Alarm at plan for 3,400-home eco-town

A TOWN "bigger than Padstow" could be built on farmland near Truro, concerned villagers have discovered.

A 142-hectare plot close to Degembris and Nancmear farms, between Mitchell and St Newlyn East, has been identified as a possible site for a self-contained eco-community of 3,398 homes.

The proposal forms part of Cornwall Council's 'core strategy' – a blueprint for future development in the county and currently the subject of a public consultation roadshow.

Campaigner Colin Hawke, of St Newlyn East, said: "At first this doesn't sound too bad until you look at the detail – 3,400 homes with a potential population of 5,000 plus.

"This is a small town bigger than the size of Padstow. In 2009 St Newlyn East had a population of 891.

"This would be a dormitory town with no natural connections or attachment to the rest of the parish. There must be a real concern that such a development could draw the lifeblood from both Mitchell and Newlyn East, irreparably damaging these communities.

"Sustainable growth should build upon existing communities, character and qualities, not impose a completely new community upon us."

He urged people to attend a consultation on Friday at St Michael's Church Hall in Newquay from noon to 7pm and make their views known.

"While the proposal's at an early stage, it's important we express our views as soon as possible or it may be imposed on us," he said.

A council consultation document, called 'St Agnes and Perranporth Community Network Area Discussion Paper – Preferred Approach', reveals 11 sites have been identified in the county as possible locations for eco-communities.

It states: "A more detailed exploration would need to be undertaken before any sites are progressed, and normal planning application procedures would still apply.

"The council is keen to understand whether there would be local support, in principle, to develop these sites as new eco-communities."