A YOUNG woman from Camelford has started a petition in an aim to speed up the process of establishing a health hub for the local area.

Ayla Ackroyd-Johnson, from Camelford, is among the many members of the community who have ongoing concerns about the lack of progress with the Camelford health hub since the town’s last community network panel meeting, along with what she claims is ‘disappointing news’ each time.

After the last network panel meeting, Ayla sought advice and information from Sarah Simms, Cornwall Council community liaison officer for the Camelford network, and Cllr Claire Hewlett, chair of the community network panel, on the timeline of the health hub. Ayla said: “I was then able to draft this (into a petition) to include all aspects involved and get it sent to almost all of the affecting parishes.”

The Post has previously reported that the Camelford health hub was granted £750,000 last year from NHS England, and aims to replace the existing medical centre with a modern health and wellbeing hub with GP services, as well as dental provision, podiatry and chiropody and rooms for other services.

However, at the September 18 meeting of the town council, Nigel Blackler, Cornwall Council corporate leadership team representative, reported that there is currently no deliverable scheme or proposal to present for the health hub — news, which, disappointed many.

The petition is to go to Cornwall Council, Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England, the three organisations involved in setting up the health hub.

“After the petition was set up, I emailed almost all town and village clerks that fall within the network area, but am yet to have details for Lesnewth and Treneglos,” Ayla continued.

Ayla and Chelsea Vidler, who has also been involved in the making of the petition, took to Enfield Park in Camelford on Saturday, October 27 for two hours in order to speak to passers by and get as many signatures as possible on the petition. They were joined by Lauren and Phoebe Rathbone, who ‘helped immensely’ in getting signatures and Lauren, a Camelford town councillor, is now on board in helping Ayla and Chelsea. Now the trio, along with a few more supporters, are arranging door-to-door signing in Camelford to ensure everyone has the chance to sign the petition. Ayla added: “We have hundreds of signatures already, but we want thousands!”

Camelford, Advent, Davidstow, Forrabury and Minster, Boscastle, Michaelstow, Otterham, St Breward, St Clether, St Juliot, St Teath, Tintagel, Tremaine, Tresmeer, Trevalga and Warbstow town and parish clerks have been contacted.

“If you fall under any of these parishes and want to sign the petition, please get in touch with your town or village clerk to find out where they have put the petition, but, hopefully, they have put it somewhere accessible and noticeable,” Ayla said.

All petition papers must be in to Ayla by November 30.