13.10.11: More than 150 people came to the Memorial Hall in Portscatho Tuesday evening (11th October) to listen to and take part in a public discussion about how the community can influence planning policy under the government’s proposals for a new National Planning Policy Framework. Speakers (see below for list) from the fields of national and local politics, Cornwall planning and conservation gave their views on how these proposals would affect the future decision making process and the role that local communities could have in shaping future policy.

Thereafter, members of the audience had an opportunity to put questions to the speaker panel and one of the key issues emerging is the opportunity to develop a Neighbourhood Plans for the Roseland, which will require a significant level of community involvement and support.

The meeting, although chaired by Friends of Pendower Chair, Helen Hastings, wasn’t specifically about that development per se, but more about the future of how local opinion might influence developments of this kind in future, especially in AONB areas like the Roseland.

It now remains to be seen if the plan of having a proposal in place by March 2012 can be achieved and, if so, how this will manifest itself; either by parish or by the various areas (like the Roseland) as a whole.