The Betty outrage rumbles on with apologist Cornwall Council CEO Kate Kennally forever jumping to his defence, in a state of utter denial with regards to the level of offence the man has generated.

Mrs Armorel Carlyon is in her 80s, having been a long-serving Truro City Councillor and former Mayor of Truro. Her integrity is beyond question, while her lengthy record of dedicated public service says it all.

Ms Kennally is making a very big mistake if she is foolish enough to think that she can ignore the likes of Armorel Carlyon, Craig Weatherill or Julie Fox, all of whom will not be made fools of.

First, an exchange between the CEO Kate Kennally and a St. Austell resident, J. Fox:

From: <j.fox.contact@googlemail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2019, 5:21 pm
Subject: Public statement
To: <John.Betty@cornwall.gov.uk>, <kkennally@cornwall.gov.uk>

Dear Mr Betty

It has been recently brought to my attention that you're on record as having said "Cornwall and its people lack ambition". Under the FCPNM, I think you'll find that your statement borders on racism.

How dare you say that to the peoples of Kernow; of which you're no friend. You have been drafted into Kernow for seemingly the sole purpose of wreaking as much destruction as you can on our land and to accelerate the government's housing growth agenda.  This might be news to you Mr Betty, but this planet has but finite resources and not infinite. Kernow is but a small peninsula and its creaking infrastructure cannot support the additional population. 

You do not live here sir, it is us that will have to put up with the mess, air pollution, lower quality of life and ruined landscape long after you've departed Lys Kernow.

The peoples of Kernow are true blood innovators in every sense of the word. Many academics, poets, writers, historians, inventors, entrepreneurs etc etc (the list is numerous) were born Cornish, it is very   naive of you to say we "lack ambition" especially as you've probably not looked into our history. 

Our staple industries are farming and fishing, back in the hayday mining. We are the grafters of society. We are indigenous peoples of this land and, as such, we have a deep connection with it whereby we live off the land and the sea. When our land starts disappearing what are we to do? We won't give it up without a fight that's for sure.

Given your statement is on record, I would invite you to publicly apologise to the people of Kernow for your bordering racist statement.

Kind regards 

Julie Fox 

On Mon, 3 Jun 2019, 1:24 pm Kennally Kate, <kate.kennally@cornwall.gov.uk> wrote:

Dear Ms Fox

Thank you for copying me into your email to John Betty.

I can confirm that John Betty is now longer an employee of the Council and his employment finished on the 31st of March 2019. The new Strategic Director for Economic Growth and Development is Phil Mason.

Cornwall Council is ambitious for Cornwall. This is reflected in the priorities for Cornwall which have been agreed by Council and which shape the priorities and work of the staff working for the authority. You can find a copy of these priorities by clicking on the link below to the latest Council Annual Report which sets these priorities out along with the progress that we have made to deliver against these.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/media/38386473/annual-report-2018-to-2019-web.pdf

As the Council’s lead officer champion for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, we take our responsibilities seriously and call upon Government to do the same. Please see attached for your information the Council’s submission to Government to inform their submission to the Council of Europe on the progress being made under the Convention in respect of the Cornish. The government are due to submit the position of the UK Government early next month. 

All the best / Oll an gwella 

Kate Kennally

Chief Executive / Pennweythresek

Cornwall Council / Konsel Kernow

kate.kennally@cornwall.gov.uk

 

From: Julie Fox 
Date: 3 June 2019 at 20:12:47 BST
To: Kennally Kate
Cc: Betty John

Subject: Re: Public statement

Dear Kate

Thank you  for your email, the contents of which I read with interest. However, in the Councils annual report I read nothing of any substance and it  had nothing to do with my email to Mr Betty. 

With regards to your priorities as a Council, perhaps it would be prudent to go to areas that are severely deprived and ask the residents what the Council can do to make their lives better. 

You say "As the Council’s lead officer champion for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, we take our responsibilities seriously and call upon Government to do the same." 

And in the Framework Convention 5th cycle I find there is  "Article 6 – encouragement of a spirit of tolerance and take effective measures to promote mutual respect and understanding and co-operation among all persons. 

1. For many years those who identify as Cornish have unfortunately experienced incidents of hate. Sadly this still continues today through social media, online forums, local and national newspapers. These are often racist and derogatory, saying hateful and hurtful remarks.

