China Clay country, told me over a pint in the Tyack Hotel that he loved Camborne. |
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