MK continues to oppose so-called "eco-community"

On behalf of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, Cllr Matthew Luke and I have written to the Inspector reviewing the Cornwall Local Plan. We have, once again, appealed to him to remove the so-called “eco-community” from the draft Local Plan.

Opponents of the proposal will be aware that following the debate on the “eco-community” at the Examination in Public (19th May), the Inspector confirmed the “the provision of eco-communities at West Carclaze/Baal and Par Docks” should stay in the document with an “indicative overall scale of about 1,500 and 500 dwellings respectively.”

The consultation on the Inspector’s post-hearing changes are being consulted on until Friday (12th August) and we formally requested that he look again at this issue and review the various representations submitted by Mebyon Kernow and others.

Extracts from our representation included the following:

Policy Statement: Eco-towns – A Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1

It is our view that the allocation for an “eco-community” stems from the policy direction contained within the above document which was published on 16th July 2009. This statement specified that an eco-town should be built at St Austell and the proposed “eco-community” was included within the Cornwall Local Plan following limited scrutiny because of the pervading policy direction set by central government.

But that PPS was cancelled in March 2015 with the-then Minister stating that the “eco-towns programme” was a “total shambles” which had “built nothing but resentment.” It also referred to the proposals as being “unsustainable and environmentally damaging.” Unfortunately, the cancellation of the PPS happened after the “eco-community” had been included within the draft Cornwall Local Plan.

We would request that the Inspector acknowledges this key shift in central government policy and removes this proposed “allocation” from the Cornwall Local Plan.

Lack of popular support

An application for a 1,500 unit “eco-community” at West Carclaze & Baal (PA14/12186) was validated in January 2015. We consider this application to have been premature and to have inappropriately influenced the development of planning policy for Mid Cornwall in the draft Cornwall Local Plan. But the application has shown that the proposal does not have local support. It has been opposed by over 1,000 representations and two local parish councils, as well as St Austell Town Council.

Local objections

Residents in Mid Cornwall have raised numerous objections to the proposal. These include the undeniable fact that the development is masquerading as a brown-field development, though much of the housing will be on the few remaining green fields in between St Austell and the village of Penwithick [as pictured above]; and partly on land that has restoration conditions (ie; is technically green-field).

Local people are also opposed to the level of housing growth being proposed for the China Clay Area (see below), the pressures on local infrastructure, concerns about flooding, the impact on nature conservation interests, the change to the character of this historic mining area, and much more.

We would argue that, put simply, the proposed “eco-community” has not been worked up in enough detail to justify inclusion with the Cornwall Local Plan.

A development fails to live up earlier promises

The various documents that have been produced in recent years, by the promoters of the original eco-town proposal, made numerous promises about the environmentally-friendly nature of the development and “low-carbon living” (Clay Country Eco-town Summary Booklet; July 2009). Local people were, for example, variously promised 40-50% affordable housing (Clay Country Eco-town The Facts; 2008) or 40% affordable housing (see Clay Country Eco-town Summary Booklet; 2009).

Though we are fully against the principle of this development, we do acknowledge that Policy 3 of the draft Cornwall Local Plan does contain some policy guidelines for the development of the eco-community. But we consider that the target of 30% affordable housing is unacceptably low (given past promises), and the environmental credentials that had been used in the past to justify the development of a so-called “eco-community” are unlikely to ever be delivered.

Unsustainable levels of growth in Clay Country

Between 1991 and 2010, the China Clay Area experienced faster housing growth than any other part of Cornwall. According to Cornwall Council’s own figures, the level of housing growth – based on the existing housing stock – was a very significant 47%.

It is our view that the imposition of an “eco-town” or “eco-community” on the China Clay Area, in addition to other planned housing, is truly unsustainable.

If the level of housing proposed for the China Clay Area in the Cornwall Local Plan (including the eco-community) was allowed to go forward, it would mean that the housing stock of Clay Country would increase by over 80% over four decades (from 1991 to 2030).

It is our view this this amount of housing is excessive, with greater percentage growth than any other part of Cornwall. It would, for example, be three times the level of housing growth experienced in South East Cornwall and much more than double that of a number of other areas including West Penwith, Falmouth & Penryn, and Wadebridge & Padstow.

We will, as always, keep everyone informed about how the Inspector deals with our comments.

Cameron's resignation honours are shameful

My column in this coming week’s Cornish Guardian addresses the disquiet around David Cameron’s “resignation honours list.” The article will be as follows:

About twelve months ago, I wrote about how David Cameron had just created 45 new peers to sit in the House of Lords, bringing the total membership of the so-called “Upper House” to 826.

The whole episode was rightly branded “the honours that shame Britain.” The ennobled included retired MPs, MPs who had lost their seats at the 2015 General Election, political fixers, lobbyists and various donors to the Conservative Party.

I remember, as a life-long campaigner for democratic reform, expressing my anger at how such unelected and unaccountable individuals could be appointed through political sponsorship and allowed real and far-reaching legislative influence.

