'Forgotten' town is not so bad, say residents

CALLINGTON 'IS NO WORSE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE', THEY SAY

- By KATIE OBORN

A TOWN near Plymouth, which has found itself in the spotlight due to concerns over “feral” kids and antisocial issues, is “no worse than anywhere else” according to some who live there.

The somewhat quaint inland town of Callington, described as 'proper Cornwall, has reportedly been over run with drugs and crime. The town's teenagers are reportedly addicted to crack cocaine and the smell of cannabis is so prevalent it has earned the nickname 'Callington Cologne' among some locals.

But others have hit back, describing Callington as “peaceful” and a “nice place to live”, but do admit the area is not without its issues.

Last week The Callington Town Council yard, located at the cemetery, was broken into, with intruders cutting the power to the CCTV in order to gain access.

Machinery and equipment were taken and the town council said it was a “huge loss.” It said it would impact some of their ground maintenance services in the coming months.

Residents said they felt concerned by the “lack of any police presence” in the area and felt that Callington is often “forgotten”, as tourists flock to beach towns.

Mark Howe, who has lived in Callington for nearly 10 years, said: “Despite all that's wrong with it, I like it. This town does need help, people do like living here but they feel fed up and neglected.”

The 64-year-old added: “It's not too bad, generally it’s a nice town, but being inland we can feel forgotten. Seaside towns get all the investment, but from Bodmin down we're forgotten.

“We do get some drug trouble or noise issues - and the public toilets were recently smashed up. The police station closed in 2017, but since then the population has grown, with new homes surrounding Callington, police foot patrols would be welcomed.