Time has come to say 'no more homes'
ILLOGAN does not want any of the new houses earmarked for the district over the next 20 years, says the parish council.
Kerrier is currently working on an Area Action Plan, a blueprint for the future of the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area for the next 20 years.
Once finished, the document will be used to control housing growth and industrial development until 2026 (work began on the document in 2006).
Kerrier estimates 9,400 homes will have to be built to meet the growing needs of the area, 5,600 of which will be on existing brown-field sites, with a further 3,800 on new green-field sites.
It has identified four areas of land in Illogan that could meet the criteria for the new green-field land. They are West Illogan (2,250 homes), South Illogan (930), East Illogan (550) and Central Illogan (520).
Kerrier Council's forward planning manager Matthew Brown has outlined the proposals to members of Illogan Parish Council's planning committee.
He explained that the Illogan area would not be expected to bear the weight of all the 3,800 houses needed; they would be shared across the whole of Camborne, Pool and Redruth.
However, parish councillors were adamant that the village was already too large and could not take any more development.
They said the infrastructure was at breaking point with education, health and certain public utilities stretched to their limits.
Cllr Michelle Dunstan said: “We haven't got the amenities now, yet you want to double the size of the village.”
Cllr John Mayne pointed out that there had been an embargo on any major development in the Park Bottom area of the village since the 1970s because the sewerage system was working at full capacity.
“Any development there would need a brand new sewer all the way down to Bridge and what would that cost?” he asked.
Cllr Graham Ford said there was already a shortage of open space in Illogan. He added: “How can you develop new land and increase the amount of public open space at the same time?”
Cllr Mayne insisted Illogan should remain a rural community; it did not want to become CPR Illogan.
Kerrier's initial proposals will go out to public consultation later this month.
Residents of Illogan can view them at Penwartha Hall on Tuesday, July 29, from noon until 8.30pm.
Pool residents can see the proposals at Trevenson Community Hall on Thursday, July 31, from noon until 8.30pm.
4 Comments
by Ian Williams, Redruth
Monday, September 01 2008, 12:16PM
“Surely this proposed development is a threat to the very character of Cornwall, so in effect a threat not only to the Cornish and anyone attracted to living here because of its uniqueness (if we agree there's any left), but also a threat to, what we are led to believe, is Cornwall's major earner, tourism.
If 75% of these houses are not going to be 'affordable' then we are going to be forever building more to catch up to satisfy local needs for housing. Let¿s not forget many people moving in (i.e. buying the 75% of higher priced houses) will come with children who in turn will need housing therefore increasing the need for development on greenfield sites. With such a trend we end up with a community and a Cornwall that looks like places found everywhere else in Britain.
With massive developments (urban sprawls) and houses built that are copies of houses you can find anywhere else in the uk, to go with all the supermarkets and retail outlets with their corporate image, along with more people, more cars, more roads and wider roads, the Cornwall that is both loved by natives and new in-migrant as well as tourists, will not be here in 20 years time if we accept this ¿pillaging¿ of our land.
We know the councils have to dance to the tune of the central government agenda (and that agenda would be the same whichever major political party is in power), but I wonder often why don't we hear our local councils as a body show their objection to this agenda. This would be appreciated even if we are aware that local authorities as they currently stand have little power to fight central government plans. Who knows what this could lead to? Maybe people might start to again believe their vote counts and it might even encourage more people to involve themselves in community politics and goodness knows what hidden talents we might find in people who currently put local politics at the bottom of their list of interests.
Ian Williams (former resident of Park Bottom)”
by P. Lemon, Penryn, Kernow
Monday, July 21 2008, 12:09PM
“About b**** time! Thought I'd never hear it; three cheers for the good people of Illogan; Kerrier listen up and represent your residents for a change... They pay your bills!!”
by Treeve Andrew, Hayle
Friday, July 18 2008, 12:56AM
“One issue with building on old industrial sites is what may have been left behind in the past - things in the soil etc. Would you want your kids to be playing in the yard if there was arsenic or lead in the soil?
I do agree qith the 80% occupation idea thoguh - Cornish homes should be available for cornish people, not just holiday makers who want to have their cake and eat it too. Unfortunately, whilst there's profit from the holiday theme, Cornwall will have to continue as it is. 80% occupancy requirements would put a lot more houses onto the rental and ordinary market, so it may be a reasonable idea to propose to those in power. Build support and take it further!”
by john herron, Drøbak Norway
Thursday, July 17 2008, 9:45AM
“Firstly; We have a completely new, clean.beautiful way/in Cornish style, to build.Reduction of energy requirement for each home by 80%, all waste recycled,providing massive sources of energy,water and fertilizer.Not built on agricultural land and possible on old industry sites. The other point is that in Cornwall, the problem is second homes. We solved that in Norway by (Bo Plikt) a system which demands that the house is occupied all the year.
John Herron
Drøbak
Norway
What about immerys???”