Campaigners for improved road links in the Westcountry have dismissed warnings that a major rethink is required on a raft of road building schemes.

The Campaign for Better Transport says kick-starting schemes costing around £30 billion is not the answer to the nation's economic woes and may have great environmental drawbacks.

A report by the group says plans for 26 road schemes with a combined distance of 175km and a price tag of £3.6 billion in the South West should also be reconsidered.

These include plans to widen the A30 in Cornwall, which ministers are considering, and moves to expand the A303, promoted by Somerset County Council. Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall business council and the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said plans to add carriageways to major routes westwards were "long overdue".

"We start with a great deficit in the debate – we are the Cinderella of infrastructure in the UK and have a lot of catching up to do," he added.

"The schemes have all been through a detailed scrutiny process and the A303 dualling has been done to death – we are not dusting down old schemes but pushing a strong business case."

Former Conservative transport minister Stephen Norris and a campaigner previously jailed for opposing road building have joined to launch Going Backwards: the new roads programme. It says plans are afoot to build enough road to stretch from the Isles of Scilly to the Shetland Isles and predicts strong local opposition.

Mr Norris said: "Now is the time for brave and creative decision-making, not a return to road building policies that were tried and failed in the 1990s."

CBT spokeswoman Jenny Raggett added: "One of the problems with major roads is that local authorities just can't accept no."

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders, whose constituency is keenly awaiting the completion of the South Devon Link Road, said the London-based group should "not dictate" to the region.

"I think it is right to look at road schemes where there may be alternatives, but that does not apply here where we don't have the kind of public transport that these people take for granted," he added.

Dan Rogerson, Lib Dem MP for North Cornwall, said: "New roads are fine when and where they have the support from the local community.

"The plans to upgrade the A30 to dual carriageway between Temple and Higher Carblake are a good proposal which needs funding to reduce delays and accidents and tackle congestion caused by this bottleneck."

Bejewelled on either side in swathes of lilac, gold and emerald, the Fal River glides through the Cornish countryside.

Every year thousands of walkers enjoy ambling along the riverside – and its popularity shows no sign of waning.

A hundred people pulled on their boots to take part in the start of the second Fal River Autumn Walking Festival.

There are due to be more than 50 walks from the Roseland to Helford, up to November 4.

Tommy Tonkins, festival organiser, said: "The walk was fantastic, with breathtaking views and beautiful scenery.

"It was a chance for us to meet all of the event's supporters properly and to let them know how grateful we are."

Jennie Trevithick, a walker from Mylor Yacht Harbour, said: "What an amazing way to start this festival. If it's a sign of what's to come it's going to be really enjoyed by a great deal of people.

"It was lovely to see children on the launch walk, as well as dogs, with everyone having a good time."

The route began and ended at the Nare Hotel which helped sponsor the event and gave walkers high tea.

Toby Ashworth, the hotel's owner, said: "The walk from Nare Head is one of the most stunning walks on the south coast in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Second homes are damaging communities and fuelling a housing crisis in the South West, the National Housing Federation has warned.

The federation (NHF) fears the high number of second homes in the region is pushing up house prices and pricing local people out of the market.

It also claims the large proportion of second homes that are empty is becoming detrimental to local businesses struggling to survive outside the holiday season.

Cornwall became the second homes capital of the country earlier this week when new figures were released by the Office of National Statistics.

The statistics published for the first time showed that 22,997 people listed a second home in the unitary authority area in the 2011 census – more than for any other council area in England and Wales.

The authority also recorded the greatest number of holiday homes, according to the nationwide report, with some 10,169 used for holidays.

Dan Rogerson, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, is pushing the Government to restrict the number of second homes in the region by changing planning laws.

"There are too many second homes in Cornwall. Many people come for two or three weeks a year and spend a lot of money but not during the rest of the year.

"The knock-on effect of high numbers of second home owners is to drive up housing prices and increase housing waiting lists."

Mr Rogerson said: "We need an acceptable number of second homes according to the area. Often places with a big chunk of second homes also have a long waiting list for social housing. I will need support from the other parties if we are going to have the power to make anything change."

In Devon, almost 35,000 people usually living elsewhere listed a second home in the county.

The South Hams – with 7,672 second homes – was in the top 20 local authorities for the number of people with a second address, of which 3,738 counted it as a holiday destination. In East Devon there were 7,227 second homes.

One second-home owner in Devon for 16 years, who did not want to be named, said high numbers of second homes was "the lesser of two evils".

He said: "I understand why people hate us as the character of many communities is changing.

