A POLITICAL refugee from Russia is supporting campaigners opposed to mass housing building plans in the Camborne-Redruth area.

Cambridge psychiatrist Marina Voikhanskaya, who is 74, stopped off at Camborne on Monday near the end of a marathon 430-mile bike ride to Land's End.

She is promoting the work of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

At Camborne she met members of Trelawney Alliance, which is fighting government plans for the building of as many as 11,000 new homes locally.

Dr Voikhanskaya explained: "I love the countryside for its stunning beauty and the diversity of landscapes.

Experience

"I would dearly love my grandchildren to experience the same joy and access I have had to the countryside.

"The countryside needs help and protection because it is particularly vulnerable at present."

Alliance chairman Jean Charman said: "Once the countryside is built on it's lost for ever.

"The Government says that in future we will need to grow more food but how can we achieve that if we have built on our green fields?"

The alliance has expressed its disapproval at the decision by Cornwall Council planners to approve the building of 270 properties at Boiler Works Road, Camborne.

Alliance spokesman Roger Benney said not only was Camborne Town Council's recommendation for refusal overturned, but the precedent had been set for 500 new homes to be built in that area.

The alliance has written to the county councillors seeking an explanation for their decision.

"Bearing in mind that town council planning committee members are local, it would seem more sensible for the decision to be made by them rather than by other councillors dotted around Cornwall."

Mr Benney added: "It further begs the question as to the need for a local planning committee if recommendations made by them, based on local knowledge, are not accepted by Cornwall Council."