Local community groups argue that building on beaches goes against the best interests of the area and of the future of tourism in Cornwall.
Restormel Borough Councils recent decision to refer the latest planning application for the Beach at Carlyon Bay to the Secretary of State is continuing to generate media interest. There is growing concern about the impact of the Ampersand proposals for 'Costa Del Carlyon' as it is becoming known in the region.
CarlyonBayWatch (CBW) comprises a number of representatives from local residents associations who have been attending regular Focus Groups with developer Ampersand. They are united in their belief that the Beach development is out of scale for the area and represents an environmental outrage in the making.
Whilst Ampersand are pressing ahead with their sales and marketing drive, CBW are attempting to raise awareness of the many unanswered questions about how the nature and scale of the proposed development is going to affect the near mile of Crinnis Beach and surrounding cliffs in the centre of St Austell Bay, on the Cornish Riviera.
The CBW campaign is gaining momentum since a comprehensive canvassing of the area culminated in the handing in on July 11th of a petition of 905 signatures. Far from being split in opinion about this development and promises of service sector jobs, there is broad consensus among locals. They are calling for the recent planning decision on Crinnis Beach to be exposed to the scrutiny of a full public enquiry.
Local businessman and spokesperson for the group, Peter Browning, said, "The strength of local feeling surprised us - it has given our campaign the impetus to go forward. There is genuine concern that a stretch of outstanding Cornish coastline is to be blighted forever by a development which is out of all scale with the communities which exist in the area ."
Mr Browning goes on to add, "At the time that the original application - on which these current proposals are based - was granted in 1988, environmental regulations were more lax. Conditions have changed. Building on beaches at all seems to go against all current thinking on preserving our natural heritage - this is why the Beach proposals need proper scrutiny with 21st century standards and sense applied."
Cornwall County Council have stated that the proposed development is a "major departure from the County Development plan".
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust have objected to the absence of an environmental impact assessment. English Nature are a statutory consultee and have objections to the project. 'Friends of the Earth' also oppose it.
With this portfolio of concerned bodies as a background to their campaign, CarlyonBayWatch are planning to build on tremendous local support to challenge Restormel Borough Councils' ill considered decision and press for a re-think on plans for the Beach.