InfrastructureOne element of concern among locals with regard to the development at Carlyon Bay is the impact it is going to have on the local infrastructure. The original planning consent was granted in 1988. Since then the population of Cornwall has risen, car ownership has increased by 29 per cent. Without the scrutiny of a public inquiry, we have no thorough current information on exactly how this development is going to affect the area. Significantly, Mr Ray Trethewey, Officer from County Highways, has stated, in reference to the possibility that the Beach development will go ahead based on the extant planning consent, "We have to deal with what is in front of us and in front of us is a problem" He added, "When this (the Beach plans) came up for renewal in 1996 the comments from the County Surveyor were, 'please look at this afresh and do a reassessment' - that was not done......we cannot build our way out of traffic chaos." The Traffic Consultants for the developer have admitted that the Holmbush A390 traffic is "saturated" and yet have not contested an estimate of 5,500 extra traffic movements daily from this development. Out of concern for the already overstretched local facilities, a member of CarlyonBayWatch sent a short questionnaire to the practice managers at the local surgeries. The results are detailed below. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Sir/Madam, As you may already be aware, the Ampersand Group are proposing to build 511 holiday units and a 39 bedroom hotel on the beach at Carlyon Bay, St Austell. This could amount to as many as 3500 extra visitors to this area every two weeks or so throughout an extended holiday period. Ampersand is suggesting that they will let these properties for a much longer duration than that of the normal holiday period. This will of course be in addition to the impact the current influx of visitors has on this area. We estimate that this development would represent the equivalent of the existing population of Mevagissey being added to Carlyon Bay. Our group is pressing the Government Office for the South West Regions to call in the development for a public enquiry. I am writing to you in order to gather evidence in advance of that enquiry because we must ascertain the opinions of all local surgeries as to the effect this substantial addition to the holiday population will bring to their practice. I would ask, therefore, if you would please give this matter just a few moments of your busy time to answer the questions listed below, and then return this questionnaire in the envelope provided. Thank you. Please circle your response.
In the unlikely event that you require further information from us, please do not hesitate to make contact or, if there are further points you wish to make, please feel free to include them with your reply. Should you wish to make your own representations with regard to this matter I append the address to which you should direct your concerns. Very many thanks meanwhile for your assistance in this potentially important matter. Yours sincerely, Peter Price ------------------------------------------------------------ Result of Survey carried out on Local Surgeries A total of twelve surgeries were contacted. Six replied. Brannel Surgery at St Stephens claims that the development would have No Effect. Dennison Road Surgery at Bodmin claims only a Slight Effect However surgeries at Fowey, Par, St Blazey and St Austell return the figures giving a Moderate and Large Effect. This would follow a logical pattern of impact by a localised increase of potential patients. In answer to question 4, five surgeries answered No, with one don't know. A note added to the return from Mrs R. Light, Practice Manager, Polkyth Surgery, Carlyon Road, St Austell, states: "All Doctors in St Austell have closed their lists to residents let alone all those extra visitors !! New residents are shared between practices by the Primary Care Support Agency." A note added to the return from Ms Liz Cox Practice Manager, Brannel Surgery, St Stephen, St Austell, states: "Our practice withdrew from the St Austell area and beyond about 18mths ago, due to traffic concerns. However I do know that surgeries in the St Austell area are stretched to the limit, with almost all operating closed lists." A note added to the return from the practice manager of the Middleway Surgery, St Blazey, states: "As nearest practice will (drawn arrow-) major problems." |  website by velomatic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||