The Cornish Guardian 22nd May 2003-09-08

Holiday Village Plan is Rejected by Ray Telford

PLANS for a world-class £100 million holiday village at Carlyon Bay have failed to win the approval of county planners.

Councillors at County Hall on Tuesday decided instead that developer Ampersand's application for the proposed project on the former Cornwall Coliseum site was a "major departure" from the county structure plan and, if approved by Restormel Borough Council, should be referred as such to the Secretary of State.

Last month Ampersand chief executive Johnny Sandelson had hoped Restormel councillors would endorse the scheme "without delay" ahead of a planned national launch of the project early this summer.

But the council's development committee failed to determine the application, which will be reconsidered by the committee on June 11, when this week's decision by county councillors, as consultees, will be taken into account.

Ampersand says the project will deliver 5l1 buy-to-let apartments, a health spa, hotel, restaurants and bars, create up to 6OO jobs and inject £15 million a year into he local economy

The company says it aims to deliver a scheme which has the benefit of previous planning permissions and now seeks the removal of some of the conditions of a 1995 consent.

The conditions restrict occupancy of the proposed holiday dwellings to 11 months year, excluding January, to stays of no more than six months for any person and to permit no development until a financial contribution had been made for highway improvements to the Cypress Avenue approach road, which is owned by the Brend Group, owners of neighbouring Carlyon Bay Hotel and Golf Club.

County planning officer Mark Jones said: "The re-use of the existing buildings oft the Coliseum complex could potentially improve the run-down character of the site and provide an exciting tourism opportunity in a spectacular setting.

"However, the current proposal, in combination with the associated holiday units, would lead to a scale of development quite out of character with this setting and an intensity of use inappropriate in a relatively inaccessible location.

County councillor and borough ward member Richard Stewart said: "This is a major issue for Carlyon Bay and its residents who see the scheme as a massive over-development of the site.

"It's like putting a village the size of Mevagissey on to the beach."

"But even on highways grounds alone, we should be extremely concerned. The nearby Cornish Market World and a proposed new motor museum on Par Moor will all add to the already serious traffic problems in the area.

Mark Fraser, chairman of the Sea Road Frontagers residents' group said: Our opposition to this scheme is not nimbyism. Residents accept that the site is run-down and something needs to be done, but this project is simply too big for the site and will affect the whole of Restormel.

"Some aspects of the project are to be welcomed, such as the proposed new swimming pool, which is desperately needed in the area, but not if they affect the lives of people in the greater St Austell area."

Ampersand spokesman Alan Prisk said the company remains committed to the project and had offered to spend £2 million on off-site highways works and public transport infrastructure in St Austell.