Cornish Social & Economic Research Group
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Percentage of affordable homes in Dolcoath development cut from 40% 0f total to 25%,
9 March 2010
Last Tuesday evening 2nd March a Cornwall Council planning committee met to consider, among other planning applications, the application for 93 homes at the old Holman site at Dolcoath. The application was approved by seven votes to six.
The Trelawney Alliance, say the Dolcoath development has been changed so that now the number of affordable homes has been reduced from 40% to 25% of the total and were to be for the open market including people from any of the other EU countries. A Trelawney Alliance spokesperson said she was "extremely concerned that at the planning meeting their arguments against the application were continually brushed aside by the planning officer who said they were irrelevant and he instructed that councillors should ignore them".
More...Trelawney Alliance
Trelawney Alliance - a group formed by people in the area that feel local housing needs are being ignored by Central Government and who are fighting plans to build 11,100 homes by 2026 in the Camborne, Pool and Illogan area, only a small percentage of which could be classed as 'affordable'.
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Election expenses row erupts,
This is Cornwall, 8 March 2010
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Liberal Democrat election hopefuls have been forced to write cheques for thousands of pounds to their own campaigns in a bid to see off the threat posed by the multi-million pound Conservative election machine. Figures compiled by the Western Morning News reveal almost a third of the £80,000 donated to Westcountry Lib-Dem coffers came from MPs and prospective candidates – or their wives and parents.
The data also lays bare the apparent reliance of Tory hopefuls on support from Conservative Central Office, with new figures showing declared cash donations to local Tory associations raised just half the amount received by Lib-Dems last year. It comes amid a growing row about the influence of Tory Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, who masterminds the funding of campaigns in Tory target seats and last week admitted being a non-domiciled UK resident for tax purposes.
While all parties will point to other fundraising events to help pay for posters, leaflets and campaigning resources, candidates for smaller parties have been forced to dip into their own pockets to take on the might of the Conservative election machine.
Comment
Let's not forget 'smaller parties' doesn't just include the Liberal Democrats, it includes such parties as Mebyon Kernow and anyone that wishes to stand as an independent, who have to rely almost entirely on fundraising from within Cornwall i.e. they don't even have a London office and a UK wide fundraising resource for the occasional topup. The system of funding as well as for voting is long overdue for modernisation.
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
Photo above from www.freefoto.com
_______________________________________________Lack of affordable homes 'threatens' South West economy,
BBC News, 6 March 2010
The South West Housing Initiative (SWHI) said about 14,000 homes were built last year - 22% fewer than 2008 and 5,000 short of the average target. The regional body, representing home builders and housing professionals, said demand in the greater South West is for 25,000 new households each year. It warned the lack of affordable housing threatened the local economy. Richard Kitson, SWHI chairman, said if young people cannot afford to live in the South West, there is a real risk is they will move out of the area. "We're particularly concerned because if the economy is to come out of recession we want a strong recovery," Mr Kitson said. "We need to make sure business and industry can find people who have got homes and can live and work in the area. Fundamentally, people want a roof over their heads and a home of their own. "Clearly if we're not building enough homes, then the problem of affordability grows and young people may leave the region."
Comment
So demand is not being met? Demand is increasing due to divorce and people living alone? Therefore build more houses? Appears plausible yet in reality wide of the mark. Much of the 'demand' in Cornwall arises from people moving to Cornwall not from local changes in household numbers. Why do people move? A variety of reasons but if an area is portrayed as an ideal place to live and estate agents happily advertise wide and far then 'demand' will be there. Developers are quite happy to meet that 'demand' indeed they foster it.
Simply equating house numbers built with providing affordable housing is at worst misleading at best disingenuous. Houses are built for various purposes - investment, holiday purposes, for the luxury market - none of which will provide housing for young people in need of affordable housing.
