Development

Trust

MORE local people are being urged to get involved in the regeneration of Torpoint.

The Torpoint Community Development Trust, which will be holding its annual meeting on Monday (June 11), is hoping more people will take up the challenge of improving the quality of life in the town.

Alan Brimacombe, company secretary of the trust, told the Cornish Times: "The development trust has been recognised by the South West of England Regional Development Agency as the right type of vehicle for community groups to move regeneration projects forward.

"So I ask all those readers who live or work in Torpoint who wish to help create a better environment to come along to the annual meeting at 7.30pm on June 11 in the Torpoint Council Chambers and take ownership of their community regeneration.

"The time commitment is only some four hours a month - so come and help us to regenerate!"

Mr Brimacombe said that the trust, which is made up of representatives of local organisations and members of the community, had seen progress being made in the past 12 months.

The trust has backed CHAT (Community Health Around Torpoint) in its bid for a support officer to help with health projects and has been asked by Caradon District Council to be involved in the new bid for National Lottery funding for the proposed town sports hall.

The trust, which works with the district council and the town council, has registered with the South West of England Regional Development Agency and has asked for its support in purchasing the town's police and fire stations.

Mr Brimacombe said: "We have registered an interest in purchasing these two sites.

"In the last two months we have had a site visit from the regional development agency representative Andrew Gunn who was impressed with the work we have done so far in moving forward the Atlantic Consultants report on the Regeneration of Torpoint

"Last June, a public consultation meeting was held over three days at the Council Chambers - the results of which have been collated into a report. Due to the large amount of information collected at that event, it has taken Steve Foster and his team at Caradon some six months to come up with the final report. May I take this opportunity to thank Steve for all his hard work in getting out the report in what is quite a short time in view of his staffing levels and all the other duties he has to carry out."

The annual meeting will hear reports on the past year and will elect a number of new trustees.

Roadsweepers

A TRIAL of various mechanical roadsweepers is being undertaken in Torpoint by Caradon District Council. The move follows calls from the town council and other organisations and individuals in the town for more action to be taken by the district council over litter.

Group for

youngsters

A CHURCH-based group which provides activities for children in Torpoint has celebrated its first birthday with a party.

The Pilots Company meets at Cornerstone Church in Fore Street on Friday evenings and is led by Sandra Proctor.

Twenty-seven children and seven leaders attended the party which featured games, dancing and food including a special cake baked by Carol Knight. The cake was iced with the Pilots badge design.

"The last year has gone so quickly, it seems unbelievable that our company evolved from a leaflet given to me of a Pilots company in the Isle of Wight," said Sandra.

"After many phone calls and visits to find out what Pilots was all about, I presented my findings to Cornerstone Church Council who gave the go-ahead and £50 to commence setting up our own Pilots group.

"Many organisations in Torpoint responded to my letters for financial assistance and donated generous sums to our funds for equipment and materials.

"We still receive donations from outside sources and our own church people which keep us financially solvent and we are very grateful to all concerned. Pilots also hold coffee mornings to raise funds."

A Pilots Sunday is due to be held on June 17 when the group will be organising the Sunday service with the Rev Margaret Anderson at Cornerstone Church.

Rame Peninsula

RNLI Branch

JO Pavey has stepped down from her role as honorary secretary of the Rame Peninsula RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) branch.

The new secretary is Jane Davis. Other officers and committee members elected at the branch's annual meeting were: chairman, Janet Allom; vice-chairman and flag officer, Vivian Lockwood; treasurer, Peter Cheesman; souvenir secretary, Elaine Brook-Jerram; membership secretary, Pat Williams; publicity & press officer, Brian Williams; Torpoint liaison, Lyn Adams; Mike Davis; Tony Jago; Gill Mace; Joyce Graham; and Dick Jenkins.

Deputy divisional RNLI inspector Paul Jennings gave a talk at the meeting on the subject of "What goes on at the sharp end". This was illustrated by slides and a film, and members learned a great deal about future RNLI developments.

The branch has received a cheque for over £300 from Pip Patterson who successfully competed in an Azores and Back Race in his yacht. The donation came from personal sponsorship.

The Torpoint Moorings Federation has presented a cheque for over £500 to the branch on the winding up of the federation.

Civic Service

THE annual civic service and parade in Torpoint is due to take place on Sunday, July 15. The service will be held in Cornerstone Church in Fore Street.

Torpoint Workspace

centre gets go-ahead

PLANS to build 25 managed workspace units and a conference facility in Torpoint have been given the go-ahead thanks to an Objective One European Regional Development Fund grant of nearly £309,000.

The units and conference centre are to be built on the disused Council depot site at Marine Drive at a cost of £777,313. Caradon District Council, who own the site, will provide the match funding for the scheme.

The units, ranging between 9.5 metres squared and 15 metres squared, and conference facility will be managed by Torpoint Town Council, a partner in the project.

Councillor Stan Martin, Mayor of Torpoint, said: 'This is great news for the community of Torpoint as there are currently no facilities of this type in the town. Torpoint is the first town in Cornwall to receive an Objective One grant for this type of project, and it is the first joint Town and District Council scheme in Caradon. We expect the project to give the local economy a real boost by creating at least 30 jobs.'

Site works are expected to commence early in June, to be completed by the end of January 2002.

Caradon Cabinet Member Councillor Kath Pascoe, whose portfolio covers Community and Economic Regeneration, said: 'Caradon carefully monitors business start up and expansion requirements and last year we had 245 enquiries for business premises. A large proportion were for the Torpoint area and we are targeting our Capital Programme towards meeting the demand.'

A recent survey of Torpoint towns-people showed that 84.5 per cent thought that the business redevelopment of the Marine Drive site was a good idea.

Medal awarded

to Declan

PETTY Officer Marine Engineer Artificer, Declan Kelf, 36, has been awarded a long service and good conduct medal in recognition of over 15 years exemplary service with the Royal Navy.

Currently serving with the Devonport based Type 23 frigate HMS Norfolk, Petty Officer Kelf joined the Royal Navy in 1983. He has served on a number of warships on deployments around the world. Declan was presented with the long service and good conduct medal by HMS Norfolk's Commanding Officer, Commander Laurence Smallman.

Originally from Sunderland, Declan now lives in Torpoint with his wife Carole and three chidlren, Bethany aged 11, Reanne aged seven and five-year-old Jennifer.