Planning Issues

Gweek Quay update:

In the last Newsletter, we reported the Local Government Ombudsman’s findings and recommended remedies following his investigations into several local complaints about Kerrier District Council’s inaction to control and stop the illegal dumping of vast amounts of waste material into the Helford River at the Gweek boatyard.  Since then, Kerrier District Council has resolved on six issues relating to the Ombudsman’s report, including payment of compensation to the complainants (now paid), to work expeditiously towards resolving the case and, thirdly, to set aside the sum of £250,000 to cover expense that may be incurred by the Council if the boatyard fails to Implement any scheme of restoration that is eventually imposed.  In response to another of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, we understand that the Council is currently advertising to strengthen its planning and enforcement staffing levels.

Council officers continue to meet with the national statutory bodies, one of the issues under consideration being whether the removal of the illegal waste material would be more environmentally damaging than leaving it there.  Friends of the Lizard’s Executive Committee’s view, as communicated to the Secretary of State at the highest level, is that removal is essential and that any damage or nuisance to achieve that would be temporary and modest compared with leaving the creek partially blocked.  This is a view shared by consultants from Newcastle University, English

Nature, members of the local Gweek Protection Group and the overwhelming majority of local residents.

At a time when Council Tax bills are rising so dramatically, well beyond normal inflationary levels, it is important to recognise that the large sums now being utilised and set aside by Kerrier are a direct result of the neglect of its statutory duties to protect environmentally sensitive sites identified in its own Local Plan documents.  We hope that elected Councillors will learn that they have legal obligations to protect the environment against abuse.

Poldhu Cove update

(and need for vigilance):

From updates in previous Newsletters, Members will recall that we are constantly chasing Kerrier District Council in the hope that there might be some progress towards the promised Public Inquiry.  The Inquiry will hear objections to the Council’s proposal to control the extract of sand from the beach by the implementation of a Coast Protection Order.  In recent years, in the absence of such an Order, sand extraction abuse has resulted in a major deterioration of the Cove’s attraction as a visitor facility.  The timing of the Inquiry was delayed, at national level, by the Foot & Mouth crisis but we have now received confirmation from the District Council’s Chief Solicitor, Mrs Elizabeth Dunstan, that the current delay is entirely due to Kerrier’s inability to attract and retain appropriate legal staff.  Apparently, the Council is still resolved to proceed with the Coast Protection Order and strenuous efforts have been made to

ensure that the money set aside to fund the Public Inquiry remains within the budget.

However, also of concern is the following verbatim extract from Mrs Dunstan’s latest letter to us:

“I also think it likely that your organisation, along with others, does not fully understand the reason for applying for the Coast Protection Order and which is, indeed, the only reason that is appropriate so far as the exercise of powers under the Coast Protection Act 1949 is concerned.  I appreciate that the removal of sand from beaches in the Hayle area, Poldhu Cove or anywhere else within the Kerrier District is to be deplored in so far as if affects the visual and other amenities of the area and the consequent knock on effect on the tourist industry.  However, the only reason for making a Coast Protection Order to prevent the removal of sand etc from the beaches is to prevent flooding and erosion of the coast line and it is extremely important that the persons supporting the Council in its bid to obtain confirmation of the making of the Order do so on this basis and this basis alone.”

Another important element of Mrs Dunstan’s letter says:

 “I note that you state that Members of Friends of the Lizard, who live in the Poldhu Cove area, continue to monitor sand removal from the beach there and it would be helpful to me if you would arrange for details of their observations to be forwarded for the purposes of my records and in support of confirmation of the Order."

Your Executive Committee would be happy to collate any data or photographs for sending to Mrs Dunstan.

Mullion & Church Cove sewage treatment scheme

South West Water has been developing plans to provide Mullion and Church Cove with a comprehensive sewage treatment system for the first time ever and clean up the coastal waters, at a cost of over five million pounds.  The new treatment works will provide preliminary and secondary treatment to waste water flows and improve the water quality before it is discharged through the existing sea outfall at Church Cove.  South West Water claims that this will substantially clean up the bathing waters around the Lizard including the sandy shore of Polurrian Cove, accessed via a footpath from Mullion and nearby Poldhu Cove, which is popular with families.

Sewage flows from Mullion, Church Cove, Ruan Minor and Cadgwith will be treated at the new works.  This will reduce the potential environmental impact that many treatment sites could have on the countryside.  The proposed site is located outside major residential catchment areas.

South West Water’s development procedures have involved carrying out a detailed site selection study to identify potential sites.  Two sites have now been deemed appropriate locations for the new treatment works – Site ‘A’ on an agricultural field near Grochall set back from the road and Site ‘B’ on a green field adjacent to the A3083.  The public is being invited to express views on the choice of sites.

Some Members of Friends of the Lizard have already made representations to our Executive Committee.  However, in the absence of full details, particularly an environmental impact statement, the Committee has resolved to await the formal planning application and then to respond actively in the normal way.  Nevertheless, as a general comment at this stage, the Committee welcomes the proposal to upgrade the treatment and disposal of waste which, in meeting European Directives on urban waste water treatment, will surely benefit this part of the Lizard Peninsula’s environment.