WADEBRIDGE is in line to receive a £10m investment for a major new centre to house technology and design businesses, as well as performance and educational facilities.

The proposed Smart Innovation Hub would be a collaboration between Wadebridge and Falmouth University and is planned to be sited beside the river on the opposite bank to the Camel Trail.

Along with the contemporary-designed building, a new footbridge is proposed to span the river.

A team from the town travelled to Falmouth on Monday to discuss the proposed centre with representatives of the university's Academy of Innovation and Research (AIR).

They included the mayor, Tony Rush, members of Wadebridge Chamber of Commerce, community groups, including The Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN) and Cornwall councillor Stephen Knightley.

The hub is seen as an exciting new concept bringing together new businesses in developing fields, including smart energy and tele-health, using digital technology and superfast broadband to connect to global markets from within Cornwall.

The facility will provide growth and employment opportunities, with high-calibre jobs to retain Cornwall's talent in Cornwall, so that students graduating from Falmouth or other universities will have more opportunity to stay in, or return to, the county.

It will also integrate cultural, performance and educational facilities within a space open to the public.

Professor Anne Carlisle, vice-chancellor of Falmouth University, said: "Creativity is as much a part of innovation as technology, and the university is keen to expand its collaboration with Wadebridge to explore the benefits that can come from addressing these opportunities."

The visitors toured the university's Performance Centre, to see digital technology at work in music and dance, and the Design Centre, where students work in various materials and use 3-D printing to create designs with practical and commercial application in healthcare and other areas, to gain a better understanding of what the hub would do.

Adrian Jones, chairman of the chamber of commerce, said the hub as an arts venue would attract people to the town, as well as providing new jobs.

Mr Knightley said the site being considered would open more of the river to the public, making better use of one of the town's major assets.

Stephen Frankel, chairman of WREN, said: "The Smart Cornwall programme will provide sustainable jobs and economic opportunities. Wadebridge is only just beginning to explore the benefits, but is much further ahead than other places in Cornwall, and so well placed to attract facilities like this, if local people want them."

Money for the new centre will come from EU funding, and the next steps will be to make the ideas more widely known in Wadebridge and to conduct a full feasibility study.

Wadebridge's deputy mayor Pamela Sterling said: "We have seen some exciting things today, and we must make sure that people in the town are aware of this opportunity. It will be important to arrange an event so that people are fully involved in the next steps."

PLANS to axe St Dennis's only public car park and build affordable houses on the site have come under fire.

Cornwall councillor Fred Greenslade, for the St Dennis ward, has hit out at the bid by the local authority to scrap the free car park on Robartes Road and build affordable houses instead.

Mr Greenslade said the scheme came to light as "part of a desk-top exercise on all the car parks across the county" in a bid by Cornwall Council to slash expenditure and release assets.

"Our car park is considered to be underperforming to about the tune of £1,000. The expenditure is about £900 and the maintenance is about £85," he said.

"Obviously no one has been down to look at it because they (Cornwall Council) say it is underperforming, but they have no way of knowing because there is no charge to park."

The village already suffers from a lack of public parking – the working men's club and the pub provide parking for its patrons, he said.

ClayTawc also provides limited parking.

Mr Greenslade said: "When I took this to the parish council meeting the parish council unanimously agreed with my view that we should fight to keep the car park."

Cornwall Council had suggested the parish council take on the car park provision.

"It is already taking on the toilets and the spraying of weeds and that's going to be around £9,000 expenditure. We felt another £1,000 would be too much.

"I have been asking Cornwall Council to leave it alone. We have had enough thrown at us with the incinerator – we don't need any more.

"The car park is an asset for the whole of the village. It (the suggestion) is ridiculous – it's an imposition too far and I intend to fight it all the way."

Ben Coleman, development manager at Cornwall Council, said it had been consulted with ten town and parish councils across the county.

He said it had been agreed, in light of the study, that it was difficult to determine how well the car park at St Dennis was used.

Mr Coleman said that after talks with the local member about the importance of the car park they had revised their thinking.

He added: "It's difficult to justify that it's underutilised when we do not have the proper measurements and it's unlikely to move forward for redevelopment."

A PLANNED new "glamping" business in woodland near Colan could damage the local ecology, a planning officer has said.

Charlie Hoblyn's plans for the new business, comprising 25 yurts, an amenity and shower block as well as the conservation of existing buildings at Fir Hill Woods, goes before council planning chiefs tomorrow. However, the authority's strategic planning committee has recommended Mr Hoblyn's plans be refused.

