The Local Newspaper

A HARBOURFRONT restaurant has been forced to close temporarily after a fire broke out in part of the building.

The Ocean Grill on the Wharf in St Ives suffered damage after flames took hold last weekend.

Firefighters from St Ives and Penzance dealt with the blaze, which broke out in the space between the second and third storeys.

The incident happened at around 2pm on Sunday, February 19, and a recorded message on the restaurant's answerphone informs customers of the fire, adding that the eaterie is likely to be closed for around a week.

The fire service said the fire was thought to have started accidentally.

Bodmin Town 4, Cullompton Rangers 1
Bodmin stayed on course for a treble of trophies by cruising through to the Throgmorton Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night after seeing off Cullompton at a misty Priory Park.
Already into the last four of the Cornwall Senior Cup and well placed to win the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League title, Bodmin romped to victory in an attractive quarter-final tie.
Cullompton only arrived at the ground 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time of 7.45pm and they made a shaky start, with Ben Smallridge and Sam Matthews having chances to open the scoring for the home side inside eight minutes.
But the Devon side had a golden opportunity of their own after ten minutes when a right wing cross from Aaron Doble picked out Roger Ingham in the six yard box but he lifted his shot over the bar.
They were made to pay for that glaring miss by two Bodmin goals in seven minutes. Olly Brokenshire opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a left foot drive from 20 yards and he then turned provider for Adam Carter to make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.
Bodmin seemed well in control but Cullompton reduced the arrears 12 minutes into the second half with a cool chipped finish from Raith Plant, rewarding some enterprising attacking from the visitors.
But Bodmin restored their two-goal lead within three minutes with the influential Brokenshire providing a pinpoint cross  from the left which defender Tom Chambers volleyed home from six yards.
Chris Luxton spurned a couple of excellent chances to increase Bodmin's lead and it was left to man of the match Brokenshire to show him the way with his second goal of the game in the 88th minute after unselfish work by Carter.
Bodmin: Draper, Reed (Simmonds 58), Rundle, Chambers, Morgan, Brokenshire, Colwell,  Matthews, Carter, Luxton (Hodge 77), Smallridge (Swiggs 68). Sub not used: O'Hagan.
Cullompton: Moore, Sanderson, Tapp, Orchard, Jee, Greening, Doble, Worbey, Harvey, Plant, Ingham. Subs: O'Donahue, Oliver, Moyle.
Referee: Luke Maslen.

Redruth Rugby Club have appointed Adrian Edwards as their new head coach for next season following the decision of David Penberthy to step down as the National 2 South club's director of rugby. Affectionately known as "Spade", Edwards, who has previously served as Conditioning Coach at the club in previous seasons as well as previously being Team Manager with the Cornish Pirates for nearly a decade, will take the salaried position on April 1 with a view to player recruitment and retention for the 2012-13 season. Club secretary Roger Watson said: "We look forward to him bringing fresh ideas, skills and organisation and to him utilising his extensive knowledge in strength and conditioning as the club seeks to consolidate its league status. "Our priorities will be to continue to develop our young players and to re-establish regular second team rugby at the club. "Many challenges lie ahead as the club will need to continue to operate on limited funds but this is the first step towards recruiting a new coaching and support team to move the club forward. "The club will now work with Adrian to put this team in place in good time for them to plan for next season and, working with the current coaches and Director of Rugby, to ensure a smooth transition enabling Redruth to maintain its position in the National Leagues. "The current coaching team along with Director of Rugby David Penberthy will continue to retain control over playing matters until the end of the current campaign, after which the Director of Rugby post will be abolished." Edwards has spent this season with Hayle RFC.

A CARBIS BAY resident will join a project to help restore the Penwith peninsula after winning a place on the Vodafone World of Difference programme.

Naomi Perry, 25, successfully applied to work for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust though the programme, which chooses 500 people each year and funds them to work for a charity of their choice.

Ms Perry studied for a masters degree in conservation at Exeter University's Falmouth campus, graduating last September. During her studies she did some volunteering at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, where she found out about the Vodafone Foundation's programme and applied to join the charity part-time for four months.

She will begin work with the charity's Wild Penwith project at the beginning of March.

Ms Perry said she was "overwhelmed and excited" to learn she had been successful. "I am really passionate about wildlife conservation and I can't wait to get started."

She will join the Wild Penwith project in working with local farmers, landowners, businesses and communities to preserve the peninsula's landscape.

Ms Perry said she was particularly looking forward to gaining some hands-on experience.

"Most of it is going to be helping to write reports but I'm also going to have the chance to go out in the field and gain some practical conservation skills," she said.

She will juggle her charity work with a part-time job as a waitress, but ultimately hopes to pursue a full-time career in conservation.

And, while some friends on her course are looking to work abroad, she would like to put her skills to use in the county where she was brought up.

"I've got my heart set on staying in Cornwall," she said.

Liz Cox, who manages the Wild Penwith project, said Ms Perry would be helping compile and record information from a community hedge project over the summer, as well as getting involved in community events.

"It'll be a bit of a taster all round," she said.

Getting this kind of support through the Vodafone World of Difference scheme is invaluable for charities such as the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Ms Cox said.

