Anger over plans for 540 homes on Bodmin wetland

Cornwall Council's local plan has a target of 3,100 new homes in Bodmin by 2030

More than 200 people have objected to plans by Wain Homes to build 540 homes on Halgavor Moor in Bodmin.

Plans were refused when they were last submitted more than three years ago.

About 100 people turned out to an extraordinary meeting called by Bodmin Council to discuss the new development.

The Save Halgavor Moor Facebook group, which has about 900 members, is urging people to object before the deadline on Thursday.

Halgavor Moor is allocated for development by Cornwall Council

Bodmin Resident Sue Hill is concerned about the town's infrastructure

Sue Hill, who is among 220 objectors to the scheme, said the development was in the wrong place and too big and the affordable housing had been cut from 30% to 25%.

"There's plenty of reasons why it shouldn't go ahead," she said.

"They are saying to local people who want to buy the houses, there are schools nearby - but they don't tell you the schools are full, the doctors are full.

"It's absolute chaos with doctors, dentists."

Resident Gail Ashcroft said Halgavor Moor is a wetland which is boggy all year round.

"So why would they build all these houses on here?" she asked.

"I mean, we've already got lots and lots of developments here and the work opportunities are not great and they are very low-paid jobs."

According to Cornwall Council's local plan, which sets a minimum of houses needing to be built by 2030, the target for Bodmin was 3,100 new homes.

By the end of March last year it still required nearly 1,800 homes to be built in the town to match that figure.

A spokesperson for developer Wain Homes said: "As this allocated housing site is now the subject of a live planning application it is not appropriate for Wain Homes to comment publicly."