CBW TOP TEN

Top Ten Quotes from the wise and well informed
Top Ten Statistics
Top Ten quotes from emails sent in by our supporters

Since the announcement of the proposed development at Carlyon Bay, concerned locals have been following the media debate and following up on the issues raised which will affect our area. At every step of the way we have focussed on facts, figures and informed opinion from statutory consultees and other knowledgeable experts in the relevant fields.

Here is a selection of what we have discovered to give pause for thought.

Top Ten Quotes

1. Recent studies show that changing wave regimes in relation to climate change will mean that many Cornish beaches, upon which tourism in that region depends, are going to lose sand and become rocky platform. Building on a dynamic coastline such as that which exists in Cornwall is seriously problematic for all those concerned. Building there without knowing exactly how and by whom ongoing management is to be executed and funded is short-sighted in the extreme. There are many reasons why it is bad practice. With regard to the beaches at Carlyon Bay, there are so many parts of this project which are unacceptable that it is time to think again.

   Dr Bob Earl, of Coastal Management for Sustainability, to the conference Coastal Futures 2005, January 20th 2005

2. The situation that we would find really embarrassing would be if the developers were to walk away leaving the beach like this.

   Restormel Council’s Development Chairman Malcolm Brown, to BBC correspondent, Adrian Campbell, on BBC Spotlight, December 20th 2004

3. ....."if the proposal did go ahead we would like to see really active consideration of making this a car-free resort..........we would like to see the highest level of environmental management taking place to minimise, if not completely negate, any negative impact on the natural beach and cliff habitats."

   Malcom Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, in his letter to Mr R.Bayley, GOSW, dated 25th July 2003

4. "no development shall take place pursuant to this permission until a flood risk assessment has been undertaken and details submitted and approved by the planning authority.....I am not aware that although these plans may have been submitted they have not been approved and in that case no work should be started....until they have been approved...I am taking this issue up with - to test the enforcement section of Restormel as regards this planning condition."

   Richard Stewart, County and District Councillor for Crinnis Ward, on BBC Radio Cornwall 22nd September 2003

5. "Yet, under the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990, planning permission lapses if not exercised within five years. So how is it, since there is no trace of the flats agreed in 1995, that the planning permission can still be considered extant?
   The council's reply makes a mockery of the planning system. "The owner marked out part of a road and put a bit of hardcore down," says (Phil) Mason (of RBC). You might as well grant full development rights to any child who has made a start on a sandcastle."

   Ross Clark, The Sunday Telegraph, 03 August 2003

6. "Restormel borough council says that if planning permission for such a development were sought now it would not be granted, because it goes against the authority’s local plan"

   The Guardian, Monday September 8 2003

7. "What might not be appreciated by those who have put their names down in Selfridges without visiting the site is that the only construction work so far begun consists of the erection of a bright blue prefab which serves as a sales centre and the painting of a few lines in the car park. When challenged on his company's press release, Johnny Sandelson, chief executive of Ampersand, says: "We have undertaken soil tests and committed £2 million in fees for other preparatory work".

   Ross Clark, The Sunday Telegraph, 03 August 2003

8. "Cornwall Wildlife Trust is concerned that if this development goes ahead without a full EIA being applied to it, there will be significant negative impacts on the nature conservation value of the adjacent inter-tidal habitats (and potentially adjacent areas of the beach morphology) and the terrestrial habitats of the cliffs and eastern bay."

   Richard Marsh, Cornwall Wildlife Trust Assistant Conservation Manager, July 03, 2003

9. "We believe that the resultant significant increase in traffic movements and pollution from vehicle emissions have major implications for the health and safety of children attending the school. The additional traffic will cause huge problems for pedestrian and vehicular access and parking along the narrow road that borders the school.....Consequently, we support the call for a public enquiry into this planning application."

   10th July 03 from Mr. Christopher Sampson, Chair of Governors, Charlestown Primary School, to JP c/o GOSW at Plymouth

10. "China clay waste sand ceased to be put into the stream over 50 years ago and the beach therefore ceased to have large scale sediment replenishment. Erosion by wave action and the stream flow onto the beach, together with some eastwards drift towards Spit Beach, may therefore be gradually removing the artificially constructed beach...The sand level on the beach varies because of large scale movements from west to east and vice versa, depending on prevailing winds, particularly storms. Observation over many years indicates that....Because of the overall tendency of eastward drift, a small part of the area at the east end of Carlyon Bay Beach which was given planning permission for development about 15 years ago now lies permanently within the area affected by wave action during spring tides."

    'Geoscience in the South West 10, 373 -376' 'Field Excursion to the Area of St Austell Bay between Carlyon Bay and Par, 2nd January 2002' . Extracts of a Paper presented to the Proceedings of the Ussher Society by CM Bristow and HCL James

Top Ten Statistics

1. Of the four million visitors to Cornwall annually, 91% travel by car

   Cornwall Local Transport Plan 2001-2006

2. "The land area in Cornwall has experienced severe light pollution since 1993. Between that year and 2000, the Duchy skies became 12 per cent brighter — hut light pollution throughout the entire South West grew by 25 per cent over the same period."