And, by joining the programme, participants can gain important skills and experience, as well as demonstrating their commitment.

"Conservation is quite hard to get into," Ms Cox said. "Doing this shows that you're prepared to put the time in."

This is the third annual World of Difference programme run by the Vodafone Foundation.

The foundation funds the charities involved to employ a successful applicant, either full-time for two months or part-time for four months.

For more information on how to apply for a placement next year visit http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk

The Government last night put itself on collision course with environmental campaigners after launching a legal challenge to its solar subsidies ruling.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court ruling that its plans to cut solar subsidy payments are illegal.

The legal case, which has been played out at the highest levels of court in the UK, has so far cost the taxpayer in excess of £60,000.

The case hinges on the Feed-in Tariff, a cashback incentive provided by Government to those who produce their own solar energy. The scheme was particularly popular in the South West due to its high levels of solar radiation. But the previously attractive subsidy of 43p per kilowatt of energy was reduced to 21p – a decision which was declared illegal by the High Court.

A DECC spokesman said: "We want to see the available funding spread as far and wide as possible, making FiTs a scheme for the many, not a scheme for the few."

Friends of the Earth's executive director, Andy Atkins, said: "This misguided appeal will only add to the uncertainty hovering over the renewable clean energy industry."

A Cornish hospital's lone ward has been closed to new admissions and visitors following an outbreak of an infectious illness.

Medical 1 ward at West Cornwall Hospital was put under restrictions last week.

It is currently the only in-patient ward open at the Penzance site following a decision last year to keep the hospital's other ward, Medical 2, closed through the winter to ensure facilities remained open at Truro's hospital.

Last week, the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust temporarily shut down Wheal Agar ward at Truro while an allegation is investigated.

The trust was asked on Monday to comment on the ward closure at Penzance, but no-one was available to do so as the Western Morning News went to press.

Graham Webster, a member of the West Cornwall Hospital Forum community group, said he hoped the issue would be dealt with quickly.

"I was very concerned to hear an infectious illness has closed this ward at a time when the trust will be under pressure because of the ongoing closure of Medical 2 at Penzance and Wheal Agar at Truro. I hope that the trust gets this sorted as soon as possible."

A row over who should represent Cornwall Council at the Olympic torch relay ceremony at Land's End spilled over into a full council meeting yesterday.

The disagreement centres over whether the chairman, Pat Harvey, or leader, Alec Robertson, should take precedence in the county's Olympic celebrations.

Concerns had been raised among councillors that the chairman of the council – the authority's civic head – was being "sidelined" in favour of the Coun Robertson, particularly with regards to the torch relay.

Independent Councillor Andrew Wallis tried to resolve the issue by putting it before the full council yesterday.

He asked the council to recognise the "intent" of the Local Government Act 1972 which sets out that the chairman of the council is the civic head of the authority and is given precedence at civic events. And he called for the council to ensure that the chairman, as the civic head of the council, is "lead and in attendance at all events relating to the Olympic Torch Relay".

Introducing the motion yesterday, Coun Wallis said the chairman's non-political role at functions such as the Olympic Torch events was important, not just for the council, but for the county.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Jeremy Rowe supported the motion, saying there had been a "blurring of the line between the chairman and the leader". He added that it was important to make a distinction between the political leadership of the council and the civic leadership.

Councillor Doris Ansari asked for the motion to be amended to recommend that the council write to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) asking for any relevant invitations to be sent to the civic head of the council. Coun Ansari, who previously held the role of council chairman herself, said she regretted that the matter had to be raised at all.

"We shouldn't be having this debate," she said. "It's sad that we're having it. This makes us look like spoilt children throwing our toys out of our prams."

The chairman declared a prejudicial interest in the item at the start of the meeting and neither she nor Coun Robertson spoke during the debate.

The council voted in favour of approving the motion, with Coun Ansari's amendment that the authority write to LOCOG.

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MARTIAL ARTS enthusiasts who train in Bodmin have scored successes at the PUMASouthern Championships held in Plymouth.

Two members of the Bodmin school of New Wave Martial Arts, which is affiliated to PUMA (Professional Unification Martial Arts), became Southern champions, and many others came away with medals.

Morgan Stevens, a first degree black belt and Sophie Parton, a second degree black belt, both won the technical patterns event and Eleanor Dunstan gained a silver in the musical pattern event.

The Bodmin martial arts school also attracts youngsters aged from 4 to 7 who are known as Little Pumas. They performed a bully-stranger drill, a high-kicking event and a quickdraw challenge.

The school trains on Wednesdays and Fridays at Bodmin College and the first four lessons are free.

Instructor Mark Bishop said his Bodmin school now has 45 members.

"It's all about gaining self-confidence, which martial arts training gives people," he said.

For more information, please see www.newwavemartialarts.co.uk

Cornwall Council has accepted a controversial Government grant which will see its share of the council tax bill frozen for the next 12 months.

The decision was made at a full meeting yesterday, where the council set its budget for 2012/13.

The council voted to approve a budget of £451.7 million and agreed to accept the Government's offer of funds equivalent of a 2.5 per cent council tax rise if it freezes bills in April.

