A LEADING campaigner for economic development in South East Cornwall has tentatively welcomed the announcement that a task group has been set up by Cornwall Council and the Cornwall Development Company.

Mebyon Kernow Cornwall councillor for Callington Andrew Long, who is also economic spokesperson for the party, was speaking after it was announced that attention was being turned to the situation in South East Cornwall.

Cllr Long said: 'We have been suffering from a dramatic drop in wages, and increasing reliance on Plymouth in the last few years. This has finally been acknowledged by those who have the ability to do something positive about it.'

'In 2008, as far as wages were concerned, it was like economic development dropped off a cliff and I am naturally disappointed that it has taken five years for the powers that be to accept what we have been saying all along.

'I have been campaigning, with other councillors and business people across the region, for the council to take the economic problems in South East Cornwall seriously.

'I have asked that the economic development department, Cornwall Development Company and leading councillors from across the parties be involved at an early stage and that the business community be central in discussions so we can work up a solution to the really serious problem we have.'

He said South East Cornwall's work-based income per person had dropped to just £13,900 per year compared to £17,200 across Cornwall as a whole, and £23,000 for the UK.