Western Morning News 19/04/2004 Campaigners against a £120 million beach-front development yesterday centred their latest protest around an art installation. More than 100 people gathered on Crinnis beach at Carlyon Bay, near St Austell in Cornwall, to oppose the construction of a luxury apartment complex which will include a hotel, bars, shops and restaurants.
The demonstration was the third to be held by local residents who say the development will be a "concrete monstrosity" which will overpower the beach.
They are calling on the Government to hold a public inquiry into the plans, submitted to Restormel Borough Council by developers Ampersand.
To demonstrate their opposition to the plans, campaigners put up a line of windbreaks in front of the metal fence which runs along the beach marking out the construction site.
Mandy Pearce, from Art for Cornwall, who set up the installation, said: "We put the windbreaks up to contrast with the developer's fences and the scale of the structure. The difference is that we can take the windbreaks down at the end of the day, and nothing will be left except footprints."
Gary Phillips, from Par, who was at the protest, holding a banner reading: "No to concrete beach monstrosity exploitation", said: "I think it's important that people demonstrate their feelings against over-development.
"Hopefully councillors and planners will take notice of us."
But Sam Weller, sales director for the project, said the development would have many benefits for the local community, such as providing 400 jobs.
He added: "There will be 500 holiday homes created, and in practical terms that is adding 500 homes to the Cornish housing stock because, we hope, when someone buys here they will not be buying up a property that could be used by a local family."