This means the authority's element of council tax for an average Band D property will be held at the current level of £1,244 for the next financial year.

Despite the council's decision, council tax bills will still rise. Last week Devon and Cornwall Police Authority decided to decline a similar offer of a grant from the Government and to raise the police precept in the council tax bill by two per cent – equivalent to a rise of six pence per week for a Band D property.

Introducing the budget yesterday, Conservative Council Leader Alec Robertson said the decision over accepting the one-off grant was one of the key issues in this year's budget.

"We're well aware of the difficulties people in Cornwall are facing in paying bills," he said.

The freeze will ease the burden on tax payers this year, but there are concerns that, without a similar injection next year, the council will be left with a gap to fill in 2013/2014.

Coun Robertson said he was confident the council had sufficient reserves to balance the budget next year.

However, Councillor Dick Cole, leader of the Mebyon Kernow party, was among those opposed to accepting the grant, saying it would create a "black hole for the future". He described it as a "cynical ploy" on the part of a Government that had "slashed public spending".

He said: "It's our view that this so-called grant represents a false economy unless the Government pledges to increase public spending for future years."

Jeremy Rowe, leader of the Liberal Democrats, the main opposition group on the council, welcomed the move to accept the Government grant.

He said his party supported "elements of the budget" but still had concerns over some its content.

Extra cash has been found in this year's budget to support bus services and keep open public toilets, both of which had been threatened with cuts. The authority remains on course with its four-year plan of making £170 million worth of cuts.

However, Coun Robertson said that, because the council had made "tough choices and hard decisions" last year, it was now in a position to set a "budget for growth".

Key recommendations passed yesterday included £700,000 to fund a Cornish Bursary to encourage youngsters to stay on in learning and a £62 million housing plan to deliver 4,125 new homes within the next four years, 3,000 of which will be affordable homes to rent. An additional £7 million was found for Adult Care and Support.

A recorded vote was held over the decision to accept the Government's council tax freeze grant for 2012/13. Of those present, 94 members voted in favour, 12 voted against and six abstained.

Henley Hawks 28, Cornish All Blacks 5

A VERY poor start cost the Cornish All Blacks dear as they crashed to defeat at leafy Dry Leas.

They conceded three converted tries inside the opening 12 minutes to find themselves 21-0 down against a team lying two places above them in the table.

It was then a case of damage limitation, and it was not until two minutes from time that the All Blacks got their first points on the board with a consolation try by scrum half Lewis Webb.

With Clifton also going down to defeat at the weekend, the All Blacks did not lose their seventh position in the table, but they are now 14 points behind sixth-place Cornish rivals Redruth, with only seven matches remaining.

The All Blacks were without Ben Hilton, who did not get back in time from a school field trip, and Josh Lord, who has been banned by the Rugby Football Union for the rest of the season, but they were able to bring Damien Chambers into their second row.

However, they were left stunned by Henley's fantastic start to the contest.

The opening try came in the first minute, with Henley winger Xavier Andre picking up a ball that had shot out of a ruck and running 35 metres to score, with fly-half James Comben slotting the conversion.

Five minutes later, the Hawks were awarded a simple penalty in front of the post, but bravely decided to kick to the corner instead, and after a catch-and-drive line-out, and several rucks, flanker Ryan Newman was driven over, with Comben again adding the extras. Comben then grabbed a third touchdown in the 12th minute, which he converted himself, and it was almost game over before it had really begun.

Sin-bin

There was no let-off for the Cornishmen, and they continued having to defend for long periods, but the Hawks failed to cross the whitewash again before the interval and had to be content with their 21-0 advantage.

The All Blacks' cause was not helped by having all three of their starting front-row players sent to the sin-bin during the game, although there was only a minute left on the clock when loose-head prop Tim Mathias was yellow carded.

Henley again enjoyed the large majority of possession and territory in the second half, but once more they were denied by good defensive work by their visitors.

However, they finally got their fourth bonus-point try in the 68th minute, with fine play by the forwards setting up a score for flanker Matt Payne.

Comben maintained his 100 per cent conversion record and the scoreboard was looking a sorry sight for the All Blacks at 28-0. It was sweet revenge for the Hawks, who had unexpectedly lost 28-12 at Polson Bridge in October, at a time when the All Blacks were struggling to find a win and the Oxfordshire-based visitors were riding high in the table.

With only two minutes left on the clock, the All Blacks finally got a try, created by an initial break from centre Lewis Paterson, which led to a penalty which was kicked to the corner.

After a line-out and several scrums, Webb sneaked around the blindside to score a try, but the conversion was missed.

The All Blacks now have a blank weekend to regroup before returning to action on March 3 with a home game against Lydney.

Westcountry farmers have been urged to "grow more food, more sustainably" to boost Britain's economic recovery.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman told the National Farmers' Union conference that the "Government and agriculture need to work in partnership" for the good of the country.

"There is a lot hanging on it," she said. "Environmental protection. The rural economy. And the role of farming in growing and rebalancing our national economy."

She added: "We want to help British farmers to grow more food, more sustainably. We also want to help them to export more. To boost their own businesses. To help boost economic recovery."

