The newly formed Saltash Environmental Action (SEA) received a cheque from Saltash Town Council last week for a loan of £1,600 to purchase 500 cotton bags and 250 jute bags for resale to traders and shoppers in the town. The idea is to do away with plastic bags and make Saltash plastic bag free. The mayor, cllr Bob Austin, who chaired the meeting and presented the cheque, also showed the logo of the Royal Albert Bridge which will appear on the bags. Marianne Beale the chairman of the SEA said the cheque would enable them to get the bag scheme underway and it is hoped to launch it on September 22, at the next public meeting. Mrs Beale said: 'We have to look after our planet. With the amount of rubbish everywhere, much of it is plastic, we have made a start to make Saltash plastic bag free.' She added that the scheme started in Modbury, Devon had showed that the town's trade had improved as a result. Several Saltash traders attended the meeting on Tuesday at the Guildhall and were able to ask questions about the scheme. The mayor said he had visited local shops and also spoken to customers who seemed to be in favour of the scheme. A film was shown during the evening about the amount of waste on beaches and the damage it does to sea creatures. It is expected that the cost of the bags to customers will probably be £2 each for the smaller cotton bags and £3 for the stronger, larger jute bags. The meeting discussed the future regeneration of Fore Street and chairman of the chamber of commerce, Bill Cotton, said more people need to be attracted to the centre of the town to support the traders that are already there. One trader said that part of the problem was high rents for business premises. Money in lieu of flowers for the late James Edward Keith of Saltash, who died at the age of 75 in June, raised £600 for the League of Friends of St Barnabas Hospital, Saltash.