THE NEW portreeve of Callington is hoping to create a thriving business organisation to keep the town centre alive as Tesco prepares to opens its new edge of town store in under than three months' time.

Karen Gold, who took on the mantle from Cllr Rick Lumley last week, said her focus this year would be to revitalise the high street and make sure Tesco was not a threat to the town but something positive.

Her comments were made as Tesco held an open day in the town hall last Wednesday to start its recruitment drive for 230 members of staff to work in the store currently under construction in Tavistock Road.

Mrs Gold said she was keen to get all businesses from Callington and Kelly Bray around the table, including Tesco and the town's largest employer Ginsters.

She said: 'I want to get everyone talking to see how we can move forward and encourage people to shop here.

'I don't want the town centre businesses to see Tesco as a threat but a company they can work with to make Callington better.'

The new portreeve said Callington and Kelly Bray had some great shops, including Colin's Bridal Fashions, which won a best in the west award for its bridal wear and superb gift and craft shops.

'There was a chamber of trade here once but it disbanded. I want to re-establish that — with Tesco coming in, this really is an ideal opportunity for the shops to make their mark,' added Mrs Gold, who would also like to see more new traders opening up in town.

Her words were reiterated by Gary Wills, who will manage the new store: 'We want to be part of Callington and we will have a dedicated "community champion" whose sole task will be to get involved the community,' he said. 'In a town of this size it's a great opportunity to get up close and personal.'

Mr Wills, who lives in Plymouth but is currently manager at Tesco in Camborne, said he believed competition between businesses was a good thing because it made everyone work hard to be the best.

'It potentially inspires people to do a better job,' he said.

The store in Callington is due to open on the bank holiday weekend in August but this is flexible depending on the speed of work and weather conditions.

Speaking at the mayor making ceremony in the town hall last week Mrs Gold, a wider curriculum and foundation school co-ordinator at Callington Community College, said she had lived in the town for 30 years and brought up two children there.

She said there had always been a supportive community spirit in the town and that had been rekindled in the last few years between the town council, Rotary and Lions clubs in bringing the carnival back and developing it into a Callington Festival Week.

'There are so many organisations that work together for the good of the town and we need to keep that momentum going,' she said.

Another aim was to see the ambitious plans for Saltash Road Recreation Park to come to fruition and the Friday Night Project for teenagers in the new community café in the town hall.

The new deputy portreeve is Jeremy Gist, affectionately known as 'the father of the council', who has been a Callington town councillor for 31 years.

Rick Lumley said his two years as portreeve had been an amazing experience with particular highlights being the return of the carnival, the CAVe entertainment project and the refurbishment of the town hall.

He praised the commitment, enthusiasm, support and loyalty of fellow councillors.