Introduction
IMERYS Globally IMERYS is a world leader in adding value to minerals and has over 250 industrial sites in 47 countries employing over 17500 employees world-wide. The Company’s core business is to mine and process minerals, from its strategically located global reserves, in order to develop solutions that improve its customer’s product performance and manufacturing efficiency. Our products have a great many applications in every day life including construction, personal care, paper, paints, plastics, ceramics, telecommunications and beverage filtration.    Message from Gerard Buffiere, Imerys Chief Executive Officer Welcome to Imerys’ Mid Cornwall Regeneration Strategy and thank you for taking the time to participate in this very important consultation process. At Imerys we have a phrase which we use to direct our activities which is “Transform to Perform” Transform to Perform has several dimensions, certainly in transforming raw materials into high quality end use products for our customers, on which our business relies. Transform to Perform also has a significant relevance in Imerys’ Mid Cornwall Regeneration Strategy. We now have a golden opportunity to transform our surplus sites into assets that can deliver new life into the region and can help it to regenerate. I have been keeping up to date with the work which has been progressing. I fully endorse the conceptual ideas that have been drawn up which we now wish to share with the wider community. I look forward with great enthusiasm to the coming years when a successful and sustainable regeneration strategy becomes an effective reality.		Imerys in the Mid Cornwall Area Cornwall remains a key part of Imerys’ China Clay production portfolio. Despite recent changes to our business operations, there is still a significant output from Cornwall with an annual clay production of 1.2 million tonnes, of which around 88% is exported to over 60 countries. Our continued commitment to the Mid Cornwall china clay business is demonstrated by our recent investment programme of £35M to create a new production platform for clay to the paper industry. Similarly the Research and Development centre at Par Moor employs around 120 people and is the largest R&D facility operated by Imerys worldwide. We strive to be an integral part of the local community and work hard through our liaison groups and other networks to make sure we both listen and contribute to the well being of the clay area as a whole.   Message from Ashley Shopland, UK Kaolin Operations Director As a long standing Imerys employee living in the Mid Cornwall area I have been very conscious of the impact of the difficult decisions we had to make to sustain a viable commercial business for our china clay operations in Cornwall. It is now totally appropriate, with the restructuring programme nearing completion that we turn our attention to the wider implications of the change we have all witnessed. A sustainable regeneration strategy is clearly a major requirement and I know how important this will be to all of us who live and work in and around the china clay area. I have been hugely encouraged by the vision that has been developed of a regeneration strategy that goes deep into the needs of the Mid Cornwall china clay district. This is demonstrated by the plans to provide new employment opportunities, new and affordable housing together with improved communications and recreational facilities. It is important that we aim high in our strategy and that we all work together towards a common goal. It has been pointed out to us many times that the opportunity we have here is unique, let’s not accept the ordinary when there is potential for us collectively to deliver the extra-ordinary.