In a wide-ranging speech, Mrs Spelman addressed issues such as the need to tackle bovine TB, bureaucracy and reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

She described food security and climate change as the "most pressing issues of our time".

Her speech, which repeatedly referred to a closer working relationship between ministers and the industry, was well received. However, farmers said the Government had to match its words with action.

Mike Hambly, who farms 400 acres near Callington, in South East Cornwall, said while "encouraging" it was the "delivery afterwards that counts".

The industry faced major uncertainty, he said, with changes to the CAP and farms having to adjust to a new system.

It was also still disadvantaged by complying with food production standards which were not enforced elsewhere.

"UK farmers have embraced higher welfare conditions because they have always had the welfare of their stock at heart," Mr Hambly said.

"What they don't want is to be shortchanged by a Government which lacks the ability, the power or the spine to prevent imports that aren't produced to those standards, ending up on consumer shelves."

The Environment Secretary said the Food Exports Action Plan, launched last month, showed farming was a "vital part of an export-led recovery". She added: "Our Made in Britain brand has such cachet.

"That's why we've been working hard for country of origin labelling. That's why we are encouraging more protected food names. Promote this brand. Capitalise on it. Government will back you all the way."

She also told delegates in Birmingham that sustainable agriculture needed to be at the heart of the major environmental summit in Brazil this summer, along with reform of EU policy.

She said: "We have to move faster in improving our productivity and improving our environmental performance.

"So it is essential we put sustainable agriculture at the heart of both the summit in Rio in June and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

"The challenges of food security and climate change are among the most pressing issues of our time, so we can't just leave them for future generations to deal with."

Ian Johnson, spokesman for the National Farmers' Union in the South West, said the industry needed to be freed from a "strait-jacket".

"Farmers want to have the shackles taken off so they can push their businesses forward," Mr Johnson said. "Otherwise we are going to end up back in Thomas Hardy's day and that will be no good for the economy."

Bere Alston 3, Probus 2

PROBUS will be left wondering what might have happened if influential midfielder Ben Ringrose had not got lost on the way to Bere Alston by following directions that nearly took him to Bude.

It meant that he only arrived in time to take a place on the bench and Probus were already trailing 2-0 before he came on as a second half substitute.

Bere Alston took control with first half goals from Paul Simpson and Chris Bray.

Probus sent on Ringrose in place of Martin Bishop but were pegged back again with Bray grabbing his second goal of the afternoon.

Further changes by Probus saw them finish strongly with two goals in the final ten minutes with the impressive Dan Vincent scoring one and creating another for Sam Bullen.

Probus had enough chances to have earned a point, but missed out in front of goal and suffered their first league defeat in five games.

MoM: Dan Vincent (Probus).

Bude Town 4, St Stephens Borough 2

BUDE, who put up a great fight in their defeat by leaders Torpoint seven days previously, returned to winning ways at home to bottom club St Stephens Borough.

But they had to survive an early scare when Andy Wright gave the visitors the lead after a quarter of an hour.

James Giordani, returning to the Bude midfield after taking a recent break, was always influential as the home side came back into the game. He hit the bar while Bude had a confident penalty appeal turned down before 17-year-old Adam Smith grabbed a couple of goals in quick succession.

Bude continued to dominate and Steve Hackett had a penalty brilliantly saved by Martin Dean before Alan James added a third goal and Smith went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half.

Borough showed some encouraging spirit and their efforts were rewarded when Wright scored his second with a late penalty.

MoM: James Giordani (Bude Town).

Lanreath 1, Bodmin Town 1

BODMIN remain in the bottom two after having to settle for a point from their visit to fellow strugglers Lanreath, who probably felt they had enough of the possession to have taken all three points.

Bodmin were playing their first league match since losing at Torpoint in mid-January and have still only completed 15 matches, which leaves them with six matches in hand over Lanreath, who are only two points above Bodmin.

It remains a tight battle at the bottom with Lanreath, in turn, only three points adrift of Wadebridge with a couple of matches in hand.

Lanreath gave themselves some hope when James Barrett gave them a second half lead and they might well have gone on to collect their first win since Christmas but for some fine work by visiting goalkeeper Gerald Legg.

He kept his side in the game and they rescued a point with an equaliser from Steve Chapman.

MoM: Gerald Legg (Bodmin Town).

St Dominick 2, Elburton V 6

ST DOMINICK faced an uphill struggle when they conceded three goals in the opening quarter of an hour against an impressive Elburton outfit.

It quickly became clear there was to be no repeat of last month's result when St Dominick won 2-0 at Elburton.

The visitors went ahead through Dan Squires after only seven minutes and went on to take control with Squires turning in a man of the match performance with four goals, while there were further strikes from Jacob Smale and Jay Chard. St Dominick had their moments but Luke Kelly and Kevin Blatchford failed to take advantage of their opportunities.

Lee Blatchford pulled a goal back for the Saints with a thunderbolt from 25 yards and the home side had the final say with a goal from Adam McPherson but finished well beaten in what was a bad day at the office.

MoM: Dan Squires (Elburton Villa).

Tavistock 3, Saltash Utd 0

SALTASH are struggling through a lack of fixtures with the visit to Tavistock being only their second league game since mid-December. Now they face a couple of blank weeks before visiting Elburton Villa on March 10.

