IN the aftermath of the landslip tragedy in which Looe resident Susan Norman died, local councillors are calling for a ban on further building in the town.

At a meeting of Looe Town Council's environmental committee, it was decided that Cornwall Council should be asked to undertake a full structural survey of both East and West Looe, as the town has suffered a number of serious landslips.

Following the meeting, mayor David Bryan told the Cornish Times that Cornwall Council was also being asked not to grant any further building developments in the town until councillors had seen the survey reports.

'I would hope this would also include the second phase of the Barratt Homes development yet to be built in St Martin's Road,' he said.

Cornwall councillor Armand Toms said yesterday that the county council needed to be sure that only the right amount of development should take place in the right places which are safe.

'Looe is creaking at the seams,' he said.

Two resolutions proposed by town councillor Brian Galipeau in January were adopted by the environmental committee.

These were that a contingency plan be developed in the event of the failure of Hannafore Road and an estimation be made of the social and economic cost of a road closure.

Mr Galipeau told the Cornish Times: 'I think it is important that the town council steps up to the plate and starts to ask its own questions to Cornwall Council about the landslip issues in Looe.'

Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall councillor for West Looe, said: 'The people of Looe need to be reassured that absolutely everything has been done to identify risk areas and make plans to rectify any problems if found, to ensure public safety. The road closures we are currently experiencing are inconvenient, but that is nothing compared to the tragic loss of Mrs Norman's life.'

A Barratt Homes spokesperson said the company contacted Cornwall Council yesterday and would be preparing a statement.

Mrs Norman, 68, who lived in Sandplace Road, died as a result of a landslip on March 22 which caused her home to collapse.