Young vandals smash train window

A STONE thrown by a youngster smashed the window of a train carrying passengers on Penryn viaduct on Monday night.

The incident has exposed how the near 100ft-high viaduct is used as a dangerous adventure playground by daredevil kids as young as six years old.

Nobody was hurt on the two-coach 16.05 Sprinter train travelling from Truro to Falmouth across the viaduct at 4.20pm. But both skins of the double-glazed safety window were shattered and the conductor saw youngsters playing in the area.

Pc Bob Bennett, of Truro Transport Police, who is investigating the incident, said the stone much have been of "substantial size" and it was lucky nobody was sitting next to the window. He went to the site at the Penryn station end of the viaduct and is disturbed by what he found.

He says local schoolkid daredevils are getting dangerous thrills from a breathtaking 80ft-high swing suspended from the viaduct parapet.

They swing their way out over the trees and the only anchor point for the swing is a piece of chain jammed into a drainage slit with loose stones. There are more swings in surrounding trees on the steeply sloping embankment and three treehouses - one made of galvanised tin above a steep drop.

Pc Bennett said: "What is more worrying than the offences is that the kids range from six years old."

Planners say firm 'No' to Docks superstore

A BID to "keep alive" existing planning permission to build a supermarket on land at Falmouth Docks railway station is being opposed by local planners.

Railtrack Plc have submitted a detailed application for permission to build the 35,000 sq. ft. foodstore and 300 car parking spaces after winning outline permission on appeal.

The matter was brought up at a meeting of Falmouth's planning committee on Monday evening when councillors were told the detailed planning application has been submitted to keep the existing application alive.

Town clerk Eric Dawkins said: "No district planning authority would refuse it because it would be costly. The planning authority is in a difficult position. There are no grounds for refusal."

He added: "The floor space is inadequate for any foodstore to operate, that is why there has been no takers on this."

Councillor Linsey Cottington said: "We were very unhappy about this foodstore. It is the wrong end of town and it would create all sorts of traffic problems.

"It was won on appeal against the democratic majority decision of the local planning authority."

She added: "I am absolutely convinced this is the wrong end of town for a supermarket and this permission should simply die."