School plans drama extension

TORPOINT School is planning an extension to create more space for drama lessons.

Headmaster Roy Bright said: "The school is poorly served for classroom drama space. We want to extend the existing drama area.

"If the project does go ahead it could double the size of the drama area at the moment.

"The extension is going for planning permission in March and we are hoping to have it up and running for September when the autumn term starts."

Lighting and a sound system is already in place in the current drama space and this would be used in the new area.

The new drama space would be big enough for small productions with audiences of between 40 and 50 people.

The school has been waiting to hear what funds are available from the Government for the project which could cost in the region of £70,000.

If all goes according to plan, building work could start on the extension in May.

Objections over bid to close toilet

STRONG objections have been raised to plans to close the toilet at Horson Cemetery on the outskirts of Torpoint.

Caradon Council is considering closing a number of public toilets across the district to save money. It provides more toilets than any other district council in Cornwall at a cost of over half a million pounds a year.

Councillor Hugh Francis said: "We're taking a long, hard look at the provision of public toilets. When it's costing nearly a pound for a pee in some places, we need to find ways of reducing the costs."

Caradon has confirmed to Torpoint Town Council that it intends to close both the Defiance Field and Horson Cemetery toilets, highlighting the maintenance costs of the facilities.

Town councillors have raised no objections to the closure of the Defiance Field toilets but strong objections were voiced over the plan to shut the cemetery toilet. The town council has put its opinions to Caradon and has also suggested that the Defiance Field toilets are incorporated into the rebuild of Torpoint Rugby Club facilities. Caradon will make a final decision in the next few weeks on which toilets will close.

Ferry boss

apologises

to commuters

for mistake

THE operators of the Torpoint Ferry have apologised for the problems caused to motorists by the refuelling of the ferries during the morning rush hour.

Town councillor Julie Martin highlighted the issue when only two ferries were operating in the autumn because the Plym ferry was out of action for a refit.

Long queues of vehicles built up in Torpoint when only the two ferries were running and it was at this time that Mrs Martin drew the town council's attention to the issue of one of these ferries being temporarily taken out of service to be refuelled.

Later in the year she voiced disappointment over the fact that two out of three ferries were stopped for refuelling during the early morning rush hour.

The council wrote to the ferry manager over the issue. In reply the ferry operations manager has written a letter apologising for problems experienced by commuters and saying that an administrative error had led to rush hour refuelling taking place.

Mark plays rugby

for county colts

A SIXTH former from Torpoint School is playing rugby for Cornwall Colts.

As well as representing the county on the rugby field, Mark Killingsworth is studying for three A-levels in Year 12 and is hoping to go on to train as a teacher.

He is also looking forward to snowboarding during a school skiing trip to Andorra during the half-term holiday later this month.