GILBERT WELCOMES MCTI VISION

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 26th Jul 2008

Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for St Austell, has welcomed the vision developed by the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative to make the St Austell area a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and play.

Speaking after attending yesterday's launch of the Community Strategic Action Plan at the China Clay Country Park, Stephen Gilbert said: "This is one of the best pieces of planning work I have seen. It is clear there has been a great deal of community involvement in putting this together and I think it sets out a very clear roadmap for the St Austell bay area over the next 20 or so years."

"Importantly, it shows that St Austell has turned the corner on our recent problems and that the area has a bright future to look forward to."

"I hope the document will provide a useful framework of ideas for the area's new town and parish Councils and the new Community Area Networks to drive forward."