More...BBC News
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Unison in warning over Cornwall Council budget cuts,
BBC News, 6 March 2010
Planned spending cuts at Cornwall Council could devastate the local economy, the head of Britain's biggest trade union has warned. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said as the county's biggest single employer, cutting £100m over four years could be particularly damaging. The council said the budget cuts were necessary to try to balance the books. Up to 600 jobs will go, but the council said the majority of these would come from a recruitment freeze.
More...news.bbc.co.uk
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Supermarket giant withdraws store plan,
This is Cornwall, 4 March 2010
Sainsbury's has withdrawn its planning application to build a supermarket on the outskirts of Hayle. The decision comes after proposals for a store at Marsh Lane Industrial Estate were criticised by town councillors and opposed by Angarrack villagers. The company had hoped to build a supermarket with a 33,000 sq ft sales area, 325-space car park and six-pump petrol station. A spokesman said the withdrawal would allow the applicants time to consider feedback from statutory bodies and make improvements before resubmitting a second planning application later in the spring. Town councillor Graham Coad delivered a damning verdict on the proposals when the plans were considered at a recent meeting. He said building on an "ecologically valuable marshland" within a flood plain could be the "worst possible site in the area".
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Jobs boom promised in Cornwall as £4m in Euro cash is pledged,
This is Cornwall, 4 March 2010
Comment
News of the development of this area raises some interesting issues:
1) The 'jobs boom' should be taken in the context of the continuing population boom;
2) Use of an area comprising a mix of greenfield and revegatated minescape represents further urbanisation;
3) With easy access to the A30 planned how much commuter traffic will the site generate?
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Duchy is slammed over bid for superstore on city site,
This is Cornwall, 4 March 2010
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Comment
Planning gain or bribery? Duchy as environmentally friendly landowner or destructive developer? Is another park and ride a solution to congestion or simply shifting traffic around?
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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The battle of battery rocks,
This is Cornwall, 3 March 2010
The leader of Cornwall Council traded insults with Cornish MP Andrew George as a war of words over the controversial Penzance harbour plan escalated. Conservative council leader Alec Robertson struck the first blow, accusing Mr George of being "irresponsible and divisive" over the disputed proposals for a new ferry terminal linking the town with the Isles of Scilly. The Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives countered by accusing Coun Robertson of "misleading" the public, driving a "wedge" through the community and "diminishing" the council.
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Residents call for action as lorries 'thunder' along road,
This is Cornwall, 2 March 2010
Traffic problems are continuing to blight the lives of residents on one of the main roads into St Austell. Huge lorries rumbling along Treverbyn Road are making lives hell and residents say it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. Now they are pleading with Cornwall Council to listen. The A391 bypass was built to divert traffic away from the area, but residents say the busy road is still used as a rat run. Richard Woolhouse, who has lived on the road for more than 20 years, said: "These huge 40-tonne lorries thunder up and down the road several times a day. "In their infinite wisdom, companies have bought trailers that are 15ft 10in high, and therefore will not fit under the railway bridge at Holmbush, which is 15ft 6in high. "So they are still using Treverbyn Road and Slades Road. "These lorry and trailer outfits should never be using roads like this. "They are dodging in and out of parked cars and not observing the 30mph speed limit either. "What was the point of the link road being built?"
Comment
Another area, another traffic problem. Understandably residents call for something to be done. Addressing such issues is problematical. The usual response is often to increase road capacity, here we can see this has been tried with the construction of the link road. We have three causes, a general increase in traffic, a consequence of Cornwall's population boom, greater traffic movement as we all drive around more, and the increasing size of lorries. Unless measures are taken to deal with these communities will continue to face the problems outlined above.
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Have your say on parking charges,
This is Cornwall, 2 March 2010
Cornwall Council is inviting members of the public to give their views on plans to equalise parking charges next year. The council is seeking to set countywide parking charges in time for next April and has set up a parking policy panel to look at the best way of setting car park rates. Parking charges for the coming year were recently agreed by the council with the first hour rates frozen across Cornwall, while others will increase by an average 5%.
