This week, the Prime Minister announced new investment into Cornwall's town centres and natural landscape, a long-term legacy from the G7.

The "Town Deals" announced are for Penzance, St Ives and Camborne worth over £65 million and will fund projects at the heart of communities in some of Cornwall's most deprived areas.

However, councillors have flagged up that although the funding is welcomed this is not new money and is not believed to be linked to the G7.

The Prime Minister's 'legacy package' for Cornwall were first announced before the 2019 general election and have been mentioned a number of times since as part of other funding packages, Jayne Kirkham, Cornwall Councillor for Falmouth Penwerris revealed in a statement this afternoon.

Jayne Kirkham continued to discuss that "fundamental issues" needed addressing in Cornwall, low wages and rising house prices, she said:

"Insecure and low wages; insecure and expensive housing which is totally out of the reach of most and skyrocketing as a result of Covid effects and stamp duty cuts that help people buying second homes as well as first homes.

"Town deals that redevelop stations, footpaths and buildings for only some of our towns – and those towns chosen by political convenience rather than the greatest need - although welcome are not going to address these fundamental issues.

"Where's the plan for social care, glossed over yet again in the budget. Social care is a massive black hole in our budget. Who is looking after all those people turfed out of hospital in case the G7 needs the beds?

"Where are our homeless who have been ejected from their emergency accommodation in hotels in this past week going to go? There's not enough affordable housing in Cornwall and emergency housing is desperately hard to find.

"These two issues alone are approaching crisis level and are structural issues that desperately need addressing with funding, planning and time rather than media-friendly eve-of-G7 announcements."

Cornwall will welcome world leaders over a three-day international event from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, as well as invited leaders from Australia, India, and South Korea attending.

The event will host leaders at Carbis Bay from June 11th to 13th, with neighbouring St Ives and other sites in Cornwall, such as Falmouth, hosting international delegates and media.

Click here to see more from Jayne Kirkham.

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