STEPHEN GILBERT CALLS FOR "REAL PROGRESS" ON ST AUSTELL TOWN CENTRE

4.59.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Aug 2007

Stephen Gilbert, the new Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for St Austell, has welcomed the news that the Regional Development Agency (RDA) has signed legal agreements with David McLean Developments to start work on the £75m revamp of St Austell town centre.

Stephen said: "This project has suffered from too many false-dawns. However, it looks like we now have all the agreements signed, and, thanks to Matthew Taylor's intervention, the funding has been approved. We should see actual work happening soon."

"My first Saturday job was at what was Roy Dutch's camera shop on East Hill and I remember the town being a busy and vibrant place. Both traders and residents in St Austell have had to live with uncertainty for too long and whilst today's news is a step forward, I'm calling on the RDA and the developers to make real progress in giving St Austell a town centre that it can be proud of."