A call has been made for a memorial to the man who is said to have been responsible for securing millions of pounds for Cornwall from Europe.

Since 1999 Cornwall has received funding from the European Union after being identified as one of the poorest regions in Europe.

That has resulted in more than £1billion coming into Cornwall and also attracting match funding and investment.

This has been used for everything from new roads, helping establish the Eden Project, superfast broadband and university facilities.

With EU funding set to end following Brexit assessments are starting to be published to look at the impact of European funding in Cornwall and alternatives for the future.

One such report went before a recent meeting of Cornwall Council’s economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee.

And committee member Bert Biscoe called for something to be done to recognise the efforts of the late Bill Bawden.

Cllr Biscoe said that he felt that there should be some form of memorial to Mr Bawden, who he says was instrumental in securing European funding for Cornwall.

The independent councillor said: “Bill inspired loyalty and affection – he made a future with the skills borne of an easy charm. The results of his efforts are now becoming known as we see evaluations transpire. It is not, in my view, an exaggeration to say that Objective 1 would not have achieved what it has if it had not been steered, championed and formed by Bill Bawden. I believe him to be a Cornishman who has achieved change for the greatest number at an equivalent level to that by Richard Trevithick in a different age. Where is HIS statue?”

Mr Bawden was born in Wadebridge and after moving away from Cornwall to pursue his career he eventually returned and was a lecturer at Mid Cornwall College.

During the 1980s he set up the Leader Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. That experience led him to him taking leadership of the Objective One programme in the 1990s which was the first wave of European funding specifically for Cornwall.

Cllr Biscoe explained: “Bill began his life in economic regeneration by setting up the LEADER Programme in Cornwall. From this he developed understanding of how European institutions work, what they seek, and what sort of culture they respond to. This placed Bill in an extraordinary position to be able to design, shape, populate and begin to deliver the Objective 1 Programme. He was a hard-working diplomatically adept, conceptual thinker with a wonderful personality, a physical presence and a firm belief that Cornwall matters, that Cornwall’s future lay in an economy and community which celebrates its Cornishness. It was this which led him to persuade the European Commission to add a fifth priority – Regional Distinctiveness.

“The thinking, concepts and practices which have arisen from this now influence regeneration throughout the EU (and elsewhere). Bill developed this idea, fought for it and nurtured it, enthused many in Cornwall (especially younger people). It is this which lies behind the successful skills development achievements of Objective 1, the vital application with economic outcomes which use broadband, and the development of Falmouth University alongside Exeter at Tremough.”

Mr Bawden, who was made a Grand Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh and an OBE for his work in Cornwall, died in August last year.