2. The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities outlines clearly that hate speech against a national minority is not to be tolerated. As a result of this continual abuse posted online, it was a key topic of discussion at an engagement event to set Equality Objectives for Cornwall. This event consulted with public, voluntary and community sector organisations and emerging from these discussions, eight equality objectives were identified, one of which is to raise awareness of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. 

3. These objectives have been endorsed by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board, Executive Group and the Cornwall Equality and Diversity Network. The Council’s strategic partners have responded positively to the Cornwall Equality Objectives, with Devon and Cornwall Police adding a classification of ‘Cornish’ to ensure they can capture any hate incidents reported to them. 

4. As a member of all these groups, Cornwall Council has agreed its own set of equality objectives, which will contribute to the wider Cornwall Equality Objectives along with the organisations who have given their endorsement."

Given that Mr Betty's remark is at the very least derogatory and at worst racist; what are you, as Council CEO, going to do about it? Are you in any way shocked by his remark, because I was. 

5. Who is advising you on the FCPNM? 

6. If John Betty left in March, what’s his position now? I understand he still on the payroll at Lys Kernow.

Would you also be so kind as to answer these questions please?

Kind regards 

Julie Fox 

 

Meanwhile, former Planning and Conservation Officer in Penwith, Craig Weatherill had some words to say about this too:

From: Craig Weatherhill 
Sent: 02 June 2019 13:47
To: <John.Betty@cornwall.gov.uk>; <kate.kennally@cornwall.gov.uk>
Subject: Cornish ambition

Mr Betty ker,

You are on record as stating that ‘Cornwall and its people lack ambition’, echoing a statement uttered by the odious and ignorant Peter de Savary in the 1980s.

At that time, the Cornish national minority had no formal recognition nor legal protection, but you should consider yourself on notice that you have uttered a racist statement against the Cornish national minority in breach of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and that a formal complaint to the police will be issued unless you submit a public apology in the local Press.

The sheer ignorance of current senior officers of Cornwall Council with regard to Cornwall and its national minority people is the major part of the reason why the Duchy now finds itself in such a parlous state, and I attach a selective list that might provide some essential education.

Gans bolonjedh da,

Craig Weatherhill

WHAT CORNWALL GAVE THE WORLD

We are all too often told that the Cornish people are somehow “undynamic” and rather inferior beings in terms of skills and ingenuity.  The selective list below tells the truth.  If you are Cornish, take heart from these remarkable contributions to global technology and know-how.  If you are not Cornish, perhaps you will see this inventive people in a new light.  Cornish or not, the last two items are likely to astonish you – but they’re absolutely true.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE PLANET NEPTUNE: John Couch Adams, Laneast

ADVANCEMENT OF EYE SURGERY: William Adams, Morwenstow

NATIONWIDE POSTAL SERVICE: Ralph Allen, St Blazey

BEAUTY CARE: Elizabeth Arden (Florence Nightingale Graham), Hayle

ACCURATE NAVIGATIONAL CHRONOMETERS: John Arnold, Bodmin

SAFETY FUSE FOR EXPLOSIVES: William Bickford, Tuckingmill

THE CONCEPT OF THE SUEZ CANAL: James Silk Buckingham, Flushing

THE VOLTAIC ARC: Humphry Davy, Penzance

DISCOVERY OF THE POTASSIUM, SODIUM & CHLORINE ELEMENTS: Humphry Davy

MINERS’ SAFETY LAMP: Humphry Davy

THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Humphry Davy

THE DIPPING NEEDLE COMPASS: Robert Were Fox, Falmouth

THE STEAM JET: Goldsworthy Gurney, Padstow

FLASHING CODE FOR LIGHTHOUSES: Goldsworthy Gurney

CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATIONS: Goldsworthy Gurney

DOUBLE-BEAT STEAM VALVE: Jonathan Carter Hornblower, Chacewater

FIRST EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER: John & Richard Lander, Truro

BLOOD TRANSFUSION: Richard Lower, St Tudy

HYDRAULIC JACK: Richard Tangye, Illogan

LIFE-SAVING ROCKET APPARATUS: Henry Trengrouse, Helston

CORK LIFE-JACKET: Henry Trengrouse

SELF-RIGHTING LIFEBOAT: Henry Trengrouse

HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM ENGINE: Richard Trevithick, Illogan