Even so, they provided sound opposition for Tavistock until the turning point came on the hour when central midfielder Mat Glendinning was sent off after collecting a second yellow card.

Then fellow midfielder Stefan Kelly went off injured and Tavistock took control with Kevin Hatch a constant threat with his lively work on the left wing.

Earlier, Saltash had their moments and Tavistock were fortunate to have Jamie Castle on form in goal.

Tavistock eventually achieved the breakthrough when Ryan Moorhead opened the scoring with Hatch adding the second and Jarryd Kelly wrapped up victory for the home side after rounding off some good work by Sam Shepherd.

MoM: Kevin Hatch (Tavistock).

Wadebridge Town 1, Torpoint Athletic 2

TORPOINT are now 11 points clear at the top of the table but they are being made to work hard for the victories that are keeping them on course for the title.

Wadebridge have a battle of their own as they endeavour to stay above Lanreath and Bodmin and, despite going two-down on the hour mark, they hit back to give Torpoint some anxious moments in the closing stages.

Both Torpoint goals came as the Wadebridge defence failed to deal with corners. Lewis Young took advantage to open the scoring just before the interval and Darren Wills added the second with half an hour remaining.

Credit was due to Wadebridge, however, for sticking to their task with Shaun Cunningham proving a constant threat to the visiting defence.

The home side had some consolation for their efforts ten minutes from the end when 16-year-old substitute Tom Whitehead scored with a fine volley.

MoM: Shaun Cunningham (Wadebridge).

The other premier division match between Morwenstow and Launceston was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

A POLICE crackdown on illegal drugs has seen more than 400 arrests made in raids in the Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow areas during the past five years.

The vast majority were in the Bodmin area, where 345 people were detained by officers in the police's continuing war against drugs.

There were 35 arrests in Wadebridge, 11 in Padstow and 4 in St Merryn.

Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith, who is in charge of local policing in the area, said the figures showed the police aimed to make Bodmin and Wadebridge a "hostile'' environment for drug dealers.

The figures, which have been obtained by the Cornish Guardian under a Freedom of Information request, show a detailed breakdown of the streets where the arrests were made.

In Bodmin, most arrests were made in the Victoria Square area – 23 – while 19 people were arrested in Fore Street, 15 in Hillside Park, 13 on Dennison Road, 10 on the Kinsman Estate, the same number on Wallace Road and 8 at Harmer Close.

The Bodmin figures also include arrests on the A30 near the town.

In Wadebridge, the highest number of arrests, five, were made in Dunveth Road.

Bodmin East Cornwall councillor Lance Kennedy, who is the portfolio holder for community safety and public protection at County Hall, and a former police officer, said the high number of arrests showed the police were taking a pro-active approach to illegal drug-taking and those who supply them.

"It's a fact that the higher the figure, the more successful the police have been in tackling the problem.

"They show that positive action is being taken,'' said Mr Kennedy. "These figures are testament to the police cracking down on criminal activity involving illegal drugs.''

Last week, police arrested two people from Bodmin after drugs were seized from a car travelling on the M5 near Cullompton.

Officers from the Road Crime Unit stopped a Citroen Picasso last Thursday evening and a substantial quntity of drugs were discovered.

A man aged 23 and a woman aged 33 were later released on police bail until April 23.

Mr Drummond-Smith said: "The high number of arrests demonstrates the commitment of Bodmin and Wadebridge police to tackling drugs, as best we can with our limited resources.

"The aim is to make Bodmin and Wadebridge a hostile place for drug dealers. This is demonstrated well by the arrests last Thursday,'' which the inspector said had stopped drugs reaching the streets of Bodmin and Cornwall.

"We always act on good information. I would encourage people to report drug dealers by calling 101 or crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.''

ST AUSTELL RFC Director of Rugby Steve Murley commented on the unusual experience of two losses for the senior sides at the weekend.

Murley said: "Saturday saw both Saints and Sinners lose at home in important league games.

"SSaints lost to local rivals Truro 9-0 in front of their biggest crowd of the season. It was a typical local derby with neither side giving an inch.

"In a game with little to choose between the two sides, Truro played the conditions just that little bit better than we did and were able to convert their chances when they came along.

"Truro have now done the double over us this year and good luck to them for the rest of the season. Not only did this result and a Pethy win see Saints replaced at the top of the table but a couple of notable records also fell.

"This was the first time Saints had lost at home since September 2010, a magnificent run. It was also the first time Saints had been held scoreless in a game since December 2009. The records show what a sustained run of success we have enjoyed and like any good team that loses, the important thing is that we learn and improve for our next outing.

"We are still inexperienced at this level and the group of players we have are relatively young. We are still very much in the promotion picture and need to take this loss on the chin, pick ourselves up and regroup.

"Our Sinners also went down to a strong Camborne side 20-5 but by all accounts put in a good performance with Sinners management saying how encouraged they were.

"With both senior sides losing it is important that we all train hard this week to put things right.

"One bright note on a disappointing weekend was our U17s beating Camborne, with a significant number of U16s playing, to battle through to the County shield final, another great effort and we look forward to them taking that extra step and bring home the trophy."

