Plans to extend Town Council buildings

Plans are being drawn up to upgrade and extend the Town Council Chambers in Torpoint.

Town councillors, who have been debating the issue for several months, have decided to move the project forward, agreeing that the scheme is one of importance to the town because the chambers in York Road provide a focal point for residents.

The complex is used by a variety of local groups for community events and meetings, and houses the mayor's parlour, the town clerk's office and the town archives.

Preliminary sketches of the complex have been produced illustrating ideas and proposals for improving the buildings which include two houses in Buller Road.

Diane Curran, chairman of the council's forward planning committee, said: "The council feels the buildings need to be upgraded and brought more into use. We are looking to provide better facilities for the community and to make better use of the space in the buildings.

"Proposals include a revamp of the kitchen area and the combining of the main hall and committee room when required to cater for weddings and general social functions."

The hall and the room, which are separate at present, could be joined by sliding doors.

The council has already agreed to buy new crockery and cutlery which can be used when catering for weddings.

Mrs Curran said: "We plan to provide a modern central heating system to enable all-year use of the complex.

"There is also a possibility that the existing doctor's surgery could move to a new part of the building where a purpose-built surgery would be provided.

"We are at the feasibility stage at the moment."

A figure has not been put on the cost of the scheme yet.

The town council has asked Caradon District Council to draw up plans, free of charge, to a standard acceptable for a planning application.

An architect from the district council has visited the premises and plans are likely to be drawn up by the end of the year.

Ferryboaters

Some of the most popular music and dance from the 20th Century will be presented in Torpoint this summer.

To celebrate the Millennium, the Torpoint Ferryboat Entertainers will be staging a show entitled A Century of Song.

Around 25 Ferryboaters have been rehearsing for the big production since January.

Sandie Pearce, who is co-producing the show with Sandra Matanle, said: "The production, featuring song and dance from the last 100 years, should appeal to a wide age range.

"The first half of the show covers from 1900 to 1949, while the second half goes from 1950 to 2000.

"There will be a Charleston dance from the 1920s and we will be ending the first half with a piece from the war years.

"We will have rock and roll from the 1950s, a Beatles selection including Ticket to Ride for the 1960s and a Night Fever dance from the 1970s. The last piece will be Millennium by Robbie Williams."

The musical director is Betty Begbie and the choreographer is Viv Smith.

The production will run on June 22-24 in the Torpoint Council Chambers in York Road. This is a month earlier than previous summer shows staged by the Ferryboaters.

Tickets, costing £4 each, are available at Tamar Leisure and Dashers.

Infants school

Torpoint Infants School is forging links with the USA. Three student teachers from Minnesota have visited the school following a request from the University of Plymouth which has been involved in arranging a liaison project.

The three teachers were part of a larger group which visited schools in London and the West Country.

The trio were given an insight into school life in Torpoint during their visit.

The school plans to keep in touch with the teachers via e-mail.

Palm Sunday Procession

A procession of witness will be mounted by Churches Together in Torpoint this weekend to mark Palm Sunday (April 16).

All the churches in Torpoint will be represented at the procession which will leave from the bus station car park at around 5.30pm on Sunday. Members of churches on the Rame Peninsula will also be taking part.

Banners from the churches will be carried during the procession which will make its way to St James Church in the town centre for a united service at 6.30pm.

Snake at Library

Bookworms at Torpoint Library better look out next week - a snake is making a visit!

A python from Newquay Zoo will be slithering into view for a children's activity morning on Tuesday (April 18).

Library manager Kate Wilton said: "Mark Norris from the zoo is bringing the python and assorted creepy-crawlies. It is the first time we've had a snake in the library.

"The event runs from 10am to noon and is open to children aged up to 11 years old. Tickets cost £1 and are available from the library."

Torpoint school fair caption story

All the fun of Torpoint School Fayre for Ashley Fairbrother, Neil Cochrane and Nick Maynard last Saturday April 1st. The fayre was a great success, raising £1000 for Torpoint school minibus

Lifeboat crews need your help!

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution Rame Peninsula Branch needs volunteers to undertake house to house collections during the RNLI's Flag Week from May 1 - 6, particularly in the Torpoint area.

It costs over £82 million per year to allow the lifeboat service to perform their selfless tasks in saving lives at sea.

Anyone who could spare just a little time to collect in their own road, please contact Vivian Lockwood on 01579 348500.

Student shadows MP

A student from Torpoint spent a week shadowing MP for SE Cornwall Colin Breed and learning more about the workings of Parliament.

John Parkin, who is currently studying genetics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, carried out various tasks such as drafting an Early Day Motion in the MP's Westminster office.

Commenting on the value of this work experience, Colin Breed said: 'It is extremely important for young people to learn more about Parliament. Such experience can only broaden understanding and develop transferable skills.'

Site visit at Crafthole

Caradon councillors are to hold a site visit in Crafthole on April 18 to consider an application to extend a bungalow.

They will be at 7 Cross Park, to discuss a plan by Mr I Lister to build an extension to the rear of the bungalow, and an extension of the pitched roof over the garage with the installation of roof lights and windows to provide accommodation within the roof space.

The visit will be at 11am.