CAMELFORD Town Council has agreed to train 12 people in road closure procedures.

At last Thursday’s meeting, mayor Rob Rotchell said the council had been offered a one-day course to train people in traffic management for community events, enabling road closures to be undertaken by local volunteers. A 50% subsidy on the cost per head was also available.

Cllr Andy Shaw said that 18 months ago, the council invited a number of people from various groups in the town to go on this course, and he assumed these people would still be au fait with the regulations.

“I wonder whether it’s valid to have 12 chiefs and two Indians, rather than two chiefs and ten volunteers,” he said.

Cllr Shaw felt it could be more cost-effective to pay Cormac to put together the relevant road closures at such events as the annual carnival.

Cllr Lynn Crockford said the town would always have the problem of not having enough trained people to carry out the road closures, as people could be on holiday. Cllr Rotchell agreed, but added that there would be more chance of covering an event if these people were trained.

It was noted that it would cost the council £420 to enroll 12 people on the training course, whereas Cormac in the past has charged in the region of £300 for one event.

Cllr Claire Hewlett proposed that the council go ahead with the training, seconded by Cllr Kirsty Ferguson. Nine councillors voted in favour and one abstained.