The White River Vision project is a collaborative initiative to restore, enhance, and protect the St Austell Rivers catchment, which spans from Treverbyn’s clay country to the woodlands of Pentewan Valley and covers five parishes. Known as the White River, or ‘Gover Gwynn’ or ‘River Vinnick‘ in old Cornish, this waterway has been central to St Austell’s cultural and economic history. However, due to past mining and clay extraction, the river now faces pollution, flooding, and underuse. This project aims to rejuvenate the river, enhancing biodiversity and recreational access for local communities.
Led by Cornwall South Community Area Partnership (Kemeneth Kernow Soth) through funding accessed by Pentewan Parish Council, the project brings together the Environment Agency, Cornwall Council, South West Water, West country Rivers Trust, Imerys, five local Parish Councils, local landowners, and conservation groups including the 3 Bays Wildlife Group, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust, among many others. Together, these partners aim to balance environmental restoration with sustainable development, celebrating the area’s heritage.
Our key goals include long-term nature and community planning for climate resilience, developing a Vision Plan to guide growth and preservation, and designing short-term projects to address immediate needs. A project board, with representatives from various councils and organizations, will oversee progress. Community involvement is crucial, and we invite residents to participate through surveys and workshops to ensure the Vision Plan reflects local priorities.
We invite you to view the project details and share your feedback here! Your insights will help shape a resilient future for our community and natural spaces.
Please view the public consultation boards here:
M678 Public Consultation Boards
View the Vision Document here: white-river
