Spy cameras get council backing

Helston Town Council have agreed to support in principle a project to install a closed circuit television system in the town.

Although the initial funding of 35,000 could be met from reserves, members agreed at a meeting last week that a public meeting should be held to discuss the project with interested parties.

Endeavours are being made to install a CCTV system in six principal towns in Kerrier and Penwith, and the Home Office is currently offering grant assistance to set them up.

To secure a Home Office grant it is calculated that of the six towns each will have to provide matching funds of £15,000, which it has been suggested should be allocated on an equal three-way basis between the district council, the town council and the commercial sector of £5,000.

There may be difficulty in Helston to meet this commitment as the town does not have a Chamber of Commerce or active trade organisation to secure the financial support necessary from shops and otters in the commercial sector who would benefit directly from the system.

Mr Donald Eddy said: "If we do not support this we will be the odd ones out and will be the pickings for the ones doing the break-ins."

Mr Nick Martin said the system had been proven nationally. It worked and the council should give its "initial backing to it."

Mrs Tess Tucker said she was not ally convinced of the absolute value of closed circuit television and could see potential problems concerning the cost.

She said traders in the town should be involved in the discussions and know what it is going to cost them.

It’s a Happy ending – literally!

THERE was a happy ending to the tale of Happy, a six-year-old Chestnut pony, who went missing just over two weeks ago.

The owner of Bolenowe Animal Sanctuary, Mrs Margaret Piper, who bought Happy from a Tavistock market when he was six months old, had reported the pony missing after he failed to return from grazing on February 4.

The police were informed and notices circulated in the hunt for the missing animal. However, to the delight of all concerned, Happy was found safe and well this week by 13-year-old Zoey Nixon.

"This week when Zoey went out she saw Happy in the bridleway just trotting up to the building. He had obviously heard her calling to the other ponies and recognised her voice," Mrs Piper said.

Mrs Piper has no idea where Happy had been for the two weeks but confirmed that he was in good health.