Site objectors stay away - Cornwall

From the Cornish Guardian

A LOWER than expected turnout at a meeting to discuss a proposed Traveller site was caused by fears of being branded racist, according to one resident.

Looe councillors had asked that the controversial application be discussed by a full Cornwall Council committee after resident Katrina Ring submitted plans for a ten-pitch site at Valley View Stables on Barbican Road.

Looe Town Council moved its planning committee meeting to Looe Community Academy to cater for the anticipated turnout and to allow members of the public to have their say.

But just 23 non-committee members turned up, despite dozens leaving comments on Cornwall Council's website.

Speaking at the meeting, one resident said: "People are afraid to say something in case they're thought to be racist. I think that's why a lot of people aren't here today. They're afraid of being branded racist."

Mayor David Bryan said the committee's only power was to make a recommendation to Cornwall Council, and they could only take into account relevant planning issues.

One resident said she had dealings with Travellers in the past as her youngest daughter had been married to one.

"It says it's for ten pitches but it won't stop at ten," she said.

"We'll have more Travellers coming in and it will end up like another Dale Farm.

"It will devalue properties and we'll have all their dogs running round in proximity to the school."

Mr Bryan said that if more than ten pitches were set up, Cornwall Council enforcement officers would be able to visit the site and stop them.

He said the objections made had not been valid planning issues.

Addressing residents' concerns, town clerk Anne Frith said: "Mrs Ring had applied for planning permission and is therefore doing it correctly," she said.

Reporting the committee's decision, Mr Bryan said they would ask for the application to be called in and discussed by a full Cornwall Council committee on the grounds of the number of pitches, as the local plan stated just five were required.

He said they were also making the request on the grounds that it was on a B road rather than a major road and the site was not allocated in the local plan.

"They have to be able to answer the questions we're raising as part of the procedure," said Mr Bryan.

"That is the way we can be most effective. We're not dodging the issue."

Neither Mrs Ring nor her agent was present at the meeting.