   Cornish Guardian, May 16 2003 Fading Sky at Night In Cornwall by Ian Shepherd

3. Following the success of CarlyonBayWatch canvassing the local area in June, 929 signatures were lodged with Government Office of the South West in July 2003. 825 were from local residents and the rest from concerned visitors.

4. ....The Daily Telegraph has learned that the report predicts that the west coast faces the greatest danger in the event of such a tidal surge......On the south coast, 438 sea defences could be breached, inundating 318 square miles, while on the east coast, 431 storm barriers would burst, flooding 1,000 square miles.

   The Daily Telegraph 20th January 2003

5. Jobless figures for March show a mixed picture in Cornwall....In Newquay the jobless total was down 17.5 per cent compared to March last year....St Austell was down by 8.1 per cent from 825 to 758.

   The Cornish Guardian Thursday April 24 2003

6. For the period 2000 to 2029 traffic growth projected between 32% low and 62% high, car registrations 50% increase by 2025.

   Cornwall Local Transport Plan 2001-2006

7. Carlyonbaywatch, using data provided by the developers consultants, has calculated that the Beach complex would create an additional 5,500 traffic movements daily and, at the moment of writing, this figure has not been disputed.

8. In the period between 1971 -1998 the population for the St Austell/Carlyon Bay/ Charlestown area rose by 4710 - an increase of 28.4 per cent. http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Facts/fact6.htm

9. The Application is to increase the size of the development to include 39 bedroom Hotel, sports and leisure complex, swimming pool, conference suite, 10,000 square feet of food retail and 20,000 square feet of non-food retail.

10. The existing "development footprint" uses roughly half a mile of Crinnis beach. The intended developments would extend across nearly 1¾ miles, covering most of Carlyon Bay Beach (Crinnis, Shorthorn and Polgaver Beaches) including a large area of virgin beach.

Top Ten quotes from emails sent in by our supporters;

1. "I was appalled and dismayed at the scale of the proposals for development of the beach."

   C.W, 01/09/2003

2. "Thank heavens someone is making waves. I live in ***** and I am outraged. The beach itself is not a NATURAL beach - the sand was brought in by the lorry load - it is builders sand - should not any prospective buyers be aware of this - is it mentioned on any merchandise?"

   J 25/09/2003

3. "I very much support the need to regenerate facilities at Crinnis beach, I have been very sad to watch its decline, but the proposed development would completely ruin the natural beauty of the area, the natural beauty of Cornwall is fast disappearing at the hands of greedy developers who care very little about Cornwall and whose only interest is profit."

   J. L 29/09/2003

4. "In June we bought a property in Carlyon Bay, we thought it the most beautiful place, and are so sad to hear about the beach project, which we think will ruin Carlyon Bay, and would like to try anything, to prevent this happening."

   J and B M 21/10/2003

5. "Although a resident of Lancashire, I love the Cornish coastline, and I was consequently very interested to read of your campaign against the Carlyon Beach development. Your arguments seem to be very well made. Good luck with your campaign."

   M. L 17/11/2003

6. "Just to say i live too far away to have come to your evening meeting the other night, but eagerly await your update on the site to see how the meeting went and what if anything else we can do to stop this from happening. Keep up the good work and we're all behind you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

   C. G 29/11/2003

7. "Last night, I watched with a mixture of sorrow and frustration the BBC's 'Inside Out' programme which featured your predicament. It sickens me that this development looks set to go ahead against the wishes of local people and for the express benefit of the super rich. Cornwall needs to preserve its beauty and prioritise the building of houses for local people at reasonable prices."

   I.S 13/01/04

8. "When I lived in St Austell Carlyon Bay (Crinnis Beach) was a favourite spot for swimming, sunbathing and a game of tennins on the courts then available. That was way back in the middle 1950's. I would like to lend my full support to the fight to secure the future of the bay and to reject the proposed development."

   J.B 13/01/2003

9. "I was horrified to see the planned development for Carlyon Bay which is a place I love to visit when I get the time Perhaps you would kindly email me at my home computer as to whether there is now still time to write in to Restormel Borough Council or protest to other bodies to prevent this desperate travesty."

   R.L 14/01/2004

10. "What concerns me most is that if this development is to go ahead, then a precedent is set for developing the rest of the south coast of Cornwall in the same way and the Cornish peoples largely unspoilt sanctuary that is the Cornish south coast will be lost forever to a new Costa Del Cornwall profit driven mentality. Cornwall is a British treasure and as such, needs to be treated with great respect in order to preserve it."

    M. B 14/01/2004

11. "I am horrified over the arrogance - the bible relates that houses built on sand will fall. Winter storms may well wreck any buildings on the beach, unless extensive sea defences are put in which will ruin the beach environment which the development is being sold on."

    J.H 20/01/2004