Thursday 23rd November

Cornwall County Council was asked why they had decided to oppose the scheme at “this late hour” by Councillor John Wood, vice chairman of Restormel’s development control committee, which unanimously approved the proposed sea defences application in June 2005.

“The County Council, as planning authority for highways, had the opportunity to be represented at the meeting that supported the application and we think it would have been much more constructive if they had chosen to get involved at that stage,” he said.

“The county council surveyor surely should have recommended refusal at the outset. My understanding is that the county council worked hard to overcome traffic issues and at no time prior to that meeting did they seek refusal.

“As a committee, we often have representation from the county highways department because traffic is always an issue. However, when this scheme was presented to us, there was no recommendation for refusal placed before us,” he said.

He believed that the primary factor which influenced Restormel officers and members to support the proposal was that it offered a higher standard of protection for the development compared to the defences which already had planning permission.

It was important that the inquiry was in no doubt about “the enormous amount of support” for The Beach, said Mr James Staughton, managing director of St Austell Brewery, which was a family business founded in 1851.

“Needless to say, I am very passionate about the future wellbeing of Cornwall as a county and the St Austell area in particular,” he said.

Through his roles as chairman of the St Austell Town Centre Strategic Group, non-executive director of Cornwall Enterprise and former chairman of the Cornwall Tourism Forum, he met hundreds of people from both the public and private sector and this development had been a topic of debate for some years.

“I would not want this inquiry to be in any doubt as to the enormous amount of support that The Beach enjoys from a silent majority of people,” he said.

“Despite the enormous contribution to the area that Eden has made, as well as more recent developments such as the Brunel Business Park, the St Austell area is facing a number of challenges including the loss of hundreds of jobs at Imerys next year. The development of the town centre is proceeding but it will be another two years before it is completed and the full benefits are felt.

“The Restormel district has lagged behind the regional year on year growth rate. It is heavily dependent on the future of the manufacturing sector and average wage levels are lower than we aspire to.

“Jobs are not always secure and are very often of a seasonal nature. The Imerys situation typifies the fragility of the current employment base.

“Given this situation, you would expect a project valued at £200 million that is probably the largest privately funded investment ever in Cornwall would be welcomed with open arms. But apparently not in this particular case,” he said.

“With businesses clinging onto life whilst being strangled by red tape as it is, despite a successful planning application we have all managed to all be here today at huge cost both in terms of money and time.

“What a crying shame and what a terribly negative message to send to the outside world and to future potential investors in Cornwall. Believe it or not, we are not talking about a village green. We are debating whether we want a quality development that is located on a sandy beach,” he said.

“I despair that the recent spate of additional rules and regulations, together with endless new procedures and systems are potentially so damaging to business. We underestimate the effects of over regulation at our peril.

“The current site is a disgrace and the sooner that the project can get started again, the better for all of us.

He concluded: “This may be a decision of ‘proposed’ versus ‘extant’ for the Secretary of State but I strongly believe that the real decision is down to which sign we put up at the Tamar Bridge on the way into Cornwall. Is it to be ‘Open for Business’ or ‘Retirement Home – Do Not Disturb’?”

Annette Egerton, Restormal councillor and portfolio holder for regeneration and planning, said that the prospect of jobs at Carlyon Bay was “hugely important” for the borough.

“Construction jobs created by the erection of the sea wall and later the rest of the development will fit well with the skills of the workforce currently facing redundancy besides keeping alive the many businesses that rely on Imerys as their client.

“But more importantly, having a prestigious, up-market holiday development will bring long term employment in the service, leisure and entertainment sector.

“This will complement the niche market tourism that Restormel is seeking with visitors coming for the nationally renowned gardens of Heligan and Pine Lodge and the internationally recognised Eden Project,” she said.