JOAN Symons, Cornwall Council's Cabinet member for Customer First, cut the cake to officially open Bude's new register office on Friday.

Gill Steward, Cornwall Council's Corporate Director for Communities welcomed some of the many partners who contribute to delivering a registration service for communities throughout Cornwall — including representatives from the clergy, venues approved for conducting ceremonies, funeral directors, and GPs in the local area.

The new Bude Register Office is just across the car park from Cornwall Council's One Stop Shop, which makes it convenient for those registering a birth or death to be able to access any additional help or information they need such as advice on benefits, council tax or housing.

Gill said: "The main room at the new register office is jointly funded by South West Regional Development Agency, the Heritage Lottery, Objective One Regional Development Funding and the former North Cornwall District Council. Its primary purpose is and remains as an educational facility for people wishing to find out more about the canal. On the days when it is not in use as an education room, it is an excellent facility for ceremonies."

The team at Bude register approximately 160 births per year and 125 deaths.

Around 60 registration office weddings take place each year and a further 50 marriages are conducted in approved venues. The register office was housed in the Parkhouse Centre. The new offices offer more flexible facilities with a main ceremony room which can accommodate up to 40 guests as well as the registrars office which is available for smaller parties.

The Registration Service will be launching a new marketing strategy over the coming months to promote newly developed ceremonies such as naming ceremonies and renewal of vows ceremonies, in addition to the citizenship ceremonies and civil funerals which we currently offer.