More rugby, Page 98.

Following the WMN's in-depth look at contentious plans for Falmouth Harbour, local fishermen have been telling Martin Hesp about their concerns.

Fishermen in Cornwall have declared they will fight plans which they claim could see more than one million tonnes of waste material dumped on one of their best fishing grounds.

In the past few days more than 25 local skippers have signed a document which objects on several different levels to the proposed dredging of Falmouth Harbour.

As reported in the Western Morning News on Monday, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners have been spearheading plans to deepen approaches to the port so that large ships including cruise liners can enter the docks. But local fishermen say materials removed from the estuary bed will be dumped out at sea in an area which they rely on for their livelihoods.

They are also worried that toxic substances, known to lie dormant in the estuary bed, will escape in a cloud of silt while the dredge is underway, polluting rich fishing areas including the famous Fal oyster grounds.

"The situation is complicated," said local fisherman David Thomas. "We fishermen haven't had much of a say but the harbour people have played a blinder – they've even got the Chancellor mentioning their plans in the House of Commons."

He said local skippers already knew to their cost that the dumping of dredged material in an area a few miles off the coast – marked as "spoil ground" on the charts – harmed the fishery.

"It's been calculated that 1.1 million tonnes of material will be dredged and we know that in the last 24 years 230,000 tonnes have been deposited on that spoil ground from maintenance dredging in the harbour and up the Truro River," said Mr Thomas. "That averages 10,000 tonnes a year – but the biggest lot was when they dredged Mylor Yacht Harbour in 2001 and they put 47,000 tonnes out there.

"I started prawn fishing in 1999 and was able to buy plenty of local mackerel for bait, but in 2001 we couldn't get any because mackerel didn't come in that summer and autumn. The 47,000 tonnes absolutely destroyed the summer/autumn mackerel and whiting fishing for years," said Mr Thomas, adding that the area in question was close to a wrecked Second World War "liberty ship" which was a favourite target for fishermen.

"It's only in the last three years that whiting have been caught in any quantities in the bay and it was the summer before last that the mackerel came back like they used to be 12 years ago," he added.

"If 47,000 tonnes can do that, what will over one million tonnes do?

"By their own admission, the Harbour Commission's own consultants say the liberty ship will be buried by four inches of silt. We will never catch any fish there ever again."

Mr Thomas, who has a degree in applied biology, said he had attended meetings where various issues regarding the dredge material had been discussed. Suggestions included that it should be taken to an area within the harbour and used to create a land-fill in which toxic substances could be safely sealed in concrete.

"It was never progressed because Natural England said it would be a loss of natural habitat," he added.

"But even if the hard standing idea went ahead – there are two groups of local fishermen here – there's the ones like me who go out to sea and then there's the people in the Carrick Roads. Those fishermen are very worried about the dredging stirring up the sediments which include things like TBT (an anti-foul chemical now banned). In total it's reckoned around 6,200 tonnes of sediment will be released into the water column while the dredging is going on – then that stuff is going to get deposited somewhere – it could end up all over the oyster beds."

Mr Thomas said that the monitoring buoys which the proposed scheme would employ to measure toxins were simply not up to the job.

Among those joining the fight against the big dredge is fishing industry journalist Phil Lockley who also fishes commercially in the area. "I'm not against the dredging," he said. "We want the ships and we want the industry – but we are worried about where they are going to dump all that material.

"That area is my living. I cannot emphasise enough how vital that area is for local boats."

Saltash Utd 0, Falmouth Town 3

THIS was not the type of game that the Saltash management wanted to go into without four of their first team regulars and two players starting for the first time in a month.

A midfield without Darren Hicks, Johnny Morris and Ross Saint and in form striker Marc Thorne left the Ashes with just full-backs Steve Sargison and Matt Budd on the substitutes bench, while Aaron Cusack and Dan Bennett were starting after long lay-offs.

Ashes joint manager Kevin Hendy refused to use this as an excuse, though. He said: "The better team won on the day and we could not have any complaints at the result.

"Our second half display was a lot better but it was a case of starting to play after the game was lost."

Hendy added: "Last season we knocked them out of three cups and lost twice in the league but this time around it is Falmouth who have the upper hand in the cups as we have done the double over them in the league."

Alan Carey's side had already triumphed 5-3 at Kimberley in the Throgmorton Cup, before reaching the last four of the Senior Cup with this impressive victory that was even more comfortable than the January 2 meeting.

The Ashes were the first to show with Aaron Cusack's 20-yarder cleared off the line by Ross Pope in the first minute but the visitors went on to dominate the game.

Several chances had been spurned before Falmouth finally broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Joe Lugg's right-wing cross found Ian Hodges calmly firing the ball across Ashes keeper Ben Elphick at the far post.

Elphick had made two fine saves before Karl Turner's free-kick, from the angle of the box, found Stuart Clark slicing his attempted clearance into the far corner of his own net on 40 minutes.

Falmouth had just the start to the second half that they required as Turner's free-kick found Hodges diving full length to head past Elphick to complete the scoring.

