CHAT annual

meeting

AN average of 300 people are using the services of the CHATlink information and advice centre in Torpoint every month.

Margaret Hall, the chairman of CHAT (Community Health Around Torpoint), told the organisation's annual general meeting that the opening of the centre in Macey Street had been CHAT's main project in the past year.

She said the centre, which is staffed by 30 volunteers, provides a base for many agencies including the Benefits Agency, the Citizen's Advice Bureau, Cruse and the Caradon Volunteer Bureau. There is also a jobs vacancy board which is updated daily at the centre (tel 01752 812020), which was set up with help from a Millennium Festival Award.

Mrs Hall said that it was hoped that it may be possible to fund a facilitator should CHAT's application for National Lottery funding prove successful. Caradon District Council may also be able to help with funding.

During the past year, CHAT has continued to support other projects such as its Over-60s Exercise Group, the Diabetic Circle, the CHAT Volunteer Bureau and line dancing.

CHAT has also kept up its monthly liaison lunches which bring together representatives from other organisations in the area. This initiative may be copied throughout Caradon because it has proved so successful.

The Torpoint Community Shop, staffed by 17 hardworking volunteers, has also enjoyed success, raising over £13,000 in the last year.

A quarter of this money has been donated to local groups in the form of small grants of up to £300.

CHAT has continued to participate in many aspects of Torpoint life such as the community development trust and in the wider area by attending primary care group public meetings.

Many issues of local importance have been tackled by the organisation including the replacement of the Torpoint Ferries, the siting of mobile phone masts, NHS dentistry, diabetic eye screening and buses to Derriford Hospital.

CHAT has promoted recycling in the town and is pleased that there is now a plastic milk bottle bank in the Somerfield car park. Facilities for recycling junk mail and cardboard should soon be available as well.

All the existing officers agreed to stand for a further year and were re-elected at the annual meeting. In addition Chris Kelly was elected to serve as funding officer.

CHAT volunteers

celebrations

A HIGHLY successful party has been held for all the volunteers who work for CHAT (Community Health Around Torpoint).

The party was staged at the Council Chambers in York Road to celebrate CHAT's tenth anniversary.

Veronica Bright wrote and performed several poems especially for the occasion.

Copies of the poems are available and CHAT is grateful for all the help Veronica and many others put in to making the celebration such a success.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in finding out more about CHAT would be welcome at the organisation's regular meetings which are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Torpoint Health Clinic in Hooper Street. The next meeting takes place on July 4 at 7.30pm.

Documents about the proposed changes to radioactive discharges into the River Tamar and about the health of the population are available to be read at the clinic.

Open-air band

concert

A SPECTACULAR summer concert is promised by the Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth in Torpoint next week.

The band will be playing in the open air at HMS Raleigh.

Their concert is entitled Battle of Trafalgar Finale and will take place from 6.30pm on Wednesday, June 27, at the Parade Ground.

The audience are being invited to bring a picnic and chairs.

Tickets costing £5 (under-16s £1) are available from Rally Food and Wine in Trevithick Avenue. For further information, call 01752 811376.

Complementary

therapy day

INDIAN head massage, iridology and shiatsu will all feature in a complementary therapy day being held in Torpoint next week.

The town's library is staging the event from 10am on Friday, June 29.

People are being invited to sample a complementary therapy free of charge. Reflexology and homeopathy will be included in the day.

Evening of

entertainment

AN evening of entertainment to raise money for work on the roof of St James Church in Torpoint will be held next Saturday (June 30).

Raising the Roof is being staged at the parish church in Elliot Square at 7.30pm.

Tickets costing £3 for adults and £1.50 for children are available from 01752 813797 or from the Friday mini-market held in the church hall between 8.30am and 11am.

Closure of Fore Street

FORE Street in Torpoint is due to be closed to traffic for the next two Sundays.

Cornwall County Council is planning to carry out surfacing work on June 24 and July 1.

If the weather is bad on either of these days, then the street may also be closed to traffic on Sunday, July 8.

Disinfectant mats

AN explanation about why the disinfectant mats have been removed from the road next to the Torpoint Ferry slipway is being sought by the town council.

Councillors want to know from Cornwall County Council why the mats have been taken away before the foot and mouth disease has been eradicated.

Plan for vets

A PLAN to change offices and a hairdressing salon to a veterinary surgery has been backed by Torpoint town councillors. They said the vet's surgery would be a much-needed facility in the town. The planning application for the change of use of the premises at 8 Antony Road has been submitted to Caradon District Council.