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE: Richard Trevithick

ROAD CAR: Richard Trevithick

SCREW PROPELLOR: Richard Trevithick

COMPOUND STEAM ENGINE: Arthur Woolf, Camborne

FIRST POWERED FLIGHT: Richard Pearse, Trewarlet (flight of 150 metres flown in New Zealand 31 March 1903 – 8 months before the Wright brothers in America)

THE SAVING OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE FROM EXTINCTION: John of Cornwall, John Trevisa, Richard Pencrych

(Craig Weatherhill, Chi Rosmari, Hal an Tegen, Pennsans, Kernow, 2005.)

 

Then came this from Cllr Carlyon:

Dear All,

I have it on good authority that Mr. John Betty has left the employment of Cornwall Council, but then once again returned as a Consultant to Cornwall Council (April 2019).

I understand - but do not have confirmation in writing – that he is now to negotiate with the developers at Langarth (he has been doing this for the past 3 years at least, so how much longer does he need?!!).

Please remember that £159 MILLION of public money has been borrowed from the Public Loans Board and allocated to pay for the infrastructure for Langarth - to enable “developers” to build some 2,950 houses that we neither need nor want.

I also understand that he is now a Director/Chairman of the Wave Hub project at Hayle.

It is probably wise to check this out but I am fairly confident that the information is correct and there is more besides!

Best wishes,

Armorel C

 

Ms Kennally, the sooner you get it into your head that 'Bettygate'' is an insult too far to the people of Cornwall, the sooner we can perhaps move on to more productive matters.

The ball is very firmly in your court.

 

"John Betty in Cornwall" recap:

When Kate Kennally, from London’s Barnett Council, took on the role of Cornwall Council CEO just three years ago, she was quickly joined by development guru, John Betty, as Director for Strategic Planning & Development.

With the Langarth development going nowhere fast, as Sainsbury’s and other developers pulled out, mainly due to the lack of sewerage infrastructure, but also balking at the potential future costs involved with the Northern Access Route to Treliske and the cost of building a “Free” Stadium for Cornwall, among other costs, only one developer was left behind, Rob Saltmarsh of Inox.

He was already over-committed and couldn’t pull out.

Enter John Betty… with a plan.

Despite several rumours, protestations and accusations that Mr Betty was closely linked to Rob Saltmarsh of INOX in past developments, he nonetheless successfully oversaw the passage of the developments in the so-called Truro Western Corridor, over several farms, including Willow Green, Maiden Green, Ivydene, Langarth and West Langarth.

But instead of the developers paying for more totally unsustainable, unaffordable and unnecessary mass profit-generating (and generally syphoned out of Cornwall) housing and supermarkets – rather than another hospital with free car parking, surgeries and schools which should surely be the council’s priorities?! – the tax payers will pay… and they and their children will pay for a very, very long time as part of the Betty-Kennally plan to transform Phil Mason’s self-confessed “mess” into more urban chaos, thanks to the council’s visionary decision to take out another loan worth £600 million.

Given council tax payers already fork out some £1.4m per week on bank interest for other loans (the council has around £2bn debt already, according to their website), it’s fair to assume that this further loan to overdevelop the Treliske Hospital to Chiverton farmland west of Truro, will cost Cornish tax payers for many years to come; let’s hope inflation doesn’t come back as this would surely be the final financial, social and environmental nail in the coffin of a unique part of this island.

 

Towns & villages # of Supporters

Penzance-Newlyn-Helston-St Ives-Hayle 1,062
Redruth-Pool-Camborne 1,024
Truro-Threemilestone-Roseland-Chacewater 902
Bodmin-Liskeard-Wadebridge-Launceston-Bude-Saltash 882
St Austell-Clay Country-Lostwithiel-Fowey-Par 754
Newquay-Quintrell Downs-Perranporth-St Agnes 708
Falmouth-Penryn-Mawnan-Mylor 537

CORNWALL 5,869

Cornish expats / Others: 2,646
(of which) 
Exeter/Other Devon 203
Plymouth 155
London 124
Cardiff/Wales 124
Edinburgh/Glasgow/Scotland 83

USA/Canada 77
Australia/NZ 64
France/Spain/Italy 63

Total (03-06-2019) 8,515