LISKEARD'S traffic warden of just over 12 months, Bob Ainslow, has left his duties in the town to take up a position pounding the streets of Looe, but in a different capacity. At the port's town council meeting on Monday night, Mr Ainslow was introduced to councillors as the new PCSO (Police Community Support Officer), by Inspector John Turner and PC Garth Hatt. The previous PCSO at Looe had left to join the Welsh Constabulary. Mr Ainslow is currently under training for the post with the support of the PSCOs in Callington and Saltash who will also be helping him when he begins the Looe beat. When Mr Ainslow first arrived in Liskeard as a newly trained traffic warden, the town had been without a warden for some time with many hot spots of traffic congestion, especially on The Parade. Many penalty tickets were soon issued and he openly said he was not 'ticket happy' but had slapped 50 penalties on 'offending' vehicles during his first week, soon making his presence known, but getting the traffic moving. For Liskeard police, Acting Sgt Mick Howe said they were sorry to lose Mr Ainslow as he had built up a good working relationship with the town's traders, had been able to sort out traffic problems in the surrounding villages as well as the town, and had ensured there were no parking problems outside schools, acting for the safety of the children. 'He is a community minded man, already working with the Liskeard Air Cadets, and he will undoubtedly be an asset to Looe,' he said. While Liskeard does not have its own regular traffic warden at the moment, Acting Sgt Howe said that until a replacement could be found the streets of Liskeard would be patrolled by wardens from the other towns in South East Cornwall. PCSOs are not policemen but are part funded by town councils to assist the local police in various patrol duties. Looe mayor Ron Overd said: 'We welcome Mr Ainslow. We know of his work in Liskeard and look forward to his presence on our streets.'
