CAMELFORD Town Councillors have maintained their objection to a planning application proposing to move the town’s existing Co-op store to an industrial unit on Highfield Road.

Councillors were asked to respond to the planning officer’s recommendation they had received recently on the application for change of use of part of the existing unit to a convenience store with associated enabling works, access and parking, at Unit 2 Highfield Road Industrial Estate.

Councillors referred to the information they had received in an email from the planning officer, after Cllr Aaron Scawn left the room with a dispensation.

Mayor, Claire Hewlett, said: “Some of us went to a meeting and met the planners. This email explains what they think is sufficient.”

This comes after the town council previously objected to the plans due to concern over access and road safety.

Cllr Andy Shaw presented a map of the plans to councillors to consider when discussing the application. Town clerk, Esther Greig, said: “On the road there is a ‘keep clear’ box and a hatch box.”

There was also a blue section outlining a puffin crossing.

Cllr Shaw was keen to maintain his concerns. He said: “The access to this site has been rejected by this council two or three times. The access was agreed. The last one we did was ‘agree to disagree’. This new application for change of use will mean increased traffic use.”

He added that there will be a constant stream of delivery lorries and trucks coming in and out of the site, adding to his concerns of increased road dangers. He said: “It’s a potential accident waiting to happen.”

Cllr Shaw also believed the ‘keep clear’ box ‘might help the situation, but only if drivers comply’.

Agreeing with Cllr Shaw’s concern and referring to the maps, Cllr Hewlett said: “There’s going to be another housing site over here and they (the planning officers) wouldn’t even take this into consideration. There will be another 40 cars coming in and out of that housing estate.”

Cllr Alan Burgis said the proposal would ‘work’ if the town had its desired bypass by now, and Cllr Hewlett said: “Post-bypass, we would be in another different world!”

Cllr Shaw proposed to object to the application once again. He said: “In its present form and with its present access, I can’t support it until the access is sorted out. I propose we maintain our objection.”

All councillors were in favour of this. The final decision is due to be made by Cornwall Council’s planning committee.