Summer Club

A WIDE variety of fun activities are being planned for youngsters in Torpoint during the school summer holidays.

The Torpoint Summer Club 2001, organised by Caradon District Council, will be running over a four-week period starting on Monday, July 30. In August, the club, which will be based at Torpoint School, will meet on the first three Mondays and the first four Fridays.

Sports and crafts feature prominently in the programme for eight to 13-year-olds. The sports include football coaching, kwik cricket, softball, basketball, tennis, team olympics, badminton, rugby and table tennis.

Among the crafts on offer are mask making, mosaic mirrors, painting, marbling and papier-mache.

Other activities include drama, water games, talent shows, parachute games, dance workshops and giant chess.

Activities will be provided between 9.30am and 3.30pm, with registration from 9.15am.

Children wishing to attend are asked to wear old clothes and to take a packed lunch.

The cost is £3.50 per day and more information is available on 01579 341026.

Twilight Ramble

A TWILIGHT ramble will be held next weekend at the National Trust's Antony House on the outskirts of Torpoint.

The event is part of the trust's Gardens Year 2001 programme and will take place from 8.30pm on Saturday, August 4.

The organisers say the walk with the Antony House gardener offers the chance to see the exterior of the house and its garden in a whole new light.

The walk will focus on scent, touch and sound, and will be followed by wine or soft drinks and nibbles.

The cost of a ticket is £5 and booking is essential on 01752 812364.

20 MPH Zone

CRITICISM of the new 20mph zone for Torpoint has led to a response from Cornwall County Council.

The council's plan to introduce the zone covering 33 roads provoked an angry reaction from the town council which said it could see no advantage in spending money on bringing in the 20mph limit.

The town council said that speed humps installed several years ago already slowed traffic down in Goad Avenue and Trevithick Avenue and the residential roads leading off them.

The county council has responded by saying that a general 20mph speed limit culture is being promoted in residential areas away from main roads.

W.I. event

CONTINENTAL cuisine will be on the menu at an event taking place in Wilcove Village Hall next week. The Women's Institute is staging the evening from 7 o'clock on Friday, August 3. Tickets, costing £5, and more details are available from 01752 814747.

Coffee morning

A COFFEE morning in aid of the Mayor of Torpoint's charity of the year will be staged in the town tomorrow (Saturday, July 28).

A cake stall, a raffle, bric-a-brac and a name the bear competition will all be part of the event at the Torpoint Silver Band Hut between 10am and 1pm. Money raised will go to the Chestnut Appeal to aid prostrate cancer patients at Derriford Hospital.

Environmental

information

TORPOINT Town Council has agreed to obtain various pieces of environmental information from Caradon District Council to display on its noticeboards in the town.

Council vote to oppose radioactive discharges

TORPOINT Town Council has voted to oppose the discharge of radioactive material into the River Tamar.

The council made the decision after being approached by the Environment Agency for its views on proposed changes to nuclear discharges from Devonport Dockyard.

The agency has been carrying out extensive public consultations on the proposed changes before making a decision on whether or not to approve new levels of discharges.

DML, which runs the dockyard, wants to increase its discharges of tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, into the river and decrease the amount of cobalt 60 discharges. Certain radioactive gases may also be released into the air. The discharges are linked with refitting and refueling work on nuclear submarines.

The issue has caused concern in Torpoint and the surrounding area with local people worried over the effect of discharges on health and the environment.

The town council's health and safety working party drafted a response to the Environment Agency opposing discharges and this was supported by a majority of councillors.

As part of the consultation process, the agency held public meetings and surgeries to let people know what was proposed. The agency also produced a document which explained what was happening over DML's application and included a draft certificate of authorisation with proposed discharge limits.

A protest march took place earlier this month on the last day of public consultation. Protesters walked over the Tamar Bridge and handed a petition with 6,500 signatures to the agency. The protesters want a public inquiry to be held into the matter.

The agency has said in the past that radiation doses to the public from the proposed new discharges would remain well below the legal limits.