Public meeting over controversial Carlyon Bay proposals

The proposed development would include 500 apartments

Developers behind controversial plans for a residential and leisure development in Cornwall have told a public meeting they are listening to critics' concerns.

The Commercial Estates Group wants to build about 500 apartments, commercial and leisure units at Carlyon Bay.

Members of protest group Carlyon Bay Watch have said they still oppose it.

The application is likely to be considered by Cornwall's Strategic Planning Committee at the end of June.

'Strength of feeling'

Planning permission was first granted in 1991 for the project near St Austell and sea defences were originally built to protect the apartments and construction workers.

When developers applied to upgrade the defences, opponents claimed they were too big, unsafe, and could damage the environment.

A subsequent public inquiry held in 2006 went on to reject the plans.

Many locals have consistently opposed the plans, voicing concerns about traffic and the size of the complex.

Planners said no decision was due to be made at the meeting

Commercial Estates has reworked the plans again to try to gain permission for construction to go ahead.

Planners said no decision had been due to be made at the meeting on Tuesday evening in St Austell.

The chairman of the strategic planning committee, Mike Varney, said it was a chance for councillors to gauge the strength of feeling on both sides.

Commercial Estates said the project would bring prosperity to the area and it had reworked it to take in local concerns.

The developers are also seeking detailed permission for sea defences and cliff stabilisation work.

Peter Browning, from Carlyon Bay Watch, said that, despite the reworking of the plans discussed at the meeting, the project was still too big for the area.