LAUNCESTON Town Council held an extraordinary meeting of its planning committee last week, to enable it to respond in time to Cornwall Council’s consultation about the future growth and regeneration of the town.

Cornwall Council is receiving consultation responses on its document — Cornwall Site Allocations DPD — which will set the location for new housing and commercial growth, as well as future infrastructure needs, until Monday, November 14.

The Post has previously reported that town councillors have raised concerns that despite talking to Cornwall Council about the document, the town council’s suggestions had not been taken on board.

Planning committee chairman Cllr Rob Tremain said at the meeting last week: “There are some inaccuracies.”

He said the population of Launceston stated in Cornwall Council’s document was 9,200, but said he had last heard the population was 11,700, adding: “And even that is now out of date.”

Cllr Val Bugden-Cawsey said: “It’s very worrying that is what they have based their stats on.”

Part of the document relates to the ‘delivery of housing stock… including affordable housing’. Cllr Dave Gordon said he would like it to say ‘real or local affordable housing’, adding: “Some of these affordable houses aren’t affordable to local people.”

On retail growth, Cornwall Council’s document states: “It is important for Launceston that future retail is focused towards the town centre, with a resistance against out of town development that would negatively impact upon the core of the town.”

However, Cllr Tremain said they cannot have big sites ‘in the medieval town centre’. Deputy mayor Margaret Young suggested national companies could be encouraged into the town centre, but mayor Brian Hogan said: “I’m not sure any of the shops are big enough.”

The document goes on to talk about the Kensey Valley area of Launceston, with Cornwall Council’s document stating ‘redevelopment of Kensey Valley … would deliver housing in a sustainable location, as part of a mixed use scheme that also incorporates employment space’. Cllr Roger Creagh-Osborne said: “Our view was at our last meeting that no, it doesn’t include any employment space. It’s a green part of the town and that’s how it should stay.”

On the controversial Kensey Valley Link Road, also mentioned in the document, Cllr Creagh-Osborne added: “I personally think we should take Kensey Valley Link Road out of here. We’re no longer referring to it as a trunk road, now as an estate access road. It’s alternative access into the estate and that’s all.”

With relation to the new Withnoe development, and planned new school, Cllr Gordon said he felt there ‘should be some inclusion of a link between’ Withnoe and Stourscombe. He added: “There’s going to be a new school there. There needs to be safe access for them to get there.”

On provision of the new school, Cllr Gordon said he wished to see it state that the new school would be a ‘single form seven class entry school’.

On secondary education and beyond, Cllr Creagh-Osborne expressed his ‘worry’ that local youngsters are going to Bodmin and beyond for post-16 education. He added: “There needs to be capacity in Launceston for the kids that grow up here.”

Cllr Bugden-Cawsey said there was reference in the document to the provision of a southern loop road, but said ‘they are not doing anything about providing a north loop road’. She added: “From 20 past eight in the morning, then from 20 past four, from Western Road through to Dutson it’s just a gridlock.”

Cllr Gordon said he’d like to see a pedestrian operated crossing installed at the Newport traffic lights.

Cllr Gordon said the north of the town should also see provision of a health care facility, and Cllr Young said Newport Industrial Estate would be ‘an ideal place’.

Cllr Hogan said: “Bodmin have a satellite surgery in a cottage in Lewannick. Surely we can manage the short jump to the other side of town.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for planning Edwina Hannaford said in a statement: “The Allocations DPD represents our opportunity to take a proactive approach to the future growth and regeneration of our communities. We want to ensure as many residents as possible respond to this consultation as their feedback will help us to shape the future of their community.”

The Allocations DPD can be viewed on the council’s website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/allocationsplan, where you can also complete an online questionnaire.

The document and questionnaires are also available at Launceston Library and One-Stop-Shop on Bounsalls Lane.

Residents can also provide feedback to the consultation by emailing [email protected] or sending responses to: Allocations DPD, Cornwall Council, Dolcoath Avenue, Camborne, TR14 8SX.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is Monday, November 14.