Concern that organisations and businesses in Saltash and Torpoint may miss out on single regeneration budget funding has led to a meeting being held in Saltash today (March 3).

Local MP, Liberal Democrat Colin Breed, has arranged the meeting at Saltash Shopmobility, of which he is a patron. Mr Breed fears that a change in the single regeneration budget rules may hit Objective One funding in both Saltash and Liskeard. He has written to the minister for regional policy, Richard Caborn, on the matter.

The latest SRB guidance includes new criteria under which areas are identified for rural funding. Neither of the two towns fall into this category, but they also have too large a population to be considered for urban funds - which have gone to Plymouth and Bristol in the South West.

Mr Breed said: 'Organisations such as Shopmobility and the Citizen's Advice Bureaux in Saltash, and Torpoint, could lose out on single regeneration budget monies because of the introduction of the rural priority area criteria into the bidding process. Saltash and Torpoint will fall between two stools. They are considered too large to be rural and they will not share in the urban area funding which has been allocated to Plymouth and Bristol.

'Previously available SRB funding that organisations and businesses in Saltash and Torpoint could have tapped into may now be lost. This funding may well be the difference between success and failure for Saltash and Torpoint Objective One projects.

The government has failed to recognise the importance of towns such as Torpoint and Saltash for the surrounding rural area. When services are lost from the towns this has a knock on effect for services to surrounding rural communities such as St Germans, Landrake and Millbrook.'

Also due to attend the meeting, on the lower ground floor of Saltash Shopmobility at l0am, will be the chair of Saltash Shopmobility Paul Adams, the manager of Saltash CAB Louis Cowie, Phillip Hunt of Saltash Chamber of Commerce and industry, Steve Tait of Saltash Partnership and Mark Rich the grants officer from Caradon council.