THERE was a mixed reaction to plans for three new homes on Diocese of Truro land in Camelford at a public consultation in the town hall on Wednesday, September 18.

Although no formal application has yet been made by Savills, the land agents for the Diocese of Truro, the application is to be tailored to enable the redevelopment of the medical centre as a community health hub, as planning consultant for Savills, Ben Wood, explained.

Mr Wood, said: “The purpose of this evening is a public consultation for us to talk to members of the public and members of the town council and to identify concerns or ideas from the community on the land and to discuss with this the town council and then to consider the next stage of the planning application.

“There’s no fixed timescale at this stage, but we were pleased to receive feedback from neighbours and local residents.

“We’re here on behalf of the Truro Diocese who are the landowners and then there’ll be a decision taken for the proposition of a planning application.

“The development proposal at the moment is for three homes on land adjacent to the church and land that’s required for the health hub in Camelford. That’s why we’re here, to take feedback on their thoughts on the proposed development.”

The proposed plan would be for three three-bedroom detached properties, each with a kitchen/diner and living room, patio and two parking spaces.

When asked to the reaction, he admitted it was ‘mixed’.

He said: “We’ve had a mixed reaction. People understand the land is vacant, that something is likely to happen to that land in the future.

“People have made comments about the use of the land for housing and the appropriateness of that. Local people have also expressed concerns about traffic on Trefrew Road, the safety of Trefrew Road and the relation of the land with the church, rectory and doctors surgery.”

Local resident, David Goodman said: “I’m not really sure what the diocese is about. The diocese had a perfectly good building until it was run ragged.

“So instead of repairing it, they spent money at Helstone instead of just spending a few thousand to bring it back up to standard.

“The worry now is that the land/properties will be sold and none of the benefits will be for Camelford.

“The even bigger worry is that where the entrance to the properties being just off the A39 on a blind corner, it’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Cornwall Councillor for Camelford, Rob Rotchell said: “My principle concern at this point is accessing from Trefrew Road on to the A39 as it’s almost a blind junction and also it’d be three substantial detached properties on a relatively small site.”

Town mayor Claire Hewlett added: “Access to the development will be off Trefrew Road and the entrance appears be in close proximity to the junction with the A39.  Trefrew Road is also a bus route and turning into or out of that road, is not easy.

“I didn’t realise but the land is owned by the Diocese of Truro, I had made an assumption that it was owned by the parish. I assumed that part of the profits would be returned to the parish, especially considering the ongoing repairs at Lanteglos Church and the eyewatering sums it’s costing. It would be nice if some of the money could be earmarked to help with the repairs at Lanteglos and maintaining the church grounds. But it would appear that this is not to be the case.

“Secondly I’m a bit disappointed that all three houses appear to be market-led with no provision for social housing for local people.

“They look like three very nice homes but there’s houses being built all the time — it would be good if these could benefit the people in Camelford who are in need of affordable homes to either rent or buy. Especially as they are part of the church and the church should look after it’s ‘flock’, in this case the people of Camelford.”