RESIDENTS of Illogan came out in force to express their concerns about possible development plans for their community over the next 20 years.

More than 400 people visited Penwartha Hall to see Kerrier Council's initial ideas for its Area Action Plan, which will shape the Camborne Pool and Redruth area until 2026.

The council forecasts around 9,400 homes will need to be built. Land for 5,600 homes has already been earmarked and it has identified pockets of land that it feels would be suitable for the remaining 3,800.

It has also come up with three possible options for providing the homes. Under “Option HB”, Illogan would provide all the new housing with 930 to the south of the village, 2,250 to the west and 600 to the east.

The prospect was enough to send hundreds of villagers scurrying to the exhibition to air their feelings.

Margaret Gerry has lived at Clifton Road for 11 years. Under the plans she could find a major housing development springing up across the road from her.

She said: “The existing infrastructure can't cope at the moment and it couldn't possibly cope with any more houses.

“We've got a drainage system that needs renewing; we've got three schools, they're all full to capacity, and there are no plans to build any more; and what about doctors and dentists and carers?”

Vena Bell, from Park Bottom, said: “I'm not happy and I don't want any of it. The concept of that number of people suddenly coming into the area is a worry.

“Where are the jobs, the schools, and what sort of people would we get? Where would they come from?”

A resident of Alexandra Road added: “I think it's out of proportion for the scale of the village and would overpower what's here already.”

Visitors to the exhibition were asked by a protest group to sign a petition against the proposals.

The group said that of the hundreds who visited, only 13 declined to sign.

Matthew Brown, Kerrier Council's forward planning manager, said he was very pleased at the turnout and feedback, both positive and negative, which was crucial to the consultation process.

He added: “We want people to come out. There's no point holding these things if people don't come along.

“What we've got to do now is look at the comments, collate them and review all the material we gather. That will help us determine the final strategy.”

● “Option HA” would see 2,010 homes in West Camborne, 930 in South Illogan and 900 at Tolgus.

“Option HC” would see 650 homes at West Camborne, 800 in South Illogan, 1,600 in West Illogan and 800 at Tolgus.