Helston and the Lizard Peninsula is losing its community network manager of the last three years Charlotte Chadwick.

Ms Chadwick, who has been responsible for the area since the post was created in 2010, has been moved to cover the Camborne, Redruth and Pool area.

It is part of a reshuffle that was forced when Cornwall Council voted not to increase council tax for this tax year.

As a result one community network manager post has been lost.

Replacing Ms Chadwick will be Maxine Hardy, who is currently working part time in the Hayle and St Ives network.

Last year Ms Chadwick was given the additional responsibility of the Falmouth and Penryn network. This will be taken over by Mark James.

Cornwall Councillors were told yesterday, Tuesday, on the first day of the new council since last week’s elections.

The news was met with dismay by at least one member, with Porthleven and Helston West councillor Andrew Wallis taking to his blog in disgust.

Mr Wallis, who has worked with Ms Chadwick on many community projects, including last year’s centenary celebrations at Coronation Lake, wrote: “It turns out that while councillors were on the campaign trail, the powers-to-be have decided to change the community networks around.

“What is worse is no consultation, or courtesy, has been given to the Cornwall Councillors and more importantly the town and parish council of the area as part of the decision. Has the council not learned anything from the last four years?”

He said that Ms Chadwick had brought “tens of thousands” of pounds in funding to the area, adding: “I understand people do move, but the area has lost someone embedded in the area and she has been replaced by someone who works part-time. I feel Helston and the Lizard will now get a lesser service.

“Worse, projects in the area might stop because the resources and staff are not there.”

It is not known who will be in control of the projects that Ms Chadwick has already begun for this year, but there is expected to be some degree of continuity and handover between the two network managers.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “As part of the rationalisation of the localism team, brought about by the recent budget decision, changes have been made to the areas served by each community network manager as well as a change in management structure.

“Whilst this will cause some disruption in the short term it will potentially bring longer term benefits with the exchange of ideas and best practice from area to area.

“This is not the first time that community network managers have changed areas and we are very confident that the changes will go ahead smoothly.”