"But there is a lot of wrongly directed anger and frustration towards us when in many cases we help to restore towns and bulk up the tourism industry.

"Local authorities should take the blame for destroying thriving local businesses by giving planning permission to large supermarkets out of town."

Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes, said people shouldn't "demonise" second home owners.

But she admitted there was a problem with totally uninhabited properties in some parts of the South Hams where there were "no lights on". Hugo Swire, Conservative MP for East Devon, said it was a "lazy argument" to blame second home owners for people struggling to get on the housing ladder.

"We need a more flexible housing market, involving more affordable housing and encouraging Rent to Buy."

Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, said: "Second homes are a red herring for a chronic shortage of affordable housing in the South West."

The NHF warned the lack of new homes being built will send rents soaring by up to 48% across parts of the South West by 2020.

Home Truths 2012 found the cost of renting an average home is expected to surge to £1,064 in some areas, leaving thousands forced to rely on housing benefits.

Jenny Allen, lead manager for the federation in the South West, said: "The high number of second homes across the South West has helped push prices up, taking them out of reach for local people.

"If families and young people in the region are priced out of their local villages, it can have a hugely damaging impact on community life, with village shops, schools and pubs closing as a result.

"Unless we build more affordable homes in the South West, local people will continue to be priced out of rural areas, and the countryside will increasingly become a place for the well-off to enjoy at weekends."

More than 10,000 of those second homes were listed as holiday homes across the eight authorities in Devon.

In total, 130,055 people usually living elsewhere listed a second home in the South West region.

Delays in the hand-over of patients from ambulance staff to casualty departments has cost one Westcountry hospital over £100,000 in penalties this year.

The Royal Cornwall Hospital (RCH) has reported more than 1,000 delays of longer than 30 minutes, which incurs a fine from South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST).

However, the hospital is not alone in experiencing delays as Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, the busiest accident and emergency unit in the peninsula, in August reported more than 2% of hand-overs were longer than the 30-minute target.

Joe McKenna, chairman of the campaign group Health Initiative Cornwall, said serious questions must be asked.

"I was appalled," he said.

"There are either insufficient staff to cope with the hand-over more speedily or the process is not right.

"Either way, something is going wrong."

According to their contracts, ambulance staff should formally hand over the care of patients to hospital casualty staff within 30 minutes and generally this is accomplished much more quickly.

Hospitals say there is no question of patients being left in ambulances though delays are sometimes caused by the formalities and paperwork.

However, every time the 30-minute limit is exceeded, SWAST is able to levy a penalty of £100.

Primary care trusts are billed for the amount and then negotiate with the hospitals in their area over how much each organisation pays.

At RCH, this year so far there have been 1,018 delays of more than 30 minutes, meaning just over £100,000 worth of penalties.

Jo Gibbs, the Truro-based trust's chief operating officer, said they were working hard to improve matters.

"Improving ambulance turnaround times continues to be a priority for us and we are working closely with colleagues at the SWAST and our other NHS and social care partners to ensure patients are able to receive to the right level of care in the most appropriate setting.

"At no time are patients left waiting in ambulances outside of our emergency department."

She said a £4.5 million building project was shortly due to begin which would expand the hospital's emergency department and this would "increase our capacity and offer better facilities for patients and staff."

The trust said that with the exception of August, ambulance turnaround times at the RCH had remained stable over recent months.

The change could be partly attributed to the holiday season and influx of visitors, the hospital said.

According to board papers at Plymouth Hospitals Trust, during August, two per cent of patients experienced a hand-over time of more than 30 minutes, exceeding the target of 0.5%.

The actual number of patients was not available yesterday, but Richard Best, acting chief operating officer at Derriford, said the trust was considered to be one of the best in the region for managing the clinical transfer of patients from ambulance services.

"As the largest trust in the peninsula and a major trauma centre, we do receive a higher number of ambulances at our emergency department," he said.

On an average day, around 300 patients are admitted to casualty and assessment units, with about one third arriving by ambulance.

"Due to the high numbers of patients being seen and treated in these areas on a daily basis, there are occasions where patients will be delayed and this is predominantly because capacity within these areas is not immediately available, however this wait is rarely more than 15-20 minutes."

At North Devon Hospital, a spokesman said they worked closely with SWAST and were meeting targets.

"We are currently achieving our target, as set by commissioners, for no more than 10% of ambulance hand-overs to be delayed by over 30 minutes."

A spokesman for SWAST said: "The priority for all services is the provision of the highest standards of patient care and measures are in place to address the issues associated with these delays.

