Eden's draw for

cruise ships

THE projected number of cruise ships to call at Fowey next year is 11, with a possible three more.

The Port of Fowey Chamber of Commerce say the Eden Project, which is around six miles away, has obviously proved to be a major international draw, and due to its popularity Fowey should be a regular port for the cruise market.

The Chamber and the port's cruise co-ordinator are to work together to identify businesses which can benefit from the trade, and assist in the services necessary to maximise the potential of such ships.

Collection for

the Hospice

THE collection taken at St Fimbarrus church on Christmas Day will go to the Children's Hospice South West, while money collected at the town carol service will be donated to Churchtown Farm, Lanlivery.

Services this Sunday at the parish church include 8am Holy Communion, 9.45am All Age worship and Sunday School, 11am Holy Communion and 6pm Evening Prayer.

Making banners

THE first Fimbarrus Fellowship meeting of the New Year will be on January 12 in the church hall at 2.45pm when the speaker will be Sue Ramsey.

Mrs Ramsey, a needlewoman, will be talking about banner-making.

Debating winter

beach cleansing

RESTORMEL councillors have been discussing the merits and drawbacks of winter removal of seaweed from Par beach.

As the principal litter authority the council has a duty to keep the beaches in its ownership free of litter and Par beach, being classed as a rural beach, requires cleansing from May to September. Councillors were told there is a deep cleanse of all beaches before the end of March, and cleaning continues throughout the season to the end of September, with a monthly visit throughout the remainder of the year, just to remove dangerous items such as broken bottles.

The largest spend is said to be on Par beach, due to large accumulations of seaweed frequently deposited there and complaints from visitors objecting to the sight and smell of this - but there are virtually no funds available for cleaning in the winter.Councillors have been told that, environmentally, excessive beach raking and seaweed removal can upset the balance of the natural marine chain of species, including birds which feed on insects. As the beach forms part of a conservation area, environmental groups who are endeavouring to ban mechanical cleansing of beaches in total, could make strong objections.

Extension approved

RESTORMEL council have given permission for Mr and Mrs Blincoe to build a single storey extension at 38 Vicarage Meadow, Fowey.

Visitors galore

at the church

MORE than 4,000 names were entered into the visitors book at Fowey parish church during the year 2000.

In this month's church newsletter the vicar of Fowey, Rev David Maddock, said that allowing for the fact that many visitors probably did not sign the book, it would be safe to estimate that more than 5,000 people came into the church.

Most of the countries in Europe were named in the book, including some of the more unusual such as Latvia and Israel. A large number of Americans were also listed, as well as visitors from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Brazil, New Zealand and Zimbabwe and one family from the island of St Helena. These visitors donated over £1,000.