A CAMPAIGN has been launched in Callington to get more people involved in their community and stand for the town council. Packs on 'Becoming a Councillor' have been produced and posters have been placed around the town to raise awareness of May's forthcoming local elections and bring local residents on board. The town is taking the lead on election promotion in a bid to have a 'true democratic election' with all age ranges of the community represented. A reorganisation of local government, which could well result in the amalgamation of the county and district councils, is expected to place more powers with town and parish councils and in Callington the authority is relishing the challenge. Town clerk Lynda Small said: 'The Government white paper is looking at more emphasis on community decisions, and being a pro-active council we would like to see the age range of the council reflect that of the community. 'We would like to see more young people involved and for the first time the age of those able to stand for election has gone down from 21 to 18. 'If young people want to get things done and see changes, they should be involved — they have got to be in the circle.' Mrs Small said with only four women on the 12-member council it would be good to see a more balanced gender representation. The town council is responsible for the town hall, parks, pannier market, allotments and promotion of the town, among a number of other things. Recent projects have included a skate park, regeneration of the playparks, revamp of the village green and heritage centre and development of town walks. Plans in the pipeline are a town regeneration and traffic management scheme, which includes a proposed one-way system around the town, and a £1-million townscape heritage initiative to improve the look of the town centre. Callington portreeve Andrew Long said the more people who stood for election the greater the democracy. It would then mean the town council becomes more effective and have more powers to carry out the wishes of the local people. Cllr Long has been a member of Callington Town Council for seven years and urged others to put their names forward. 'It is a very interesting role, especially if you believe in the place where you live. I believe in Callington and the people of Callington and if, like me, you wish to see the town move forward, then stand for the town council.' To qualify to be a Callington councillor you need to be over 18 years of age by May 3, 2007, on the electoral register or have worked in the area for the preceding 12 months and be a citizen of the European Union. You can be a local government elector of the parish or a person who during the whole of the 12 months before nomination as a candidate occupied land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish. You can also stand if you live within three miles of Callington or have had a principal or only place of work in that area. Information packs about becoming a councillor can be picked up from the town council offices in New Road or at the mayor's charity fair in the town hall on March 10.