NEW HOPE RISING FOR ST. AUSTELL

3.47.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd May 2008

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has praised the progress on the St Austell regeneration during a visit to the town which, he says, 'is finally getting the town centre it deserves'.

The town centre redevelopment, initiated by the Government's Regional Development Agency, took Liberal Democrat intervention to overcome delays and uncertainty. Early on Tesco threatened to block the project altogether by refusing to release their town centre store for the scheme even though demolition had started next door. More recently cost increases raised the possibility that Government funding would be withdrawn, which could have left an empty hole in the middle of St Austell. On each occasion local Liberal Democrats, led by Matthew Taylor MP, negotiated a solution which has allowed work to finally start.

Commenting, Nick Clegg MP said: "The new St Austell can finally be seen to be rising out of the ashes of the old. Frankly the delays caused by Government were unforgivable, but Liberal Democrats have shown here that when things get tough we have the ability to cut through it and deliver. People can now see for themselves the new town centre is rising."

The Leader was shown around by his Liberal Democrat colleague Matthew Taylor MP, who has announced his plans to leave politics at the next General Election following the birth of his two sons, and Stephen Gilbert, Matthew Taylor's successor as Liberal Democrat candidate.

Stephen Gilbert added: 'It was great to see Nick here in St Austell to see the start of a turnaround for the town's future. If it had simply been left to the Government St Austell's fate would have been in permanent decline, but after a lot of hard work the Liberal Democrat team, and Matthew Taylor in particular, have got the redevelopment back on track. Born and bred here, I want more than anything else to see the town vibrant and thriving again, and this summer people can see for themselves new hope rising for St Austell."