CHAT'S 10th anniversary

AN organisation which aims to improve the quality of life in Torpoint will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

CHAT (Community Health Around Torpoint) was founded in November 1991 with a philosophy that health is about feeling good in yourself, in your family and in your neighbourhood.

The organisation has around 60 volunteers and plays a leading role in the town.

The Torpoint Community Shop, now in its second year, in the town centre is a joint venture between CHAT and the Torpoint and Rame Community Nurses Friends. The shop raises money for the two groups and for good causes in the area. In its first year, Torpoint Lady Singers, under-11s football and Coastwatch were among those to benefit from the shop.

CHAT, which is a registered charity, runs exercise groups, Hearing Concern meetings, a Diabetic Circle and a volunteer bureau which helps lonely housebound elderly people and young mothers. It also produces a directory of local groups and organisations which is distributed around the town.

A major new initiative within the last year has been the opening of the CHATlink centre in Macey Street. The centre provides a one-stop-shop for information and advice on a wide range of subjects including jobs and benefits.

Over the years CHAT has successfully campaigned for an NHS dentist to be retained in the town, has tackled litter problems, has helped retain the buses going to Derriford Hospital and has highlighted other issues affecting the quality of life locally.

Since 2001 is "Volunteer Year" and CHAT is reliant on volunteers, the organisation feels a celebration would be in order to mark its 10th anniversary.

It has been proposed that there should be a celebration in the first week of June. A tea dance has been put forward as one idea. CHAT would also like to hear of any other suggestions for the celebrations.

The organisation holds regular meetings at the Torpoint Health Clinic in Hooper Street to discuss various issues affecting life and health in the town. These are open to the public and are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm.

CHAT also stages monthly lunchtime liaison meetings at the clinic from 12.15pm to 1.30pm on the last Friday of each month. The aim of these meetings is to bring together representatives of the voluntary and statutory organisations working in the area and to let each other know what they have to offer.

Council taxrates

THE average household in Torpoint faces a council tax bill of £877.45 in the coming financial year.

That is the amount a Band D household will pay for services provided by Cornwall County Council, Caradon District Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, and Torpoint Town Council.

Households in Band A, the lowest band, face a bill of £584.97 for the year starting on April 1, while those in the highest band, Band H, will have to pay £1,754.90.

Band D household bills in other parishes include: Antony, £854.49; Maker, £850.84; Millbrook, £892.26; Sheviock, £844.99; and St John, £836.70.

Garden wast

collection scheme

REGULAR collections of garden waste will be made in Torpoint and the Rame Peninsula from now until the end of November.

Fortnightly collections will be carried out in Torpoint, Antony and Wilcove on Mondays with the next collection due on Monday (March 19).

Collections from Cawsand, Crafthole, Downderry, Hessenford, Kingsand, Millbrook, Polbathic, Portwrinkle, Seaton and St Germans will take place on alternate Mondays, with the next collection being on March 26.

Only official Caradon District Council garden waste sacks should be placed out for collection. These sacks can be bought at Rally Food & Wine in Torpoint, Torpoint Hardware Shop in Fore Street and Torpoint Builders Merchants. They are also for sale at Crafthole Post Office & Stores, Downderry Spar Shop, Kingsand Village Store and Millbrook Spar Shop.

Further information is available on the Caradon Greenline, 01579 341040.

C rime figures

FIGURES from Torpoint Police show the level of reported crime in the town is down compared to last year. The first six weeks of 2001 saw 69 crimes reported while last year in the same period there were 82. Among the more recent crimes contained in the figures are six burglaries, six thefts, three assaults, seven car crimes, two incidents of drunkenness, one case of damage and one drink-driving offence.

Alcoholics anonymous

ALCOHOLICS Anonymous will continue to be charged a reduced rental for the use of town council premises in Torpoint in recognition of the "valuable community service" it provides. The council has agreed that the organisation, which relies on contributions from people it is seeking to help, should not be charged full prices when it holds its sessions.

Short on grant

A GRANT of £50 has been given to the Cornwall County Playing Fields Association by Torpoint Town Council.