Say 'Goodbye' to yet more of Cornwall's residential housing then,truru!

Perhaps, truru, you need a few more floods like yesterday's and the many more of recent years to convince you that overdevelopment and proliferation of hardstanding on the high ground above and around and the flood plains within Cornwall's long embedded settlements is not such a good idea and that we should be aiming to use our existing abundant residential housing stock for its intended purpose – residence.

When it comes to housing, the first priority must be to look at existing and unused housing stock.  For example, Lord Falmouth's many empty cottages and houses.  These should be refurbished and affordably rented to local families.  If he won't do, then let the Council compulsorily purchase them.

The Planning Department needs to open its eyes, too.  Here in Newbridge, I've identified a good site that could accommodate three or four affordable homes.  It could also provide discreet parking for the residents of the western end of the village, where safe parking is at a premium.  The planners won't have it, but this land could be so developed without detriment to the village or its surroundings.

Of course, expansion of the airport will kick off "carbon footprint" moans but let's get this into proportion.  The next volcano that blows its top will discharge far more of this into the atmosphere in a few days than this entire country could achieve in a decade.