The Bude Area Community Jury met for its final session last weekend, closing a consultation process which will help shape Bude’s future.    

A total of 40 jurors were selected from the wider Bude area, who met over three weekends this autumn at Wooda Farm Holiday Park to discuss North Cornwall’s response to climate change and sea level rise.  

The Bude Area Community Jury on climate change was selected to closely resemble Bude’s demographic — with participants ages ranging from 16 to 80 and hailing from 11 parishes, from Morwenstow to Whitstone. 

The last session was held on Saturday, November 25, signalling an end to the initial consultation process. The jury took evidence and advice from expert commentators who offered guidance on how change might look in the local area.  

Topics discussed on Saturday included how the community can influence decision makers when it comes to beach management and next steps for the community jury.  

The session also featured voices from Bude’s Youth Jury, who made recommendations for greener policies at Budehaven Community School, including the need for more green spaces, better plastic recycling and energy efficiency.  

The jury’s set of recommendations will be presented to policymakers and statutory authorities in January 2024, in a report representing the democratic voice of the community.   

The coastal town, through Lottery-funded Bude Climate Partnership, was recently awarded £2-million to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, as it was identified that rising sea levels could threaten homes, beaches and businesses in a few decades.  

Carrina Kukulies, a member of the community jury, said the process has “put power back into the hands of local people”.  

“There are procedures and policies in place that we don’t always get to have a say in. But this is a more grassroots level space where we can get together, communicate, and take action, to build a picture of how we would like our area to look.” 

The 47-year-old has lived in Bude for four years with her two children. 

“It all comes down to the children’s future, and I was really inspired by the fact the Youth Jury was heavily involved in the process,” she added.    

Hayley Hinchen, 41, said the process has made her “more optimistic” about Bude.   

“There is a lot of energy, passion and knowledge here. When you come to Bude it’s immediately obvious that people care about the area. They are proud of it and it’s a welcoming and positive place to be. We want to make sure this doesn’t get lost with the changes that will need to happen in Bude over the next couple of decades. We want to keep the area’s character and community.”  

The Bude Area Community Jury on Climate Change is being delivered by Bude Climate Partnership, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, and working in collaboration with the Environment Agency, Cornwall Council and Bude-Stratton Town Council. 

Rob Uhlig, Bude Climate Partnership’s Programme Director, said: “We can’t thank jury members enough for their commitment to and engagement with this process. It has been inspiring to see such collaborative work in action and we’re really looking forward to them presenting their final recommendations early next year. 

“These will be recommendations that could really shape the area’s response to climate change and sea level rise in the years to come.” 

The sessions were facilitated by Shared Future, a community interest company working across the UK to deliver citizens’ assemblies.