A Walk With Julian Narbett

Mr. Julian Narbett is a well known and some would say well-loved resident of St. Clears. He refers to himself as a ‘DockBoy’, which is a reference to the area of St. Clears where hewas born. I took a walk with Julian along the riverbank. It isa place that he is very familiar with as he travels along thepath most days. Julian has seen many changes in the area andis quite forthright and unashamedly scathing about some of

the things, which have gone wrong in the town. As we walk toward the town library Julianpoints out the boarded up window. “This is a disgrace,” he tells me, “this is the main carpark and a bus stop for coaches travelling to and from London. What must the people onthose buses think of this town when they see that?”

We move into the car park and Julian points out that theTown Council are trying to bring heavy stones fromPendine to use as seats in the car park. “Why don’t theyinvolve the youngsters and get them to make picnicbenches instead?” he asks. It appears that the decision hasbeen made with no community consultation and that thestones will appear when someone volunteers to collect

them.

When we reach a fishing area Julian points out that he isunable to access the river bank to fish because the gatewayis too narrow for disabled access. “No thought” he says. Itis quite obvious that no consideration has been given fordisabled access here despite the laws on discriminationagainst disabled people.

We get to the skateboarding area where Julian likes to goand chat with people. “Look, they have placed two bollardson the entrance.” It is quite obvious that the path is alsoinaccessible not only for disabled access but also forparents and grandparents pushing buggies. Julian points outthe dangers for children falling on the very uneven surface.

Now we start to get onto the river path proper. Juliancarefully manoeuvres his buggy into a well-worn track,which he has made because the path itself is also too roughfor his buggy. It is obvious that the journey causes Mr.Narbett some discomfort as he travels along. Julian asks“How can old people and mothers with prams get alonghere?”

As we progress along the path Julian points out that the stiles for riveraccess are in the wrong place. “Some men came along and put the stilesthere, but they didn’t even ask where the best place was. They go tonowhere. The fishing areas are now fenced off”. Some young boys arefishing and I ask them about the stiles. They too think that it is strangethat the stiles are not where the fishing pools are. Julian asks, “Whydon’t they ask people before making these decisions?” I am unable tooffer any answers as my own requests for information also go largelyignored.

The St. Clears Town Council meet on the third floor of the buildingknown as ‘The Craft Centre’. I asked Julian whether it would bedifficult for him to access the building if he were to become acouncillor. He tells me “There is a lift but it is awkward, the meetingroom is very small as well.” There is no doubt that Julian cares deeplyabout the community of St. Clears and that he believes that the peopleof St. Clears have been let down by those charged with looking afterthe town’s interests. Julian asks “Why don’t they stand down and makeway for some younger people?”

Editor’s Comment: There is an election in May 2012 and maybe Julian’s determination toseek answers will result in those who have ignored him suffering at the ballot box.Whatever the result, we need people like Julian Narbett to continue monitoring the welfareof this community. Lest we not forget, the community does not serve one serves thecommunity. Perhaps the boarded window could be payed for by the revenue from theTown’s car park. Perhaps the paths and hedges could be repaired and maintained usingmoney spent on a number of local fiascos. What becomes apparent when you talk to Julianand to some of the elderly residents of St. Clears is that decisions are being made withlittle or no consultation or that information is only provided at the eleventh hour so thatthe community has no time to have a say.