independent Cornish news and comment

New group to oppose greenfield bid

News that two public meetings were held at Illogan during late August by an action group opposed to large-scale greenfield development in the area, indicate opposition to proposals contained in the latest draft of the Area Action Plan, produced by Kerrier. According to the West Briton, ‘The action group is opposing plans to build as many as 3,800 houses on greenfield sites and 5,600 houses on brownfield sites in the Camborne and Redruth areas’.

To be effective any action group should be aware of the need to work with other groups in the area and also across Cornwall. The housing targets imposed through the Regional Spatial Strategy, ultimately deriving from central Government, are of common concern. Though local groups are, understandably, concerned about their ‘back yard’, this must not manifest itself in a ‘we don’t want it here, but why not put it in Redruth or Camborne or Carn Brea or St. Day’ approach. All communities must work together for the good of the wider community.

It is also important to correct some errors in reporting. The idea that 5,600 houses will be build on brownfield sites is very misleading. A significant number of the 5,600 will be built on greenfield land. For example, the misnamed ‘Boiler works’ site consists of agricultural land, while there are also many smaller green areas allocated for housing. These are areas which to their local communities make an important contribution to their quality of life, particularly those now cut off from more rural areas by new roads and other development.

It is also incorrect to assume that there are large areas of brownfield land in the area waiting to be developed. This is an urban myth! And where there are plans as with Pool, usually cited as the area with the largest concentration of brownfield land, they involve turning brownfield land into green open spaces and and building on green land – fields etc.

For More:

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/westbriton/Meeting-oppose-greenfield-bid/article-280545-detail/article.html

http://www.cornwallcoserg.org.uk/news.htm