Launceston Town Council considered the benefits of joining the Rural Services Network Towns Grouping at its most recent meeting, and agreed to sign up for a two-year trial period.

The Rural Services Network (RSN) is seeking to establish a Rural/Market Towns Grouping to sit within its network. The organisation has approached more than 200 places across the country with the intention of setting up both a more comprehensive national rural network and a separate grouping.

The organisation also feels that the government needs to return to giving special attention to rural/market towns as shopping habits change as it is vital to the national economy that market towns remain buoyant.

The proposed grouping will be representative of rural areas and towns and markets across England and give a voice to countryside towns and larger parishes.

Discussing the matter at the October council meeting, Cllr Paul O’Brien said: “This is an opportunity to address that problem. Will it work? I haven’t got a clue. We will never know unless we try.”

Cllr John Harris added: “It’s from one end of the country to the other. How many times have the extreme ends of the country counted for anything? Hopefully it will be a good thing to persue.”

The mayor, Cllr Dave Gordon also agreed that it would be a good idea, and a proposal was made to sign up for a two-year trial period, at a cost of £150 a year.

“I think it will be money well spent,” Cllr Gordon added.

The proposal was carried.