Council opposes Wainhomes plan
News Archive > General > Council opposes Wainhomes plan
More than 100 members of the public attended an extraordinary meeting of St Austell Town Council last Wednesday, where councillors unanimously opposed the controversial Wainhomes ‘northern expansion’ planning application.The meeting gave both members of the public and councillors the opportunity to express their views and ask Wainhomes representatives questions about the application for 1,300 homes to the west of Carclaze.
Councillors opposed the plans for the homes, 9,000 square metres of employment land, parks and open spaces, a new primary school and care home, together with parking, ancillary drainage and roadworks.
Brian Palmer, Mayor of St Austell, said: "Personally, I am very pleased with the outcome. As a councillor for the Poltair ward this has obviously been a huge concern to local residents and I feel that the town council tonight fully represented the views of the electorate."
Caroline Righton, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for St Austell, also supported the council's decision. "I am delighted that the councillors have shown complete solidarity with the people who have been objecting to this. We have now got to completely see it through and hope that Cornwall Council sees sense as well, and these wonderful agricultural fields stay as they are."
A range of issues arose during the meeting, including concerns for employment, problems with roads, a lack of changes made to the application since the public consultation in November, location and sustainability.
Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for St Austell, said: "I think we are half of the way towards getting the right decision. What St Austell now has to do is make sure that we impress on Cornwall Council, who will actually take the final decision, that this is an unwanted and unneeded expansion of the town."
Deputy Mayor, Jill Trewhella said: “It was really useful for our councillors to hear the views of the public. We as a Council are very concerned that there should be a co-ordinated and planned approach to major new developments in and around St Austell.
“In the absence of this local plan led approach, there is a real risk that infrastructure needs will not keep up with development and that prime agricultural land will be lost unnecessarily.
“We would like to work closely with Cornwall Council to agree realistic housing targets and to identify the best areas for development. We believe he planning application from Wainhomes is premature and in the wrong place.”
Consultation on the application ends on February 5.
