Action group set up to challenge 'monstrous' plans
THE fight has begun against "monstrous" plans for 1,500 new homes in St Austell, with protestors demanding – who owns our town?
An action group called Save Our Unspoilt Land (SOUL) has been started this week, fuelled by growing outrage at the proposal by housing giant Wainhomes.
Earlier this month the developer unveiled multi-million pound plans for a 126-acre site to the west of Carclaze – land dubbed the most beautiful left in St Austell.
They want to build 1,500 homes, a care village, primary school and retail and employment space.
A spokesman for SOUL told the St Austell Guardian: "We are a group of like-minded people who feel very strongly about this. We'd like to know who actually owns St Austell – the planners, the council, the developers?
"It should be the people of St Austell. Whose town is this?"
The group already has around 30 members and wants to gather views and learn the best way to oppose the plans.
"We were particularly unhappy with Wainhomes exhibition, which was used to gather comments which we fear could be claimed to be a consultation," said the spokesman.
"Visitors who asked why the development was needed when an eco-town was proposed were told that the eco-town would never get the go-ahead.
"We felt that public consultation is necessary, and, to that end we have set up a website www.staustellsouls.com to gather comments about the Wainhomes proposal."
The St Austell Guardian asked Wainhomes for figures from feedback gathered at a public exhibition, but was refused.
Wainhomes is currently preparing outline plans for the development, which it hopes to submit to Cornwall Council later this year.
2 Comments
by S Henry, St Austell
Monday, August 03 2009, 1:23PM
“My concern is that this 120 site is currently just about able to soak the rain that falls, like big green sponge, the papers are often reporting floods to the:, East, West & South, this 120 acre site lies to the North and currently the businesses at the bottom of the hill do have flooding problems now! never mind if you remove the sponge & put hardstanding on it. This is crazy, having spent 70 odd million creating a new shopping centre, which is not even open yet, and happens to be one of the lowest points!.”
by Roger Benney, Redruth
Tuesday, July 28 2009, 6:35PM
“Congratulations to SOUL for objecting to the proposed build. Like minded groups can be found on www.trelawney-alliance.org who I'm sure will be prepared to help in any way they can”