Cornwall Council case officer Claire Broughton said: "The proposed new tourism development, by reason of its scale and location in an inappropriate location within the open countryside, would result in an unsuitable and unsustainable form of new tourism provision within the open countryside.

"It has not been justified that this proposal meets needs that are not being met by existing tourist facilities, including those in rural service centres."

The council's tree officer also had concerns over the management of the woodland and site and the clearing site could have on the environment.

"I strongly urge that the applicant is encouraged to withdraw this application on the basis the development will need to demonstrate there is a plan for management of the site in the interests of good arboricultural and silvicultural management," the tree officer said in a report.

"I advise the application includes proposals for woodland management and intended access arrangements. I am not supportive of the proposals on the basis they pose a significant risk to trees which is evidenced by the damage caused by the apparent unauthorised works to date. The harm that has been caused is just the type of damage I would have been seeking to avoid."

In February the Cornish Guardian reported how horse riders had become embroiled in a dispute with Mr Hoblyn over their access to the woodland.

Mr Hoblyn said the footpath did not have higher rights and was therefore not a bridle path. But the riders claimed to have hacked out along it for decades and feared a tradition will be lost if they are forbidden to continue.

AS HE recovers from a serious stroke a Newlyn resident has been preparing to have his locks completely shaved off for charity this week.

David Flecknor, who suffered a stroke three years ago, had all his hair cut off at The Fisherman's Arms on Tuesday evening, on the third anniversary of being struck by the incident.

Raising money for the Phoenix Stoke Appeal, which Mr Flecknor said provided "vital support" in his recovery, the 45-year-old is hoping to see a good amount raised.

"I want to continue supporting the charity – so (last month) I decided to shave my head," he said before the event.

"When it happened we had a lot of hope. Phoenix has been great the whole way along."

Mr Flecknor said the organisation was always on hand to offer guidance and answer questions – and he is now set to start a new job as a support worker at a nursing home in the new year as his health continues to improve.

"It's a big improvement – I guess over the past year I'm feeling more able," he said. "Thankfully I've got a new job and we'll see how it goes."

Having started growing his hair long when he was 12 and having had it long since, Mr Flecknor said it will be a strange feeling to not have his hair.

"It's been 33 years," said the former nursing home manager. "It's scary but it's good and it's raising interest. If I raise lots of money it'll be worth it." He added his fiancée, Lynda Coates, has been supportive – although like him she is keen he grows it again, which Mr Flecknor thinks may take about five years.

If you would like to donate call Lynda Coates on 07786 605417.

A VERY special tree outside Holy Trinity Church, St Austell, was illuminated in memory of loved ones.

The Rotary Club of St Austell Bay Tree of Light Appeal is now in its 11th year and invites people to sponsor a light on the tree and make a donation in memory of a loved one.

The evening provides a moment of reflection with a special service before the lights are switched on.

Club president Alan Bennett, said: "The evening went extremely well and there were more people than expected.

"The purpose of the appeal, which has now run for the past 11 years, is to give all those who have been bereaved somewhere where they can remember loved ones.

"But it also raises money for charities because they make a donation to have a light."

He said local businesses were particularly supportive of the cause and all the money raised will be donated to Cornwall Hospice Care's Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell and other local charities and good causes.

Mount Charles Band led the carol singing outside the church before the service, and St Austell mayor Steve Double was in attendance.

Prior to the switch-on of the Tree of Light, the Reverend Mike Marshall led the special family service.

The names of all those loved ones being remembered will also be included in a Book of Remembrance, which will be on view in the church now and throughout next year.

The appeal usually raises between £2,500 and £3,000.

A ST MAWGAN parish councillor who lost his High Court challenge against a wind farm planned near his home has said his fight is "not over".

William Corbett, who lives at Tolcarne Merock, had hoped to persuade judge Mr Justice Lewis to quash Cornwall Council's decision to grant planning permission for the five 100m-tall turbine development in the parish.

Despite local objections, the council's strategic planning committee approved the scheme, by REG Windpower, on land at Lower Denzell Farm, St Mawgan, in September 2011.

On Thursday last week the judge, sitting in London, dismissed the challenge, clearing way for the development to proceed.

However, Mr Corbett said the fight was "not over" and although it was a "disappointing" result, he intends to lodge an appeal against the judge's decision.

He said: "In a number of respects we find the judge's decision unsatisfactory. We think the Court of Appeal is quite likely to take a different view of the matter.

