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National Trust in talks to run Heartlands site

David Dixon
BBC News Cornwall
BBC Ariel picture of Heartlands near Redruth. There is an old mine engine housing, a conference centre, shops and cafes.BBC
The Heartlands mining heritage site in Pool closed in January 2024

The National Trust and two charities say they are in discussions with Cornwall Council over the future of a mining heritage site.

They said they wanted to "look at how a sustainable future could be secured for Heartlands, an important cultural heritage and community site in Cornwall".

The site in Pool, owned by Cornwall Council, has been closed since January 2024 and most of the businesses based there have left.

The BBC understands the National Trust will meet on 25 March to discuss the viability of taking on a lease.

A small circular metal plaque on a wall saying: "Lottery funded". Concrete render is crumbling away around the plaque
The project was funded by the National Lottery

The attraction opened in 2012 after more than £20m in lottery funding was used to regenerate the derelict mining area.

It was run by the Heartlands Trust before it ran into financial difficulty and closed in January 2024.

The trust has now been wound up and the council has taken over the running of the site.

Since then, council staff have been weeding and emptying bins, but the authority has been seeking a partner to lease the entire site from it.

Man with grey coat standing in front of old mining engine house at Heartlands in Pool
Philip Desmonde says the bidding process has been "painful and drawn out"

Several windows around the site have been smashed by vandals.

As a result, there are regular patrols by police and by Cornwall Council staff.

Philip Desmonde is the Conservative Cornwall Councillor for Pool and Tehidy, where the attraction is located.

He said: "We've lost 30 jobs here, we've lost the community here, we've lost the spirit of social interaction.

"It's been a painful drawn out process to find a new bidder... so, if the National Trust make the decision at the end of the month, it will be an absolute blessing."

Dawn Harries is an older woman wearing a multi-coloured woolly hat, a purple fleece and a brown gilet. She is standing in front of a boarded-up cafe in Heartlands.
Dawn Harris regularly walks her dog at Heartlands

Dawn Harris, who lives locally, said: "It's sad that it's been left for quite a long time. I'm pleased to hear that the National Trust might be taking over."

Asked about the previous operator, she said: "The problem was a lack of marketing before. So, whoever takes over, there needs to be a lot of promotion."

The National Trust said: "The National Trust, with partners, Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) and Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum (VSF) are in discussions with Cornwall Council to look at how a sustainable future could be secured for Heartlands, an important cultural heritage and community site in Cornwall."

It added that "discussions are ongoing".

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