Planning Committee volt face
8/3/10Despite representations objecting to the scheme from the Town Council and a majority of local Cornwall councillors the strategic planning committee today voted to recommend approval for the Council’s plans to build on Battery Rocks beach, reversing a decision taken on an identical proposal in December 2009.
The vote was 14:7 in favour of approving the application. The only Penzance councillor on the committee, Ruth Lewarne, voted against while the member for St Just, Chris Goninan, voted in favour. Local Council members present but not on the committee included Roger Harding, who spoke against the application, and Sue Pass and Tamsin Williams.
The committee does not have the authority to give the scheme the final go ahead and can only recommend that the application is approved. The final decision lies with the Secretary of State. This system of “check & balances” exists because central government recognises that local authorities cannot be trusted to properly handle their own applications for listed building consent. Today’s decision is a perfect illustration of the problem with the decision seemingly reversed on grounds that were not relevant to the planning process.
The Friends of Penzance Harbour will be pushing for the Secretary of State to hold a Public Enquiry before any final decision on the scheme is taken.
FoPzH address to the committee : download pdf | view pdf