AN ambitious new project to transform Saltash's Waterside into a focal point for visitors and locals will soon be underway - thanks to backing for the £381,000 scheme from Euro Objective One funding.

Funds are also to be forthcoming from the government's Single Regeneration Budget 2 - and it is hoped that Saltash will be able to benefit from increased visitors once the facelift is complete.

Phase one of the Waterside project will see a raft of improvements to the Jubilee Green area north of the Tamar Bridge, including a floating pontoon off the Green, which is designed to encourage boat users to moor up, come ashore and visit the Waterfront and town.

There will also be improvements to the existing slipway to make it more accessible and easier to use. Access will be widened and adjusted to allow twice as many boats to be brought ashore and launched side by side. The leading edge will also be tapered to make the slipway more accessible at low tide.

Better boat, trailer and car parking facilities with an increased capacity plus a larger, unified recreational green for events and children's play are planned, while environmental enhancements will take in new lighting and landscaping, a notice board, town map interpretation panel and finger post signs directing visitors to local attractions and facilities.

Economy

The improvement package has been developed by Caradon council and Saltash Partnership with the aims of boosting the local economy and enhancing the overall look of the Waterside area.

Steve Tait, Caradon's chairman and chair of Saltash Partnership, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to have secured the funding for this project. It has taken five years of hard work and planning to get to this stage, but we are certain that the end results will have been worth the wait.

'We are also putting together a Saltash Waterside Phase II project to regenerate the area south of the Tamar Bridge and would encourage people to come along to the consultation meetings to tell us what they would like to see in that area.'

Work on the first phase is due to start next month, and should be completed in about four months, with all facilities ready to use for the town's spring events.

The scheme is being funded by £189,858 from the Objective One European Regional Development Fund, £133,023 from Cornwall Developing in Partnership SRB2 Programme, £57,550 from Caradon and £500 from Saltash Town Council.