"It is disappointing and it is annoying because it is another round of costs.

"We have 21 days to lodge grounds with the Court of Appeal. [Then we have] 14 days to lodge a skeleton argument."

Mr Corbett's barrister, Saira Sheikh, had argued on his behalf that the grant of permission was unlawful for a number of reasons, including claims that the council had failed to meet its material obligations in not reconvening its strategic planning committee to reconsider the application in light of national planning policy changes and that the authority failed to provide an adequate summary of its reasons for the grant of permission or include an adequate summary of the policies relevant to the decision.

But the judge said he believed the council's decision had been lawful.

He said: "The decision of the council to grant planning permission for this particular development is, in my judgment, lawful. The officer was fully entitled to act on that decision and to issue the planning permission. The claim for judicial review is therefore dismissed."

Following the judge's decision, REG Windpower said construction work for the scheme would start next year.

Matt Partridge, the company's development director, said: "This is great news, not just for us but also the project's many local supporters. At a time when Cornwall Council has announced budget cuts of £43 million, reducing support for health services, road maintenance and libraries among others, this litigation was an unfortunate additional drain on council resources. However, looking to the future, we can now move towards building the wind farm, which will generate a significant quantity of much-needed safe, clean, renewable electricity.

"Additionally, this decision finally unlocks the Community Fund and we look forward to working with local people to support as many worthwhile causes as we can."

The council said it noted the judgement of the court but declined to comment further.

HSBC has closed its Padstow branch after decades of serving customers in the town.

Mayor Charlie Watson-Smyth said it was a sad day for Padstow, with HSBC customers now having to travel to Wadebridge to bank.

Although Lloyds and Barclays remain in the port, the closure of HSBC means there is now only one 24-hour ATM in the town.

Mr Watson-Smyth paid tribute to the two staff members, Jo Carthew and Bridget Teagle, and presented both with flowers last Friday.

The mayor said: "HSBC's decision to close its bank in Padstow is another blow for the town. Not only have we lost two ATM machines but, importantly, we will be losing Jo and Bridget who will be moving to Wadebridge after giving outstanding service to customers in Padstow; beyond what you would normally expect from a bank.

"They were appreciated by everyone in the town,'' said Mr Watson-Smyth. He said local HSBC customers, like his family, now faced a 16-mile round trip to bank in Wadebridge.

A spokesman for HSBC said the decision to close its Padstow branch was due to falling customer numbers.

She said: "Our branches are a very important way for our customers to bank with us and we have spent over £100 million in recent years upgrading and improving them.

"However, we need to ensure our branches are in the right locations for our customers and on occasions this means we need to close a branch where customer footfall has fallen dramatically or there has been a shift in customer patterns.

"Our branch in Padstow is a case in point. Customer usage of the branch has fallen very significantly over the past few years.

"Decisions like this are never easy and we worked with the small number of customers who used the branch to help them reorganise their finances ahead of the closure on Friday.

"Our customers also have access to their accounts, to withdraw and pay in cash, at any UK post office and all residents of Padstow will continue to have access to other banking facilities and several free ATMs within the immediate area. The two members of staff have transferred to our other branches in the area,'' she said.

BUCKINGHAM Palace garden parties were called "anachronistic nonsense" by an Isles of Scilly councillor.

However, Steve Sims deemed it "would look churlish" for the islands' authority not to send anyone.

Councillor Gordon Bilsborough – who admitted attending while serving with a mainland authority – had proposed, on cost grounds, that the council should not send a representative to a 2014 party. Professing respect for the Queen, he said he was not against garden parties but argued that such a visit would not sit well with the current austerity drive.

"It will not be well received by the public," he warned. He felt such a trip would be seen by some as "a jolly" and said it was the "wrong time" to consider sending anyone.

He proposed refusal "in the interests of economy".

Amanda Martin, the authority's chairman, said it was up to the individual selected whether the allowance was used or, indeed, whether to attend. She said any declining of the invitation should be done "with grace". Attendees were not on a "jolly" but were representing the islands.

Fran Grottick said that, while they were islands, they ought not to be perceived as being insular, while Marian Bennett spoke of the importance of "social contact and networking".

The council's respect for royalty appeared to trump cost issues with a "completely surprised" septuagenarian Adrian Davis being voted as Scilly's representative.

"I can only think you've decided that, as I'm in my eighth decade, you'd better get in quickly before I've gone," he said.

