19.09.11: Planning policy proposals currently being drawn up by the Government and by Cornwall Council could have a major impact on our landscape. Local people will have the power to shape planning decisions in their neighbourhood under the Localism Bill.
To respond to these new proposals, The Friends of Pendower Beach (FPB) are holding an open meeting on October 11th at 7pm in the Portscatho Memorial Hall; giving locals a chance to meet senior level politicians and planning officers and ask them their own questions.
Chair of FPB, Helen Hastings, told Roseland Online, “If local people want to protect Pendower Beach and our local landscape in the longer term, it’s not enough just to fight individual planning applications. We have to understand how planning policy works and what we can do to influence it. This meeting is a chance to show those who make and carry out policy the strength of local opinion.”
The major names speaking are:
Matthew Taylor – former MP for Truro and St Austell, now Lord Taylor of Goss Moor
Phil Mason – Head of Service for Planning & Regeneration, Cornwall Council
David Edmondson – Area Chief Planning Officer, Cornwall Council
June Crosland/Colette Holden – Cornwall AONB Partnership
Michael Calder/Paul Walton – The National Trust
Julian German – our local Cornwall Councillor
There will be a Q&A after for people to have their say.
Mrs Hastings continued, “I’m hoping our speakers will circulate notes of what they’ll be saying before the meeting, which we’ll put on the website (www.friendsofpendower.co.uk). There is quite a lot of detailed information, but we’ll make it as widely available and as easy to follow as possible. The most important part of the meeting, however, will be questions to the panel, so everyone will have a chance to ask for more information then. The planning proposals raise fears that if communities do not respond, they will be presumed to be in favour of development. It’s important we show we do care about our community.”
Sarah Newton MP has provided Helen with a copy of how Neighbourhood Planning described in the Localism Bill will work. To download a copy of this, click here. If you have any questions or want more information, you can contact Helen by email: pendowerfriends@gmail.com or via www.friendsofpendower.co.uk