Poor planning at the root of town's troubles says MP

COUNCIL leaders have been accused of an "institutional failure" in Newquay, leaving town residents to pick up the pieces.

The man vying to be the town's Liberal Democrat MP at the next General Election, Steve Gilbert, has said a lack of regulation and enforcement of planning law has put the safety of public at risk.

He says many of Newquay's problems, with alcohol-related crime and disorder well documented – and with the deaths of two teenagers this summer – can be traced back to poor decisions made in years gone by.

In a letter to Cornwall Council's chief executive Kevin Lavery, Mr Gilbert said issues now facing Newquay are the direct result of the authority and its predecessors failing to enforce planning law.

"It seems clear to me that there has been an institutional failure to properly regulate and enforce planning law in Newquay with the potential consequence that public safety has been put at risk," he wrote.

Mr Gilbert highlighted the current issues surrounding the change of use of some premises, including lap dancing bars Halos and Divas, which are currently classed as restaurants/ cafes.

Many hotels had also been allowed to become hostels without any intervention from council chiefs – or consultation with local residents, Mr Gilbert said.

Speaking to the Newquay Guardian this week, he added: "I've been the prospective MP for Newquay for more than two years now and I keep coming up against problems that have been caused by the failure to properly apply the planning rules in the town.

"Most recently people have told me that there are doubts that some of the supported accommodation in the town for ex-offenders and recovering addicts has been through the correct planning procedures."

Cornwall Council said earlier this month it was aware of "discrepancies" between planning and licensing permissions for some licensed premises in the town and was reviewing the situation before any enforcement action was taken.

Dave Sleeman, chairman of, Newquay Town Residents Association, agreed with Mr Gilbert that the town was suffering due to previous decisions made.

"A lot of this stems back to Restormel Borough Council," he said. "Bad decisions have been made by planning and licensing departments in allowing so many bars and clubs to spring up without any real thought of the consequences for the people that live here.

"Only now, Cornwall Council is having to go through and sort out this mess."

Mr Gilbert is yet to receive a reply from Mr Lavery.