And yet, it has happened again.

In his “resignation honours list,” David Cameron has been able to hand out a total of 62 awards, almost all of which go to his inner circle and longstanding political allies, his aides and employees, or donors to the Conservative Party.

The list included George Osborne becoming a “Companion of Honour” and a number of Tory MPs and others who have been knighted or become dames. A host of CBEs, OBEs and MBEs have also been handed out, with even the “special advisor” to David Cameron’s wife securing a gong.

Such personal patronage makes a mockery of the honours system, and it should never be allowed to happen again.

But the element of the “resignation honours list” which most offends me is the creation of 16 new life peers –13 of which are Conservatives – who will all have a direct say in the future governance of the United Kingdom.

It has already been disclosed that one new Lord called Andrew Fraser, and described as the “Treasurer of the Conservative Party,” had actually gifted the Tories about £2.5 million in recent years.

It has been reported that Fraser was the “fifth or sixth biggest individual donor to the Conservatives in the last parliamentary cycle,” and that their two most generous benefactors, James Lupton and Michael Framer, had previously been given peerages by Cameron. Another donor to the Conservatives who has just became a Lord was Jitesh Gadhia who, like Fraser, was also an investment banker.

It all reminds me of the newspaper which, last year, sarcastically told its readers: “Selling peerages is illegal … but an academic study has shown that giving large sums to a political party does have a remarkedly positive effect on the chances of said donor having their talents recognised in an honours list.”

Put bluntly, the present House of Lords is an out-dated institution that has no place in twenty-first century Britain. For the sake of our democracy, it must be reformed into a fully elected second chamber or abolished altogether.

Chris Lawrence to contest Four Lanes by-election

Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall is pleased to be able to confirm that it will be contesting the upcoming Cornwall Council by-election at Four Lanes, caused by the resignation of UKIP councillor Derek Elliott.

Our candidate will be Chris Lawrence who is resident in the division at Carn Brea Village, where he has lived since 1973 with his wife Wendy and family.

He serves on Carn Brea Parish Council and was previously a councillor on Kerrier District Council for twelve years and served as Chairman of the authority.

Chris also has a proud record of fighting to protect the rights of ordinary working people. He was the Secretary of the Camborne branch of the GMB union for more than twenty years and continues to be heavily involved in union activity.

I believe Chris would make a brilliant representative for Four Lanes division and I am looking forward to getting out on the campaign trail to help him.

Great news! Petition for language funding reaches 10,000

It is great news that, early this afternoon, the on-line petition calling for return of central government funding for the Cornish language reached 10,000 supporters. Well done to everyone who supported this important initiative.

 
The above map shows the “hot-spots” of support for Cornish and it is fantastic to see so much support from the Welsh speaking parts of Wales.

But if you haven’t signed yet, you still can. Just go to: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128474

Our Cornish heritage matters …

My article in today’s Cornish Guardian had to comment on the wonderful “Man Engine.” It was as follows:

Well done to everyone involved with the wonderful “Man Engine” project, which is at the very heart of activities marking the tenth anniversary of the Cornish mining landscape being added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

Like thousands of others, I felt very fortunate to be able to see the UK’s largest-ever mechanical puppet rise up and transform into a very real, but also deeply symbolic, representation of Cornwall, its mining heritage and the ingenuity of its people, both past and present.

Each time that I have seen the “Man Engine” come to life, I have found the whole spectacle to be truly inspirational – a positive, inclusive and unashamed celebration of this very important part of Cornwall’s unique and distinctive identity.

I was also delighted to see how the project used Cornwall’s national language with great pride, showing it to be a vital and living part of our present.

Indeed, here in Cornwall, there is so much of which we should be proud. And it is my hope that many people will have been inspired by this project and will be encouraged to do more to celebrate our identity – whether it is through the study of history and archaeology, taking part in the local music scene, learning Cornish, supporting all manner of artistic endeavours, or indeed becoming more actively involved in politics.

It should surprise no-one that I consider our cultural distinctiveness to be extremely important and also of great economic benefit.

Even the Government claims this is the case in its so-called “Devolution Deal.” It says that it recognises “Cornwall’s rich and unique heritage” and its “historic revived language,” adding that “this cultural distinctiveness is an important factor” for our economy.

It has encouraged the unitary authority to commence the production of a “study of the cultural distinctiveness of Cornwall's historic environment” and supported the formation of a Cornish Heritage Forum.

In the “Devolution Deal,” it even referenced the 2014 recognition of the Cornish as a “national minority” through the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention, though it then talked about our “local” heritage rather than our national identity.

I find it saddening that central government has yet to live up to its words in any meaningful way and I think it was especially galling that they have gone back on promises to support the Cornish language with funding.

But at this time, let us be positive and follow the example of the men and women behind the “Man Engine,” and think what we can do, as individuals, to raise the bar in celebration of all things Cornish.