Comment
The issue of charging for car parking is guaranteed to raise objections, in general the public are against. But as the old saying has it 'theres no such thing as a free car park!' Car parking charges are needed not simply to cover the cost of provision but as a means of traffic management. One problem is that charges only apply to public car parks - the others, at shops for example are 'free' (though in reality customers pay, whether they use a car or not). Traffic demand management would require a comprehensive policy of charging - covering all car parks and designed to ensure that car users pay for the costs they impose on the wider community and minimise car trips.
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Eden Project loses visitors,
This is Cornwall, 27 February 2010
The Eden Project missed out on a mini-boom in tourists flocking to Westcountry visitor attractions last year after seeing numbers drop by 6 per cent. Recession-hit Britons staying at home for holidays and overseas tourists attracted by the weak pound sparked a huge surge in visitors to National Trust properties in the region. Both the iconic St Michael's Mount in Cornwall and stunningly situated Dunster Castle in Somerset recorded a 20 per cent leap in footfall. Visitor numbers nationally rose by more than 10 per cent.
Comment
An indication of the fickle nature of tourism. People in this country still believe that a holiday (along with the price of food) they should get it cheap and when it isn't so cheap they'll go somewhere else where they believe they will get more for their money than at home or keep the money in their pockets and stay home. Tourism should be seen only as an add-on and maybe a review of its benefits to Cornwall on review might even show clear signs that it's more trouble than it's worth.
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Camborne Town Council Heritage Subcommittee to discuss the future of the Assembly Rooms at Holman's No 3 Works,
Trelawney Alliance, 22 February 2010
Jean Charman has called a meeting of the Camborne Town Council Heritage Subcommittee to be held on Friday 26th February at the town council offices in Bassett Road starting at 10am. She has emphasised that members of the public are permitted to attend and ask questions during the suspension of standing orders.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the future of the Assembly Rooms at Holman's No 3 Works in Trevu Road. Coastline housing has acquired this site and as I am sure many of you are aware demolition has already begun. Ms Michelle Foster of Coastline will be present to give us a report on what is actually happening on the site. She says, "In particular I feel we need to know what is proposed for the assembly rooms. I know on the last set of plans they was earmarked for development into flats. We are rapidly losing our heritage buildings and hopefully Coastline will take on board our concerns."
According to Jean Charman there has been a recent surge of interest in Holmans due to the screening of archive films at various locations and the 'Holman Memory Shops' held at the town council offices. She added, "Hopefully more people are now aware of the tremendous impact Holman Brothers had on the history of Camborne and understand the desire to preserve some of it for future generations." She urges all those who care about Camborne and Cornwall's heritage to make all effort to attend this Fridays subcommittee meeting. Mr Nigel Holman, son of Treve Holman who was the last managing director of Holmans, has agreed to attend to give his support.
Trelawney Alliance website...www.trelawney-alliance.org
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Council meets to decide fate of SITA contract,
This is Cornwall, 9 February 2010
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Cornwall Council meets today to decide whether to terminate its 30-year waste contract with SITA - at a potential price of £300 million. At last month's meeting councillors suggested that it could cost as much as £300 million to break the contract and this was deemed high a price to pay for the county's taxpayers. A key part of the contract is the planned Cornwall energy Recovery Centre (CERC) - the incinerator earmarked for St Dennis. Residents and campaigners against believe a better option can be worked and the contract should be broken. Cllr Dick Cole, who is also the Mebyon Kernow parliamentary prospective candidate for St Austell and Newquay, said: "I was disappointed that more councillors on the waste panel did not wish to pressure the cabinet into properly exploring their ability to terminate the contract and seek more sustainable ways to deal with Cornwall's domestic waste. "This is an important issue and one that Cornwall Council must get right."
More...\\www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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£500k grant for greener villages,
This is Cornwall, 9 February 2010
Villagers and businesses in Grampound and Ladock have won £500,000 to help install green technologies such as solar panels and underground heating systems. Just 12 communities in the UK were awarded the government cash. It will be used to cut carbon emissions, save money on energy bills and even earn some areas cash by generating their own electricity, which will be sold back to the National Grid.
