Liskeard Town Council has given its backing, in principle, to a joint Community Network Area (CNA) between Liskeard and Looe.

Concerns have been raised over the current proposal to have Looe and Torpoint as a joint CNA and cllr Edwina Hannaford said: 'Looe has far more synergy with Liskeard and, although we have good relations with our colleagues in Torpoint, it can in no way be considered as a community.'

The CNAs are being brought in as part of One Cornwall and are aimed at creating better connections between the towns and the new authority.

At a meeting of the Liskeard Town Council earlier this week, cllr Chris Ferguson, deputy mayor of Liskeard, was opposed to the idea of linking Liskeard with Looe, saying: 'There are some very vociferous councillors in Looe.

'They are very keen to put Looe in the centre of everything without considering other areas.'

However cllr Roger Holmes said: 'I think those views are outdated and are the sort of thing we would have heard 20 or 30 years ago.'

Torpoint councillors are also unhappy with the proposal to link Torpoint and Looe.

Torpoint deputy mayor, cllr Mike Pearn, said: 'We are not happy either because we want to keep within the Rame Peninsula but no one seems to listen.

'Looe is a different kettle of fish to us and although we would be happy to partner with Saltash, they don't want us, so we are out on a limb.'

Cllr Bob Austin, from Saltash, said: 'At the moment we are quite happy to go it alone.

Decide

'We have been told by the Boundary Commission, who will decide on the matter, that Torpoint is not big enough to stand alone and must partner with another town in the area.'

At a meeting of the Liskeard Town Council this week, councillors agreed to hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss the partnership with Looe in more detail.

The councils involved in the proposals have been given until February 4 to give their views but many councillors feel that they have not been given enough information about it.

Cllr Bruce Hawken, from Liskeard, said: 'Although we do not have all the information on these networks, this council does need to make a decision on where it stands with this matter.'

Social, economic and environmental issues have been raised and Looe councillors think a partnership with Liskeard would be more suitable because of existing links with transport, tourism, history and community groups.

Cllr Brian Galipeau, from Looe, said: 'We need CNAs that are strong enough to stand up to the big hitters further west, as well as the creeping influence of Plymouth.

'It is likely funding will follow members, a Liskeard/Looe network could include nine members and the accompanying budget.'

Cllr Armand Toms added: 'We are all keen to meet with Liskeard councillors to discuss the issues further, during the forthcoming consultation period.'

Councillors feel partnering Looe with Liskeard could create a powerful South East Cornwall network with a strong voice on Cornish issues.