Bid to help growers

Liskeard mayor, Roger Holmes, tabled a motion at the recent Liskeard council meeting that members ask MAFF to push for European funding aid for Cornish farmers and commercial growers wishing to convert to organic methods of crop production.

Tony Powell suggested a letter be sent to the county council, asking for it to support the ban on GM testing in the Duchy. This was agreed.

The mayor's initiative, with suggested amendments, will go forward.

New spaces now available

Liskeard town councillors have been told that the 20 odd new car spaces on the Avon park at West Street, Liskeard can soon be used by social services staff from Westbourne House.

A meeting on November 23 will confirm transfer arrangements, and the fact that the public will benefit from extra space for car parking at Westbourne car park.

The opportunity will be taken by the town council to consider the need for more spaces for disabled motorists. This could see three spaces provided at the West Street end of the park.

Hotel could be cleaned up soon

Councillor Tony Powell has outlined to his Liskeard town council colleagues the latest steps in the Webb's Hotel saga - these involving an understanding that the owner may clean up the building.

Mr Powell said a letter to Caradon council from the owner, Mike Austin, had indicated a sum of money which would be expected to be received if the property was bought by the district council through a compulsory purchase order.

Mr Powell said he understood that Mr Austin has liaised with Caradon over cleaning up the Hotel, and he said the planning of this could be achieved shortly - and enable an early start to improvement works.

If this took place, he added, Caradon would suspend possible enforcement action, and summary purchase proposals, and all concerned would continue to market the property in its cleaned up state.

Manager's talk on credit union

The manager of CAB at Liskeard, Hilary Warren, has spoken to Liskeard town councillors about the introduction of a Credit Union for Caradon.

She explained the aims of a Credit Union through which people on low incomes can become savers and borrowers of the organisation.

Costs are minimised through the work of volunteers who manage the scheme. So far 25 such helpers have been traced for training in Caradon.

Hilary was seeking funds to meet the cost of a local Credit Union office and start-up expenses, and said the scheme could qualify for a three year grant from London.

The funding needed could reach £70,000 as the Union will cover the five towns of Caradon and their surrounding areas. The base will be at Liskeard.

She stressed that 20 per cent of the population of South East Cornwall is likely to have no chance of gaining funds through the normal banking services.

Hall future in some doubt

The future of the The Hall for Cornwall at Truro is in some doubt due to financial problems.

The management of the Hall has asked Cornwall council to help in providing 'shortfall' funding, and an emergency meeting to discuss the matter was to be held this week.

It has been said that if no 'bail out' possibility emerges the centre could close within six weeks.

Council to join SECTA

Liskeard town council has decided to join the tourist group SECTA at a cost of £10.

Mayor Roger Holmes proposed the move as he felt tourism was a vital part of the economy of South East Cornwall and the council should be closely involved with all pro-active initiatives.

The matter was sealed by a nine to three vote.