A CALL is going out to traders and businesses in Callington to rally together and form an association to keep the town alive.

A meeting is being held in Callington Town Hall at 5.30pm on November 1 and invites are going out to all businesses in Callington and Kelly Bray.

Portreeve Karen Gold said when she took on the role as leading town dignitary in May, that her focus would be on revitalising the high street.

The push for a chamber of trade or business association follows the opening of a new Tesco store in the town a month ago.

Mrs Gold said with a new superstore on the edge of Callington and highway improvements planned, including a one-way system and part pedestrianisation, it was time for traders to 'seize the opportunity' and enhance the town.

'We want businesses to work together and see what we can do to get people to come into town,' she said. 'Tesco is attracting more people to Callington, now we need to promote all the really good shops in Callington town centre and Kelly Bray so people stay and spend money here.

'What I would like to see is the town becoming a bit more lively and with a chamber of trade we can get ideas and take things forward.'

Mrs Gold said as portreeve and chairman of the town council she could not get involved in running the chamber but the town council could give support and help.

Owner of Langman's restaurant Gail Buttery said she really hoped people would come to the meeting: 'It's an hour of people's time and it's about every business here in Callington. It is in their interest to come and if they have something to say this is the place to say it.

'I would love to see a vibrant, colourful town. We do not suffer much criminal damage here so we are lucky in that respect and one of my suggestions is to have floral arrangements outside all the shops to make the town look attractive.

'There used to be a thriving chamber of trade here and I hope we can have this again. I see Tesco as a positive thing because it is bringing people to Callington who did not know it existed before. The town now also provides all the shopping needs for people who live here.

'We want a town that is alive, energetic and presentable not a ghost town.'