SPACE tourism could be a game changer for Cornwall’s economy, a leading Launceston councillor said last week.

Liberal Democrat Adam Paynter, who is leader of Cornwall Council and ward member for Launceston North and North Petherwin, attended a meeting of the town council last week and relayed his experience of a recent trip to America.

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) led the spaceport delegation. The LEP is leading Cornwall’s bid to establish Spaceport Cornwall across two sites at Cornwall Airport Newquay and Goonhilly Earth Station, which it says offer ‘an unrivalled combination of horizontal launch, monitoring and tracking facilities’.

In North America the delegation met a range of potential investors.

Cllr Paynter said: “I did have a trip a couple of weeks ago to America to look at a spaceport. I think it will be hugely interesting for Cornwall, the whole idea of space tourism as well as satellite launches and employment.

“Six from the LEP went over to see two spaceports and see whether it would work for Cornwall. [The trip] was far far better than we could have ever imagined. If we could get that technology for Cornwall it would be a game changer for our economy.

“Cornwall is the only place in England proposed for a spaceport, hopefully we will be in the number one position to get it.”

The £30,000 cost of the trip, which included travel from Cornwall to London, flights to the US, internal flights while there and all accommodation, was met by the LEP, which is core funded by central Government to promote economic development and job creation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.