Via http://www.cornishman.co.uk/Critic-responds-Angarrack-housing-plans/stor...

Residents say Hayle retail park plans pose no flood risk

By The Cornishman | Posted: March 11, 2014

Comments (3)

A HAYLE resident has hit back at claims that development on a floodplain near Angarrack poses a risk to the area.

Two weeks ago The Cornishman reported that many residents in the village had raised concerns that Cranford Developments is seeking planning permission to build a retail park at Marsh Lane, an area which is classed as a grade-three floodplain.

However, several residents have come forward and said the site for development does not pose a flood risk and are welcoming the plans.

Michael Thomas owns the lorry park at Marsh Lane, which makes up part of the buffer zone included in the developer's plans.

In the 28 years he has had the park, he said it had never flooded and he disagrees that development would create further issues for the village.

"To be clear about this, [recent heavy rain] has flooded the wetland which is to be retained as a nature reserve – it has not flooded either the lorry park or the other land on which Cranford intends to build."

Mr Thomas said having worked at the site for almost three decades, he could see no issues with the proximity of the Angarrack River.

"The river runs around the edge of the wetland – which the developers are not building on. The land they are proposing to build on is some distance away from the river and is separated from the wetland and the river by the dismantled railway embankment."

The 72-year-old believes Cranford Developments' proposals to deal with flooding are adequate.

"The drawings are very clear to me – they are digging ponds in the wetland which will create more capacity to retain water which would otherwise flow downstream. This surely must be a good thing."

Angarrack resident of 60 years Malcolm Bryant struggled to comprehend how the lower-lying site would affect flooding in the village.

He agrees the development would be beneficial.

He added: "It is clear to me this site will be developed in the future as it is a prime piece of land and we in Angarrack should take the benefits on offer with both hands. These include the guarantee of a no-build buffer zone next to the village, fields for the use of the village, car parking, traffic-calming, a new footpath and new jobs."

Hayle Town Council is to hold a meeting about it on Wednesday, March 19 at 7.30pm in Hayle Community Centre. [Webmaster: Meeting actually postponed pending further information]

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  rodgers147 | March 14 2014, 10:44AM

  Well 1. Let the council decide not random voices - one of which - Mr Thomas stands to make considerable personal gains from the development as it is his land that Cranfords will be purchasing if they get planning permission!!!
  2. The statement of refusal from Cornwall Council when Sainsbury's wanted to build on this land stated..
  "The proposed site fails the sequential test set out in Planning Policy Statement 25 - Development and Flood Risk which directs development towards areas of least flood risk. The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the identified alternative sites that present a lesser flood risk and are not suitable, available or viable. The proposal thus fails to accord with the advice within Planning Policy Statement 25 and is contrary to Regional Planning Guidance - South West policy RE2, Cornwall Structure Plan policy 3 and Penwith Local plan policy CS4."
  This is the same scenario here so maybe in regards to flooding random, uninformed voices should not be put before the environment agency.

  Rate 1
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  break | March 11 2014, 5:06PM

  Well its a floodplain, don't they get flooded?

  Rate 2
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  TheodoreV | March 11 2014, 11:31AM

  The whole of that site is an obvious, blatant blunder by a quite useless Planning Department not worthy of the name, committed to destroying whatever is good about Cornwall and the ancient centres of trade. This is just the latest example of its wholesale capitulation to the multinationals that, is the death knell of local business. Presumably they won't be satisfied until every last square inch is concreted over and the towns are empty stage sets?