The hunt for grants to pay for essential restoration of Porthleven’s clock tower building goes on after a decision was taken not to bid for an Arts Council fund.

The group looking at the future of the Bickford-Smith Institute had previously thought of applying to the Great Places Scheme, which had 12 grants to give out nationally, worth between £500,000 and £1.5 million.

However, mayor Barbara Powell, who is also chair of the working party set up to lead the restoration project, revealed last week: “We have decided not to apply for a Great Places grant, mainly because this grant is to do with usage rather than the building being renovated.

"The building needs renovating and usage comes after that.”

It has been a busy month for the group members, however, who have received visits from Cornwall Council’s heritage officer Tamsin Daniel and the project manager who oversee the restoration of the Solomon Browne Memorial Hall in Newlyn.

Ms Daniel encouraged the group to apply for match funding to double the £3,000 set aside by Porthleven Town Council last month, to cover early costs of the project.

Members are also continuing through the process of obtaining charitable status.

A Friends of the Bickford-Smith Institute group will be launched in the near future, once a bank account is in place.

Ms Powell also gave her thanks to the Porthleven Snooker Club, which currently leases the main body of the institute, for their help and understanding.

“Whenever we have people come and look at the building, like architects and the project manager, they have to allow us in to the building, so thank you to the club for being so helpful with that,” she said.

Another update on the progress of the project will be given at the November meeting of Porthleven Town Council.