Cornish Pirates 18, Bristol 17

A TRY from lock Ian Nimmo, converted by Rob Cook, midway through the second half proved decisive as the Pirates battled back to win a full-blooded West Country derby at the Mennaye Field by a single point.

In a thrilling game played in front of a near full house crowd of 3,115, Chris Stirling's side started brightly, opening up an eight point lead through a Dave Ward try and a long distance Grant Pointer penalty, but then fell away, conceding a try and three Tristan Roberts penalties as league leaders Bristol took control.

The sin-binning of Argentinean lock Mariano Sambucetti after 55 minutes for punching proved crucial and the Pirates made their man advantage tell from the resulting penalty.

Nimmo crashed over after a sustained assault on the Bristol line and Cook's conversion proved telling as Roberts nibbled away at the lead with his fourth place kick of the afternoon.

Pirates boss Stirling said: "It was a great effort by the guys in some quite difficult circumstances really. So I have to say that I'm really proud of them.

Errors

"We were well on top for the first 15 minutes, had a lot of possession and used it really well, putting pressure through good composure on the opposition.

"But unfortunately through our errors we let Bristol back into the game and they deservedly led at half-time because our lack of accuracy."

But the victory came at a cost to the Pirates who lost centre Andy Short with a dislocated shoulder in the first half. Grant Pointer (concussion) had to be replaced at half-time and replacement prop Paul Andrew was hospitalised after injuring his neck in the final exchanges of the game.

Stirling added: "He (Andrew) landed on his head at an awkward angle as Wardy turned the ball over right at the end.

"Andy Short dislocated his shoulder and he will be long term, which I just can't believe. Grant Pointer got concussed right on half-time and for safety reasons we couldn't send him back out.

He added: "I don't know what we have done to the injury gods but we keep losing guys and they aren't just bumps and niggles. They are bad injuries."

Bristol's 11-8 interval lead was an irritation more than a worry for the Pirates' camp and Stirling explained that the half-time team talk revolved around some simple questions to the team.

He said: "I asked the boys what did we have in the first 15 minutes? We had the ball. What did we keep? We kept the ball and we eliminated the errors.

"What didn't we have in the next 25 minutes? We didn't have the ball, because we gave it back to them through our errors. So we set about eliminating our errors."

Roberts and Cook exchanged second half penalties before the departure of the feisty Sambucetti and the penalty and subsequent try for the Pirates were just what Stirling expected. "All we needed was field position," he said. "We didn't kick well but even when we went six (points) behind in the second half I wasn't concerned.

"We knew that our game would ultimately revolve around jersey's one to eight and that is how it unfolded."

In the final quarter the Pirates had chances to kill the contest with further try scoring opportunities but these went begging, ensuring that the one-point lead had to be defended at all costs in a prolonged period of injury time.

But forced to play from deep the pressure told on Bristol who also lost prop Darren Crompton to the sin bin.

Stirling said: "I think our forward play dominated and I think we are one of the better packs in the competition.

"We can still improve a hell of a lot but I'm not sure that the opposition can. Once we get some bodies back on deck I'm sure we can be an exciting team in the play-offs."

A SAMBA BAND has been drummed out of a community hall following complaints from Lerryn villagers that they are too loud.

For the past two years, ten-piece drumming band Los Samba has met regularly to practise at the Lerryn Memorial Hall – but has now been told not to come back after nearby residents complained.

Instead, some locals have banged their own drum in a bid for peace to return to the tranquil beauty spot.

It means Los Samba has been forced to decamp down the road to Lostwithiel School.

As a result the group, which attracts drummers from both the local area and further afield, has already lost two members and is struggling to make beautiful music in its less acoustically equipped new practice space, and raise enough money to buy equipment which needs replacing.

Band maestro Mel Pratt, 40, who lives in Barn Park, Lostwithiel, said the members were saddened by their ban from the community hall, which was rebuilt through a Lottery grant and community donations.

As far as Los Samba were aware only one person complained, said the band's leader.

"My take on it is that it's a community space and we're a community band for all ages and groups and all walks of life," she said. "We should be allowed to practise in the hall.

"Our aim is to bring the community together and have fun.

"We need community spirit back in the village. We complied with everything they asked us to do to minimise the noise – we closed the curtains, the windows and the doors – but we were still ousted."

The group even stopped practising on a Sunday in a bid to silence the complaints.

Mrs Pratt said the band's ban was just another example of the loss of community activities – despite many Lerryn residents supporting them.

She added: "Cornwall is moving into an age of OAPs; all the teenagers are leaving because there is nothing left here for them."

However, Marguerite Batt, who lives in School Lane, near the memorial hall, said the sound was "very, very intrusive" to a great many people on occasions during the summer months, and could even be heard over televisions.

She said she had "every sympathy" for the band's need to practise but had spoken to other villagers who felt the same about the noise.

"It was just unfortunate for them that they landed on Lerryn's Memorial Hall, given the proximity of properties and that sound carries so readily in the river valley," she said.

Johnny Pusey, landlord of the Ship Inn, said: "I think it's really sad. There aren't many places where the youngsters can go to express themselves.

"They were a very good local focal point; we've got very little in this village."

