Truro Together July August 2023

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COMMUNITY NEWSEver wonderedhow Truro’s Leatssystem works ?words by Richard BudgeThe leat system in Truro starts at WaterfallGardens just off St George’s Road, and isextracted from the river Kenwyn, but untilthe early 2000’s it was extracted by theuse of a wear gate system which theEnvironment Agency removed to reduceflood risk to the City of Truro during periodsof high rainfall and when the tide is in.The leat runs from there and heads down along thepublic footpath that leads on to Edward Street. Alongthis path is a Victorian ram which extracts water fromthe leat and then sends a percentage of the water upto the top of Victoria Gardens where it supplies thefish pond with fresh rehydrated water, and recyclesitself back down via a series of waterfalls and backinto the leat. The rest of the water the ram does notuse is returned to the River Kenwyn.The remaining water continues on through the leatsystem down into the leat in Truro where it gets toa tumble chamber and breaks off, and turns off left,up underneath the shops into the top half of PydarStreet. A section of this leat runs open now, right theway past the library and into High Cross, where theother section runs underground, also down to HighCross.As you go further down the leat, it breaks up againand runs down along Coombes Lane, next to W.HSmith, and then branches across Pydar Street andlinks onto High Cross. From High Cross there is afurther tumble chamber which continues down intoKing Street, around to High Cross, then continueson down, as well as branching off a side alleywaywhere the old Woolwich bank used to be, and comesout onto Boscawen Street at the top end of BHS.The section then runs all the way down on the lefthand side of Boscawen Street as you look towardsthe Coinage Hall. The rest of the leat continues toCathedral Lane where it branches back into the Laneand into Boscawen Street.This section then crosses Boscawen Street into atumble chamber where it is broken up into threedifferent feeds. One of these heads down to StNicholas Street, another continues along BoscawenStreet, and the last pipe comes out in lower LemonStreet and runs all the way down to Back Quay whereit runs past the Hall for Cornwall. However this sectionis normally cut off due to complaints from peoplewalking in the water going to the Hall for Cornwalland the Old Market Inn.The leat now struggles during the summer to havea sufficient water flow-in following the improvementworks the Environment Agency carried out to try andimprove flood risks, but has unfortunately reducedthe amount of water that flows in the City. As the riverlevel drops so does the leat. The leat is very muchdependent on a pull system that runs from CarvedrasOld Smelting Works. Here the river level is increasedby a series of planks create a dam so the pressureof the water builds and provides a flow that pushesdown through the river via a pipe which comes up ina bubble pool and supplies the leat.The leat originates, we believe, as a system theVictorians used for street cleansing and drinkingwater for horses, as if you look along many sectionsof the leat you will see steel eyes set into the granitevia lead, which we believe were used to tie horsesup when people visited the shops. Street cleansingwas important, because using horses also producedanimal manure and urine, and the leat was thereforeused to wash down the streets, ridding it of any litter,waste, or animal manure, washing it down the riverand away from the City’s centre.Nowadays the leat is maintained as an amenityfeature, and though we do have problems withthe leat regularly leaking into shops, basements etcetera. It was also designed before heavy busesand lorries which can cause stress and damage to theleat infrastructure, knocking out steps, and causingcracking and the such like.Also available is an in-depth index mapping systemof the leat, showing how it runs. There are twosections of the leat system no longer running, andthese ran down into New Bridge Street and past theRoyal British Legion where they reconnected anddropped back down into the river.Note from the editor: Thank you Richard for this amazing information. Ifanyone has a map of the leat structure or know where we can find one,please get in touch. therese@trurotogether.co.uk26 Truro Together is part of Community Together
What’s OnJulySat 15th July11am - 5pmEnergy ShowElectric vehicles, green energy and food. Help to avoid fuelpoverty and tackle the climate crisis.Chacewater Village Hall, Millennium Green and Recreation GroundSat 22nd July7pmPerranporth Carnival - Any theme goes!Dress up and enter the competition in the carnival.For more information check out Facebook pageunder Perranporth carnival. Judging starts at6.15pm at Bolenna Playing FieldSun 23rd July11am - 4pmCountry & Classics Charity Show in aid of Marie CurieClassic and New cars, stalls, cakes, dog show.Trewithen Gardens, Probus, TR2 4DD. £5 entryFriday 28th July7pm - 8.15pmSilent disco yoga at The Eden ProjectMusic and movement in the Mediterranean Biome£22.50 adults children under 12 £11.25www.silentdiscoyogo.co.uk/the-eden-projectSun 30th July10.30am - 3.30pmTruro Classic Car Show organised by Truro BIDThe show will take place on Lemon Quay. A chance to see a widevariety of cherished classic and vintage cars. Cars on show includeMorris Minors, ‘Whistling Billy’ The Racing ‘White’ Steam Car,Jaguars, Mercedes and a Bentley. Live entertainment. Free entry.Macmillan Cancer Support will be fundraising on the day.AugustUntil Sun 3rd Sept10am - 4.30pmSummer of Play at TrelissickTake part in the Summer ofPlay activities including naturetrail around garden, summersports, garden games etc.Free to NT members.www.nationaltrust.org.ukSat 16th August10am - 3pmFamily Fun Day - organisedby local Mothers’ Union.Included games, crafts,bouncy castle , cakes. Freeevent at Truro Cathedral.Refreshments at CommonGrounds Cafe.Fri 18th - Sat 19th August9am - 4pmThe Big Summer Shop SmallMarketStalls with beautiful wares,many Cornish. Alongside,delicious food from TruroFarmer’s Market.Sun 6th August11am - 4pmSat 26th AugustRoots Culture Summer MarketsGather 11.45am Hendra Park.An array of makers, artisanal foodParade starts at Middayand libations, great music and freePride will march through thepranic healing de-stress sessions.centre of Truro, with the World’sFree entry, family and dog friendly,largest Pride Flag. There will befree parking.live singers, comedians, dancersMount Pleasant Eco Park, Porthtowanand more.To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@trurotogether.co.uk27
Page 1 and 2: TRUROTogetherNEWS AND VIEWSKnow you
Page 3 and 4: TRUROTogetherUseful NumbersAge UK h
Page 5 and 6: JDSRoofing & PropertyMaintenanceLoc
Page 7 and 8: Improve,Don’t Move!Maximise the v
Page 9 and 10: • Electric Bike Specialists Cornw
Page 11 and 12: What’s on WeeklyPlease check even
Page 13 and 14: TRUROCLASSICCAR SHOWFREE TOATTENDVI
Page 15 and 16: Truro half marathonTruro Half Marat
Page 17 and 18: Council committeesThe 24 members of
Page 19 and 20: Beating Food Poverty - How to helpD
Page 21 and 22: To advertise please call 07786 735
Page 23 and 24: LOCAL BUSINESSOver 30 years’ expe
Page 25: Watch out forthe Swift! -Ranger’s
Page 29 and 30: LIBRARY NEWSSave the dates atTruro
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Truro Together July August 2023

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