FOWEY residents and businesses have rallied together in a bid to save the town bus amid fears Cornwall Council will stop subsidising the service.

Locals have launched a campaign urging the council not to classify the service as a tourist bus – meaning pensioners and people with disabilities will no longer be entitled to subsidised bus fares.

Last week Sinead Hanks, from town support group Love Fowey, set up the 'Save Fowey Bus' page on social networking website Facebook, which has already clocked up more than 300 supporters.

"It's so clearly not just a tourist bus," she said. "It seems it should be a really easy case to prove. Last year 20,000 journeys were made on it during the winter which, broadly speaking, were made by local people."

Julie Yeo, who set up the Town Bus service eight years ago, said if the council cut subsidies, fewer people would use the service and she would have to revise the timetable.

"When I first started the bus pensioners could only use the bus pass in their own counties. Then the Government changed it so you could use them anywhere," she said.

"The answer would be to only let people use their bus pass in their own county."

Mrs Yeo said the bus is a lifeline for many locals and she is urging people to support the campaign.

"I just feel that the people of Fowey really do need this bus.

"If the hours were greatly reduced during the winter months it would affect a lot of people," she said.

Businesses in the town say their trade would be greatly affected if the bus service was reduced. "Even in the winter when there aren't very many cafés open you see groups of people heading into town for a coffee or going to the butchers or fishmongers," Mrs Hanks said. "If they had to pay they would not do that. It contributes to the economy and to the wellbeing and social needs of people in Fowey, which the council is responsible for to some extent."

The campaigners argue the demand for the service will inevitably increase after Wainhomes was granted planning permission to build 82 homes in Hill Hay.

"Wainhomes have got permission to build all those homes at the top of the town," Mrs Hanks said. "They were talking about a park and ride scheme. When all those houses go up it is going to be essential to have a bus go to the top of the town."

Cornwall Council said the proposals are part of an annual review of the concessionary travel scheme.

In a statement it said: "This year the council is reviewing the eligibility of the Fowey Town Bus, which is advertised as a link to and from the main car park, alongside similar routes in other towns which are categorised as 'routes primarily for tourism'.

"Under the national legislation these types of service are ineligible for the Concessionary Travel Scheme and the council has previously removed services which are categorised in this way in other towns in Cornwall."

Anyone wishing to write to the council regarding the reclassification of the Fowey Town Bus service is asked to write to Cornwall councillor Bert Bisoce at Cornwall Council, County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY.

BIRTHDAY celebrations ended with a police chase, arrest and a night in custody for a Bodmin man who took his friend's car without permission and drove it in the town while over the limit.

Kieran Pedlar, 26, of Carpenter's Court, was on police bail at the time for being drunk and disorderly in the town on a separate occasion.

Pedlar, a provisional licence holder, appeared in custody before Bodmin magistrates on Monday when he pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, driving it with excess alcohol, without insurance or a licence, and failing to stop for a police officer on December 15, and being drunk and disorderly a month earlier.

Jill Wilson, for the prosecution, said that on November 16 a police officer was called to St Mary's Road, Bodmin, where Pedlar was repeatedly shouting and swearing in the street.

The officer told Pedlar to get out of the road but Pedlar, who was unsteady on his feet and smelt of alcohol, swore at him in the presence of children. Pedlar fully admitted the offence, although could not remember the exact details.

On Saturday night Pedlar had been out celebrating his birthday when he asked his friend for the keys to his Peugeot car so that he could get something. He then drove it without permission.

A police officer on mobile patrol saw the Peugeot approaching at speed at around 3.30am and followed behind, illuminating his emergency light to get the vehicle to stop. Pedlar ignored this and a pursuit ensued, said Mrs Wilson.

After a short distance, Pedlar did stop, putting his hands in the air and saying he had taken the car without permission. He failed a roadside breath test and a police station sample showed he had 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35mcg.

Pedlar told police he had been drinking all day and the previous day, and was surprised the reading was so low.

William Hazelton, for the defence, said that alcohol was "a clear issue" for Pedlar and he had been seeking help for this. He had not intended to drive that night but had behaved in an impulsive way.

Currently unemployed, he had the offer of work as a security officer in the new year.

Pedlar was banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay a total of £465 in fines, costs and surcharge. He was offered a drink-drive rehabilitation course which, if completed, will reduce the ban by 20 weeks.

A MAJOR transport scheme to create growth and jobs at Newquay's Aerohub and airport has received a £2 million boost this week.