Comment
An interesting way of moving towards a low carbon society. What will the rest of us do?
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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£10m funding tonic for eco-town, Tuesday,
This is Cornwall, 9 February 2010
The eco-town for the St Austell area received a massive boost this week when it was announced it will receive almost £10 million from central government. The £9.55m funding, from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will support early development work on a wide range of projects including delivering a state-of-the art sustainable transport infrastructure, employment and skills opportunities, a sustainable supported housing project for up to 37 homes and the latest in low carbon lifestyle technology.
Graeme Hicks, cabinet member for planning, transport and highways, said: "This is wonderful news for all of the residents of the clay area. "It reinforces our commitment to put the interests of local people first.
Comment
Will the eco-town be for local residents or will it result in further unsustainable population increases?
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Doubts over plans for new ground,
This is Cornwall, 5 February 2010
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Doubts have been raised about ambitious plans to move Truro City Football Club to a new home and redevelop the current ground. Club chairman and property developer Kevin Heaney has announced plans to build offices and a supermarket on the site at Treyew Road.
Mr Heaney also said: "The plan is to relocate the club to 25 acres at Polwhele Farm where I have an option on the land. "We have got 26 teams which we need to cater for and it's ridiculous we don't have our own training facilities. The investment income (from Treyew Road) will be used to run the club. "We will not leave Treyew Road until all the funds are in place. "I will have to take on loans to cover the cost of the new ground which will run into millions. "I want to do the best I can for Truro City Football Club." PLANS to build a supermarket and offices on the Truro City FC ground have been branded "pie in the sky talk" by visitors to the West Briton's website.
Comment
More greenfield development? How much more land will Truro's expansion take?
More...\\www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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MP helps local people draw up 'Pz' option for harbour,
This is Cornwall, 4 February 2010
A new alternative for the future of Penzance Harbour is being drawn up by local people. Option Pz is the result of discussions led by St Ives MP Andrew George, aimed at finding a workable solution for the development if Option A fails. Mr George said details of the proposals would be released over the next few weeks, but their alternative scheme would be:
• Less expensive than Option A;Mr George told The Cornishman that around 30 people had attended the first meeting on Monday, which Cornwall Council said it did not attend as it was based on the premise that Option A was not deliverable. Two further meetings were scheduled for this week.
• Would not require another Harbour Revision Order;
• Would enable Penzance to work constructively with English Heritage.
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Poll shows residents in favour of Asda scheme,
This is Cornwall, 4 February 2010
A poll conducted by The Cornishman to establish the preferred supermarket development for Hayle has shown a majority in favour of the out-of-town Asda scheme. An internet vote by readers on this paper's website www.thisiscornwall.co.uk showed that 59% of the 123 respondents favoured the project at Hayle Rugby Club. Sainsbury's came second with 14% followed by Morrisons with 13% and lastly the ING scheme with 4%.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites, who awarded the port World Heritage Status, also recommended refusal, adding that: "Hayle deserves better". ING this week criticised town councillors' unanimous refusal to support "the only realistic and viable opportunity" to kick-start the harbour regeneration.
Comment
Local people prefer the out of town option? Maybe, depends on the nature of the questions to some extent. In planning terms the out of town option is not really an acceptable option. In town is preferable - the question is where in town?
More...\\www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Readers divided on merits of new road,
This is Cornwall, 3 February 2010
News that Truro's controversial distributor road could shave as little as four seconds off the drive into the city has sparked a debate among our readers. On the West Briton's website readers have been commenting about the £36.8 million proposed distributor road cutting across countryside to the south of the city. Officers at Cornwall Council say the route from Richard Lander School to Treyew Road will relieve congestion. But councillors have contested it, saying the purpose of the road has changed over the years. Now members of the public have been debating whether there is any need for the road at all. Steve from Truro wrote: "Thank goodness the Government has got £36.8 million to waste on a useless, unwanted road that will tear up the local countryside to save seconds in commuter time. And here was I thinking we were in the depths of the deepest financial crisis for 80 years. Idiots."
