There are fears that Saltash and Torpoint may miss out on thousands of pounds in regeneration grants, due in part to their proximity to Plymouth.

Concern at Caradon council that such a scenario might develop has meant the matter is likely to be brought to the attention of the funding bodies involved.

Guidance notices for regional bids for the government-operated single regeneration budget were issued just before Christmas, the amount set aside for the South West being £28 million over seven years. Guidance indicates that 80 per cent of this will be spent in urban areas and 20 per cent in rural locations which fall under the title 'Rural Priority Areas'.

Country areas which used to benefit were entitled Rural Development Areas - which did not include Torpoint and Saltash because they were thought to be of sufficient population and close enough to Plymouth not to be considered rural areas.

Caradon councillors have been told: 'It is of concern that the towns of Torpoint and Saltash (and other towns in Cornwall such at St Austell) may have 'fallen between two stools' being too non rural to be Rural Priority Areas, and not being large enough to be in the urban category. Given that this might become a feature of subsequent Single Regeneration Budget operations it is suggested that the anomaly be drawn to the attention of the funding bodies.'