The village's popular mud rugby, played in the estuary at low tide, and the May Day pole event, where neighbouring villages tried to steal one another's May Day poles, had already been stopped because of health and safety.

David Vipond, chair of the Lerryn Village Hall committee, said the committee voted not to renew the group's booking beyond Christmas because of the complaints.

He had even had villagers calling him on the telephone and making him listen to the band from their gardens, he said, and other people using the hall had said they couldn't hear each speak. "It's defeating the purpose of having a village hall if it disadvantages the local people," he said.

Los Samba, which runs courses all over the county, including workshops for people with learning difficulties, and appears at festivals and fêtes, is now looking for a venue which is closer to its members' homes and cheaper to hire, and where its activities won't upset the neighbours.

To help, call Richard Morris on 01208 872963.

BODMIN has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the UK.

The town's figures are the worst in Cornwall and it's one of two in the South West where the Government has been urged to set up a special Youth Unemployment Zone to help 16-to 25-year-olds find work.

The report of the Commission on Youth Unemployment, chaired by Labour MP David Milliband, mostly lists inner- city areas, but includes Bodmin's St Mary's ward and the Tormohun area of Torbay as the two South West "hotspots'' where the proportion of young people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance is twice the national average.

The report, commissioned by ACEVO, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, calls for a national plan to get teenagers into work and a mentoring scheme for young people.

The report calls for initiatives such as subsidised transport to help young people attend training programmes and to seek work.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that about a third of people under the age of 25 in Cornwall and Devon are on the dole.

Ann Kerridge, Cornwall councillor for Bodmin West, which includes the St Mary's ward, said her own authority should be doing more to help Bodmin's young jobless.

"Youth unemployment is very serious and if nothing is done by Government and Cornwall Council it'll only get much worse," said Mrs Kerridge.

"The report recommends that a Youth Unemployment Zone is created for Bodmin by the Government and I back this 100 per cent.

"Cornwall Council should be doing much more. It nearly axed many of our buses, which are crucial in helping many young people get to work. Thank goodness they listened and pulled back at the very last minute.

"Perhaps this'll be the kick they need to start looking beyond Truro. They must stop talking and open up the Beacon Technology Park by locating [council] jobs in Bodmin."

Brothers Jamie and Jason Ashley have sent scores of job applications but have not found employment.

Jamie, 21, said he had been claiming unemployment benefit for more than a year.

"I was training to be a carpenter but the programme I was on closed down, and even though I've applied for lots of jobs since, I've got nowhere," he said.

"My partner and I have a young child and she's expecting another baby in two weeks. I really want to work and earn money for my family – I don't want to be on benefits – but there are a lot of people going for so few jobs and I haven't had any success."

His 18-year-old brother has not worked since leaving school two years ago.

"I didn't get any qualifications except for one GCSE, but I'm always looking for jobs, but there's nothing out there for me," he said.

"I keep applying, but keep getting rejection letters, at least from the companies who bother to reply.

"It's very disheartening."

TWO OF the UK's biggest national chains are set to expand their operations in Newquay.

Tesco is expected to sign a deal later this week to convert the Buzios bar on East Street into a second express store.

It is understood that the deal will not scupper any of its plans for a large supermarket on land belonging to Tretherras School, or its current express store on Narrowcliff.

Tesco is still in negotiations with Tretherras over the deal for a new store, as the school wishes to sell off The Hexagon Theatre, Happy Days Nursery and the old junior school section to make way for the multimillion-pound store.

Meanwhile pub chain JD Wetherspoon will open a second bar in the town in the former Divas/Red Square building on Gover Lane.

The company has submitted an application for a premises licence for what will be called The Cribber.

If successful it will operate from 9am to 4am, Sunday to Saturday, with regulated entertainment.

The application is likely to be discussed by Cornwall Council next month. A spokesman for Wetherspoons said: "I can confirm that we are in negotiations to purchase the site of the former Red Square building.

"We have already submitted a public notice and licensing application."

Eve Wooldridge, manager of the Newquay Business Improvement District (BID), said that it was aware that there are a number of properties within the Newquay BID area that are currently in the process of sale or redevelopment.

She added: "We are fortunate that, despite the recession, Newquay has only 8 per cent of empty properties.

"This is against a national high street average of 14 per cent.

"The upcoming redevelopment of some key sites will bring this percentage down even further.

"As a BID we are constantly encouraging a vibrant mix of local, independent retailers and establishments, alongside quality national brands, who bring their own propositions and vital investment to our local doorstep."

Tony Townsend, a spokesman for Newquay Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, said: "The fact two major household names are expanding in Newquay appears to demonstrate that the town is thriving even in difficult economic times and the chamber welcomes this and hopes it will attract further chains to look at Newquay.

"Most towns which welcome national brands appear to attract more footfall, which in turn benefits the local businesses.

"Time will tell, but hopefully Newquay will experience this too."

It is unknown at this stage how many jobs would be created by the two openings.

Tesco said it could not comment on its plans for Buzios until a deal had been signed. A company spokesman said: "Tesco is keen to provide the residents of Newquay with retail choice and a convenient shopping experience. At this stage there are no further developments. We will, of course, inform the local community as soon as the situation changes."