Comment
Readers supporting the new road may appear to present a common sense answer, surely a new road will cut traffic? However, increasing road space in itself creates traffic and with more developments planned for Truro any extra capacity will soon be used up. Investment in alternatives a better option?
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Bodmin misses out on cut in rail parking fee,
This is Cornwall, 02 February 2010
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Comment
Parking charges at railway stations raise some interesting questions. Should rail users pay car parking charges when the end result is less car use? Why should rail users pay yet not supermarket users?
More...thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Big passenger tonic for Newquay to Par service,
This is Cornwall, 01 February 2010
Numbers using the Newquay to Par Branch Line last year totalled 70,671 sales, which has smashed the record previously set for the line. Last year's bumper crop of passengers beat the previous best total of 60,832, set in 2004, with three months to spare. Support group The Friends of the Atlantic Coastline (FoCAL) would like to see these high numbers of train users result in better funding, facilities and services for those choosing to travel by train. A delighted Alan Nicholson-Florence, vice-chairman of FoCAL, said: "When you look at the figures of how people got to Cornwall last year, by train was the least popular mode of transport with only 6% using it. To view what FoCAL want to see happen on the line, and also watch their promotional short film called Catch The Train please go to www.focal.org.uk
Comment
Funding to support the rail network is one area which should be prioritised to assist sustainable travel.
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Group attacks new link as the 'road to nowhere',
This is Cornwall, 01 February 2010
The new east-west link road being built between Redruth and Camborne has been dubbed 'the road to nowhere'. Members of the Trelawney Alliance have expressed their disappointment that Cornwall councillors have given approval for the next stretch of the road. It is being built to accommodate the vast increase in traffic that will be generated by plans to build 11,000 new homes in the area.
Comment
Extra road space creates extra traffic as various reports have shown. What this area needs is to reduce existing traffic levels, an unattainable target if the 11,000 houses are built and alternatives to car use are not prioritised.
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Locals have cash to call in the pros
This is Cornwall, 01 February 2010
People in Bude and Stratton, concerned about major development proposals for the Binhamy Farm site, say enough money has now been pledged to contract professionals to help fight the forthcoming planning appeal. Concerned residents had been advised to seek professional help to draw together their statements of opposition for the appeal, which has been lodged by the Catesby Property Group to be held in the Falcon Hotel, Bude between March 16 and March 19.
Comment
Funding for groups concerned about development proposals is often a problem. Whereas developers have the resources, community groups do not. Should the planning system seek to address this?
More...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Petition backs ferry link scheme
This is Cornwall, 19 January 2010
The saga over the future of Penzance Harbour has taken another twist after more than 700 people signed a petition calling for a rejected scheme to go ahead. Campaigners backing the single freight and passenger handling facility for the Isles of Scilly ferry collected the signatures at the weekend. Such is the enthusiasm with which the petition has been received, organisers expect 2,000 names by the weekend.
However, opponents of the plan, known as Option A, poured scorn on the petition's wording, condemning it as misleading. Penzance Chamber of Commerce chairman Mike Waters shrugged off the criticism and said town's people were standing up and being counted.
More on this...www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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THE FIGHT CONTINUES SAYS TRELAWNEY ALLIANCE
Trelawney Alliance, 19 January 2010
The Trelawney Alliance, who are opposed to mass building in Cornwall, hosted a meeting last Friday in the magistrates court in Camborne. Presentations were made by representatives from the County planning department, Cornwall Council and the CPR regeneration group. Statements relating to their political party views on proposed mass building were also made by Julia Goldsworthy MP (Lib Dem), George Eustace PC (Con), Loveday Jenkins PC (MK) & Derek Elliott PC (UKIP.
A packed hall of over 200 members of the public, Cornwall councillors and town and parish councillors from Camborne & Illogan listened to the presentations which mainly concentrated on the Area Action Plan for the Camborne, Redruth, Pool and Illogan areas, and the association of the plan with the Regional Spatial Strategy documents.
More on this...trelawney-alliance.org