St John Parish Council covers the settlements of St John village and Freathy/Tregonhawke, as well as the farms and businesses within the overall parish.
The population of the parish is approximately 400 people, and the parish is one of the smallest in Cornwall.
The boundaries of the parish are shown on the map presented on this website.
The Parish Council owns no land assets, and is responsible for the upkeep of the public footpaths shown on the parish map, as well as the memorial garden in St John.
The local Cornwall County Councillor responsible for the parish is Kate Ewert..
St John PC works closely with the other four parishes on the Rame Peninsula (Millbrook, Sheviock, Antony and Maker with Rame) with several initiatives driven by the “Cluster” of parishes including the Rame Neighbourhood Development Plan.
Community Fund
The parish receives an annual Community Fund of £3000 each year from British Solar Renewables in respect of the Freathy Solar Farm,
This annual sum is managed by the St John Parish Council and will be used on behalf of the Community.
If you have any ideas for using this funding, then you are invited to add your suggestions on the Contact Us page of this website.
If you do this then we would request that you give as much detail as possible and also say whether you could assist the PC in implementing your idea.
All suggestions will be considered at the next meeting of the Community Fund Committee.
Click here to see the last minutes of the Community Fund Committee, 
Draft minutes Solar Committee meeting 15th April 2021
Neighbourhood Development Plan
The Rame Peninsula NDP was approved at the local Referendum.
The documentation is available on the ramepeninsulaneighbourhoodplan.com website
See:-
https://ramepeninsulaneighbourhoodplan.com/final-submission-documents/
Chairman’s Annual Report for 2024/25
Finance
We have continued to manage our finances prudently, and this year we have been able to not increase the Council Tax precept for 2024/2025, as our finances have been supplemented by an additional £2040 from Cornwall Council, from income generated by the council tax on 73 second homes in the parish.
Our finances are healthy and we have an end of year balance of approximately £9,500 (which includes £348 in the Solar Fund account).
Planning
We have dealt with several planning applications for chalet improvements/rebuilds at Freathy and Tregonhawke, including using the principles agreed with Cornwall Council In the Planning Guidance Note which sets out expected approaches to developments of chalets. This includes advice on several aspects of development from access, cliff stability considerations, drainage, boundaries, roof overhangs etc.
This year there have been no significant planning applications in St John.
Transparency
We have continued with proper transparency with updates to our parish website, bulletins in the local newsletters and notice board coverage.
We endeavour to be transparent and we encourage open and public opportunity for discussion of planning applications.
Environment
We have been active on many issues in the parish in the last year.
This summer was the first with the parking restrictions at Tregantle where we hoped that visitors use the improved CC car park across the road to avoid the dangerous street parking preventing safe access for emergency services (and buses) to reaching the cliffside communities. Some vandalising of the new signage is being dealt with by CC/Police.
We continue to report potholes and road surface problems to Cornwall council via their website https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-parking-and-streets/roads-highways-and-pavements/report-a-problem-with-a-road-or-pavement/potholes/
I would request that parishioners do the same if they observe any such problems as more reports tend to raise the priority with Cormac.
We have had success in clearing mud in Sunwell Lane, as well as ongoing reporting of potholes and other dangerous issues.
We have erected a new bench down near the ford, and this has been welcomed by residents. We have also planted five saplings of the rare Black Poplar trees which should thrive in the tidal environment at the ford.
Memorial Garden
We continue to use Green Thumb to maintain the excellent grass quality at the memorial garden, and last year’s improved planted has taken well.
I would like to again thank Cllr Everard for his special efforts in this regard.
Our popular Christmas Tree will now continue to be supplemented by our floodlights illuminating the church tower (we increased the extent of lighting for Christmas 2024).
Solar Fund
We have continued to receive regular £3083 contributions, each January, from British Solar Renewables and are delighted that we continue to be able to fund local community investment. We have now received a total of £30,832.
The fund in the 2024-25 financial year was used to purchase the new noticeboard at Tregonhawke.
The funds received in Jan 2024 was mainly allocated to our parish church.
The funds received for 2025 was allocated to the two village halls together with donations to both St John and Freathy to fund VE Day celebrations.
Housing Needs Survey
We supported (and contributed funding for) Cornwall Council in a new 2024 Housing Needs Survey.
Finally
I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all councillors, and especially Roy Hoskin who has attended many external meetings and who ably supports all initiatives in Freathy.
I would like to thank Ben Crane for his commitment and help over the last four years, we are sorry to see him take a sabbatical and hope that we may see him back on the council again in the future.
I would also like to say thank you to Howard Everard for his fantastic contribution over the last fifteen years or so. Howard has stepped down from the Council, but has assured us of his assistance, particularly with the memorial garden, and advice in the future.
I would as always like to thank Caroline Allen for the solid, outstanding service she has given as Clerk.
We are all very grateful to the way Cllr. Kate Ewert has given the parish much support over the last four years.
2025 Election
There was no parish council election this May, as there were less applicants than seats, and therefore there remains a vacancy for one councillor.
Derek Richards
May 2025