The Looe, Polperro and district web page for East Looe Town Trust states 'The East Looe Town Trust was formed in May 1890 to manage buildings and land which were left for the benefit of the townspeople of East Looe'. The Rose Garden is part of the 'estate'. Why then is the trust seeking to deny the people of Looe, as well as the all-important visitors to the town, the use of part of this area? The trust has applied for planning permission to provide a seating area for an adjacent business. I would respectfully suggest that this could be seen as not being of 'benefit to the townspeople of Looe'. This application is coupled with the trust's wish to provide a performance area and somewhere to hold a farmers market. I applaud both ideas but let's be sensible about this. The Rose Garden is completely unsuited to either. It is certainly not big enough – or are we to see the removal of the remaining flower beds! If the trust is serious about providing such facilities, then why not utilise the more suitable area afforded by the seafront? There is much better access for the market traders and more room for them to display their wares. They, the market traders, would then not add to the, sometime, early morning chaos in Fore Street – deliveries etc – and not interfere with the all-important workings of the fish market. As for a performance area, might I suggest that the old lifeboat house would be ideal to be adapted to such a purpose. I have found that alfresco entertainment in Looe attracts far more people than the Rose Garden could accommodate, particularly if part of it is to be removed from public use!
R H Lewis East Looe