Newquay's Enterprise Zone is currently unable to develop more than 40 per cent of the business park due to congestion constraints at Rialton junction.

In order to support growth at the Aerohub and in Newquay, a vital transport scheme is planned to remove the current pinch point at the junction – notoriously congested in the summer months – and create a 'Rialton Link' between Quintrell Road and Rialton Road.

The £3.34 million development has this week received a £1.9 million boost, after Cornwall Council secured the funding through the Department of Transport's Pinch Point fund.

Cornwall councillor for St Mawgan and Colan, John Fitter, said the funding was "fantastic news".

He said: "It provides another step towards the delivery of important, long-standing growth plans for the town, which will provide the right conditions for long-term economic growth."

The link currently forms part of the planning application for the Newquay Strategic Route (NSR) – due to be considered by Cornwall Council's Strategic Planning Committee tomorrow.

The NSR, which will eventually link the A392 at Hendra Holiday Park with the A3058 and A3059 to the north-east of the town, will form the backbone of Nansledan – the Duchy of Cornwall's major development which will see nearly 4,000 homes built in Newquay during the next 40 to 50 years.

Welcoming the announcement from the Department of Transport, Bert Biscoe, Cornwall Council's Cabinet member for transportation and waste, said: "This is an early Christmas present for Newquay which will hopefully be a building block for tomorrow's economy."

Stephen Gilbert, MP for Newquay and St Austell, said: "Plans to tackle the heavy traffic we see around Newquay – particularly in the summer – are long overdue and news that the funding has been approved is very welcome indeed.

"The long-term needs of Newquay will be best served by making it easy for locals, business people and tourists to easily get to and from the town."

Subject to planning approval, construction could begin on the link in summer 2014 and is expected to take approximately ten months to complete.

THREE more schools have taken delivery of lifesaving equipment – including at one very special presentation with the granddaughters of the man who inspired The Cornishman's Heart Start campaign.

Since the beginning of the year this newspaper has been working alongside the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity (RRMC) to get more public access defibrillators (PADs) in west Cornwall and beyond.

The charity was founded by Paul Williams after his brother-in-law Ronnie Richards died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while playing five-a-side football at Penzance leisure centre.

Born in Penzance, Mr Richards was a devoted family man to his wife Alison, children John and Sarah, four grandchildren and many members of his extended family.

The RRMC has fundraised for more than 50 PADs and seen hundreds of people trained to use them, and aims to see every school in the area covered.

On Friday, Mr Richards's young granddaughters Alice and Farrah were at Gulval Primary School when the lifesaving equipment was installed on site.

On the same day, St Mary's C of E School also received the equipment, which can be used to save the life of a person suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.

Newlyn School received its equipment on Thursday.

Mr Williams said: "PADs are essential in our community and especially in schools, where children have a whole life ahead of them.

"Cardiac death in an adult is traumatic – in a child it is devastating.

"The RRMC is pleased our schools are taking action and getting equipped with automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment to ensure everything possible is done in a cardiac arrest situation that currently claims five children's lives in UK schools each week."

The three schools have joined eight others in the Penwith area, which already have PADs on site.

Humphry Davy School has been leading the charge to get all schools covered.

Staff at the secondary school have organised fundraising events to pay for defibrillators in all schools across the Penwith Education Trust, as well as training students and the public to use the equipment.

Other devices have been paid for through generous donations from members of the public.

Mr Williams said: "I have researched the devastating effect cardiac death has on children and communities of a child at school.

"Sadly, all too often I read where an AED is fundraised at a school following a child's death to cardiac arrest.

"It is to be commended but common sense is that they should be there in the first place.

"In Liverpool 12-year-old Oliver King died of cardiac arrest while at school and the response is that all of the city's 122 primary schools now have AEDs."

The Cornishman and the RRMC are appealing for readers help to fund equipment for other schools and training teachers.

Do you have an idea for a fundraising event or can you spare some cash?

Contact RRMC secretary Mr Williams by e-mailing paulwil liams29@live.co.uk or calling 01736 360864 or 07581 188043 for more information.

The RRMC is a team of unpaid volunteers and all monies received go towards the equipment.

LAND adjacent to two public gardens could be transferred to St Ives community as part of a "wider devolution package" instead of being sold off by Cornwall Council.

The good news comes after Cornwall councillor Tim Andrewes carried out a consultation on the future of the plant nurseries at Trewyn Gardens in St Ives and Chy an Gweal in Carbis Bay and then took its results to County Hall.

