More and more in Cornwall speak out against Westminster Government's out of control building plans!

With the already slack planning laws set to be loosened even more by the distant and increasingly dysfunctional Westminster Government, more and more are now standing up and speaking out against the uncaring government's ludicrous proposals.

Cornwall Council has already voted to take a stand against the Westminster Government although not unexpectedly Conservative members of the council refused to support the decision.

Many senior and well respected councillors from the Mebyon Kernow Group, the Liberal Democrat group, the Green Party in Cornwall and other Councillors and groupings have condemned the proposal to increase the number of houses to be built in Cornwall up to 81,000! Severe and permanent damage has been predicted if this occurs.

These local politicians join a groundswell of people living in Cornwall who believe we have seen enough building and damage!

Read what the hugely respected and long serving Cornwall Councillor Dick Cole says here: http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/

Those of us who attended the local plan hearings in Newquay a couple of years ago and who were bullied by an arrogant Planning Inspector sent down from Bristol in England who used security guards to threaten Cornish people including well respected and longstanding local Councillors speaking out against overdevelopment in the Duchy, clearly warned that unrestricted house building in Cornwall threatened our historic and natural environment and ran against treaties signed by the Westminster Government in respect of Cornwall.

Environmentalists have now joined the fight against this utter madness and protests from Cornwall have spread far and wide.

The Cornish branch of the environmental charity CPRE says it has "serious concerns" about Government plans to overhaul the planning system and is campaigning with others against an out of control Westminster Government which cares nothing for Cornwall.

CPRE Cornwall's Chair, Richard Stubbs has joined others warning of the irreparable damage being inflicted by Westminster and has said, "The Government is designing a one-size-fits-all planning policy without recognising the need for regional variations. We’re particularly concerned over the designation of land into three development zones - Protected, Growth and Renewal. We need legislation that robustly protects Cornwall’s unique countryside and coastline to ensure there isn’t a developers’ free-for-all when the Government removes the discretionary element of local decision-making."

Mr Stubbs added: “Now is the time to push for amendments to safeguard the Cornish landscape for generations to come. I’d urge everyone to find out more about what these reforms mean in our part of the country. CPRE members benefit from our expertise and guidance on planning issues. Now’s the time to join us to fight Cornwall’s corner.”

We have received a communication from the Green Party in Cornwall in which Karen La Borde Joint Coordinator of the Green Party told us this: 

"Thank you for your email detailing your thoughts on the governments' white paper and your concerns about the concreting of Cornwall.

Cornwall Green Party is in the process of responding to the Government's white paper and shares all of your concerns. We hope together we can use what small influence we have to make it known that 'enough is enough'.

In the last general election the Green Party stood on a manifesto which included a full devolution of powers to a Cornish Assembly so those who live, work and treasure Cornwall can determine its future. The need for this has never been greater.

As it stands, Cornwall Green Party hopes to challenge the government and Cornwall Council over their calculations on projected population trends and housing needs for Cornwall. This requires reliable and up to date data."

Cornwall has now joined a Pan Celtic campaign in protest at overdevelopment and the scourge of unaffordable and second homes. You can read about this here: https://www.transceltic.com/blog/activists-and-patriots-alba-eire-cymru-mannin-and-kernow-join-sending-message-governments

We at 'Kernow Matters To Us' (KMTU) have joined the rainbow coalition of protest groups speaking out for the protection of Cornwall, groups established in the hamlets, towns and villages, in the Parish Councils, at Cornwall Council level and with other organisations such as CPRE Cornwall. Our academics have clearly established that further house building on this scale is not required here.

Read their analysis here: https://coserginfo.wordpress.com/

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• share views on the Let’s Talk Cornwall website https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/future-planning

• respond to the 'Planning for the future' Government consultation directly. If you respond via email, copy in haveyoursay@cornwall.gov.uk

• CPRE petition against the Westminster Government's planning madness: Please open the link, sign and share: https://takeaction.cpre.org.uk/page/66589/petition/1?locale=en-GB

• Stop Stifling Cornwall petition-https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-killing-cornwall-reverse-council-agendas

• Planners, Inspectors and MPs have failed Cornwall and MUST stop the damage petition - https://www.change.org/p/cornwall-council-council-s-planning-officers-have-failed-cornwall-and-must-fight-to-better-protect-cornwall-or-resign/u/26576235

• Write in objection to your MP: https://www.writetothem.com/

THE ONLY PLACE FOR ALL PLANNING DECISIONS IS RIGHT HERE IN CORNWALL, NOT IN LONDON, BRISTOL, EXETER OR ANYWHERE ELSE! DEMOCRACY NEEDS TO BE KEPT FIRMLY IN CORNWALL AND MADE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LOCAL ELECTORATE!

Kernow bys Vyken!

John, Teresa, Craig, Tony, Matt, Mike, Clive, Ronan, Rob, Alex, Maria & LucasElected Members of the KMTU Steering Group

8 Mys Hedra, 2020