"For confirmed delays over 30 minutes a charge is made to cover the cost of replacement resources to compensate for those tied up in delays.

"It is then for commissioners to decide if they wish to pass this charge onto the hospital."

A RETIRED Hayle PC whose home was raided while he was on holiday has spoken of his anger after three men linked to the crime were sentenced.

The trio walked free from court last week after £20,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from Clive and Susan Polkinghorne's house at Hayle Terrace, despite one of the offender's "appalling" criminal record.

The couple were cruising the Mediterranean in August last year when they learnt intruders had ransacked their house and stolen about 80 items including jewellery, coins and medals.

On Wednesday last week at Truro Crown Court, Daniel Penrose, 23, of North Roskear Village, Camborne; Graham 'Sammy' Davies, 24, of Kenwyn Mews, Truro; and Jason James Wilson, 24, of Roseland Parc, Camborne, denied burglary but pleaded guilty to handling stolen property.

They were each given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision.

Now Mr Polkinghorne, 65, who is also a Hayle town councillor, said: "I would have been more than happy to meet them one to one.

"But we were away so to receive this in the middle of the Mediterranean when you can't talk to anybody about it, you can only imagine how we felt.

Sentimental

"In addition to the jewellery, we lost items of sentimental value such as my son's birth tag, his wedding invitation and his first shoe.

"I don't feel frightened by it but my wife has been affected and won't stay at home alone when I am away."

Mrs Polkinghorne added: "I am very disappointed that this is the best the British justice system can do."

Sally Daulton, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court a watch and two coins had been sold at a Redruth antiques shop.

She also revealed that Penrose had 24 previous convictions for 47 offences, 17 of them theft.

Defence counsel Jo Martin said Penrose, who claimed to have been involved as a courier, was turning his life around.

Davies, the court heard, had two previous convictions for theft. For the defence Curtis Lewis said he had lost his job when he admitted his part in the handling but had also given up drugs and sought treatment and counselling voluntarily.

Joss Ticehurst, for Wilson, said he was no longer on drugs and had found employment.

Sentencing, Judge John Neligan acknowledged Penrose's "appalling" record and Davies' history and spoke of the shock the owners suffered.

THE organiser of Truro's Remembrance ceremony has criticised animal rights activists wanting to lay a wreath at the city's war memorial to commemorate creatures lost in combat.

RBL's county officers gave members of Animal Aid in Cornwall permission to lay a wreath following its Remembrance Sunday Parade on November 11.

But chairman of RBL's Truro branch, Christopher Jackson, said while it recognised animals had service numbers and even ranks, the memorial marks personnel who died, not animals.

He feared the laying of Animal Aid's purple wreath could offend families who have lost relatives in combat.

He said: "The war memorial was built to the memory of men and women who gave their lives for this country. Nowhere does it mention any animals.

"I am concerned that laying a wreath of purple poppies will detract from their memory."

Mr Jackson, who has been organising the parade since July, said noone from the campaign group contacted him personally to discuss the laying of a wreath.

He added: "I do not know of any animals born, raised and trained in Cornwall or in the surrounds of Truro that have died in combat so laying a wreath to their memory is not really applicable."

In a statement to the West Briton, the county RBL branch said: "We welcome all other groups, such as those marking the animal cost of conflict, to lay their wreathes in remembrance following the official ceremony or service."

Chris Rylatt, from Newquay, said he will be "honoured" to place a purple wreath for Animal Aid.

His wife Debbie, who will attend the ceremony wearing purple and red poppies, said she was "saddened that people may be offended".

"Remembrance Sunday is a day to mark all lives lost. There is a place for animals to be remembered, they're the silent victims of war. I don't understand how anyone can be against it," she added.

While offering purple poppies in Truro last week she said people welcomed the idea, with no complaints.

"We collected more than £300. People liked the purple poppies and asked why we hadn't remembered the animals before. We are not selling them once the red Poppy Appeal gets under way, we did it just for one day and had a wonderful response."

She said children's author Michael Morpurgo's War Horse novel, stage play and film highlighted the suffering of animals in frontline conflict.

"It showed the bond between soldiers and horses and the sacrifices that have been made. Today many dogs are used to find bombs, other animals are used to test weapons."

A PENWITH man has come face to face with one of the biggest crocodiles yet caught.

Measuring at more than five metres, the creature was tagged by a team researching crocodiles in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Among those grappling with the beast was Goldsithney-born Luke Evans, who is in the country studying estuarine, or saltwater, crocodiles.