Both areas of land had been earmarked for sale by cash-strapped Cornwall Council.

Many people in St Ives regard Trewyn Gardens as the town's hidden "green lung".

Polytunnels and sheds were sited on both parcels of land until recently and used by Cornwall Council gardeners to grow shrubs, plants and grasses for the adjacent formal gardens.

They were declared redundant after nursery work was consolidated in one central site elsewhere.

The survey showed the overwhelming majority of people wanted to see the site at Trewyn become an open space, extending the existing gardens, creating an outdoor performance space, a child's play area or a community growing project.

Councillor Andrewes was keen to secure the land after reporting St Ives has significantly less play space than other Cornish towns – 68 per cent below the average – and still has a substantial waiting list for allotments.

Now he has reported that Cornwall Council has suggested it may be prepared to transfer the land to St Ives Town Council.

He said: "Cornwall Council has indicated that the transfer of these parcels of land to the town council could take place as part of a wider devolution package for St Ives. There is still a lot of negotiation to be done.

"This has been reported to the town council's devolution panel and there will be negotiations on this matter over the coming months."

PLANS for a new care home and sheltered housing facilities for St Ives are now focused on two sites in Carbis Bay, developers Cornwall Care has revealed.

Both sites are on land currently not in use on the edges of the town's settled areas.

The company will apply to build on both after they received help from St Ives Town Council and Cornwall Council planners in selecting the sites.

Cornwall Care's original plan to build on Steeple Fields was rejected last year after strong public opposition.

The firm decided not to appeal after discussions with town councillors.

It then called on the people of St Ives to suggest sites through The Cornishman.

Now the not-for-profit elderly care providers say after detailed discussions with landowners it is looking at two potential sites.

Cornwall Care runs 17 care homes and community services for more than 1,700 elderly people in Cornwall.

Its two existing care homes in Carbis Bay – Headlands and Trewartha – were both built more than 40 years ago and have to be replaced.

The plan for Steeple Fields was to build a specialised elderly care complex that includes a 72-bed home plus housing where elderly residents live independently but with specialist support on hand.

But Cornwall Care chief executive Douglas Webb said neither of the new sites was as big as they'd like so one would be earmarked for the 72-bed home and some "extra care" housing, and the other for a mini-complex of "extra care" housing.

The two locations are:

An expanse of trees and shrubs, grass and gorse, at the base of Steeple Hill (home to the iconic Knill's Monument) on residential Menhyr Drive off Count House Lane, not far from the back of Tesco.

Another unused area of greenspace behind the relatively recently built homes on Teyla Tor off Polmennor Drive in Carbis Bay, just north of where it meets Laity Lane.

St Ives Mayor Colin Nicholls said: "These sites have been nominated following a very thorough process and while we appreciate that in a high density area like this it is difficult to find sites on which everyone will be agreed, our remit is to provide the very highest quality of care to the older people of the town that can meet their changing needs."

Mr Webb said: "We've spent a lot of time looking at different sites and these two have been judged by the working party as the most suitable. Our mission is to ensure that older people in St Ives have access to the very best services."

Planning applications are expected to be submitted in mid-2014.

If approved, residents at Trewartha and Headlands homes, which have 68 beds combined, would transfer to the new home.

A LOGO designed to support a 12-year-old St Hilary girl battling through an eight-month course of chemotherapy is currently emblazoned on an Australian bobsleigh and hurtling down some of the iciest and most dangerous slopes in the world.

The logo has been designed by Ellie Tswei, older sister of Phoebe, who is currently in the second month of treatment at the Bristol Children's Hospital, in a bid to cheer her up and show support.

Five weeks ago The Cornishman featured Phoebe's story about her battle with acute myeloid leukaemia and how the launch of a Facebook page – Phoebes Page – had resulted in her being bombarded with messages of love and goodwill.

Among the 3,500 messages which flooded in from as far afield as Australia, the USA, Kenya and Norway in the first couple of weeks was a video message from Sir Tim Rice and the West End cast of From Here To Eternity – Sir Tim had been wowed by Phoebe's performance in the Kidz R Us production of The Wizard of Oz.

Now Steve Conklin from the Australian bobsleigh team has posted a photo of the bob which is currently being raced around the world on the World Cup circuit at Lake Placid, USA, with Phoebe's logo – featuring Phoebe's name and two shooting stars – clearly in sight alongside the logos of some of the team's sponsors.

Ellie, 17, told The Cornishman it was an "amazing" gesture as she headed up to Bristol to spend Christmas with Phoebe and the rest of the family.

