Cornish district bans alcohol in public places - The Pasty sells saffron cakes from Cornwall and Cornish pasties

Police have been authorised to arrest people who drink alcohol in public places in parts of the Kerrier district in west Cornwall.

In an attempt to curtail anti-social behaviour by drinkers, the Designated Public Place Orders have been issued in Helston, Redruth, Camborne and Portreath. Signs will be put on display in the areas that will be affected by the new laws.

Offenders can face a fine of up to £500 if convicted and police will also have the power to confiscate their alcohol.

The Kerrier District Council introduced the scheme in partnership with the relevant town and parish councils to put an end to aggressive behaviour from drinkers.

A 10 per cent tax could be imposed on takeaway meals in the South West, according to a proposal submitted to a Treasury-commissioned review.

Also a six per cent tax could be charged on sit-down meals in restaurants and pubs.

The taxes, which were proposed by Sir Michael Lyons, would increase government funds by £1.5 billion a year. Chancellor Gordon Brown had commissioned Sir Michael to find ways to net more money after concerns that the next round of council tax revaluation would see increased bills.

Westcountry tourism and business chiefs are concerned that the proposed taxes could severely damage the region’s holiday and tourism industry. Chief executive of South West Tourism, Malcolm Bell, labelled the tax proposals as “bordering on stupidity”. He said: “A measure like this will simply mean we will lose tourists to the foreign market.”

It is feared that more than 5,000 jobs could be on the line in the South West if the proposal is accepted.

Tim Jones, Devon and Cornwall Business Council chairman, said: “It’s nothing short of absolutely barking mad. It strikes at the heart of the Westcountry rural economy and will without doubt see businesses go bust.”

Proposals for a 5-10 per cent tax on the prices of hotels and bed and breakfast rooms were also made earlier this year.

Lloyds TSB is to close three of its branches in Cornwall and 16 other branches across Wales and South West England.

The high-street bank said that the increasing usage of telephone and internet banking meant that many people did not visit bank branches anymore. The branches in St Just, Gunnislake and Tintagel will face closure as a result.

The bank added that post offices in the affected areas would offer essential bank services such as cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries. But St Just Mayor Sylvia Smith criticised the move: “Customers cannot bank at the post office. For people here it may mean a daily trip into Penzance to bank money, and longer waits for cheques to clear.”

The decision was also condemned by pressure group Campaign for Community Banking Services. Campaign director Derek French said: “Banks consistently take the view that if they can’t be in a community under their own brand, they really don’t care what happens to the customer. They’re just prepared to pull out.”

The group suggested that concerned customers should contact their MPs.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) says it will ignore 27,000 people who marched through Hayle on Sunday against cuts to Cornish health services.

Sue Wolstenholme from RCHT, which has a overspend its budget by £31m, said protesters weren’t properly informed.

She said: “My concern is that the protest was a reaction to one small part of a wider discussion that needs all of the implications considered fully.

“They need to understand the reality behind the situation much more clearly.”

But John Bennett, who helped organise the march, labelled the trust’s response “arrogant”.

“It’s very arrogant to tell us we don’t know the real issues,” he said.

“We wanted to send two messages; that we think that the hospital trust is badly managed and a lot more people should be accountable than just Brian Milstead.

“Secondly we wanted to help the trust to go to central government to say we need to have a new approach towards Cornwall.”

Average house prices in Cornwall are up to 14 times the average salary, according to a survey by The Western Morning News.

The findings revealed that the average person in Penwith only earns a quarter of what they would need to earn in order to afford a mortgage on an average home, with average earnings at £14,716 a year - one 14th of the average house price of £207,103.

Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, said: “The way in which the housing market operates in places like ours in completely unacceptable.

“The biggest impediment to taking action of the kind I would like to see taken in respect of second homes is that, in law, a second home is notoriously difficult to define - especially if one of a couple claims they reside permanently in it whilst the other claims they reside permanently in the other home.

Tim Jones, of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said: “This is very much a crisis situation and we need to stop talking about it and take some very urgent action. This problem is not going to go away. It is gradually getting worse.”

Nearly 30,000 people marched though Hayle on Sunday, to protest at hospital cuts in Cornwall.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is threatening to close St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle to make up for a £31m overspend in its budget.

About 27,000 people joined the one-and-a-half mile march, according to event organizers.

Other services which could be affected include the emergency department at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance, which could be lost, and the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro which could see cuts to wards and services.

Campaigners want an independent review of Cornwall’s hospital services.

A Cornish council has revealed it saved over £36,000 in three months by introducing energy efficiency measures.

Restormel Borough Council reviewed control settings, lighting density and insulating valves and pipe work during April and July this year.

The council says the measures have also reduced carbon emissions by around 212 tonnes.

It is expected replacing lighting in the Trenance area, the Killacourt, Tregunnal, Pondhu and the Polkyth Sports Hall could save an additional £53,000.

A Cornish charity is helping Lebanese reugees returning home after the recent ceasefire.

ShelterBox, who are based in Helston, has sent three consignments of aid to the region, which has been devestated by the war between Israel and Hizbollah.

Many Lebanese homes were destroyed during the fighting, which has mostly stopped since Monday’s ceasefire, and ShelterBox have sent tents, blankets and other emergency supplies to Lebanese capital Beirut, to be sent to the worst hit regions of southern Lebanon.

For more information visit www.shelterbox.org or call 01326 569782.

Falmouth locals will not be able to park at Pendennis Point because of two high-profile concerts taking place at Pendennis Castle, later this month.

Over 6000 fans are expected to descend on the normally-sleepy Cornish town on on 26 and 27 August for two sold-out concerts by Irish boy band Westlife and rock legends Status Quo.

Parking for motorists and residents will be banned on Pendennis Point for the duration of the bank holiday weekend, which has worried some local businesses.

But Police said the ban was needed for safety.

Emma Fox, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Having an extra 6,000 people on a bank holiday in Falmouth has the potential to cause major disruption.

“It can be very congested on the best of days at the point and extra cars trying to park in the vicinity is just unworkable.

“The restrictions are necessary for health and safety, and for park-and-ride schemes set up by concert organizers to function effectively.”

Cornwall County Council has decided to stop looking after people who need a low-level of care, saving it £3.6m but affecting about 7,000 people.

Councillors also decided to stop free transport for people to and from day centres and increase charges for meals for the sick and elderly.

Care services are rated as either low, moderate, severe and critical.

Nigel Walker, from the Council, said he hoped the voluntary sector would pick-up the needs of those needing low-level care.