"When we first saw the crocodile, it was in the trap and it was clear to me that it was going to measure in at more than five metres," said the 24-year-old former Mounts Bay Academy student.

"The feeling was pure excitement, these are the kind of days that make me love my PhD.

"It's the third crocodile we have tagged in the Kinabatangan River in Sabah – this one was considerably larger than the other two."

The work is part of a continuing project being carried out as part of a study at Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), aiming to understand the long-term movements of the animals.

Luke wasn't the only Cornish person helping to tag the crocodile, named Siganas meaning 'wild' in Malay, as Penryn's Isaac Field is also on the trip.

It took the combined efforts of a 12-man team to pull the animal from its trap before it was tagged and released.

"The 5.2-metre individual is, to our knowledge, the largest ever tagged, eclipsing the previous record of 4.65-metre carried out in Australia," said Luke.

WORK to create a £70,000 concrete footpath across Perranporth's beach ground to a halt during last week's high tide.

Workmen had to down tools on the scheme, which aims to make the beach more accessible to wheelchair users and those with pushchairs, after water flooded the site.

Parish councillor Alan Ratcliffe, who is heading the project, said it had been delayed by several weeks.

"We knew there would be high tides but decided to press on. All of the (concrete) base has been pinned to the bedrock with resin and stainless steel," he said.

"It has just washed sand into the hole. The workmen will dig out the sand once the tide has dropped. Everything is on schedule and on time."

But local resident Ian Hampton has raised concerns about sand blocking the path once it has been constructed.

He wrote on the Please Listen Perranzabuloe Parish Council Facebook site: "When the path is finished, who is going to maintain it? Who is going to clear the sand away from it to allow the access required for wheelchair users?

"This year, on more than one occasion I have taken a shovel and cleared the steps of clogged-up sand but surely this should be the responsibility of the council?

"If they cannot be bothered to maintain the steps what chance the path?"

But Mr Ratcliffe said the path would remain clear of sand during the busy summer season, when high tides do not occur, and said it would be cleared at other times when necessary.

Truro City 1 Sutton Utd 2
 Watched by their biggest crowd of  the season, City suffered late heartbreak as the Surrey visitors grabbed a  winner with just four minutes to go.
Fans turned out in force to back the club, following an appeal by the three local businessmen who stepped in to save the club from the brink of extinction last week, to vote with their feet and  come through the turnstiles.
The crowd of 613 was the second biggest in Blue Square Bet South, but despite a battling performance the home side were unable to reward them with a win.
And the defeat for a City squad, still crippled by  a  transfer embargo   and which  only had  12 fit players.  left despondent manager Lee Hodges contemplating his future.
He said: "My hands  are tied. It is  very frustrating and  it is hard when you take pride in what you do.
"I don't even know if I can get a side together for Tuesday's game at Farnborough. I am going to have a long week of soul searching  to see what happens next.
"It is so frustrating. You cannot fault the players for  their efforts. I am absolutely gutted for  them."
City were without long term injury victim Stewart Yetton and fellow striker Kieffer Moore  appears to have "gone missing" after the midweek game at Staines.
And with Andy Watkins going off with a hamstring problem and Dan Green set to move to Dorchester it will be a real battle to get a squad together for the Farnbrough game.
  The game started so well for City, with a great finish from a difficult angle by  Watkins, from Joe Broad's quickly taken free-kick, putting them ahead in the fourth   minute.
But the   visitors soon equalised through Simon Downer and   also missed a penalty, with Gareth Gwillim hitting the post from the spot just before half time.
The second half was fairly even and when Sutton had skipper Jamie Stuart red carded 13 minutes from time for hauling back Watkins, who would have been clear on goal,  the odds tilted in the home side's favour.
But City, who had already brought on their only substitute Danny Carne for an injured Marcus Martin,  soon lost Watkins to injury to make it 10 v 10.
 And worse was to follow in the 86th minute when  a fine low finish from Stefan Payne condemned Truro to defeat, leaving then 14 points from safety at the foot of the table.
  
City: Sandercombe; Hall, Ash, Williams, Green, Broad, Cooke, Martin (Carne 65), Hopkinson, Watkins, Afful. 
Goals: Watkins  4 (1-0), Downber (16) 1-1; Payne (86) 1-2.

TRURO 23 ST. AUSTELL 38

St. Austell maintained their unbeaten league record in Tribute Western Counties West with a hard fought win over a plucky Truro reports Bill Hooper from St. Clements.

The win however, was marred by a serious injury to Saints winger Sam Rhodes, which saw play held up for almost 45 minutes during the second half at a time when Truro had fought back from trailing 17-8 at halftime to lead 18-17.