"Phoebe will be coming out of hospital to spend a few days with all of us," she said. "We will be in a house only a couple of minutes from the hospital in case of any problems.

"As well as the five of us (Phoebe, Ellie, sisters Flora, 15, and Grace, 10, and brother Gabriel, 6) our parents (Dan and Maddie), a granddad and uncle will also be with us so it should be a really good Christmas."

Ellie says her sister is doing well although she has bad days mixed in with the better ones.

"She has just had her second bout of chemotherapy and she's doing really well. She gets spurts of energy which is then followed by days when she can't do anything. Recently, she had her wig fitted but she prefers wearing her hair short – it suits her quirky character.

"But she has been able to get out of the hospital. She really enjoys going with her mum to the German Christmas markets in Bristol and has been given tickets to go to see Cinderella.

"Grace, Flora and I are really hoping that she'll feel strong enough to come out with us and get to the Boxing Day sales in Bristol."

As well as all the messages of support, more than £3,000 has also been raised – partly to help pay for all the petrol being used by Phoebe's parents but with the surplus going to the CLIC house in Bristol and the Short Lives charity.

Fundraising events have included a Phoebathon, a five-hour fitness marathon run by Kelly from Penzance Leisure Centre which raised £400.

An evening at the Lugger hotel with music from music from Dom Woolcott and Megan Archer and organised by Ellie with friends Sam Walsh, Tamara and Hazel, raised an amazing £2,000.

And two further sums of £400 were also raised – by Lisa Barnett in St Ives, who had her head shaved, and by Ben Baker, who ran a marathon.

To send a message to Phoebe, go to the Facebook page: Phoebes Page.

A PERRANPORTH father who punched his wife's new partner at a children's birthday party came "perilously" close to going to jail.

Darren Bown, 31, was in a relationship with Sophie Harris for four years and the couple had a two-year-old son together but they had broken up when she took their son to a birthday party at Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre, St Columb, on September 14.

Ramsay Quaife, for the prosecution, said Ms Harris was with her boyfriend Neil Bolton.

Mr Quaife said: "The defendant arrived there. He stormed straight up to Neil Bolton and he started to throw punches."

Bown, of Tregundy Road, hit Mr Bolton in the head and stomach, leaving him with a cut to his face.

Mr Quaife said by the time the police arrived Bown had scarpered.

He said: "On September 15, this defendant sent a message on Facebook to Mr Bolton apologising for his actions.

"On September 17, he telephoned Mr Bolton and had a conversation for about ten minutes along the lines of trying to get Mr Bolton to drop the charges."

Two days later Bown phoned again and threatened to kill Mr Bolton if he did not drop the charges.

Mr Quaife said the offence meant Bown had breached a suspended sentence order imposed on him in January for possession of cannabis with intent to supply it to another.

Jeremy Leaning, for the defence, said Bown had successfully completed most of the unpaid work he had been assigned at that time and had enrolled on a course to become an electrician.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, said Bown had come perilously close to going to jail.

He said: "You lost your temper. You behaved in a totally unacceptable way. Just bear in mind what was happening at the time. It was a children's birthday.

"The example you set is completely inexcusable."

Bown was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 50 hours unpaid work and be subject to a 9pm to 7am curfew for two months.

He was ordered to carry out a further ten hours' unpaid work for breaching his suspended sentence.

THE mother of a man who died after a stabbing incident in Penzance three years ago says she is disgusted that not only is his killer out walking the streets of Penzance but also that she was not informed of his release from prison.

Stuart Graham, aged 40 at the time and living in Penzance, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Walsh at Truro Crown Court in July 2011.

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Mr Walsh was stabbed four times in the chest with a 20cm kitchen knife by Graham during an incident involving residents at a 'halfway house' in Penare Road, Penzance in November 2010.

Graham, who had been drinking heavily on the day, was jailed for six years. His plea of guilty to the charge of manslaughter on the grounds of an overreaction in self-defence, but not guilty to murder, was accepted on the day his trial was due to start.

However Sue Walsh, Mr Walsh's mother believes the "system" has let her down.

"He has done less than three years in jail," she said.

"Some people will say he has done his time but I don't think so – the time he's spent inside isn't much to pay for a life."

Mrs Walsh said Graham has been seen walking around the streets of Penzance on a number of occasions in the past couple of weeks and it makes her "fuming mad" to think of him walking free.

