CarlyonBayWatch (CBW) gains momentum in its' campaign to have the recent planning application for development to Carlyon Bay Beach exposed to the scrutiny of a full public inquiry with the launch of a new website.
http://www.carlyonbaywatch.co.uk
The group has been formed by concerned locals from the various residents associations in the area, many of whom have been meeting regularly with representatives of the development company, Ampersand, since Spring 2003.
Concerned about the implications of the proposed development the residents canvassed the Carlyon Bay area in June and gathered a massive 929 signatures petitioning John Prescott to call a public inquiry, which was handed in to the Government Office South West on July 11th.
This tremendous response from the community gave the group the impetus to set up the web site. Not only did it seem to be an ideal way to share concerns and pose some unanswered questions about the scale and impact of the development, but many of the people who had signed the petition had asked to be kept informed of unfolding events. With limited PR or marketing resources, it seemed common-sense to draw on the existing talents of a web developer connected to the group and build our own web site.
On the site, there is an archive of published articles, including those which have featured in the National Press, a selection of published letters, photographs of the floods at Crinnis Beach, snippets of history and, for some fun, a caption competition to accompany two satirical cartoons donated to the campaign by westcountry artist, Tom Barrett.
Spokesperson for the group, Mark Frazer, said, "As we have been gathering the history and putting all the pictures and letters together, it has been brought home to us how important and precious the beaches at Carlyon Bay are to many local people We have already had a few emails from ex-locals who have since moved away from the area and came across our test web site by chance, they write of their horror on discovering what could happen to the whole of the Bay area.
"We have to remember that in 1988 when the original application was granted - upon which this latest development is based - planning and environmental regulations were more lax. Conditions have changed. Building on beaches goes against all current thinking on preserving our natural heritage - this is why the Beach proposals need the proper scrutiny of a public inquiry with 21st century standards applied."
Whilst the community waits with some trepidation for John Prescott's decision and the next phase of the developers construction plans to begin, CarlyonBayWatch hope that the launch of their web site will provide an additional source of information and another forum for comment on the issues surrounding this increasingly controversial development . For further information, please contact:
CarlyonBayWatch Incorporating: The Apple Tree Social Group, The Charlestown Residents, Beach Road Residents, Sea Road Frontagers c/o 1, Wheal Northey, St.Austell, PL25 3EF. Tel : 01726 74666 Fax : 01726 67480 email press@carlyonbaywatch.co.uk