Bowling at

Bridge End?

A plan due to go before Caradon (West) on Thursday (yesterday) evening from Riverside Amusements, Bridge End, West Looe, was being recommended for approval by planning officers.

The plan seeks change of use of the ground floor from the present market, to a pool and bowling venue with cafe. The upper floor is currently used as an amusement arcade and the new development is considered appropriate in that it provides a different variety of entertainment from gaming machines. The proposal would also offer a greater choice of leisure activity within Looe, helping to contribute to the vitality and viability of the town.

There are objections from Mr and Mrs D J Tustin, of Westwood, Bridge End, who as guest house owners have concerns about noise nuisance and late hour closing, and Jolly Enterprises who currently occupy the premises on a 32 year lease operating the indoor market with which they wish to continue. Looe Town Council and the Environment Agency have no objections.

Liskeard students

learn about port

MORE than 200 Year 7 students from Liskeard School and Community College have this week been visiting the town as part of field studies they are undertaking about Looe and Liskeard.

The students, in groups of 60, have been travelling into port on the Looe Valley Railway - a first time experience for many - and assembling in the Council Chamber at the Guildhall, where Mrs Jeanne Dingle, curator of the Old Guildhall Museum, has been answering their questions about various aspects of the town's history.

The students also visited the fish quay before travelling back to school on the train. The excursions took place on four days between Monday and Thursday.

The top citizen

AS the end of the town council's present term draws close, councillors will once more be considering bestowing the honour of "Looe Citizen of the Year". The idea was formulated two years ago by former mayor and mayoress Dave and Annette Bryan, with marathon runner Marian Sutton receiving the honour first, to be followed by this year's 'Citizen' the transplant games athlete Terry Wright.

Anyone who would like to nominate a Looe resident to receive this year's honour should write to the mayor, Councillor Ron Overd, c/o the town council office, the Guildhall, East Looe, as soon as possible.

Coffee for

the children

CORNISH children will once again benefit from a coffee morning organised by the Looe branch of the NSPCC to take place on Friday, March 23, from 10am. The event, the last in the branch's financial year, is to be held at the The Barbican Inn, East Looe, at the kind invitation of Bridget and Alan Bates. There will be a bric a brac stall and a raffle.

The branch is hoping to organise a fundraising auction in September and is now appealing for items. Anyone with donations should contact the secretary, Mary Crawford on 01503 264896

Murder mystery

was brain teaser

THE first murder mystery evening organised by the Friends of Looe Community School, proved to be a lively event which raised £200 towards the 'arts status' bid.

The brain teaser to find out 'who dun it' in the play, Murder at the Manor, was successfully unravelled by the students' team "The Purple Ponies". Ten teams took part all told, and there was also a general knowledge quiz which was won by The Hardy Boys and Girls (Maggie Thompson, Teresa Mellors, Lynne and Jack Pope, Robert and Julie Brice).

The 'Friends' staged the play, the parts being taken by deputy head Tom Saddler as Sir Marcus Hetherington-Smyth, Lord of the Manor, with Tricia Collins as his Lady wife, Geoff Gardiner as the butler, Helen Gardiner as the daughter of Sir Marcus, Barry Riley in drag as his former mistress, and finally David Collins as the younger brother, who turned out to be the murderer!

The props and stage effects were by school caretaker Trevor Frazle, and administration and stage management were taken on by Judie Berry and Kath Riley.

Mixed bag for fleet

THE unsettled weather is still hampering the progress of the fleet leading to a mixed bag of figures which have increased towards the end of the week.

Fish figures for the week Friday March 9 - Thursday March 15 (weights in kilos): lemons 70, whiting 80; Mon - cuttle 300, lemons 2600, plaice 480, whiting 1200, pouting 190, flounder 760, mackerel 800; Tues - lemons 2100, plaice 200, whiting 600, flounders 840; Weds - no market; Thurs - cuttle 100, lemons 3000, whiting 260, plaice 380, mackerel 6000.

Figures supplied courtesy of Looe Fish Selling.

Apply now for

free egg cull

LOOE Town council have announced that for the 10th year in succession they are to undertake a cull of gull's eggs in an attempt to keep down the seagull population.

They are now inviting any householders and local businesses who are affected by nuisance from nesting gulls on their properties, to register their need for help before the end of April.

The service is free and all applications should be through the town clerk, Colin Easterbrook, at the town council office at the Guildhall, East Looe, or though the Looe Tourist Information Centre, which is in the same building.

The council reports the service has proved to be most successful as there has been no increase in gulls and although there has not been a large decrease in numbers the situation has stabilised.

Old Looe

exhibition

FOLLOWING on from the great success of the display of old Looe photographs in Riverside United Church last year, from the collection of Mr John Southern of the Leather Workshop, there have been calls for a repeat event.

Mr Southern has once more agreed to loan his collection, and with the help of Mrs Jeanne Dingle as co-ordinator, there will be an exhibition in the Council Chamber at the Guildhall, East Looe, which will run from Monday April 30 - Saturday May 5.

Mrs Dingle said many people missed the first display because of work commitments so this time there will be at least one evening available, giving everyone has a chance to catch up with nostalgia.

Circus on

the Millpool

A CIRCUS seems set to visit South East Cornwall in the autumn, with the Millpool car park identified as a suitable location for the big top.

Caradon councillors noted that the circus contained no animal acts, and the company would be responsible for the care and cleaning of the site. It was agreed the request be approved, subject to the location and terms being agreed to the satisfaction of Caradon's construction and property services manager.