"My son had his problems but he had a good heart and was changing his life around – he didn't ask for that. He didn't cause any trouble, he was trying to stop it.

"What's made it even worse is that the Probation Service haven't even bothered to inform me that he (Graham) is out – no one's been in touch and I've been told that I should have been informed.

"With him being released just three years after he was killed, I believe the system has let me down."

Mrs Walsh says her son, the oldest of four children, is never far from her thoughts and she is a regular visitor to his grave at Penzance cemetery.

"It's especially bad at this time of year – his body was released from the coroner the day before Christmas Eve," she added.

"This hasn't finished for me – I think of him all the time."

The Cornishman asked the Ministry of Justice to explain why Mrs Walsh was not told about Graham's release.

No comment had been made at the time of going to press.

However, on the website for the Devon and Cornwall Probation Trust, it says: "Victims in Devon and Cornwall, or their relatives, are contacted by a Probation Victim Liaison Officer.

"The aim is to establish a point of contact for victims and to provide information about what happens to prisoners whilst they are serving their prison sentence.

"The Victim Liaison Officers will provide information about applications for early release, and release dates. They will also ask victims for their views on what restrictions will help them to feel safe after the prisoner's release."

A DRAWING by an Indian Queens schoolgirl has been chosen as the design for Newquay and St Austell MP Stephen Gilbert's annual Christmas card.

Abigail Williams's design of Rudolf the reindeer was picked from hundreds of others as part of a competition by the MP in November for four to 11-year-olds.

It has now been sent out to more than 5,000 community leaders, supporters and other politicians.

Mr Gilbert announced the winner during a special school assembly at Indian Queens School last week.

He said: "The quality of the entries was absolutely outstanding and I would like to thank all the children who entered – it was certainly a tough job to pick a winner. I would like to congratulate Abigail for her excellent drawing of a reindeer in the snow.

"It was a real pleasure to visit Indian Queens School and present Abigail and two runners-up with their prizes. My thanks go out to all the children who entered and to all the staff who supported them in local schools.

"I'd also like to wish all my constituents a very merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year."

Abigail was presented with a framed copy of her design and will receive a book and family ticket kindly donated by the Eden Project.

Seven runners-up – including two from Indian Queens School – also received a box of chocolates. Every child who entered will receive a certificate to thank them for their hard work.

Jane Scown, head teacher at the school, said: "I would like to thank Stephen Gilbert for coming to the school."

A FATHER of one from Pensilva was found dead at the bottom of a disused quarry with fatal head injuries, an inquest has heard.

The body of 55-year-old Maurice Cousins of Glen Park, Pensilva was discovered by police at the bottom of Gold Diggings quarry near Minions on Bodmin Moor at 11am on April 11 this year.

Truro Coroner's Court heard last week that Mr Cousins had been suffering from depression and anxiety for at least 40 years, including an overdose of anti-depressants in 1982, and was "convinced" that a recently diagnosed stomach condition was cancer, worsening the depression.

The Trago Mills storeman was described by brother Graham as "an introvert" and "hypochondriac who worried about minor ailments".

The inquest heard that in the days before his death Mr Cousins had panic attacks, "thought he was better off dead" and travelled to the cliffs in Tintagel to kill himself but couldn't carry out the action.

The day before his death Mr Cousins cancelled a service on his car and was described as restless, increasingly anxious and went for many short walks, one of which required him to be picked up by daughter Marie, 32.

That night Marie stayed at Mr Cousins' Pensilva home due to her concern over his mental state and was awoken at 3.30am by the sound of his car being driven off.

The next morning Marie awoke and realised Mr Cousins hadn't returned home in the night.

Deeply concerned, Marie's aunt Mandy reported him missing and shortly after police located his Honda Civic in Hurlers car park in Minions, and area which he liked.

Officers were then led to the top of the quarry cliffs where they found Mr Cousins' jacket, before finding him motionless next to the water at the bottom having suffered visible head injuries.

A few days after the incident a note was found under Mr Cousins' mattress which said that he "loved" his daughter and was "very proud" of her.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Emma Carlyon said an accident or cry for help could not be excluded and that it is unclear how and when the head injuries were sustained.

She said: "We cannot be sure what his intentions were and an accident or cry for help is not impossible."

The cause of death was said to be multiple injuries to the head and organs. The only substance found Mr Cousins blood stream was an anti-depressant.

Mr Cousins grew up in Cardinham near Bodmin and married once, divorcing wife Christine in the early 1980's with whom he fathered his only child.