The St  Austell winger was transported to hospital by land ambulance following a back injury with a quarter of an hour left to play.

The strong wind made play difficult for both sides with kicking from hand and throwing in at the lineout a bit of a lottery.

Truro finally got the first points of the game after 17 minutes when full back Justyn Irons kicked a penalty from in front of the posts.

St. Austell hit back playing some good rugby and took advantage of Truro having a player in the sin bin to score their first try through centre James Earp, scrum-half Matt Shepherd adding the extras.

 A sustained period of pressure from Truro saw them opt for the corner on three occasions with Saints prop Mark Martin yellow carded in the process. Eventually the pressure told and Truro prop Simon Gilbert crashed over for a well-worked try.

Truro's advantage was short lived as St. Austell got back down field to score a second try through winger Alex Welland, Shepherd was again on cue with the conversion as he was just before half-time with a penalty for his side's 17-8 advantage.

Truro upped the pace early in the second half, Irons kicked a second penalty to cut the deficit and then converted a fine try by winger Luke Trescothick to wrest back the lead.

Truro looked to be about to put an end to St. Austell's fine run until the unfortunate injury to Rhodes held up the game.

Upon the resumption of play, St Austell kicked a to the corner and from the lineout the ball was moved wide allowing Welland to score his second try, Shepherd nailed the conversion and St. Austell never looked back.

Earp and full back Sam Tank added further tries for the Saints with the ever reliable Shepherd adding the extras.

Truro deservedly got a second try near the end, as St. Austell found themselves down to fourteen men as skipper Andy Ashwin was yellow carded, through their best player on the day the ever willing Trescothick.

Truro 23 pts

Tries- Gilbert, Trescothick (2), Conversion – Irons, Penalties – Irons (2)

Yellow Card – Dodgson (24)

St. Austell 38 pts

Tries – Welland (2), Earp (2), Tank, Conversions- Shepherd (5), Penalty - Shepherd 

Yellow Cards – Martin (37), Ashwin (75)

Cornish Pirates 21 Leeds 8
The Cornish Pirates got back to winning ways in the Championship with a dogged display in difficult conditions at the Mennaye Field too see off a strong challenge from Leeds, writes Dick Straughan.
The Pirates went into the game looking for their first league win since early September while Leeds were just looking for some success on the road four defeats this season.
However, after a strong start from the Yorkshire side, it was the Pirates who took the lead in the fifth minute as Laurie McGlone stole possession in his own 22.
He broke downfield with Matt Evans again snaffling possession from the ensuing ruck deep in the Leeds half as the visitors stole it back, and the Canadian raced in to score the opening try.
Leeds got back into the game with a Joe Ford penalty before the Pirates extended their lead on 16 minutes as lock Gary Johnson rounded off a superb move started by a Tom Riley offload to Jack Nowell, who raced 50 metres through the heart of the Leeds defence.
Kieran Hallett converted and then added two penalties before half-time as the Pirates continued to punish Leeds for failing to turn their own possession into points.
A lead of 18-3 at the break then became three more early in the second half as Hallett struck again, but in worsening weather conditions Leeds stuck to their task and finally earned an unconverted try from Jacob Rowan as their pressure finally paid off.
Ford and Penberthy both missed late penalty attempts as the game became more error-strewn and referee David Rose issued three yellow cards.
David Lyons was sin-binned for the Pirates with James Doherty and Rowan both carded for Leeds in the closing minutes.
Cornish Pirates: Nowell, Pointer, Riley, Fatialofa, Evans (Davies 74), Hallett (Penberthy 70), Kessell (Cattle 66); Andrew (Storer 79), Elloway (Yeandle 52), Paver (Prescott 79), Barry, Johnson (Lyons 52, sin-bin 65-75), Maidment, Burgess, McGlone (capt).
Scorers. Tries – Evans, Johnson; Con – Hallett; Pens – Hallett (3).
Yellow card: Lyons.
Leeds: McColl, Wilson (Goss 70), Griffin, Burdon, D.Doherty, Ford, J.Doherty (sin-bin 73); Lockwood, Graham (Nilsen 66), Tussac, Green (Smith 66), Myerscough, Beck, Walker (Baldwin 27), Rowan (capt) (sin-bin 76). Replacements (not used) –Harris, Hooper, Hampson.
Scorers. Try – Rowan; Pen – Ford.
Yellow cards: J Doherty, Rowan.
Referee: D Rose (RFU).
Attendance: 1,971.